What is it and how worried should we be? James Gallagher has the latest, as 11 cases of monkeypox are confirmed in the UK. Sue Gray’s Partygate report is expected next week. Adam is joined by Alex Forsyth and former Downing Street Director of Comms, Craig Oliver, to talk it through. And what do you get when you mix politics with theatre? A Tony Blair rock opera, apparently! Harry Hill and his writing partner, Steve Baker, tell all. Today’s Newscast was made by Alix Pickles and Cordelia Hemming. ...
May 20, 2022•33 min
The SNP’s Ian Blackford joins Adam, Chris and Marianna Spring to talk about lambing at his home in Scotland, the cost of living and Partygate – 126 fines have now been issued over lockdown breaches in and around Downing St. And Tony Danker, head of the Confederation of British Industry, reflects on the chancellor’s speech at the annual CBI dinner last night. He talks tax cuts, the Northern Ireland Protocol and the possibility of a trade war with the EU. This edition of Newscast was made by Chris...
May 19, 2022•31 min
Prices are rising at their fastest rate for 40 years and the chancellor is warning that the next few months will be tough. Adam is joined by Adam Shaw from Radio 4’s Money Box Live, and Simon Jack. What better time for a guide to how the economy works? Adam speaks to Rupal Patel and Jack Meaning from the Bank of England who have just written the book Can’t We Just Print More Money? Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate, with Miranda Slade and Cordelia Hemming. The technical producer was Emma...
May 18, 2022•34 min
The Foreign Secretary Liz Truss sets out new legislation to rewrite parts of the post-Brexit trade deal. Adam and Katya chew over how the European Union might respond. Also, Alex Baker, chair of England’s most successful LGBT football club, Stonewall FC, explains the significance of professional footballer Jake Daniels' decision to come out as openly gay. And, Gordon Corera shows Adam around a new app designed to spot social-networking spies. Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate, with Miran...
May 17, 2022•35 min
The prime minister has been in Northern Ireland to try to resolve the power-sharing crisis. Adam is joined by Chris Mason in Belfast, and Prof Katy Hayward from the think tank UK in a Changing Europe, to discuss the crisis over the Brexit deal. Also, Professor Hazel Smith from SOAS tells us what the North Korean health system is like after more than a million people there are believed to have caught Covid-19. Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate, with Miranda Slade and Cordelia Hemming. The...
May 16, 2022•32 min
Half-time analysis of the “Wagatha Christie” trial. Abi Clarke, host of 5 Live’s Wagatha Christie podcast, dissects the latest developments in Rebekah Vardy’s libel case against Coleen Rooney, with BBC football correspondent John Murray commentating on the most dramatic moments so far. Legendary pop master Ken Bruce joins us from Turin, where he previews the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, along with Russia editor (and Eurovision superfan) Steve Rosenberg. And BBC political correspondent I...
May 13, 2022•33 min
Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy tells Adam, Chris and Alex about experiencing sexual harassment at university and threats of rape. She also explains why she thinks MPs should get full maternity cover. Also, Ireland’s Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne explains what’s at stake with the Northern Ireland Protocol. This edition of Newscast was made by Danny Wittenberg, Chris Flynn and Miranda Slade. The assistant editor was Alison Gee. The editor was Jonathan Aspinwall....
May 12, 2022•30 min
Brussels and London at odds over the post-Brexit treaty for Northern Ireland. Adam is joined by Vicki Young and Katya, to mull over the potential consequences. Also, after BBC podcaster Deborah James’ cancer research fundraising passed £3 million, we talk through the diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer with Fergus and Gemma Savory, who was diagnosed with stage three of the disease when she was 30. Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate, with Chris Flynn and Cordelia Hemming. The Technical...
May 11, 2022•37 min
Charles steps in for the Queen, setting out the government’s agenda. Adam is joined by Chris, as well as former BBC royal correspondent, Jenny Bond, to talk pomp, pageantry and legislation. Also..…….. The BBC’s Colin Paterson and Liz Lake, co-writer and producer of TV drama "Footballers’ Wives", discuss day one of the so-called "Wagatha Christie" trial. Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate, with Miranda Slade and Cordelia Hemming. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The assistant ed...
May 10, 2022•32 min
Sir Keir Starmer says he’ll quit if he’s fined for breaking lockdown rules… Adam chews over the Labour leader’s predicament with Chris, who’s having a busy first day in the job as BBC political editor. They also discuss the news that the Queen won’t be at the State Opening of Parliament – the first time she’s missed it since 1963. Also… the BBC’s Chris Page joins us from Belfast to give us the latest on the stalemate in Stormont. And… Professor Gulnaz Sharafutdinova, author of The Red Mirror: Pu...
May 09, 2022•37 min
Boris Johnson admits it was a tough night for the Tories as they lost hundreds of seats. Chris Curtis, the head of political polling at Opinium Research, joins Adam and Laura to run through the results and what it all means. Also, Durham police are investigating whether Sir Keir Starmer broke lockdown rules when he drank beer in an MP's office last year. They originally said no offence had occurred but they’ve now received "significant new information". And the convenience store chain McColls ha...
May 06, 2022•28 min
We stayed up all night so you didn't have to... Adam, Laura and Chris get together first thing in the morning to figure out what happened in the election results overnight and what it all means. This morning's Newscast was made by Sam Bonham. Emma Crowe was the technical director. Jonathan Aspinwall was the editor.
May 06, 2022•22 min
Interest rates rise as the Bank of England warns we’re facing a “sharp economic slowdown”... Adam is joined by Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, to discuss the state of the UK economy and the Bank’s attempts to stem the pace of rising prices. Also… as the World Health Organization estimates that the Covid pandemic caused the deaths of nearly 15 million people around the world, Fergus Walsh and Natasha Loder from the Economist unpack the data. Today’s Newscast was made b...
May 05, 2022•30 min
The EU has proposed some of its toughest measures yet against Russia, including a total ban on oil imports. Adam is joined by Katya and energy expert (and friend of the podcast) Daniel Yergin, to explore how united member states are over the plan. Also… as promised, we preview the local elections in Scotland and Wales with BBC political editors Glenn Campbell and Felicity Evans. And the much-delayed and over-budget Crossrail project will finally open later this month. We speak to a man who has h...
May 04, 2022•35 min
Boris Johnson asks, Newscast answers... by profiling the ITV "legend" Lorraine Kelly. Also, a leak from the US Supreme Court suggests the national right to abortion could be overturned. North America Editor, Sarah Smith, joins Adam from the protests in Washington to discuss what the end of Roe v Wade could mean. And… we preview elections taking place across England and Northern Ireland on Thursday with Alex Forsyth, the BBC’s Chris Page and Kelly Beaver, Chief Executive of Ipsos (Wales and Scotl...
May 03, 2022•35 min
Former tennis champion Boris Becker has been jailed over his bankruptcy. The BBC’s tennis correspondent, Russell Fuller, joins Adam to discuss the ruling and the German star’s fall from grace. Also…. businesswoman and Dragons’ Den star, Deborah Meaden, tells us why she’s campaigning to make the upcoming Jubilee bank holiday a permanent fixture. And… Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, gives Adam advice on how to edit his own wiki page, and discusses Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter. Today’s New...
Apr 29, 2022•30 min
The Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries tells Adam and Chris that Chelsea FC are on "borrowed time" and must be sold within weeks. She also says that the culture in Westminster is getting worse. And speaking on the day the government's broadcasting white paper was published, she denied accusations that the privatisation of Channel 4 was politically motivated. Today’s episode of Newscast was made by Chris Flynn and Danny Wittenberg. The assistant editor was Alison Gee.
Apr 28, 2022•30 min
The Conservative Party is investigating claims that an MP watched pornography on his mobile phone in the Commons. Adam and Vicki Young discuss the latest following another busy day in Westminster. Also… the High Court has ruled that government policies on discharging untested patients to care homes in England during the pandemic were unlawful. Newsnight’s Sima Kotecha and Nadra Ahmed from the National Care Association chew over the details. And Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterb...
Apr 27, 2022•35 min
Why is Elon Musk taking over Twitter? Adam is joined by Jill Lepore, presenter of the Podcast Elon Musk: The Evening Rocket, and Tim Higgins of the Wall Street Journal, to discuss the man, the myth and the $44bn deal. Also… as the cost of living continues to rise, we get an update on our basket of goods with Fraser McKevitt at Kantar, who tells us that the price of dog food is starting to bite. Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate with Alix Pickles, Lauren Stanley and Cordelia Hemming. The ...
Apr 26, 2022•30 min
MPs have condemned claims made about Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, as misogynistic. MP Kim Leadbeater tells Adam why stories like this put women off politics and she shares her own experiences of Parliament. Also, millions of people in Beijing are being tested for Covid after a spike in cases. The BBC’s Kerry Allen explains why China is imposing strict lockdowns in lots of cities and how people are panic buying food in response. And the government has said it wants to create an independ...
Apr 25, 2022•33 min
Emmanuel Macron wins five more years as French president after beating Marine Le Pen… Adam is joined by our Europe Editor Katya Adler and the BBC's Jessica Parker, as well as French pollster Edouard Lecerf, to chew over the election results. This bonus episode of Newscast was made by Tim Walklate and Danny Wittenberg. The technical producer was Rohan Madison and the assistant editor was Sam Bonham. The editor was Jonathan Aspinwall.
Apr 24, 2022•29 min
France gears up for Sunday’s presidential run-off… In true Brexitcast style, Katya Adler updates Adam from the back of a taxi in Paris as the Macron and Le Pen campaigns draw to a close. Also… With more details emerging around Elon Musk’s plan to buy Twitter, Vivian Schiller, a former Twitter executive, explains what the billionaire’s possible takeover could mean. And Robin Porter, chief executive of Luton Council, tells us what makes Luton Airport Parkway an inspirational destination. Today’s N...
Apr 22, 2022•29 min
With Boris Johnson thousands of miles away in India, MPs have approved an investigation into whether he misled Parliament over lockdown parties. Adam is joined by fellow BBC presenters Alex Forsyth and Jo Coburn to talk through how we got here. Also in the studio is Labour’s Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, who gives his thoughts on what all this means for the PM’s position, and he reflects on life nearly a year after receiving treatment for kidney cancer. This edition ...
Apr 21, 2022•32 min
As Netflix loses 200,000 subscribers, has the bubble burst for the streaming giant? Adam is joined by director, producer and filmmaker Alastair Fothergill, and Brian Steinberg, TV editor at Variety, to get their take on the platform’s future. Also… Vicki Young gives us the latest on Partygate. And… Cricket broadcasting legend, Jonathan Agnew, compares the PM’s fixed penalty notice and a batsman getting ‘out’ via DRS in cricket. Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate with Cordelia Hemming and ...
Apr 20, 2022•30 min
The PM again apologises for lockdown fines - but could backbench Tory MPs turn on him in the coming days and weeks? Adam is joined by the BBC’s Vicki Young to chew over another day of high drama in the Commons. Also… It’s thought that Downing Street and Foreign Office computer systems have been infected with spyware. We speak to the BBC’s Gordon Corera and cyber security expert Robert Pritchard about the spyware ‘Pegasus’ which is believed to have been used to carry out surveillance through infe...
Apr 19, 2022•32 min
The UK government has been criticised over plans to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda… Adam is joined by the BBC’s Mark Easton who’s in the capital Kigali, and Camille Le Coz from the Migration Policy Institute to chew over the plans and explore whether they’ll ever take off. Also… as trains, planes, cars and boats look set to be hit by travel disruption over the Easter weekend, we speak to John Irving, CEO of Liverpool John Lennon Airport, to see how he’s preparing for one of the busiest bank ...
Apr 14, 2022•28 min
Going viral without a sniffle, soaring inflation, the life of a Russian journalist... With the cost of goods and services rising at their fastest rate for 30 years, Marianna Spring (who’s sitting in for Adam) is joined by Louise Cooper, financial analyst and presenter of Radio 4’s Money Box Live, to discuss what this means for us all. BBC presenter Shaun Ley gives his tips on how to sneeze - or not sneeze - gracefully on air. And independent Russian broadcaster, Sergei Buntman, tells us what lif...
Apr 13, 2022•30 min
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have been fined and are facing calls to resign for breaking lockdown rules... Adam is joined by the BBC’s Vicki Young and former Downing Street director of communications, Sir Craig Oliver, to discuss what next for the prime minister and the chancellor. Also… as the US and Britain say they are looking into reports that chemical weapons have been used by Russian forces in Ukraine, former weapons inspector Jerry Smith explains the challenges when it comes to verifying...
Apr 12, 2022•33 min
Macron and Le Pen set to face-off again... Following Sunday’s results from the first-round of the French presidential elections, incumbent Emmanuel Macron will take on challenger Marine Le Pen in a repeat of the 2017 contest. Philippe Marlière, Professor of French and European Politics at University College London, runs us through the possible outcomes. And on another busy day in Westminster, Adam is joined by the BBC’s Vicki Young and Dominic Casciani to discuss the guilty verdict in the murder...
Apr 11, 2022•33 min
Sima Kotecha is sitting in for Adam while he’s on his holiday… and where Sima goes, her mum often follows. She’s realised that the war in Ukraine is having an impact on supply chains, in particular sunflower oil. Gary Lewis, the president of the National Edible Oil Distributors’ Association explains what’s happening. Actor Siobhán McSweeney, also known as Sister Michael from Channel 4’s Derry Girls, speaks about the government’s intentions to privatise the channel. And we talk to a woman in Devo...
Apr 08, 2022•30 min
