Best of the Spectator

Latest Episodes:

Coffee House Shots: May resigns - what next? May 24, 2019

Show notes

With James Forsyth and Katy Balls.
Presented by Fraser Nelson.
Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Spectator Podcast: is Labour being picked apart by new rivals? May 23, 2019

Show notes

This week, as the country goes to the polls for European elections, we ask: has Brexit devoured the far left (00:40)? We also speak to an unlikely Boris supporter – Matthew Parris – on the merits of a Boris leadership for Remainers (14:15). And last, do you own books to read, or to show off (28:55)?
With Nick Cohen, Sienna Rodgers, Matthew Parris, James Forsyth, Virginia Blackburn and Stig Abell.
Presented by Katy Balls.
Produced by Cindy Yu and Siva Thangarajah.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spectator Books: what makes Shakespeare special? May 22, 2019

Show notes

In this week’s Spectator Books, Sam's guest is Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Hertford College, Oxford, who’s talking about her new book This Is Shakespeare. What is it that makes Shakespeare special — and is it defensible that, as even in university curricula, we talk about Shakespeare apart from and above the whole of the rest of literature? How did he think about genre? Why is Act Four always a bit boring? Is the Tempest an autumnal masterpiece or the thin work of a writer of dwindling powers? And how filthy is A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
Presented by Sam Leith.
Spectator Books is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented by Sam Leith, The Spectator's Literary Editor. Hear past episodes of Spectator Books here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Table Talk: with Cressida Bonas May 21, 2019

Show notes

Actress Cressida Bonas talks to Lara and Livvy about growing up on shepherd's pie and pop-tarts, her trypophobia, and the best curry she's ever had.

Table Talk is a series of podcasts where Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts talk to celebrity guests about their life story, through the food and drink that has come to define it. Listen to past episodes here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coffee House Shots: Tory tribes go to war May 20, 2019

Show notes

With James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson.

Presented by Katy Balls.

Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women With Balls: reporting from Yemen May 17, 2019

Show notes

Iona Craig is an award-winning war correspondent who has been reporting from Yemen since 2010. On the podcast, Iona tells Katy about her near-death experiences, dealing with survivor's guilt, and why being a woman makes her job possible.

Women With Balls is a podcast series where Katy Balls speak to women at the top of their respective games. To hear past episodes, visit spectator.co.uk/balls.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Spectator Podcast: Time for Boris? May 16, 2019

Show notes

Cometh the hour, cometh the man? Is Boris the man to save the Tories from Nigel Farage? We talk to his former right hand man about his chances (00:45). We also discuss the latest frontier of political correctness – can fantasy fiction be racist (14:15)? And last, why are people today so squeamish about meat (28:05)?

With Katy Balls, James Forsyth, Will Walden, Karen Yossman, Sam Leith, James Whetlor, and Olivia Potts.

Presented by Lara Prendergast.

Produced by Cindy Yu.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spectator Books: Ursula Buchan on her grandfather, John Buchan May 15, 2019

Show notes

In this week's books podcast, Sam is joined by Ursula Buchan - the author of a hugely involving new life of her late grandfather John Buchan. The book is called Beyond the Thirty-Nine Steps (you can read Allan Massie's enthusiastic Spectator review of it here), and it does as the title promises. Buchan (or "JB" to his family) is known, if he's known now at all, as the author of the pre-war thriller The Thirty-Nine Steps, later filmed by Hitchcock. Yet here was a man of staggering range and energy - diplomat, historian, politician, propagandist, poet, barrister, publisher, and (most important of all) one-time assistant editor of The Spectator. He was a proud Scot who lived most of his life out of Scotland, and whose travels took him from Boer South Africa to the Governor-General's mansion in Canada. Here's John Buchan in the round - and a granddaughter talking about how and why she sought to make his memory her own.

Presented by Sam Leith.

Spectator Books is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented by Sam Leith, The Spectator's Literary Editor. Hear past episodes of Spectator Books here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Table Talk: with Nathan Outlaw May 14, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Michelin star chef Nathan Outlaw joins Lara and Livvy to talk about his love for Cornwall and seafood, training under celebrity chef Rick Stein, and how he totally didn't help his ten year old daughter win a baking competition.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coffee House Shots: has the Conservative Party destroyed itself? May 13, 2019

Show notes

With Katy Balls and James Forsyth.

Presented by Fraser Nelson.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.