Newscast

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L’électioncast: the result Apr 24, 2022

Show notes

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.

L'Électioncast part deux Apr 22, 2022

Show notes

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 Newscast was made by Tim Walklate with Ben Cooper, Michele Theil and Cordelia Hemming. The technical producer was Cassie Galpin and the editor was Jonathan Aspinwall.

Partygate Probelem Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

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 of Newscast was made by Danny Wittenberg, Chris Flynn and Miranda Slade. The assistant editor was Alison Gee. The editor was Jonathan Aspinwall.

Netflixodus Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

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 Ben Cooper. The technical producer was Emma Crowe and the assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

After-Partygate Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

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 infecting phones with malicious software.

Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate with Ben Cooper, Miranda Slade and Cordelia Hemming. The technical producer was Emma Crowe and the editor was Jonathan Aspinwall.

Ticket to Rwanda Apr 14, 2022

Show notes

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 holidays since the start of the pandemic.

Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate with Cordelia Hemming and Miranda Slade. The technical producer was Emma Crowe and the assistant editor was Alison Gee.

The Sneeze and the Squeeze Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

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 life is like for a journalist in Moscow.

Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate, with Cordelia Hemming and Ben Cooper. Emma Crowe was the technical producer. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Partygate Fine for PM Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

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 claims like these.

Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate with Ben Cooper and Osman Iqbal. Emma Crowe was the technical producer. The assistant editor was Alison Gee.

L'électioncast Apr 11, 2022

Show notes

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 of Sir David Amess MP, the conviction of Wakefield MP, Imran Ahmad Khan, for sexual assault, and the ongoing row over the Chancellor’s tax affairs.

Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate, with Cordelia Hemming and Ben Cooper. The studio director was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Sunflower TurmOil Apr 08, 2022

Show notes

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 Devon who’s trying to provide a home for a family that’s fled Ukraine, but they’ve been dogged by bureaucracy and delays. The BBC’s home editor Mark Easton is also on the programme, having interviewed Home Secretary Priti Patel about government schemes to help refugees.

Today's Newscast was made by Alison Gee, Chris Flynn, Cordelia Hemming and Miranda Slade. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.