Thames Water is in talks to secure extra funding as the government says it is ready to act in a worst case scenario if the company collapses. Adam is joined by Newsnight’s economics editor Ben Chu to explain why the company is in trouble, and how it could affect the public. And Chris Stark from the UK Climate Change Committee is in the studio to go through a new report by the body, which concludes that the UK is no longer a world leader. They’re joined by climate scientist Dr Tamsin Edwards. You...
Jun 28, 2023•33 min
The ex-health secretary says pandemic planning was "completely wrong" in Covid inquiry evidence. Health reporter Jim Reed, who spent three hours watching the testimony joins Adam, along with Emma Norris from the Institute for Government. Also, a damning report into English and Welsh cricket says racism, sexism, classism and elitism are widespread in the game. West Indies cricket legend Michael Holding, and former professional cricketer now journalist, Isabelle Westbury, give their reaction. You ...
Jun 27, 2023•33 min
How the BBC uncovered a new suspect in the Stephen Lawrence murder. Adam speaks to home affairs correspondent Daniel De Simone who has spent the last two years looking into the police investigation into the 1993 murder of Stephen Lawrence - the UK's most notorious racist killing. Daniel’s investigation has for the first time named a major suspect in the case. We also hear from former BBC correspondent, Danny Shaw, who has reported on the story and the subsequent inquiry, investigations and trial...
Jun 26, 2023•25 min
President Putin decries "betrayal" and "treason" after a dramatic challenge by the chief of the Wagner mercenary force, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Russia editor Steve Rosenberg, security correspondent Frank Gardner and broadcaster Gabriel Gatehouse try to make sense of a moving and murky situation in Russia. Today’s extra episode is presented by Victoria Derbyshire and Vitaliy Shevchenko. The series producer is Tim Walklate. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Jun 24, 2023•26 min
What could have caused the Titan disaster, and why has it attracted so much coverage? Science correspondent Jonathan Amos joins us to discuss. Media and culture editor Katie Razzall and entertainment reporter Daniel Rosney are in Glastonbury for the start of the festival. And there’s set to be another high pollen count weekend. Hay fever sufferer and diplomatic correspondent James Landale gets advice from GP Dr Sarah Jarvis. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/ne...
Jun 23, 2023•27 min
The US Coastguard has confirmed the “catastrophic implosion” of Titan submersible, and tributes have been paid to those on board who’ve died. Adam talks to North America Correspondent Nomia Iqbal, who’s in Newfoundland where it set off from, as well as David Russell, who led the UK effort to rescue survivors from the sunken Russian submarine Kursk in the Barents Sea in 2000. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere This Newscast was presented by ...
Jun 22, 2023•17 min
The Bank of England has raised interest rates to their highest level in nearly 15 years. Money expert Martin Lewis explains what it means for people with mortgages, renters and savers. He says increasing interest rates to tackle inflation is designed to hurt. Also, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan discusses what the high rate of inflation means for pay negotiations with teachers. Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Clare Williamson. The senior news editor was Jonatha...
Jun 22, 2023•31 min
Noise from the ocean raises hopes of a rescue. Adam is joined by BBC science correspondent Victoria Gill and Dr Joe MacInnis, who was among the first to dive down to the wreck of the Titanic and knows one of the five people on board well, to discuss the complex search to find the missing Titanic submersible. Also, interest rates are expected to rise again after UK inflation remained much higher than expected for the fourth month in a row. Economics editor Faisal Islam and the FT’s Claer Barrett ...
Jun 21, 2023•27 min
Rescue efforts are ongoing for the missing Titanic sub. In this live Newscast, Adam is joined by three guests to help understand why a tourist submersible carrying five people went missing while diving to the wreck of the Titanic. Simon Platts directed a BBC documentary episode about the Titanic sub last year. David Russell was a Royal Navy submariner in charge of the British response to the Kursk submarine disaster in 2000. And Heather Gillis from CBC News joins us close to the wreck site of th...
Jun 20, 2023•31 min
Tory aides were invited to a Covid party in December 2020. Adam and Chris are joined by Scotland editor James Cook to discuss that latest lockdown video, the future of Nicola Sturgeon and Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for North Sea Oil exploration. Also, former Prime Minister David Cameron has appeared before the Covid Inquiry. Health reporter Jim Reed and Emma Norris from the Institute of Government discuss the coalition government’s approach to pandemic preparedness. You can join our Newscast onlin...
Jun 19, 2023•33 min
It’s the first day of the Ashes - can Felix White from the Tailenders podcast on BBC Sounds convince Adam to embrace cricket? A capsized fishing boat carrying migrants is feared to be one of Europe's worst migrant disasters. BBC reporter Sophia Bettiza and chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet discuss what’s happening in southern Greece. And Adam Kay, author of This Is Going to Hurt and a former junior doctor, chats about his new book - Undoctored - as well as this week’s junior doctor s...
Jun 16, 2023•30 min
Let's be blunt: it says he lied. Adam and Chris are joined by former Conservative advisor, Salma Shah, and the Guardian’s Political Editor, Pippa Crerar, to unpack the Partygate report and discuss what happens next. Author and co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party, Catherine Mayer, whose partner Andy died at the beginning of the pandemic, returns to the podcast three years since she was last on. Also, mathematician and Maths Appeal podcaster, Bobby Seagull, explains why Rishi Sunak has put up...
Jun 15, 2023•32 min
What next for Boris Johnson after Privileges Committee says he deliberately misled the Commons?
Jun 15, 2023•13 min
"Look after each other”. BBC Midlands correspondent Navtej Johal talks to Adam about the tragic events in Nottingham, which have left three people dead. And Newsbeat reporter Charlotte Simpson reflects on the outpouring of grief from the student community at today’s vigil. There was a tiny bit of good economic news today: the UK economy grew by 0.2%. But BBC Economics editor, Faisal Islam explains how inflation and interest rates continue to pose a clear and present danger. And we hear how all t...
Jun 14, 2023•31 min
How will the three year inquiry into the pandemic unfold? Adam talks to More or Less presenter Tim Harford about how statistics influenced government decision making on the lockdown and vaccines. BBC Health Editor Hugh Pym was in the room for the first day of public hearings and tells us how families reacted at the beginning of the long-awaited proceedings. Adam also talks to Emma Norris, the Institute for Government’s expert on public inquiries to untangle what the inquiry hopes to achieve and ...
Jun 13, 2023•29 min
Boris Johnson accuses Rishi Sunak of “talking rubbish” as row erupts over honours. Chris Mason explains what it’s all about. And there are more former leaders in the news… Europe editor Katya Adler reflects on the colourful political life of Silvio Berlusconi following his death at 86. Scotland editor James Cook explains how the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon has been playing out politically. Disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring talks about her new podcast Marianna in Conspir...
Jun 12, 2023•35 min
Ex-PM quits Parliament over Partygate report. Adam and Chris go through his dramatic resignation statement, and discuss the fallout to come, with the former PM’s former communications director, Will Walden. Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Flynn. The senior news editor was Sam Bonham.
Jun 09, 2023•25 min
Chris Mason is back from the US to run us through who’s who on the resignation honours list, and discuss why former minister Nadine Dorries might have resigned with immediate effect as a Conservative MP. BBC North America Editor Sarah Smith looks at the charges facing Donald Trump over the handling of classified documents. And Private Eye Editor Ian Hislop tells us about this year’s winner of the Paul Foot Award for Investigative and Campaigning Journalism, David Conn. You can join our Newscast ...
Jun 09, 2023•28 min
Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden take to the stage to announce a new economic partnership called the Atlantic Declaration. Chris Mason sends a message from Washington DC explaining what’s going on to Adam and today’s guest host Alex Forsyth, Presenter of ‘Any Questions?’ on Radio 4 and Political Correspondent for BBC News. Andrew Neil, broadcaster and chair of The Spectator, is also on hand for his analysis of the deal, as well as Prince Harry’s court battle with Mirror Group Newspapers. And the BBC’s ...
Jun 08, 2023•31 min
Prince Harry is cross-examined for a second day in court. BBC media editor Katie Razzall and legal correspondent Dominic Casciani, outline the latest developments in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers. And Adam finds out how the story is going down across the world with New Zealand correspondent, Mei Heron. Newscast’s Chris Mason is in Washington where he has been interviewing the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. And with thousands fleeing southern Ukraine after a major dam burst, Ukrainecast’...
Jun 07, 2023•32 min
A look inside the courtroom as Prince Harry gives evidence in phone hacking trial. BBC media editor Katie Razzall and legal correspondent Dominic Casciani update Adam Fleming after watching Prince Harry’s first appearance in the witness box in the case against Mirror Group Newspapers. Ukrainecast’s Vitaly Shevchenko analyses what might happen next after a major dam burst in Kherson, causing widespread flooding and evacuations. And Adam catches up with Katya Adler, after we spotted her in the off...
Jun 06, 2023•31 min
Explaining Prince Harry’s court case against Mirror Group Newspapers BBC media editor Katie Razzall and lawyer Mark Stephens talk Adam Fleming through the first day of the trial and discuss what Prince Harry will have to face when he takes the stand on Tuesday. Chris Mason is back after parliamentary recess and he tells us what Rishi Sunak had to say about illegal migration when he was in Kent today. And beloved children’s author Michael Morpurgo talks about his new book, the environment, King C...
Jun 05, 2023•36 min
What next after the BBC’s interview with the former This Morning presenter? After Philip Schofield’s first interview since leaving ITV, Adam is joined by 5 Live's Nicky Campbell and Lorraine Heggessey, former controller of BBC One. They unpack what we learned and the potential impact on the TV industry. Union boss Mick Lynch comes in ahead of a weekend of disruption to answer questions from Newscasters. Today’s Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Ben Carter with Chloe Desave, ...
Jun 02, 2023•36 min
Here's the whole interview with the former This Morning presenter, with the BBC's Amol Rajan. If you have been impacted suicide or any of the issues discussed in this podcast, please visit www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.
Jun 02, 2023•44 min
The government will launch a legal challenge over the Covid inquiry’s demand for messages between Boris Johnson and his advisers during the pandemic. Adam speaks to one of the those advisers, Cleo Watson, who was the former prime minister’s deputy chief of staff, and is now the author of Whips. Also, the BBC has interviewed controversial influencer Andrew Tate. We go through what he said, and the decision to interview him, with the BBC’s Marianna Spring and journalist Matt Shea who has made a do...
Jun 01, 2023•34 min
Lorraine Heggessey, former controller of BBC One and Head of Children's BBC talks to Adam about the future of Phillip Schofield and ITV, which has launched a review into its handling of a relationship between the presenter and his colleague. We also talk about how governments are gearing up to regulate artificial intelligence with Joe Tidy, the BBC’s cyber correspondent. And Chris Mason has been pulled back from his holiday to discuss Boris Johnson’s WhatsApps. You’re invited to a new listener e...
May 31, 2023•28 min
Number 10 deny a cover-up over Boris Johnson’s Covid Whatsapp messages. The Covid inquiry has demanded that the former PM hand over unredacted messages, diaries and notebooks by Thursday. Adam talks it all through with political correspondent Alex Forsyth and the Institute for Government’s Catherine Haddon, who also teaches ministers the do’s and don’ts of doing official business over WhatsApp. Plus the BBC’s former China correspondent John Sudworth and producer Simon Maybin talk about their new...
May 30, 2023•27 min
The shadow chancellor’s American dream Economics Editor Faisal Islam is in the hot seat. Labour’s Rachel Reeves has been in New York and Washington to talk about how one of the US administration’s flagship policies has inspired her own economic vision. America’s Inflation Reduction Act will boost the green economy and provide huge subsidies to consumers who buy American-made products. How might a similar scheme work in the UK? He also gets chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s thoughts. Faisal also asks Octo...
May 26, 2023•37 min
We chat to Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Adam is back from his holiday and is joined by Scotland Editor James Cook. They speak to the Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University. Chris Mason is also on a beach (!) in Great Yarmouth reporting on how migration numbers have gone down in parts of the country that voted for Brexit. Today’s Newscast was presented by James Cook and Adam Fleming. It was made by Rufus Gray ...
May 25, 2023•30 min
Inflation has fallen, but will we really notice the difference? Scotland editor James Cook steps in for Adam today. He talks to consumer champion Gemma Godfrey and Tim Harford, presenter of Radio 4’s More or Less, about today’s announcement that inflation has dropped below 10% for the first time since last August. And it’s already been a very busy week in Westminster. Political editor Chris Mason talks through the latest developments. Today’s Newscast was presented by James Cook. It was made by ...
May 24, 2023•32 min
