Newscast

Latest Episodes:

The Post Office scandal Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

Why were hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongfully convicted and what will happen next?

Adam is back on Newscast and starts the week by chatting with Nick Wallis, author of the book, The Great Post Office Scandal, about why it's called the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history.

And, is Russia still preparing to invade Ukraine? We discuss everything there is to know about the Ukraine crisis, with Newsnight's Mark Urban (in Kyiv) and the BBC's Steve Rosenberg (in Moscow).

This episode of Newscast was made by Alix Pickles and Georgia Coan. The studio director was Hannah Montgomery. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Top of the Cops Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

Newscast talks policing culture with the Culture Editor, Katie Razzall, who's sitting in for Adam. She chats to the BBC's Tom Symonds about what's happened since Dame Cressida Dick resigned.

We hear from Rufus Norris (at the National Theatre) and Erica Whyman (at the Royal Shakespeare Company) about what the industry has been through over the last few years, as well as their hopes for the future.

Louis Theroux is back to talk about his new doc series.

And Gogglebox's Scarlett Moffatt makes an appearance too!

This episode of Newscast was made by John Murphy, Georgia Coan, Ben Cooper and Danny Wittenberg. The studio director was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Cressida Khan’t Carry On Feb 10, 2022

Show notes

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick is stepping down after Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said he no longer has confidence in her leadership.

On the day of the PM’s diplomatic trip to Nato, Laura’s in Brussels joining Chris and Politics Live’s Jo Coburn to tell us how the talks on Ukraine and Russia are going.

And Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy tells us what it was like being with the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, when they were mobbed by protesters.

Today’s Newscast was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Sally Abrahams and Alix Pickles. The editor was Jonathan Aspinwall.

WhatsApp Wagatha? Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

Vardy’s "nasty" messages were not about Rooney, apparently... Victoria Derbyshire sits in for Adam and chats to the Guardian Media Editor, Jim Waterson, about all things "Wagatha Christie".

Prof Peter Openshaw (who advises the Government on Covid) tells us what he thinks about Boris Johnson’s surprise plan to scrap all the Covid rules very soon.

LBC radio host and West Ham fan, Iain Dale, takes us through what happened since the Kurt Zouma cat video was posted online.

And... Laura is on the move, again, talking partygate....

Today’s Newscast was made by John Murphy with Alix Pickles and Georgia Coan. The studio director was Mike Regaard and the assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Minister of Opportunities Knocks Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

Jacob Rees-Mogg gets a new role in government... Chris sits in for Adam and chats through the latest cabinet reshuffle with the BBC's Alex Forsyth. On the day that the Health Secretary announces plans to reduce NHS waiting lists, Natasha Loder (who's making a Radio 4 doc all about the NHS backlog) puts the problem into perspective. And diplomacy continues in Russia and Ukraine... We chat to Carrie Davies in Moscow and Fergal Keane in Kiev. Today’s Newscast was made by John Murphy with Alix Pickles and Georgia Coan. The studio director was Emma Crowe and the assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Protesters surround Starmer Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

Police have to protect the Labour leader...

Arrests have been made after clashes between protesters and police protecting Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Naga (sitting in for Adam) gets the latest from Laura. And broadcasting legend, BBC World Affairs Editor, John Simpson, talks about what it was like going to Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. Today’s Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with John Murphy, Georgia Coan and Alix Pickles. The studio director was Emma Crowe.

Aaron Bellwether Feb 04, 2022

Show notes

Another Conservative MP submits letter of no confidence in the PM...

Victoria Derbyshire sits in for Adam. She invites Newsnight’s Lewis Goodall and Craig Oliver (ex Comms Director for David Cameron) on the pod to try and understand what's going on at 10 Downing Street.

After the Chancellor unveiled £billions worth of support in a bid to tackle the cost of living crisis yesterday, friend of the pod Claer Barrett (Consumer Editor at the Financial Times) jumps on to talk energy, taxes and wages.

And, which of the Bafta noms should we all watch this weekend? Radio 1 film critic, Ali Plumb, knows a good film when he sees it!

Today’s Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Alix Pickles, Georgia Coan and Sally Abrahams. The studio director was Emma Crowe.

Resignation Street Feb 03, 2022

Show notes

Four of the prime minister’s close aides have resigned in one day. Adam, Laura and Chris chew over the implications of the latest departures for Boris Johnson.

Energy prices are soaring – so, what’s the government doing? Ofgem says millions of people will pay 54% more for their energy from April, or almost £700 on an average bill. The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak explains what he’s doing to lessen the shock for households.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Paul Givan has announced his resignation, in protest against the Northern Ireland protocol... Chris is in Belfast.

Today’s Newscast was made by Alison Gee with Danny Wittenberg and John Murphy. The editor was Jonathan Aspinwall.

Levelling Shake-Up Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

Government's plan to tackle regional inequality is published... Adam talks through what it means with the BBC’s Alex Forsyth and Sheffield filmmaker, Mark Herbert. More Tory MPs say they want Johnson out of Downing Street. Laura's got the latest... And the BBC's Jon Kay tells us about his new pod, Fairy Meadow, all about the disappearance of a girl from a beach in Australia. 50 years on, can the mystery be solved? Today’s Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with John Murphy, Georgia Coan and Alex Partridge. The studio director was Emma Crowe.

Talks in Kyiv Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

Boris Johnson has arrived in Ukraine to talk to the country’s president as fears rise about a war with Russia. The BBC’s James Landale explains what's been going on today and what it might mean for the UK (and the rest of the world).

And, it’s ANOTHER day of Sue Gray... Laura and Adam talk through the fallout from yesterday’s report, including that Jimmy Savile remark from the PM in Parliament. Richard Scorer, a lawyer who represented the Savile victims, explains why the comments have caused so much anger.

Today’s Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with Georgia Coan and John Murphy. The studio director was Michael Regaard and the editor was Jon Aspinwall.