Richard Porritt, Cash Boyle and Matt Withers usher in The New Normal. Each week the trio will dissect the news, unpack the politics and grill the guests.
Seven go to Cornwall, and on your Marx for the Euros
Jun 11, 2021
Show notes
Richard Porritt, Cash Boyle and Matt Withers return to bring you the week’s news, politics, gags, gaffes and guests in The New Normal. This week they discuss the G7 Summit in Cornwall, the removal of the Queen's portrait from an Oxford college and whether England's footballers are really taking the knee due to a 19-century German philosopher. Plus there's the government's dodgy Covid deals, The Sun's continuing obsession with covering the coronavirus crisis through the prism of pubs and more cultural tips to get you through the weekend. Music: 8 Bit Sauce by Mikey Geiger
Freedom Day and the flicks
Jun 04, 2021
Show notes
Richard Porritt, Matt Withers and Cash Boyle return to bring you the week’s news, politics, gags, gaffes and guests in The New Normal. This week they discuss the potential postponement of the next stage of lockdown lifting, Brexiteer Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin's calls for more EU migration to staff his pubs and next year's bonus bank holiday. Film critic Michael Joyce joins us to recommend what to see at the cinema this summer before they're all shut down again. Plus talk of turning 30, provincial nightclubs and Freddy Marks from Rod, Jane and Freddy (RIP). Music: 8 Bit Sauce by Mikey Geiger
Hating Peter Tatchell, and believing Dominic Cummings?
May 28, 2021
Show notes
Richard Porritt, Cash Boyle and Matt Withers return to bring you the week’s news, politics, gags, gaffes and guests in The New Normal. This week they discuss Dominic Cummings' marathon assault on the government's coronavirus handling and Rob Roberts, the suspended sex pest MP who has dodged a by-election. Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell joins us to talk about the LGBT movement, coping with threats and his new Netflix documentary, Hating Peter Tatchell. And we share more tips for the best in culture - including a film in an actual cinema. Music: 8 Bit Sauce by Mikey Geiger
Planes, trains and automation
May 21, 2021
Show notes
Richard Porritt, Cash Boyle and Matt Withers return to bring you the week’s news, politics, gags, gaffes and guests in The New Normal. This week they discuss the confusion over the government's traffic light system for foreign travel, the surprise return of British Rail and the prospect of a tariff-free trade deal with Australia. Labour MP Jon Cruddas joins us to talk about the future of work, his party's fortunes and his new book The Dignity of Labour. The team share their trips for holidaying in Britain should South Georgia prove a logistical leap too far. And there's a quiz to see whether you should be entitled to UK citizenship. Music: 8 Bit Sauce by Mikey Geiger
Jackie Weaver has the authority (but Keir Starmer hasn't)
May 14, 2021
Show notes
Richard Porritt, Cash Boyle and Matt Withers return to bring you the week’s news, politics, gags, gaffes and guests in The New Normal. This week they discuss the contents of the Queen's Speech, the aftermath of last week's election results and, in Cash and Burn, the EU citizens left in limbo. Chief officer of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils turned viral video sensation and now Brits star Jackie Weaver joins us to talk local democracy, her new podcast and whether she's heading for the Strictly dancefloor. And we share more tips for the best in culture to get you through what remains of lockdown. Music: 8 Bit Sauce by Mikey Geiger
The strange death of Change UK and why gossip is good
May 07, 2021
Show notes
Richard Porritt, Cash Boyle and Matt Withers return to bring you the week’s news, politics, gags, gaffes and guests in The New Normal. This week they discuss Boris Johnson sending patrol vessels to Jersey, Donald Trump's extended Facebook ban and, in Cash and Burn, the reinstatement of the Atlanta police officer who was fired after fatally shooting Rayshard Brooks. Former Labour-turned-Change-UK MP Mike Gapes joins us to talk about the short life and death of the centrist breakaway group, while Eshin Jolly of Dartmouth College tells us about his research showing why gossip is actually good for you. And having consumed nothing cultural in the past seven days, the team look ahead to an all-English Champions League final. Music: 8 Bit Sauce by Mikey Geiger
Call My Agent! and Superstore
Apr 30, 2021
Show notes
Richard Porritt, Cash Boyle and Matt Withers return to bring you the week’s news, politics, gags, gaffes and guests in The New Normal. This week they discuss Boris Johnson's various ongoing controversies, Arlene Foster's defenestration as DUP leader and Northern Ireland's first minister and, in Cash and Burn, the UK government slashing its funding to the UN's global family planning programme. Election agent William Cooper joins us to explain what election agents actually do ahead of next week's Super Thursday polls, while Gareth Wild tells us how he became a global sensation by spending six years parking his car in every spot of the Bromley Sainsbury's car park. And we share more tips for the best in culture to get you through what remains of lockdown. Music: 8 Bit Sauce by Mikey Geiger
Super League and Super Thursday
Apr 23, 2021
Show notes
Richard Porritt, Cash Boyle and Matt Withers return to bring you the week’s news, politics, gags, gaffes and guests in The New Normal. This week they discuss the short-lived European Super League, Boris Johnson's textual intercourse with James Dyson and the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the killing of George Floyd. Geri Scott, Westminster correspondent for the Yorkshire Post, joins us to look ahead to next month's English council and mayoral elections, and to say goodbye to the government briefings that never were. And we share our tips for the best in culture to get you through what remains of lockdown. Music: 8 Bit Sauce by Mikey Geiger
Diversity, royalty and caterpillars at war
Apr 16, 2021
Show notes
Richard Porritt, Cash Boyle and Matt Withers return to bring you the week’s news, politics, gags, gaffes and guests in The New Normal. This week they discuss the death of Prince Philip and the wall-to-wall media coverage, Shirley Williams passing away at 90 and the growing Greensill lobbying scandal. Irish computer scientist Sheree Atcheson joins us to talk about her new book Demanding More: Why Diversity and Inclusion Don't Happen and What You Can Do About It. And we analyse the court battle of the year: Colin the Caterpillar v Cuthbert the Caterpillar. Music: 8 Bit Sauce by Mikey Geiger Buy Sheree Atcheson's book here
Reopening pubs, football politics and the strange case of Northern Ireland
Apr 09, 2021
Show notes
Matt Withers and Cash Boyle return to bring you the week’s news, politics, gags, gaffes and guests in The New Normal. This week they discuss the vaccine roll-out, public confidence and the reopening of pubs with holidaying host Richard Porritt and Abbie Carter from Norwich's Last Pub Standing. Laura McAllister, professor of public policy at Cardiff University's School of Law and Politics and former Wales football captain, tells us why she's standing for FIFA Council and what to expect from next month's Senedd election. And we examine Northern Ireland's riots and why they're being largely ignored by the British media. Music: 8 Bit Sauce by Mikey Geiger Find out more about Norwich's Last Pub Standing here And more about Laura McAllister's FIFA Council campaign here
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