The BBC's daily news podcast, Newscast dives into the day's biggest news stories so you're never out of your depth.
Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you're ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest news, developments in politics in Westminster and beyond.
Newscast is hosted by trusted politics and news journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell.
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Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer.
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Government freezes the BBC licence fee for two years. We get the BBC's culture editor, Katie Razzall, to explain what's happening... And, what happened during the Texas synagogue siege? The BBC's Frank Gardner has all the details (or, at least all the details we know right now). Today’s Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Georgia Coan, John Murphy and Alix Pickles. The studio director was Ash Taylor and the assistant editor was Alison Gee.
Two more boozy get-togethers in No 10 during lockdown have come to light, this time on the night before the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral. We speak to the reporter who got the scoop, The Telegraph’s Tony Diver, and Lord Gavin Barwell, former Chief of Staff to Theresa May. Australia has detained Novak Djokovic and cancelled his visa for a second time. But is it game, set and vax for the tennis star? The BBC's Russell Fuller is in Melbourne. And following the BBC drama about the Met Police's handlin...
Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, tells Adam and Chris to wait for Sue Gray’s report into whether the PM and others broke Covid rules. Shelagh Fogarty and Kaye Adams say people calling their phone-in shows are full of rage, grief and pain over the saga. Conservative MP, Tobias Ellwood, tells us Boris Johnson needs to change the way he’s running things. And he says he welcomes the fact that Prince Andrew’s military titles have been removed. The Duke of York is fighting claims that he sexually a...
What next for Boris Johnson after his apology? Adam, Laura and the BBC's Nick Watt talk through what he said, what he didn't say, and what the reaction has been. We also hear from broadcaster, Simon Thomas, who was sleeping in a camper van on his sister's drive to be closer to his dad in hospital around the time of the Downing Street Party. And, there's been a huge development in the Prince Andrew sexual assault case. The BBC’s Dominic Casciani has the latest... Today’s Newscast was made by Sam ...
Leaked email reveals a BYOB party at No 10... It’s been reported more than 100 staff at No 10 were invited, including the prime minister himself, all the while Government were telling the public they could only leave home for work, exercise or essential supplies. The BBC’s Vicki Young and Craig Oliver (former Downing Street director of comms when David Cameron was the prime minister) talk it all through with Adam... Today’s Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Georgia Coan and Alix Pickles. The ...
Michael Gove should have taken the stairs today... as he got stuck in the lift at the BBC. He was meant to be on Radio 4 announcing his plans to fix dangerous cladding. The BBC's Lewis Goodall has the latest... Also, we're still playing our game of "Where in the world is Novak Djokovic?" on the podcast. The BBC's Guy De Launey joins us... Today’s Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Georgia Coan and Alix Pickles. The studio director was Hannah Montgomery.
Why's it kicking off in Kazakhstan? Protests over fuel prices have got ugly and the government’s cracking down. So what does it mean for this former Soviet country? Newsnight’s International Editor, Gabriel Gatehouse, is back to explain. Henry Dyne hasn’t had a great time of late. First, he got Covid and ended up in hospital. Then he got death threats from anti-vaxxers. Henry joins the BBC’s Disinformation Reporter, Marianna Spring, to talk Covid conspiracy theories. South Korea’s been showing o...
It’s been one year since the Capitol Hill attack and, as the world remembers, we hear from the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse about his new podcast, The Coming Storm, investigating some of the conspiracy theories that fuelled the events of January 6th 2021. With lots of people asking government to act on spiralling fuel bills, Adam chats with the boss of the energy industry’s trade body, Energy UK, about what’s being done (and what's not being done, yet). Also, what's the latest with Novak Djokovic? Th...
Australia cancels top tennis player's visa... We catch up with the BBC’s tennis guru Russell Fuller to find out what’s really going on. Boris Johnson has confirmed Plan B rules will continue for three weeks. Vicki Young talks Adam through the latest in Westminster. And what was the Theranos scandal all about? James Clayton (who's currently at the CES tech conference in the US) explains why it's gone very wrong for Elizabeth Holmes, the world's youngest self-made female billionaire. Today’s Newsc...
We’re into a third year of this pandemic and the UK is reporting record numbers of Covid cases. How worried should we be and what do we still not know? Adam hears from the BBC's health editor, Hugh Pym, and the World Health Organization’s Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, who says there’s hope yet for a healthier 2022. Meanwhile, with a decision imminent on whether Virginia Giuffre’s US lawsuit against Prince Andrew will be allowed to continue, what does this ruling mean for the Duke? And Newscast is back ...
...and you're invited! Singer Jessie Ware and her mum/podcast co-host Lennie, Radio 1’s Greg James and author Bella Mackie, plus filmmaker Richard Curtis and broadcaster Emma Freud, are the special guests at Newscast's virtual Christmas party this year. A bit of a family affair! It’s been another year of big news, so as a seasonal treat, we talk about the politics… of Christmas food, we review the year in music, and we celebrate the best festive films. The Newscast Christmas special was produced...
There'll be no new restrictions in England before Christmas Day, says Boris Johnson... Adam and Chris chat through the days news. The BBC's Jim Reed explains what we know (and what we still don't know) about the latest Omicron data and Simon Jack runs through what the government's £1bn fund means for businesses around the country. Also, Louise, from the Oxford Playhouse, lifts the curtain on how her industry is coping right now. Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Ros Jones and Alix Pickles. Th...
How likely are further restrictions over the festive period? Vicki Young, Hugh Pym and Adam pore over the latest covid data and consider what the numbers mean for hospitals and hospitality. And as jigsaw sales soar, Cynthia Yeoh chats through the nation’s favourites in 2021. Newscast was made by Emma Close with Ros Jones and Alix Pickles. The studio manager was Emma Crowe.
Another turbulent week in politics... Andrew Marr, the soon-to-be-ex-Sunday-morning-TV-host, drops by to reflect on his career (and pore over the shock by-election result in Shropshire). Laura makes a late appearance after news breaks that Simon Case (the person currently investigating lockdown Xmas parties at Downing Street) was also at a seasonal office get-together last year. And Adam hears from Dr Maryam Khosravi, an intensive care doctor in London, about how she is preparing for Omicron. To...
The Archbishop of Canterbury tells Adam, Laura and Chris that he was disappointed to see a photo of Conservative activists having what looked like a party at Tory headquarters last Christmas. Justin Welby also says leaders need to be honest, admit mistakes and stick to the rules. And he reveals what it was like to do a jigsaw with the Queen at Sandringham. We get the latest on record Covid figures from Fergus Walsh too. Today’s episode of Newscast was made by Danny Wittenberg and Sally Abrahams....
Chris Whitty sends clear message on festive parties as Omicron surges: stay at home unless it really matters. Adam, Laura and Fergus reflect on a gloomy No 10 press conference... And, what did the COP26 President really think of what happened in Glasgow? We find out from the man himself, Alok Sharma. Today’s episode of Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Ros Jones, Georgia Coan, Maia Lowerson and Ben Cooper. The studio manager was Michael Regaard.
Covid passes pass... despite a huge Tory revolt. MPs have backed the government’s Plan B measures (for England) in a Commons vote, despite nearly 100 Tory MPs rebelling against the plans. The BBC's Vicki Young joins Adam to chat through what went down in Parliament. And Dr Angelique Coetzee, the South African doctor who first spotted the new Omicron variant, joins Newscast to explain why it’s different from the rest. Today’s episode of Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Ben Cooper, Georgia Coa...
People have been queuing at vaccine centres and online for hours to get hold of the booster after the PM’s address last night. Even the NHS website crashed! Laura, Fergus and GP Silvana McCaffrey join Adam to chat through the booster roll-out plans, what we know about the Omicron variant so far, and what this all means for the government now. Today’s Newscast was made by Emma Close with Alix Pickles and Georgia Coan. The studio manager was Emma Crowe.
Boris Johnson offers third jabs for everyone over 18... What do we know about Omicron? Can the NHS cope? Could tighter restrictions be coming soon? Adam, Laura and Fergus get together for an emergency Newscast after the Prime Minister’s Sunday night TV address. Today’s Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Daniel Wittenberg. The studio manager was Ash Taylor.
So here it is... Merry Maskmas. As England's new Covid rules start to take effect, the Daily Mirror’s Pippa Crerar, who first broke the news about last year’s Downing Street Christmas gatherings, brings us up to date on the controversy. Meanwhile, the BBC’s Ed Thomas tells Adam about the impact of the pandemic on poverty and mental health in Burnley, where he has been following communities in some of the town’s most deprived areas over the past year. And Brit Awards’ Rising Star winner, Holly Hu...
It’s been another long day for Boris Johnson. Laura, Adam and Chris chat about all the incoming fire. Just what did he know - and when - about the decorating costs for his Downing Street flat? And what political damage will he suffer over the continuing controversy around alleged Christmas parties last year and the introduction of Plan B. Is this the beginning of the end for the PM? MP and former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland shares his views about all that and talks about his very personal ...
What are the new Covid rules in England? What do we know about the Omicron variant? And what's been the fallout since that No 10 Christmas party video was leaked? Adam, Laura and Fergus talk through one of the busiest days in politics for a while... Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Ros Jones. Ash Taylor was the studio director.
A top UK official says he regrets staying on holiday during Afghan crisis... The BBC's James Landale joins Adam to talk it all through, and we hear from Basira Paigham, who was evacuated from Afghanistan and is on this year’s #BBC100Women 2021 list. Also, Adam digs deep into the pockets of personal finance with Jaidev Janardana, the boss of Zopa, the world's first peer-to-peer lending company (which has just pulled out of peer-to-peer lending). Is it RIP for P2P? Today’s episode of Newscast was ...
The government announces its new drugs plan. As the government sets out its 10-year plan to help problem drug users and cut drug-related crime, we hear from the medical expert, Dame Carol Black, whose research informed the policy. And, as Germany’s new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, prepares to take office on Wednesday, Dr Katya Adler is back to explain what changes are expected in Europe’s richest and most powerful country. Today’s episode of Newscast was made by Emma Close with Ros Jones and Sally A...
‘Drunken, drugged-up thugs’ could have caused death at the Euro final, a review finds. Two thousand ticketless fans stormed the stadium for one of English football’s biggest matches, and the official report says a “perfect storm” of problems might have turned it into a tragedy. We speak to the BBC’s Sports Correspondent, Natalie Pirks, at Wembley. It’s also time for a COP catch-up. Chris Stark, chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change, rejoins Adam to assess the aftermath of the Glasgo...
Find out which cabinet minister won’t be snogging under the mistletoe. Adam, Laura and Chris mull over what really happened at a Downing Street gathering last Christmas. Also, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says he won’t be cancelling festive events and warns Chris to back off over criticism of the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. Today’s Newscast was made by Danny Wittenberg, Ros Jones and Vicky Farncombe. The assistant editor was Alison Gee. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall....
Laura chats to Adam about reports that Christmas parties were held in Downing Street at the height of last year’s lockdown. The BBCs Hugh Pym and Branwen Jeffreys join Adam to discuss whether festivities and school nativities will go ahead this year. We hear views from the picket line as university staff go on a three-day strike over pay, working conditions and pensions. Adam brings you Newscast’s very own – and very brief – version of Radio 4’s ‘The Reith Lectures’. It’s all about AI. And as ad...
The boss of MI6 speaks! His name is Richard Moore and he's said some really interesting things about China, Afghanistan and green ink! Adam talks it through with the BBC's Gordon Corera. And after another Covid press conference from Boris Johnson, Adam and Fergus chat with a pharmacist in Surrey. How will the roll out of the booster jabs really work? This episode of Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Sally Abrahams and Rosamund Jones. The studio director was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor wa...
Every adult in the UK will be offered a Covid booster jab... Fergus and Laura talk through all the new changes. And as British socialite, Ghislaine Maxwell, goes on trial accused of grooming underage girls for convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein, we hear about his controlling behaviour from a journalist who has interviewed him many times. This episode of Newscast was made by Emma Close with Sally Abrahams, Serena Tarling and Rosamund Jones. Thestudio director was Emma Crowe. The assistant edit...
'Nu' variant, new concern. Scientists are closely watching a new variant of coronavirus circulating in southern Africa, nicknamed the 'nu' variant. The BBC’s Health and Science Correspondent, James Gallagher, tells Adam what the experts are telling him. So how worried should we be? France has uninvited the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, from a meeting set up to deal with the recent surge in dangerous crossings of the Channel. The Economist’s Paris Bureau Chief, Sophie Pedder, explains why relation...
