Police are appealing for more information about a German prisoner they’ve identified as a suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The government sets out the quarantine rules for those entering the UK, and we hear from the UK Black Lives Matter protest in London. (Credit:John Boyega audio thanks to @HoxtonWestAid / @NaomiJasmin) Producers: Harriet Noble, Frankie Tobi, Georgia Coan and Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Emma Close Studio Manager: Emma Crowe Editor: Dino Sofos...
Jun 03, 2020•28 min
People from ethnic minorities are at a higher risk of dying from coronavirus, a report by Public Health England says. And Adam is joined by Jon Sopel, BBC North America Editor, to talk about Trump’s response to the crisis in America. Producers: Nat Ktena, Harriet Noble, Georgia Coan, Jo Deahl Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Output Editor: Frankie Tobi Studio Director: Emma Crowe
Jun 02, 2020•33 min
Some kids went back to school today in England. How is it working? Adam talks to pupils and a headteacher about their first day back. In non-coronavirus related news, Adam talks to Eugene Scott from the Washington Post about the protests in the United States sparked by the death of George Floyd, who suffered a cardiac arrest while being restrained by Minneapolis police. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble, Frankie Tobi, Natalie Ktena, Jo Deahl, Georgia Coan Assistant Editor: Sam...
Jun 02, 2020•28 min
Nina Nesbitt and Kelly Cates join Adam to talk about getting back outdoors. And Newscasters do their best David Attenborough impressions. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble, Seren Jones, Ben Weisz Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham
May 29, 2020•34 min
The government has confirmed its five tests are being met, and the next phase in reopening society will begin on Monday. As part of this, groups of up to six people will be able to meet outdoors while maintaining social distance. Also on the podcast, Dr Adler joins us for an update on Brexit, and we hear from a charity shop volunteer on how we can donate the stuff from our lockdown spring clean responsibly. Producers: Frankie Tobi, Natalie Ktena, Harriet Noble, Ben Weisz Assistant Editor: Emma C...
May 28, 2020•31 min
Boris Johnson faces challenging questions from MPs and the government announces a test and trace system in England. Also Adam hears a romantic tale from a couple separated by coronavirus and the high seas. Producers: Seren Jones, Nat Ktena, Frankie Tobi, Harriet Noble Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham
May 27, 2020•33 min
As a government minister resigns and more Conservative MPs speak out over the prime minister’s top adviser Dominic Cummings, will Boris Johnson carry on standing by his man? We hear from Rev. Martin Poole, whose question over family lockdown fines seemed like it might prompt the government to look again at the issue. And what are immunity passports? The founder of Transferwise and first Skype employee Taavet Hinrikus tells us about his next venture - an app he hopes will let those who have teste...
May 26, 2020•34 min
Adam, Laura, Fergus and Chris discuss Dominic Cummings’s rose garden moment in Downing Street. Did he do enough to deal with the criticism? Plus, good news for shops (and shoppers?) Producer: Ben Weisz Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos Studio Director: Emma Crowe
May 25, 2020•29 min
The PM backs Dominic Cummings but this is far from over… Laura, Adam and Fergus discuss the fallout from the row about whether Boris Johnson’s key adviser broke the lockdown rules. Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producer: Nick Rotherham Editor: Dino Sofos
May 24, 2020•29 min
When can we go to gigs again? How are bands recording new music in lockdown? Can emerging artists get signed through their livestreams? Adam is joined by Dan Smith from Bastille, Beverley Whitrick of the Music Venues Trust, and Will Grant from Domino Records to look at how the coronavirus pandemic is changing the music industry. Producers: Natalie Ktena, Frankie Tobi, Georgia Coan, Seren Jones Studio Director: Weidong Lin Editor: Dino Sofos
May 22, 2020•41 min
Key Sage member Professor Sir Ian Boyd takes your questions. Should the Government have placed the country in lockdown earlier? Sir Ian thinks they should have. He also talks us through how the influential group advises government, and answers your questions. And how is Facebook handling misinformation during the pandemic? Mark Zuckerberg has been speaking to the BBC’s Simon Jack. Producers: Frankie Tobi, Harriet Noble, Georgia Coan Studio Director: William Allott Editor: Dino Sofos...
May 21, 2020•41 min
The author Catherine Mayer is investigating whether her late husband and Gang of Four founder, Andy Gill, contracted coronavirus on tour in China last year. She spoke to Adam, Laura and Professor Tom Solomon. Producer: Harriet Noble Studio Manager: Emma Crowe Editor: Dino Sofos
May 20, 2020•29 min
The chancellor says we’re facing “a severe recession, the likes of which we haven’t seen”, and today saw some bleak numbers on jobs and benefits. We talk to two people whose careers have been badly affected by the pandemic, including a drag queen who has become a security guard! Producers: Harriet Noble, Frankie Tobi, Natalie Ktena and Georgia Coan. Studio manager: Emma Crowe Editor: Dino Sofos
May 19, 2020•28 min
The Greek minister for tourism talks to Chris, Laura and Fergus about the ways the country is planning on welcoming tourists this summer. Is it possible to socially distance on the beach? Producers: Georgia Coan, Nat Ktena, Harriet Noble Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos
May 18, 2020•32 min
Will coronavirus permanently change the film industry? And when can we go to the cinema again? In this blockbuster episode, Simon Mayo, Mark Kermode, and actor and director, Chris Addison, join us to talk movies. And 'Brexitcast Strikes Back'! Dr Katya Adler is back for a Brexit update. Studio Manager: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble, Frankie Tobi and Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
May 15, 2020•46 min
How many people in the UK have had coronavirus? Adam, Laura, Chris and Fergus chat everything we do and don’t know about antibody tests, immunity, and the rate of infection with Professor Tom Solomon from The University of Liverpool. And as the UK looks to expand on its ‘Test Track and Trace’ policy, we hear about the Seoul club night that sparked a search for 32,000 people. Also on the programme, the singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor tells us about the home discos she’s been hosting every Friday night...
May 14, 2020•30 min
Why has coronavirus hit care homes so hard? Adam, Laura and Fergus talk through the issues affecting care homes. The government’s strategy, the lack of personal protective equipment and the high numbers of coronavirus deaths. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Frankie Tobi, Seren Jones Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos
May 13, 2020•31 min
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today that the government’s furlough support scheme that pays the wages of workers on leave due to coronavirus would be extended across all sectors until October. But, with employers being asked to contribute to the scheme from August onwards, questions remain. We hear Laura’s interview with the Chancellor, and ask how businesses that have no current date in sight of reopening will be able to pay. Also on the programme, Emma Vardy talks us through Northern Ir...
May 12, 2020•35 min
Do I need to wear a face mask? When can I get the childminder back? Can I move into my new student house? Laura, Adam, Chris and Fergus try their best to answer your questions about the new lockdown measures. Sounds Engineer: Simon Nunn Producers: Harriet Noble, Nick Rotherham and Natalie Ktena Editor: Dino Sofos
May 12, 2020•32 min
Long: The PM unveils his ‘conditional plan’ to reopen society. People who can’t work from home should return to work and a new Covid Alert System will decide how lockdown restrictions will be eased in future. But there were a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ in Boris Johnson’s speech. Adam, Laura, Chris and Fergus explain what we learnt and what we still don’t know. Sound Engineer: William Allott Producer: Frankie Tobi Editor: Dino Sofos
May 10, 2020•37 min
The Queen guitarist tells us bands need to "rethink" whether touring and playing to large crowds is appropriate in a post-corona world. We're joined by Theresa May's former chief of staff, Lord Gavin Barwell, to discuss lifting lockdown. And Stephanie Flanders from Bloomberg tells us how worried we should be about the economy. Producers: Frankie Tobi, Harriet Noble, Natalie Ktena and Seren Jones Editor: Dino Sofos
May 07, 2020•36 min
Is it realistic to start thinking about a summer holiday abroad? Even if the airports reopen, will it be safe to travel? John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of London Heathrow Airport joins the pod to talk about temperature tests and travel plans. And the prime minister Boris Johnson faces Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer for the very first time at Prime Minister’s Questions. Producers: Jo Deahl, Nick Rotherham, Frankie Tobi, Harriet Noble and Seren Jones. Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor Di...
May 06, 2020•35 min
Professor Neil Ferguson’s advice played a big part in the government imposed lockdown. But he’s now quit after the Daily Telegraph reported he allowed a woman to visit his home. Also, as Scotland considers introducing social bubbles, the stars of the TikTok house tell us what it’s like to live in one. And football legend, John Barnes and Radio 1 legend, Chris Stark, on when the football season should return. Sound Engineer: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble, Nick Rotheram, Ben Weisz and Natali...
May 05, 2020•33 min
How will government’s new test, track and trace strategy work? BBC Technology Correspondent, Rory Cellen-Jones, joins Adam, Laura and co to talk about the new NHS mobile app trial, the ins and outs of manual contract-tracing and the wonder that is the Isle of Wight. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Jo Deahl, Ben Weisz, Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos
May 04, 2020•33 min
What happened in Wuhan? Our woman keeping her eye on China, Carrie Gracie, joins us to delve into wet markets and government labs. Back on home soil, Matt Hancock succeeded in meeting his target for testing, but there is some sobering data about the people most impacted by Covid-19. Producers: Nicholas Rotherham, Harriet Noble and Seren Jones. Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos Sound Engineer: Emma Crowe
May 01, 2020•35 min
The PM says that UK has "past the peak" of the coronavirus pandemic and announces that he'll be setting out plans for how lockdown restrictions will be eased this time next week. And are you missing the pub? We are. So we speak to two pub owners about how social distancing measures could affect their industry. We're also missing a good pub quiz so Anne Hegerty from The Chase hosts a virtual one for us! Producers: Frankie Tobi, Ben Weisz and Harriet Noble Editor: Dino Sofos
Apr 30, 2020•36 min
As the number of UK deaths from Coronavirus rises even further, Fergus visits a hospital taking part in a large scale clinical trial that hopes to find a treatment. Professor Martin Landray, one of the trial’s leads, tells Adam, Laura and Fergus how the 8,000 person trial aims to see if any existing drugs could offer a solution. Also on the podcast, we discuss if home schooling could have a long-term impact on some children with Joanna Clark, a primary school head in Durham, and, Adam finds out ...
Apr 29, 2020•34 min
Jon Culshaw and the former Foreign Secretary join us. David Miliband, who now heads up the International Rescue Committee, predicts there will be up to one billion cases of coronavirus in conflict affected and fragile countries. And Dead Ringers star Jon Culshaw joins the pod to celebrate the return of Alan Bennett’s (or should that be Chris Mason’s) Talking Heads. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Jo Deahl, Ben Weisz, Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos
Apr 28, 2020•32 min
Boris Johnson resumed his duties as prime minister today, starting with a speech outside No 10 urging the public to stick with the lockdown restrictions. Adam, Laura, Chris and Fergus look at what's in the PM’s in tray and discuss how far away we might be from ‘phase two’ of the coronavirus response. Plus, Izzy Wheatley tells us how zoos are responding to the crisis and gives a tour around the panda enclosure. Producers: Frankie Tobi, Nick Rotherham, Ben Weisz and Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor:...
Apr 27, 2020•31 min
On this side of the Atlantic, scientists at Oxford University inject two volunteers with what they hope will be one of the vaccines that beats coronavirus. In the US, President Trump suggests scientists try researching the efficacy of putting disinfectant into the body to fight the virus. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Harriet Noble, and Seren Jones Assistant Editors: Emma Close and Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos
Apr 24, 2020•43 min
