Episode 58. Richard Brooks has been on a pilgrimage to Kent to uncover the hidden chaos of Brexit; Tim Minogue reveals the unexpected downsides of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, and Francis Wheen laments the departure of one of the Telegraph's finest hacks, who also happens to be the Chinese ambassador to Britain.
Feb 04, 2021•34 min•Ep. 58
Episode 57. MD, AKA Phil Hammond, gives a roundup of the year’s Covid news, Richard Brooks and Solomon Hughes look under the bonnet of the government’s latest outsourcing disasters, we speak to Sarah Shannon about Farmed Salmon, and say farewell to the Eye’s friend John Sessions. Free (glass of) port with every download!
Dec 14, 2020•53 min•Ep. 57
Episode 56. In a one-off departure from our usual format, Ian Hislop interviews James Alefantis - the Washington restaurateur whose pizza restaurant has been swept up in multiple conspiracy theories - first Pizzagate and now QAnon.
Oct 31, 2020•30 min•Ep. 56
Episode 55. Eye hacks Tim Minogue and Adam Macqueen discuss the latest goings-on at BBC News, who's being sacked and who isn't (yet); Phil Hammond, aka MD, reveals what's going on at The Agency Formerly Known As Public Health England; and Ian Hislop provides some insight into the magazine trade, via the Eye's latest sales figures. Free advert for subscription with every download!
Sep 01, 2020•36 min•Ep. 55
Episode 54. Richard Brooks reveals the big governmental lessons from COVID-19, Heather Mills and Sarah Shannon discuss the beggaring of sailors around the world by complacent shipowners, and Francis Wheen reports on the bugging the Fabulous Feuding Barclay Brothers have been engaging in.
Jul 09, 2020•45 min•Ep. 54
Episode 53. This month's podcast comes to you from the Paul Foot Awards 2020, featuring all the shortlisted entries for the best investigative journalism of the year. Includes cameos from Ian Hislop and Chief Judge Padraig Reidy, and sound effects from the star-studded Paul Foot Awards party, recorded last year as parties are no longer allowed. Free canapé with every download!
Jun 09, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 53
Episode 52. This month’s podcast is all about COVID-19. The Eye’s medical correspondent, MD, discusses the latest developments, plus some faint lights at the end of the tunnel, and a team of the Eye’s hacks reveal how the pandemic has affected the EU, education, housing, social media, and the Street of Shame. Free face mask with every download! (Only joking, there are none left anywhere)
May 04, 2020•57 min•Ep. 52
Episode 51. This month’s podcast is all about the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the Eye’s coverage of it. Featuring Adam Macqueen, Jane Mackenzie and Francis Wheen. Free tin of tomatoes with every download! (Only joking, there are none left.)
Mar 30, 2020•42 min•Ep. 51
Episode 50. Rachael Claye and Peter Apps discuss the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire and the web of failures leading up to the tragedy in 2017. Also, the Eye's Francis Wheen reveals why the Commonwealth is looking askance at its high-rolling Secretary General - who used to work for Private Eye...
Mar 04, 2020•46 min•Ep. 50
Episode 49. Richard Brooks and Nick Wallis reveal the extraordinary twenty-year scandal that has been dogging the Post Office, the editor discusses how to make fun of the Royal Family, and Flunkey's true identity is revealed (or not). Free sub-postmaster with every download!
Feb 04, 2020•53 min•Ep. 49
Episode 48. An all-star cast brings the Private Eye annual from page to stage for a Christmas bonanza. Starring Ian Hislop, John Sessions, Lewis MacLeod, Jan Ravens and Harry Enfield. Free tiding of comfort and joy with every download!
Dec 19, 2019•28 min•Ep. 48
Episode 47. A podcast tribute to the Eye's first editor, Christopher Booker, including interviews with Adam Macqueen and Ian Hislop. Free E.J. Thribb-threnody with every download!
Jul 24, 2019•24 min•Ep. 47
Episode 46. As the magazine reaches its 1500th episode, Page 94 interviews Ian Hislop in an OBN special, finds out about the ghost on the 3rd floor, and challenges the Eye's official quizmaster to a quiz.
Jul 11, 2019•25 min•Ep. 46
Episode 45. Recorded live at Private Eye's annual Paul Foot Awards, this special episode interviews the investigative journalists who have hacked their way through thickets of secrecy and obfuscation and made their way onto the shortlist for the prestigious award. Free canapé with every download!
Jun 25, 2019•49 min•Ep. 45
Episode 44. Triple bill for the last in the series! Richard Brooks on the mysterious man running the Tory party's finances; Tim Minogue on cash-strapped councils coming a cropper; and Ian Hislop and Heather Mills on the stories that run for years...and years. Free 'I was reading about this in 1996' badge with every download!
Mar 11, 2019•46 min•Ep. 44
Episode 43. The Eye's human rights correspondent, the mysterious Dr Grim, reveals what it's like being one of China's Uighur Muslims (spoiler: it's not great), and Adam Macqueen and Francis Wheen commemorate the passing of one of the Eye's great sparring partners/legal threats, Lady Falkender. Free lavender notepad with every download!
Feb 22, 2019•29 min•Ep. 43
Episode 42. Phil Hammond (AKA M.D.) and Heather Mills discuss the state of Britain’s mental health provision, and Marcus Berkmann spills the beans on everyone’s favourite quiz column.
Feb 04, 2019•30 min•Ep. 42
Episode 41. A triple bill for 2019: Jane Mackenzie discusses the dangerous cuts to the fire service and Adam Macqueen reveals the 'local' telly which is anything but. PLUS a special report from Francis Wheen on whether Brexit is more like Agincourt, Suez, or the Battle of Hastings. (Spoiler alert: it's all of them!)
Jan 15, 2019•34 min•Ep. 41
Episode 40. A star-studded cast of Harry Enfield, John Sessions, Jan Ravens and Lewis MacLeod join editor Ian Hislop for a live show at the National Theatre looking back at the year's news. Free plug for the Private Eye Annual with every download!
Dec 10, 2018•27 min•Ep. 40
Episode 39. Solomon Hughes talks us through the woes of the privatised probation service, and cartoonist Richard Jolley gives us a guide to the EU-phemisms cartoon. Free £150 bottle of wine with every download!
Nov 30, 2018•32 min•Ep. 39
Episode 38. Page 94 returns! A special episode all about Putin's money-laundering pals, and the British bankers, lawyers and accountants who are letting it happen. Free Belgravia mansion with every download!
Nov 16, 2018•30 min•Ep. 38
Episode 37. School’s out for summer - and, in lots of places, for ever. Jane Mackenzie and Solomon Hughes discuss the government's bizarre new school system - plus, the Eye's social media maven Matt Muir makes his Page 94 debut with a dissection of Facebook's recent woes. The last before the summer holidays - Page 94 Will Return!
Aug 08, 2018•42 min•Ep. 37
Episode 36. As the NHS hits 70, Phil Hammond gives a rundown just how run-down it is, and Francis Wheen delivers an 'Eye Told You So' about the Vote Leave spending skulduggery during the Brexit referendum, featuring a mysterious young man called Darren.
Jul 25, 2018•29 min•Ep. 36
Episode 35. Sarah Shannon talks us through the travails of a doomed tidal energy project, and Francis Wheen tells the rollicking tale of Telegraph-owning twins the Barclay brothers and their attempts to bang up a blogger. Free speech with every download!
Jul 12, 2018•28 min•Ep. 35
Episode 34. A special episode from the Paul Foot Awards, featuring the cream of British investigative journalism, interviews with the judges, and the whole shortlist. Free lukewarm canapé with every download!
Jun 29, 2018•36 min•Ep. 34
Episode 33. A new series of Page 94! The Eye's tax correspondent Richard Brooks discusses the men who broke capitalism while pretending to be accountants, and Adam Macqueen reveals the Eye's role in Jeremy Thorpe's downfall. Plus, we go to a party.
Jun 13, 2018•37 min•Ep. 33
Episode 32. Eye hack Heather Mills explains the delays and chaos of the new Universal Credit system of benefits - and, as a CHRISTMAS TREAT, a special preview of the Eye’s annual Eye Annual show at the National Theatre. Free advert for the Private Eye Annual with every download!
Dec 20, 2017•31 min•Ep. 32
Episode 31. Page 94 speaks to Richard Brooks and Christian Eriksson about the shadowy millionaires keeping their money in sun-kissed foreign islands, and to Grizelda about cartoons and cartooning. Free 'I Remember When The Paradise Papers Were Called The Panama Papers' T-shirt with every download!
Nov 22, 2017•31 min•Ep. 31
Episode 30. A special episode on bungling police, including investigations into the Eye's own subscriber list and Ted Heath. With appearances from Jane Mackenzie, Rosie Waterhouse, Francis Wheen, and Ian Hislop. Free Get Out Of Jail card with every download!
Oct 19, 2017•27 min•Ep. 30
Episode 29. Heather Mills discusses the contaminated blood scandal which has finally been granted a public inquiry, and the series ends with a medley of Eye contributors - led by Our Man In Brussels, Ben Fox - telling us everything we know about Brexit, and everything we don't. Free movement of people with every download!
Jul 27, 2017•32 min•Ep. 29