The Week Junior Show

Latest Episodes:

Total solar eclipse and hidden gold Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

A total solar eclipse passed over Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, and Bex, Eve and Martha talk through what happened, including Eve’s trip to Spain to see it. There’s also an 18-year-old in Belgium who uncovered £7.5 million of gold while doing a summer job on a building site, robot cleaners for hire in San Francisco, trainee volunteer firefighter Talara as hero of the week, and a big debate on whether there’s too much football. Plus the audiobook shortlist for The Week Junior Book Awards, Catherine Doyle on this week’s Book of the Week, Believe, and your chance to win a copy.

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Lucky lotto ticket and giant cars Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

A new defence agreement has been signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and Bex, Joe and Dan talk through what it means. There’s also a woman in Italy whose winning lottery ticket was rescued from a bin lorry, pufflings being saved in Iceland, Parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt as hero of the week, and a big debate on whether cars have got too big. Plus the picture book shortlist for The Week Junior Book Awards, Rashmi Sirdeshpande on this week’s Book of the Week, and your chance to win a copy.

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Farming octopuses and the missing space pen Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

The Commonwealth Games have come to a close, and Bex, Joe and Stevie look back at what happened. There’s also a hero rescue dog retiring, a nine-year-old author, and a big debate on whether it’s wrong to farm octopuses after a Spanish company dropped plans for the world’s first octopus farm. Plus the STEM shortlist for The Week Junior Book Awards, Pamela Butchart on this week’s Book of the Week, and your chance to win a copy.

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Number 10 North and noisy museums Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

The Prime Minister opens a second Number 10 in Manchester, and Bex, Joe and Stevie explain what it means for where power sits in the UK. There's also a campaign asking museums to let children be as loud as they like, a big debate on whether it's ever good to be bored, and a giant mirror in space that could turn night into day. Plus the poetry shortlist for The Week Junior Book Awards, the Science+Nature Scavenger Hunt, and your chance to win this week's book.

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New Prime Minister and pets in restaurants Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

The UK has a new Prime Minister. The team explains who Andy Burnham is and how he landed the top job so quickly. There's also the Queen's surprise Christmas present for every Year 6 pupil, an electric guitar that may – or may not – have been made from the burned wood of Notre Dame, and a debate on whether pets should be allowed everywhere.

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The Bayeux Tapestry and Neil the Seal Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

This week, the Bayeux Tapestry arrives in the UK for the first time in nearly 1,000 years, a famous elephant seal called Neil causes a stir in Tasmania, and the team debates whether schools should close during heat waves. Plus a baffling case of crabs in a garden shed, the new Children's Laureate, and your chance to win this week's book.

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The Hope Issue: Drone rescues and robot octopuses Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

It's the Hope Issue! Bex is joined by Eve and Joe from The Week Junior.

Joe reveals how a potato-shaped sea creature from Antarctica could one day help scientists treat skin cancer, and Eve explains how thermal-imaging drones are being used in Germany to rescue baby deer hidden in tall grass.

There's also a big debate — should adults have screen-free days? — and a special visit from Editor Vanessa to mark the International Day of Hope.

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Sports day and beavers in your city Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

The team share their favourite sports day activities as listeners answer last week's question about music that helps them relax.

Plus:

Young climate leaders gathered at Tate Modern for the London Climate Action Week Summit, including 11-year-old campaigner Anishwa Kunchala. Plus, over 1,500 children took part in a challenge to turn broken toys into something new.
A "grumpy" Pallas's cat named Duchess arrives at Edinburgh Zoo to join Akiko as part of a breeding programme.

Real or Rubbish: Have a family of beavers really fixed flooding at an Ealing Underground station?

The Big Debate: Should schools have sports days?

Plus the team's heroes and favourite facts of the week, including Harry Kane's World Cup goal record and the surprising name for the person at the end of a tug-of-war team.

Get involved: Send a voice note at funkidslive.com/theweekjunior or email hello@theweekjunior.co.uk to share your favourite sports day activity — you could win a Roving Reporter badge!

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Keir Starmer resigns and changes for free school meals in Wales Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

On Monday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he would step down as Prime Minister and Labour Party leader. Eve, Joe and Bex digest the latest – plus there’s an interview in this week’s magazine with a music therapist, which made us wonder: what music helps you relax?

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Social media ban and Toy Story 5 Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

Eve explains new government plans to set a minimum age of 16 for social media platforms as Joe shares the story of Parkrun, which recently hit its millionth ever event since starting in 2004.

Plus, has a lost gold bar ($17,000!) sparked a real treasure hunt at a Finnish ski resort, or is it all made up?

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