Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the UK Children's Laureate, is Today's first guest editor this Christmas. His programme focuses on whether we should rethink our approach to reading - and make reading to young children a public health priority. And he gets the chance to interview none other than Dolly Parton - about why she's turned to writing children's books. GET IN TOUCH: * Send us a message or a voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 * Email today@bbc.co.uk Between now and the end of the year we'r...
Dec 24, 2024•45 min
Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson are joined by Today programme colleague Justin Webb to discuss a bumper election year that saw the UK elect a new prime minister and the US re-elect a president. Plus, Emma Barnett looks back at her first few months as a Today presenter and Garry Richardson returns to pick out his sporting moments of 2024. To get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories and insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme make sure you subscribe to...
Dec 24, 2024•49 min
A few weeks into her new job, Amol sits down with the Conservative Party leader for a wide-ranging interview about her brand of politics, what she would do as prime minister and why Elon Musk is backing Nigel Farage. They also discuss what she has done since taking over from Rishi Sunak, the Conservative government's record on immigration and Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election. GET IN TOUCH: * Send us a message or a voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 * Email today@bb...
Dec 23, 2024•42 min
French prime minister Michel Barnier was forced to resign when his government collapsed in the wake of a no-confidence vote and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is heading for fresh elections in February. Amol and Nick are joined by Jose Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, to look at what the crisis in those countries means for the EU as it faces economic decline, the rise of populist parties and a second Donald Trump presidency. Plus, sports presenter Karthi Gnanasegaram p...
Dec 19, 2024•38 min
When Nigel Farage accepted the Spectator’s Newcomer of the Year Award, he suggested that his Reform UK party could get hundreds more MPs at the next election. In this week’s episode Amol and Nick discuss whether that’s possible with BBC political editor Chris Mason and Tim Montgomerie, who founded the Conservative Home website, but recently left the Tory Party to join Reform UK. He explains why he decided to defect, how his friends in the Conservative Party have reacted and what he thinks can be...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 1 min
After a bumpy first few months in power Keir Starmer is giving a speech to outline his milestones for the next five years, so in this episode Amol and Nick are joined by the former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth to discuss the prime minister’s approach to politics and whether the speech should be seen as a reset moment for his government. Since winning the election in July, Keir Starmer chief of staff Sue Gray and transport secretary Louise Haigh have both resigned. He’s also faced a backlash over ...
Dec 04, 2024•36 min
When Dame Esther Rantzen told Amol and Nick that she had joined the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland she helped reignite a debate about assisted dying in the UK. Now MPs are preparing to vote on a bill that would legalise it in England and Wales, so in this episode they catch-up with Dame Esther and speak to two MPs, Preet Kaur Gill and Warinder Singh Juss, about how their religion has influenced their thinking. They also discuss the interview Amol did with the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, whose priv...
Nov 27, 2024•54 min
Each year the Today programme gives guest editors the chance to explore the issues that matter to them. In this bonus episode one of this year’s guest editors, screenwriter and UK Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, tells Amol what he’s planning for his programme. The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson who are both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the curren...
Nov 25, 2024•22 min
In this special episode two former Labour prime ministers, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, reflect on the life of the former deputy prime minister who has died at the age of 86. Plus, Amol and Nick discuss their recollections of John Prescott and assess the impact he had on British politics. You can listen to John Prescott on Desert Island Discs here, in an episode first broadcast in 2012: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b01c6trm The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson who are...
Nov 21, 2024•37 min
Keir Starmer has said Labour will “smash the gangs” to stop the small boats carrying migrants across the Channel, so Nick joins Amol from the busiest border crossing in Europe to discuss whether that’s really possible. They hear from Syrian men living in a Bulgarian refugee camp and meet a sniffer dog who can detect rubber boats being taken across the border. Plus, they answer your questions about the issues raised in Nick’s reporting and what it’s like taking Today on the road. The Today Podcas...
Nov 20, 2024•43 min
Nick joins Amol from the border between Bulgaria and Turkey, which is also the border between the EU and rest of the world. What happens here has a direct impact on what happens in the English Channel, so in this special episode he reports on the migration routes into Europe - where people are coming from, why they're coming and what, if anything, can be done to stop the people smugglers. Along the way he meets people hoping to make the crossing into Europe and some who ultimately want to come t...
Nov 18, 2024•25 min
Ahead of a planned protest by farmers who are angry about the Budget, Amol and Nick talk to farmer and best-selling author James Rebanks. Plus, as Donald Trump's top team takes shape and he hires Elon Musk to jointly lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency”, they discuss what his appointments tell us about his approach to China and the war in Ukraine. The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson who are both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Amol was the BBC’s m...
Nov 14, 2024•41 min
In this bonus live episode Amol and Nick are joined by fellow Today presenter Justin Webb who is in Washington DC. Together they answer questions about what Trump does next, why the pollsters got it so wrong, what they would ask Donald Trump if he came on the podcast and when Justin gets some sleep after presenting the Today programme overnight from America. The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson who are both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Amol was the BBC’s me...
Nov 07, 2024•46 min
In this episode we look forward and discuss what a second Trump presidency could mean for the world with Lord Sedwill who was the UK’s most senior civil servant and national security adviser when Trump was last in the White House. Amol and Nick also speak to Mike Gonzalez who is a senior fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington DC about what we can expect from Donald Trump this time round. The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson who are both presenters of ...
Nov 06, 2024•56 min
How will the first Budget by a female chancellor and the first from a Labour government since 2010 be remembered? Nick is joined by Stephanie Flanders, head of economics and politics at Bloomberg, and Professor Tim Leunig from the London School of Economics, who advised two Conservative chancellors. Together they dig deeper into the Budget following Nick’s interview with Rachel Reeves on the Today programme. Plus Amol takes a break from half term childcare to give us his reflections. The Today P...
Oct 31, 2024•36 min
In this episode we bring you Nick’s full interview with the Chancellor after she delivered the first Labour Budget since 2010. Later Nick will be joined by former BBC economics editor Stephanie Flanders and economist Tim Leunig to unpick what was in the Budget and what she said in the interview. That will be available on Thursday afternoon. To make sure you don’t miss it subscribe to The Today Podcast on BBC Sounds so you get an alert every time we release a new episode. You can also listen any ...
Oct 31, 2024•16 min
In this bonus episode, Nick and Amol answer more of your questions. How much power does a political spin doctor have? How do journalists look after their mental health? And what happens if a guest swears on air? If you have a question you’d like to Nick and Amol to answer, get in touch by sending us a message or a voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email us on today@bbc.co.uk Subscribe to The Today Podcast on BBC Sounds so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen any time on yo...
Oct 26, 2024•22 min
In this exclusive interview Kate Bush talks to Today presenter Emma Barnett about a new short film she has made for the charity War Child, her music reaching a whole new audience through the TV series Stranger Things and her plans for the future. Plus, Emma tells Amol how she got such a rare interview with the music legend. The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former...
Oct 25, 2024•19 min
The billionaire boss of X, Tesla and SpaceX is backing Donald Trump in the US election, so what are his motivations and how should politicians deal with him? Amol and Nick talk to Ryan Mac, a reporter at the New York Times and author of ‘Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter’. Plus, they’re joined in the studio by Kirsty Young to talk about the new series of Young Again, the art of the long-form interview and her poignant speech as the coverage of the Queen's funeral drew to a close. ...
Oct 24, 2024•57 min
After two decades in politics, including 10 cabinet positions under four prime ministers, Michael Gove is no stranger to the heat of a Conservative leadership contest. With Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick now going head-to-head in the final stage of the race to choose the party’s next leader, the Tory veteran joins Nick and Amol to give his assessment of the two candidates. What are their strengths and weaknesses? And what is the future - not just of the Conservative party - but the right more ...
Oct 17, 2024•55 min
This week marks 100 days of Keir Starmer’s government. But the new Prime Minister has already faced several setbacks, with stories swirling of freebies, party infighting, and anger at the scrapping of the winter fuel payments scheme. Nick and Amol sit down with Thangam Debbonaire, the former Labour MP and Shadow Culture Secretary, who lost her seat in the 2024 election. Is the negative media coverage of the new government unfair? Does Starmer have a ‘politics problem’? And what is it like to wat...
Oct 10, 2024•54 min
In the week that Israel invaded Lebanon and Iran attacked Israel with missiles, Nick and Amol take a step back to ask how we got here. They’re joined in the studio by Sir Simon Gass, one of the UK’s most experienced Iran watchers who was the UK ambassador to Tehran and political director at the Foreign Office. How powerful is Iran? What might happen now both Hezbollah and Hamas appear to have been weakened? And what are his hopes and fears for the wider Middle East? Plus, newsreader and Radio 4 ...
Oct 03, 2024•57 min
Ruby Wax began her career as a classically trained actor. She’s also starred in sitcoms, made documentaries and done celebrity interviews. Now she’s best known as a mental health campaigner. In this bonus episode she opens up to Amol about her difficult upbringing, the highs and lows of her career and the art of the celebrity interview. Details of support with mental health are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Regular episodes of The Today Podcast with Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson drop on Thur...
Sep 28, 2024•31 min
Amol and Nick with their take on Keir Starmer’s first Today interview since becoming PM and behind the scenes insights about what it’s like doing big political interviews. Plus, Ruby Wax drops in for Moment of the Week. You can hear more of Amol’s conversation with Ruby Wax in a bonus episode that will drop on Saturday morning. Subscribe to The Today Podcast on BBC Sounds so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen any time on your smart speaker by saying “Smart Speaker, ask BBC Sounds to ...
Sep 25, 2024•41 min
In this bonus episode, Nick talks to Keir Starmer after his first Labour conference speech as prime minister. Check back later to get Amol and Nick’s take on the interview and make sure you subscribe to The Today Podcast on BBC Sounds so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen any time on your smart speaker by saying “Smart Speaker, ask BBC Sounds to play The Today Podcast.” The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Amol...
Sep 25, 2024•23 min
Pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah have exploded across Lebanon killing several people and injuring thousands more. Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant says the country is "opening a new phase in the war" - and the "centre of gravity is shifting to the north through the diversion of resources and forces". Sir Alex Younger, a former head of MI6, talks to Amol and Nick about the significance of the attacks, which were reportedly carried out by the Israeli spy agency Mossad. They’re also...
Sep 18, 2024•48 min
How do independent MPs work together to hold the government to account? What do the producers behind Today do? And why does the programme mark the end of each hour with the pips? Amol and Nick return with answers to more listener questions. You too can put a question to Amol and Nick. Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note to WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or you can email Today@bbc.co.uk Episodes of The Today Podcast with Amol and Nick land first on BBC Sounds. Get Amol and Nick's tak...
Sep 16, 2024•30 min
As Lord Darzi’s report on the state of the NHS is released, Nick and Amol take a look at what needs to be done to bring about real change. They speak to Professor Sir John Bell - one of the country's most decorated doctors and an adviser to government during the Covid-19 pandemic - who believes that more funding is not the only way of improving the NHS. Plus, the nation's favourite pub landlord Al Murray drops in with his moment of the week. If you have a question you’d like to Amol and Nick to ...
Sep 12, 2024•57 min
A scathing report from the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire has concluded that all 72 deaths were avoidable – but were the result of a chain of failures by governments, "dishonest" companies and a lack of strategy by the fire service. Nick assesses whether anyone will now be held accountable – and whether this might be the moment that substandard social housing becomes a major political issue. He’s joined by Emma Dent Coad, the former Labour MP for Kensington who had just been elected...
Sep 04, 2024•55 min
“Things will get worse before they get better.” That was the gloomy warning given by Keir Starmer this week, in his first major speech since becoming prime minister. Labour have previously blamed the Tories for the ‘economic black hole’ they say they’ve found in the public finances since taking office. But what did Starmer mean when he referred to a ‘societal black hole’ left by his predecessors? And if there are cracks in British society, how does the government fix them? Amol and Nick are join...
Aug 29, 2024•56 min
