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Best of Today Podcast

English, Current Affairs, 1 season, 258 episodes, 3 days, 12 hours, 18 minutes
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Insight, analysis and expert debate as key policy makers are challenged on the latest news stories. From BBC Radio 4's Today programme
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Best of Today: What should children learn?

The government has started a major review of the curriculum and assessment in England's schools, chaired by education policy expert Becky Francis. But how could we rethink England's curriculum and assessment?Today hears from schools across the country trying new ways of doing things from using AI in classrooms to a more skills based approach and looking at why the 'exam season' might cease to exist.The series hears from: former Conservative Schools Minister Nick Gibb; Jill Duffy from the OCR exam board; Jason Arday, former guest editor of the Today Programme and professor of the sociology of education at Cambridge University; Sir Ian Livingstone, a giant of modern British business and the man behind the Livingstone Academy; and Claire Heald, CEO of the Cam Academy Trust.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays.
10/11/202439 minutes, 51 seconds
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Miranda Hart: I was left bed-bound by Lyme disease

Miranda Hart, best known for her self-titled sitcom and her role as Chummy in Call the Midwife, has revealed her battle with chronic fatigue after being diagnosed with Lyme disease.In her new book, I Haven't Been Entirely Honest with You, the comedian discusses her symptoms, telling Today's Emma Barnett she was "basically bed-bound".She also reveals she married a man she met during the pandemic, calling her new husband her "best friend".Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays.
10/9/202412 minutes, 26 seconds
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The Today Debate: What is the path to peace in the Middle East?

After a year of turmoil in the Middle East, Mishal Husain is joined by a panel of guests to ask ‘What Is the Path to Peace?'Joining Mishal are Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's International Editor; Lord Ricketts, who served as a British diplomat for many years including being on the Foreign office Middle East desk during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982; Afif Safieh, former Palestinian Head of Mission in London, Washington, D.C. and Moscow; Ehud Olmert, who was Israeli Prime Minister from 2006 to 2009; Ambassador David Satterfield, who until earlier this year was US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues and Dr. Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.
10/8/202443 minutes, 12 seconds
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Hillary Clinton: Stakes high in US election

The outcome of the US presidential election will have repercussions beyond America, says ex-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Rodham Clinton - who lost the 2016 election to Donald Trump - speaks to Today's Amol Rajan about Joe Biden's decision to step down as candidate. And Amol asks her whether she gives any credence to Trump's claims that he articulated sooner and better than some others the legitimate grievances of many Americans about globalisation.Rodham Clinton was speaking as she publishes her new book - Something Lost, Something Gained - reflections on life, love and liberty. (Photo: Hillary Rodham Clinton. Credit: Reuters)
9/30/20247 minutes, 39 seconds
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Today Listener Series: Young people and politics

Earlier this year, the Today programme gave our listeners the chance to look at an issue that matters to them.Herbie and Ayesha both voted for the first time this year. They wanted to look at the disconnect they believe exists between young people and politicians.Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am.
9/19/20249 minutes, 20 seconds
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Today Listener Series: NHS Forensic Psychology centre in Liverpool

All this week we've been hearing stories brought to us by Today listeners. Dr Lisa Wright and Dr Mark Walton are both clinical psychologists, who work on Merseyside in the only NHS unit of its kind - where they are trying to cut criminal offending rates using therapy. It's not an alternative to prison - the NHS Forensic Psychology centre in Liverpool works with people who have served custodial sentences who might be at risk of re-offending. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am.
9/18/202413 minutes, 32 seconds
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Today Listener Series: Is university worth it?

Earlier this year, the Today programme gave our listeners the chance to look at an issue that matters to them. Anna and Chloe - along with Chloe's 19 year-old daughter Pearl - wanted to ask "University: Is it worth it?" and interrogate the value of a university education in 2024. As part of our coverage, Today has exclusively seen a blueprint for the future of universities in England. Universities UK, which represents 142 universities, is calling for a rise in tuition fees linked to inflation and more government support for students. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am.
9/17/202417 minutes, 2 seconds
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Today Listener Series: Where's my bus?

Earlier this year we gave listeners the chance to ask us to look at an issue for them. Martin and Sandra from Macclesfield, in East Cheshire called their application Where’s my bus? They both rely on the buses to get around and met on a Facebook group dedicated to their local bus service. The new government has plans to give local authorities more power to take control over bus services, for example through a ‘franchising’ arrangement. Our Transport Corr Katy Austin took a look at whether this plan will help listeners like Martin and Sandra and Today presenter Nick Robinson spoke to Graham Vidler, Chief Executive, Confederation of Passenger Transport.
9/16/202416 minutes, 13 seconds
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Today Listener Series: The disappearing children

All this week the Today programme is looking at stories that have been brought to us by our listeners. Vanessa and Toby are parent governors at a secondary school in South London. They have noticed far fewer children and families where they live, and primary schools closing down as a result. Exclusive research for Today has shown that primary school numbers have fallen by 5% in London in the last five years. And they are projected to continue falling at double the rate of the rest of England. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am.
9/16/202412 minutes, 28 seconds
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Kate Winslet talks about playing 'risk taker' Lee Miller

In Kate Winslet's new film, she plays Lee Miller, the famed model-turned-photographer who acted as Vogue's war correspondent in the 1940s.Speaking to Today's Emma Barnett about making the film, Kate said that the photographer "was born with her eyes wide open"."She can really step into the same world as that person to really immerse herself. Lee was Lee and she saw things and did things her own way."Kate also produced the film and worked closely with Miller's only son, Antony Penrose.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.Photo credit: Kimberley French © Sky UK Ltd
9/12/202410 minutes, 10 seconds
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Simon Boas' wife talks about his ‘guide to death’

A Beginner's Guide to Death, a book by aid worker Simon Boas whose essays about his feelings towards death went viral, is being published posthumously.In her first broadcast interview, his wife Aurelie says he knew he "wouldn't see the book" but that he knew he had "done his part".Speaking to Today's Emma Barnett, she said: "It's a bit unusual to grieve this way. "It's a great responsibility for me. But it's quite wonderful."Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.Photo credit: David Ferguson
9/11/20249 minutes, 51 seconds
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Garry Richardson's 50 years at the BBC

Garry Richardson has finished his last sports bulletin on Radio 4's Today programme - 50 years to the day since he started at the BBC. Garry is best known for his sporting interviews, but his career has ranged from climbing towers for Radio Oxford to singing with the great Buddy Greco.James Naughtie picks some of the highlights from Garry's half century.
9/9/20247 minutes, 56 seconds
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Ian McKellen: I said to myself 'this is the end'

Sir Ian McKellen talks to Amol Rajan after he took a break from acting following a fall off stage in London's West End. The 85 year-old, who suffered a broken wrist and chipped vertebrae, describes the emotional 'residue' of the accident.He’s back on screen playing a gay theatre critic in The Critic, set in the 1930s before homosexuality was legalised in the UK. The Today programme is on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds every weekday 6-9am and on Saturdays 7-9am.
9/2/20249 minutes, 26 seconds
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My son killed my father: 'NHS failings are to blame'

This week a new report into the care of Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane identified 'errors, omissions and misjudgements' by Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.The situation was all too familiar for Kathleen Barnard, whose son William, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed her father John McGrath in 2009. He too was under the care of the same trust.Speaking to Today's Emma Barnett, Kathleen says Calocane's situation "seems the same again" to what happened to her family, and that it's "more than disappointing".After being approached for comment, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said it accepted the CQC report into Valdo Calocane's treatment and has "significantly improved processes and standards" since the review.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
8/15/202413 minutes, 8 seconds
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Nottingham victim’s son: 'I still text my dad'

James Coates's father, Ian Coates, was one of three people stabbed by Valdo Calocane, who was suffering from paranoid delusions last June.Yesterday a report published by the Care Quality Commission said it found a series of errors, omissions and misjudgements by mental health services in Nottingham when it came to Calocane's care.Speaking to Today's Emma Barnett, James said he is positive that a public inquiry will be held into what happened, and he's hopeful of changes to mental health care to improve public safeguarding.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.(Image: Huntingdon Academy/BBC)
8/14/202413 minutes, 29 seconds
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Wrongly imprisoned but no refund for ‘bed and board’

Victims of historic miscarriages of justice have been told by the government they must have 'bed and board' costs for the time they spent in prison deducted from their compensation payments.Today's Mishal Husain speaks to Paul Blackburn, who was wrongly convicted and spent 25 years in prison. He says he's owed hundreds of thousands of pounds.Mishal also speaks to Lord Falconer, former Labour justice secretary who’s calling for the new government to change its position; and puts their criticism to Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Paymaster General.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
8/9/202415 minutes, 12 seconds
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Kirsty Young: I felt hollowed out by chronic pain

BBC presenter Kirsty Young presented Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs for 12 years, before stepping down to receive treatment for fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Speaking to Today’s Emma Barnett, Kirsty Young says her chronic pain made her feel “incapable” and that she “lost her sense of self”. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
8/8/202429 minutes, 24 seconds
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'We locked eyes': Facing the Southport attacker

Hundreds of people gathered in Southport on Tuesday evening to remember one of the three little girls who died in the Southport knife attack. John Hayes was working in the same building as the summer dance class and was stabbed while attempting to defend others. He tells Today's Emma Barnett it will take 'a while' to process and recover from what he saw at the scene.
8/7/20248 minutes, 54 seconds
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Middlesbrough riots: 'They tried to get into our house... It was very scary'

After a week of violent riots around the country, what has it been like for some of those on the receiving end of the disorder?Over the weekend, an angry mob terrorised Middlesbrough. Businesses were forced to board up their shops as cars were set alight and missiles chucked at the police - 35 arrests were made in what the police called staggering levels of violence.Today's Emma Barnett speaks to Aneeqa and Kashif, who have both been targeted by the rioters, and Anne, who is concerned about the future for her grandchildren.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
8/6/202412 minutes, 2 seconds
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'I can't forgive PCs for photos of my dead girls'

Mina Smallman's daughters Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry were murdered in a park in Wembley in June 2020. Later two police officers decided to take photos and selfies with their bodies and share them with others on Whatsapp. Mina has since, alongside other mothers of murdered women, marched, spoken and campaigned to stop the killing of women and girls. Now she has decided to pour her experiences and personal story into a book called A Better Tomorrow: Life Lessons in Hope and Strength - in a bid to explain how she has managed to cope.She speaks to Today's Emma Barnett.
7/20/202430 minutes, 14 seconds
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Dr Clare Bailey Mosley: We want to honour Michael’s work

Radio 4 is marking Friday 12th as “Just One Thing Day” in celebration of Dr Michael Mosley’s life and legacy. Throughout the week, we’ve asked his friends and colleagues to tell us what change they might have made that was down to him. Speaking to Today’s Justin Webb, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley shares touching tributes, and reflects on his work, influence, and legacy. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
7/12/202415 minutes, 14 seconds
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Sir Tony Blair on embracing AI

Sir Tony Blair agrees that the new Labour government face the prospect of ever-rising taxes alongside under-performing public services. However, the former Prime Minister says embracing the latest technological revolution could slash the cost of government and improve Britain's productivity and growth. Speaking to Today's Nick Robinson, Sir Tony suggests AI could provide solutions for key issues such as industrial policy, public sector efficiency and improved health care.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
7/9/202418 minutes, 6 seconds
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I have terminal cancer but 'I'm as happy as ever’

Former aid worker Simon Boas was told he had terminal throat cancer last year and only had months to live. He began writing about his feelings towards life and death in his local newspaper, the Jersey Evening Post. This inspired readers across the country.Now he has pulled his thoughts together into a book called A Beginner's Guide to Dying, which comes out in September. It will be a posthumous publication.Simon speaks to Emma Barnett on Radio 4's Today programme ahead of being moved to a hospice for his final days.
7/4/20249 minutes, 20 seconds
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Election 2024: Could the Tories face meltdown in Norfolk

Norfolk is not usually an exciting place to watch during election night but could this time there be change? The county is facing some pretty tight contests. Eight out of nine seats were Conservative last time, mainly with huge majorities. But the polls suggest that they could be slashed. Martha Kearney has gone on a road trip through some of those constituencies, starting in Waveney Valley, where there is attention on the co-leader of the Greens being one of the candidates. A full list of candidates in all the seats is on the BBC News website.
6/29/202410 minutes, 40 seconds
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Election 2024: Bolton West hustings

Today listeners put their questions to would-be MPs in the Bolton West constituency.The hustings is chaired by Nick Robinson.Today held similar sessions in two other seats - Wells & Mendip Hills and Motherwell, Wishaw & Carluke.
6/25/202421 minutes, 15 seconds
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Julian Assange: Wife 'elated' with release

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has left the UK after agreeing a US plea deal that will see him plead guilty to criminal charges and go free. Speaking to Today's Mishal Husain, Stella Assange says her children have never seen their father outside of prison and she's "not used to talking about Julian free in the present tense".Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
6/25/202410 minutes, 50 seconds
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Released Israeli hostage: I don't believe in peace

On 7 October last year, Ada Sagi's life changed forever. The 75-year-old grandmother of six - who has spent most of her life working towards peace between Israelis and Palestinians - was having a morning coffee at home on the Nir Oz Kibbutz, on the border with Gaza, when suddenly several men working for Hamas burst into her home and forced her barefoot by gunpoint onto a motorbike and took her hostage, alongside scores of others. The Arabic and Hebrew teacher who still supports students through her work, was imprisoned for 53 days at an apartment in Khan Younis until she was freed as part of a deal between the Israeli Government and Hamas. In her first UK interview, Today's Emma Barnett speaks to Ada, six months on from her release. She shares the details of her ordeal; her thoughts about those who captured her, the global reaction and the actions of the Israeli government since last October. As a lifelong peace activist, right at the end of the conversation, she shares a stark view of the future as she sees it.But Ada Sagi began by speaking about hearing security alarms going off in the kibbutz on the morning of 7 October, alerting her and the other hundreds of other residents they were under attack and then about the moment, men armed with Kalashnikovs, entered her home.
6/19/202421 minutes, 30 seconds
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Election 2024: Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke hustings

Today listeners in North Lanarkshire put their questions to would-be MPs in the Scottish constituency of Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke.The hustings is chaired by Mishal Husain. A similar session will be held next week in the Bolton West seat also adopted by Today for the election.
6/18/202423 minutes, 48 seconds
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Election 2024: The Northern Ireland contest

Today's Martha Kearney reports on how the election race looks in Northern Ireland
6/15/202410 minutes, 4 seconds
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Election 2024: Wells and Mendip Hills hustings

Today listeners in Somerset put their questions to would-be MPs in the Wells and Mendip Hills constituency. The hustings is chaired by Justin Webb. Similar sessions are to be held in two other seats adopted by Today for the election - Bolton West and Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke. (Photo: The hustings session. Credit: Oscar Pearson/BBC
6/12/202422 minutes, 46 seconds
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Adrian Ramsay on Green Party manifesto

Co-leader Adrian Ramsay speaks to Justin Webb on the Green Party's manifesto launch.They're promising to tax top earners more and spend the money on public services. The party is also dealing with a row about anti-Semitism among what the party calls 'a small number of candidates.'The Today programme will hear from all the major parties throughout the election campaign.
6/12/20247 minutes, 15 seconds
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Nigel Farage calls for 'zero net migration'

Nigel Farage speaks to Today's Mishal Husain after becoming leader of Reform UK, formerly the Brexit Party.The party has announced it would freeze non-essential migration, as it seeks to win voters from the Conservatives and Labour.The Today programme will hear from all the major parties throughout the election campaign.
6/4/202412 minutes, 5 seconds
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Sir Ed Davey on Lib Dem social care pledge

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey speaks to Today's Nick Robinson about pledging free personal care for adults in need, including the elderly and disabled. Sir Ed is a carer for his disabled son, and also cared for his ill mother when he was younger.The Today programme will hear from all the major parties throughout the election campaign.
6/4/20248 minutes, 14 seconds
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Keir Starmer: What does Labour leader stand for?

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks to Today’s Mishal Husain about the beliefs that will guide him if the party wins the election.The Today programme will hear from all the major parties throughout the election campaign.
5/24/202421 minutes
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Rishi Sunak on calling early election

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to Today’s Nick Robinson about calling an election for July 4.The Today programme will hear from all the major parties throughout the election campaign.
5/23/202418 minutes, 43 seconds
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'I moved home to save for a house'

On Radio 4's Today programme this week we’re looking at housing - the barriers to young people buying a home and their experience of renting.Izzy, a 25-year-old from North Shields, moved back to the family home after living down south for work. Since opening a Help to Buy ISA when she was 14, Izzy hopes moving home will allow her to get on the property ladder.Listen to Today on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am weekdays and 7-9am on Saturdays.
5/8/20246 minutes, 16 seconds
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Who will be Scotland's next leader?

The search for a new First Minister of Scotland has started - the third in three years - after Humza Yousaf announced his resignation yesterday in an emotional speech.Yousaf says he "underestimated" the hurt caused by his decision to scrap the SNP's power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens - a move that prompted two no-confidence votes.The polls suggest there is something more fundamental going on - a belief that ministers here in Edinburgh are simply not delivering the basics, like a health service that works and schools with high standards, even though it is they and not ministers in Westminster, who are in charge of those policies.Today's Nick Robinson spends the day in Holyrood reflecting on the fall out of another emotional resignation by another Scottish first minister.Listen to Today on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am weekdays and 7-9am on Saturdays.
4/30/20248 minutes, 29 seconds
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Punched, spat at and abused by shoplifters

Shops are reporting a rise in abusive behaviour towards staff, and thieves ‘clearing shelves’ in what has now turned into ‘organised crime’.Reporting for the Today programme, Jim Connolly meets shop workers in Halifax and Leeds to see how they are coping with an increase in shoplifting.This week’s Today Debate looked at the issue of anti-social behaviour. You can listen back on BBC Sounds.
4/24/20246 minutes, 43 seconds
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The Today Debate: Are we failing victims of anti-social behaviour?

The Today Debate is about taking a subject and pulling it apart with more time than we ever could have during the morning.Mishal Husain looks at how lives can be blighted by anti-social behaviour and asks if victims are being failed?Joining Mishal are Emma Dell, a victim of anti-social behaviour; Neil Basu, former Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police; Ndidi Okezie, CEO of charity UK youth, Paul Gerrard, Director of Public Affairs and Campaigns at the Co-op and Katie Kempen, CEO of Victim Support.Share your experiences of anti-social behaviour with Today. Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to 0330 123 4346 or email us [email protected] Today Debate was produced by David Pittam, Sinead Heekin and Louisa Lewis. The editor is Owenna Griffiths. The technical team was led by Clive Painter and Jon Boland. Digital Production from Maisie Smith-Walters.
4/23/202442 minutes, 33 seconds
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Anti-social behaviour 'turns lives upside down'

A Victims and Prisoners Bill is currently being debated in Parliament and tonight's Today Debate on Radio 4 at 8PM will consider one aspect of it. The legislation largely applies to England and Wales but the issue is one that can disrupt lives everywhere. Campaigners say that anti-social behaviour should not be treated as neighbourly nuisance because it can mean people live in fear in their own homes. It's a reality the Victims' Commissioner Helen Newlove knows all too well. Her husband, Garry, was attacked by a group of teenagers outside his home when he confronted them over vandalising cars. He died of his injuries. Today's Mishal Husain speaks to Baroness Newlove about what she wants to see happen.Listen to Today on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am weekdays and 7-9am on Saturdays.
4/23/20246 minutes, 44 seconds
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Lord Cameron defends UK involvement in Israel-Iran

RAF typhoons flew over the skies of the Middle East to help protect Israel on Saturday night after Iran launched a direct attack on the country for the first time since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The UK was one of several countries, including the US, which helped counter Iran's attack.Today's Nick Robinson speaks to Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron.
4/15/202414 minutes, 54 seconds
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How a Prime Minister’s affair was kept secret for so long

Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson's close adviser Bernard Donoughue tells Today about the PM's affair kept secret for half a century and why he's revealing it now.(Photo: Harold Wilson. Credit: Getty Images)
4/11/20248 minutes, 52 seconds
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Riz Ahmed on British Asians fighting the far-right

A new documentary series looks at the period between 1976 and 1981 as British Asians faced daily attacks and calls for them to be sent home.The Academy Award-winning actor Riz Ahmed is one of the people behind the Channel 4 series, ‘Defiance - Fighting the Far Right’, and spoke to Today's Mishal Husain.
4/8/20245 minutes, 28 seconds
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Alec Stewart on a lifetime at the Oval

County cricket is back, and Surrey are looking to win the championship for the third year in succession. It would be a fitting send off for their director of cricket, Alec Stewart, who's retiring at the end of the season after 11 years. Today sports presenter Garry Richardson has been to the Oval -- the home of Surrey cricket -- to meet the former England captain and reflect on his long career.
4/4/20246 minutes, 12 seconds
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Andrew Scott on playing the fascinating Talented Mr Ripley

The award-winning actor Andrew Scott talks to Today about playing the character of Tom Ripley. There have been many screen adaptations of The Talented Mr Ripley over the years - the most famous with Matt Damon and Jude Law. The new Netflix drama Ripley, based on the novels of Patricia Highsmith, starts this week.
4/2/20246 minutes, 50 seconds
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Google DeepMind boss: Knighthood is 'surreal'

Sir Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, has been knighted for services to artificial intelligence. He speaks to Today presenter Simon Jack about why becoming Sir Demis is surreal, but also an important recognition of the AI industry. He discusses the opportunities and potential dangers posed by the technology, and why parents should not necessarily be worried about their children devoting time to computers. (Photo: Demis Hassabis, Reuters)
3/30/202413 minutes, 32 seconds
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The Today Debate - How do we get Britain working?

The Today Debate is about taking a subject and pulling it apart with more time than we ever could have in the morning.Mishal Husain is joined by business leaders and health professionals to discuss the UK’s growing problem of economic inactivity, as she asks - how do we get Britain working?On the panel are Theo Paphitis, one of the UK's best known business leaders; Dr Lade Smith, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists; Dr Tony Wilson, director of the Institute for Employment Studies; Karen Blackett, UK president of WPP and Eccie Newton, entrepreneur and co-founder of the business Karma Cans.
3/30/202437 minutes, 38 seconds
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Chancellor questioned on his Budget

As the dust settles on the Budget, Amol Rajan speaks to the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt about the plans he's set out for tax, public services and the economy.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
3/7/202419 minutes, 22 seconds
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Esther Rantzen 'disappointed' no assisted dying vote

Are we closer to allowing assisted dying? Or not?The Health and Social Affairs Committee in Parliament has made no recommendation on a vote – but votes might be coming in other places like the Isle of Man and Jersey soon.Dame Esther Rantzen, who has stage 4 lung cancer and called for MPs to vote on assisted dying on The Today Podcast, says she is 'disappointed' a new health committee report doesn’t go that far.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
2/29/20247 minutes, 37 seconds
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Martha's Rule to start in hospitals

NHS England will roll out Martha's Rule from April to give patients and families access to a rapid review if they are worried about a condition getting worse.Merope Mills spoke to Today in September about her daughter Martha, who died just before her 14th birthday from sepsis following an abdominal injury. In the inquest after her death, the coroner ruled that Martha could have survived if she’d received better care.Now Martha’s Rule is coming into force. Merope Mills speaks to Today's Martha Kearney about plans for it come into effect in at least 100 hospitals in England.
2/21/202416 minutes, 44 seconds
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Bernie Sanders: It's OK to be angry about capitalism

Bernie Sanders has twice run for the Democratic presidential nomination. The left-wing senator speaks to Today's Mishal Husain about his new book 'It's OK To Be Angry About Capitalism'.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
2/19/20247 minutes, 24 seconds
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The Today Debate: Is justice delayed, justice denied?

The Today Debate is about taking a subject and pulling it apart with more time than we have in the morning.Amid a significant backlog in crown courts in England and Wales and related problems in the system in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Today presenter Mishal Husain asks if justice delayed is justice denied?Joining Mishal on the Today debate panel are Claire Waxman, the Independent Victims' Commissioner for London; Charlie Taylor; His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales; Joanna Hardy-Susskind, a barrister at Red Lion Chambers; Lord Falconer, Labour Peer and former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and Sir Max Hill, who was the director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales until October last year.
2/13/202436 minutes, 31 seconds
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How To Have Sex director talks to sixth formers about consent

Molly Manning Walker’s first feature film How to Have Sex – which explores what it means to consent in a sexual encounter - is going to be used by the charity Schools Consent Project as part of their sex education workshops. The Today programme went to Plumstead Manor School in London to hear Molly talk to four sixth form pupils, who told her they got much of their information about sex from social media. The film has been nominated for four Baftas.If you have been affected by sexual abuse or violence, details of help and support is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline, or you can call for free, at any time to hear recorded information on 0800 077 077
2/13/20246 minutes, 1 second
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Matt Smith: The Crown star discusses his West End return

After numerous roles in high-profile televsion programmes like HBO's House of the Dragon and Netflix's The Crown, Matt Smith is returning to the West End in Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People.Speaking to Today's Martha Kearney, the actor says he found the prospect of being on stage "frightening" at first, but wanted to work with German director Thomas Ostermeier.Martha also spoke to Thomas, who said the production of the play is about "becoming as attractive as a rock concert".Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
2/7/202410 minutes, 27 seconds
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The parents calling for a 'smartphone-free childhood'

The mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey is calling for a social media ban for under-16s and 'drastic action' from the government to protect children online.There is now a campaign group on WhatsApp called 'Parents united for a smartphone free childhood'. The Today programme brought together three parents to discuss their experiences tackling social media usage within their families.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
2/7/202410 minutes, 56 seconds
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King Charles III: 'He will be determined to do everything to recover fast'

King Charles is stepping back from public engagements after starting treatment for cancer.On Monday, Buckingham Palace announced the cancer was found during the King's recent treatment for a benign enlarged prostate. It has not revealed what type of cancer is involved. Speaking to Today's Nick Robinson, friend and former adviser Dame Julia Cleverdon said the King 'will be determined to do everything he can to recover fast'.Nick also spoke to Lord Michael Dobbs, a Conservative peer who knows King Charles and Queen Camilla, and has suffered from prostate cancer himself.Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.
2/6/202413 minutes, 2 seconds
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Sarah Snook: Beauty ‘has an expiry date’

Sarah Snook, who played Shiv Roy in Jesse Armstrong’s award-winning series “Succession”, said of her latest role: “it’s a fascinating story… what does one do with unlimited power gained through youth and beauty?”Snook spoke to Today’s Nick Robinson about the challenges of playing all 26 characters in the one woman play: “There’s nothing like live theatre… it’s for the soul, it enriches you”.She also discussed beauty standards in the film industry: “I think it’s a slippery slope. Defining oneself in that realm has an expiry date… I think a person’s beauty and their own body is their own jurisdiction, they should be able to make decisions about that themselves”. Sarah Snook also said she thought fellow Australian actress Margot Robbie deserved an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s 2023 film: “I was so proud of Margot when I saw the film, it was the first outing I had as a new mum and I was away from my daughter for three hours. I spent the entire Barbie film crying… and I don’t think that was just because of the hormones. I think it was because of the greatness of the film, I loved it so much. So I am disappointed for her but really proud as a fellow Aussie”.Listen to Today on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am weekdays and 7-9am on Saturdays.
1/25/20249 minutes, 20 seconds
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Theresa May: 'During PMQs my blood sugar went up'

When Theresa May was diagnosed with type 1 in her 50s, she told the consultant: "I'm too old. I can't be”. Lady May says she would also eat Jelly Babies when her blood sugar dropped during meetings.The former Prime Minister has now chaired a parliamentary inquiry into the life-threatening consequences of having both type 1 diabetes and an eating disorder.She speaks to Today's Justin Webb why a joined-up approach by the NHS is needed so that healthcare professionals are aware of the 'conflicting pressures' on people with type 1 and an eating disorder. She also discusses her experience while in government of managing her blood sugar levels.
1/23/202412 minutes, 25 seconds
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Jesse Armstrong: Succession and what's next

Succession was the big winner at this week's Emmys - it was crowned best drama series and there were awards for its stars.Its British creator, Jesse Armstrong, speaks to Today's Nick Robinson about the show's success, his fears over a partisan media and what could be his next project.(Photo: Jesse Armstrong at the Emmys with the Succession cast. Credit: Reuters)
1/20/202415 minutes, 39 seconds
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Post Office Horizon Scandal: 'It reaches into the very farthest corners of your life'

Former sub-postmaster Lee Castleton talks about the impact the Post Office Horizon scandal had on his life after he was pursued and bankrupted by the Post Office.Speaking to Today's Mishal Husain, Lee says: "It was devastating. My children were bullied."We would get stopped in the street by people saying terrible things, awful things, like that I'd stolen money from old people, saying that I'd stolen pension money."Lee, who was not convicted of criminal charges but lost a civil case against the the Post Office, also said he'd like to see some speed on a decision from the government, as it looks to find a route to overturn convictions of those affected by the scandal.Listen to Today on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am weekdays and 7-9am on Saturdays.
1/10/20248 minutes, 48 seconds
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Saudi ambassador on Israel-Gaza

The US Secretary of State is in Israel as he seeks to calm tensions across the Middle East - on a trip which has also seen him visit Saudi Arabia.Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the UK, speaks to Today's Mishal Husain about the Israel-Gaza conflict and wider issues in the region.When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, Saudi Arabia was on the brink of a historic normalisation deal with Israel. The Saudi ambassador talks to Today about how the key Middle East power broker views Israel and Palestine in the wake of the war.Listen to Today on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am weekdays and 7-9am on Saturdays.
1/9/202411 minutes, 34 seconds
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Dame Emma Walmsley Guest Edits Today

The last of our Christmas guest editors is the CEO of the global biopharma company GSK, Dame Emma Walmsley.She wanted her programme to look to the year ahead with optimism. In these highlights from her programme hear Dame Emma in conversation with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who urges politicians not to treat their opponents as enemies but as fellow human beings.Dame Emma also speaks to the Health Minister for Singapore; visits Kew Gardens and she asks former guest editor and Nobel Laureate Sir Paul Nurse to discuss with a group of students, the scientific and technological advances they are most excited for in 2024. Simon Jack interviews Dame Emma to end her programme and she chooses a special piece of music.
1/1/20241 hour, 14 minutes, 34 seconds
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Professor Jason Arday Guest Edits Today

Professor Jason Arday is our latest Christmas guest editor. This year he was appointed as Cambridge’s youngest Black professor. A significant accolade by any measure but even more so when you consider that Professor Arday was diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay aged just three and didn't learn to speak until he was nine or read and write until he was eighteen. He uses his programme to look at improving adult literacy and he speaks to the head of Universal Records about championing neurodiversity in the workplace. Professor Arday also indulges his passion for 90s music with a discussion including Blur drummer Dave Rowntree and as a fan of a sharp suit, he champions the tailoring industry.
12/30/202353 minutes, 11 seconds
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Andrew Malkinson Guest Edits Today

Andrew Malkinson is Today's latest Christmas guest editor. He spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit before being cleared in July. He uses his programme to look at justice and how one can cope with being locked up unjustly. He speaks to John McCarthy, who was held hostage for more than five years in the 1980s. While in prison, the world of astronomy and space offered Andrew a sense of release and sanctuary from the immediate confines of his daily experience and a way to expand his world. So as part of his guest edit, he visits Jodrell Bank observatory. And he tells Today's Justin Webb about the months since his conviction was overturned and how he still feels anger.
12/29/202349 minutes, 45 seconds
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Ellie Goulding Guest Edits Today

The singer and UN environment ambassador Ellie Goulding is the latest Today programme Christmas guest editor. Ellie uses her programme to explore her twin passions of music and nature, including looking at rewilding projectsShe tells Today's Martha Kearney that nature has helped her through difficult times in her life, including postnatal depression. Ellie interviews fellow musicians Brian Eno and Chris Martin about the music industry's environmental impact. And she goes back to her sixth form college in Hereford and answers students questions, including about whether the music industry has changed for the better since the Me Too movement began.
12/28/202346 minutes, 38 seconds
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James May Guest Edits Today

James May, The Grand Tour and former Top Gear presenter, is Today’s latest Christmas guest editor. He looks at the future of driverless cars and why a culture change may be needed to end conflict between cyclists and motorists.James believes hobbies are good for people’s wellbeing so the Today team assembled a get together with hobby-mad listeners, including comedian Al Murray. He also looks at whether coffee culture is eroding the place of tea and gets a poetry lesson from Succession star Dame Harriet Walter. Here James shares highlights from his programme.
12/27/202344 minutes, 51 seconds
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Hanif Kureishi Guest Edits Today

The writer Hanif Kureishi - who is our second Christmas guest editor this year - had a life changing accident which paralysed him on Boxing Day 2022. He uses his programme to explore his adjustment to becoming disabled, including its impact on his family and his friendships. Hanif first enjoyed professional success as a writer 1985 with My Beautiful Laundrette, which was Oscar nominated, and he later wrote the novel the Buddha of Suburbia - which became a BBC series - and My Son The Fanatic. In his programme, he speaks about how he has developed with his son Carlo a new way of producing and publishing his work. He also has a long conversation with Today presenter Mishal Husain just before he returns home from hospital.
12/26/20231 hour, 5 minutes, 31 seconds
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Dr Nicola Fox Guest Edits Today

Dr Nicola Fox, Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate NASA is the first of our Christmas guest editors this year.Her programme looks ahead to the launch of the Peregrine Lunar Lander next year which will start the ground work for sending a crewed mission back to the Moon.Dr Fox, who revealed she was a fan of Duran Duran on her recent Desert Island Discs, talks to band member Nick Rhodes about the influence of space on music. She talks to her counterpart at the European Space Agency, Carole Mundell, about her path into a top space job and she confronts the writers of the last Bond film.Dr Fox also speaks to Today Presenter Nick Robinson about why her father's interest in space inspired her and why she cries every time a space mission launches.
12/23/202339 minutes, 49 seconds
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Stuart Broad: After the Ashes

Stuart Broad announced his decision to retire following the 2023 Ashes. Today's Simon Jack speaks to the England bowling ace about his new book 'Broadly Speaking', which takes a look inside his cricket career and life. (Photo Credit: Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs)
11/4/202314 minutes, 57 seconds
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What happens next in Gaza?

UN aid workers in Gaza have warned they will be forced to end their operation in the territory tonight because of a lack of fuel. The UN Relief and Works Agency provides aid to 600,000 displaced people in Gaza. Israel has allowed lorries containing food, water and medicine into Gaza but is blocking fuel over fears it could be used by Hamas, following the devastating series of attacks. Today's Nick Robinson speaks to former Gaza City resident Najla Shawa, who works for Oxfam, and Major General Rupert Jones, who was the deputy commander of the US-led coalition to defeat ISIS in Iraq in 2016. Nick also speaks to the BBC's International Editor Jeremy Bowen and Sir Mark Lyall Grant, former UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN and former National Security Adviser.
10/25/202318 minutes, 33 seconds
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'To see my mum again is an incredible thing'

The daughter of Yocheved Lifschitz, one of the hostages freed last night, has visited her mother in hospital in Israel and has told Today she "seems OK". In an interview with Today presenter Mishal Husain, Sharone Lifschitz said: "The nurses are just having a chat, they say she is very sharp and is very keen to share the information, pass on the information to families of other hostages that she was with." Yocheved Lifschitz was held for 16 days after being abducted from her home in a kibbutz in southern Israel amid scenes of death and destruction. Today's Nick Robinson also spoke to BBC Correspondent in Gaza Rushdi Abualouf. And Noam Sagi joined Nick and Mishal in the studio. His mother, Ada Sagi, was taken hostage in the kibbutz of Nir Oz, near Israel's border with Gaza.
10/24/202323 minutes, 27 seconds
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Emma Raducanu on her return to tennis

Emma Raducanu burst onto the world stage back in 2021 when she went from being an almost unknown 18 year old tennis player to winning the US Open. She became the first British woman to secure a Grand Slam singles title since Virginia Wade at the 1977 Wimbledon Championships. The media interest in Emma has been huge worldwide due to her stratospheric rise, but her tennis career has been put on hold after three procedures on both wrists and an ankle left her on the side-lines for the past six months. Today's sport presenter Karthi Gnanasegaram speaks to former British number one Emma Raducanu about her much anticipated return to competitive action. (Photo: Robert Prange/Getty Images)
10/20/202311 minutes, 19 seconds
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Danny Boyle and 'civic pride' about the new Aviva studios

The Aviva studios, the biggest cultural investment in the UK since Tate Modern open today in Manchester. Speaking to Today's Martha Kearney, director Danny Boyle who's been working on a show at the venue says: "The very famous son of Manchester Tony Wilson said that his fatal flaw was an excess of civic pride. And I feel a bit of that this morning." Martha also spoke to John McGrath who is Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the centre, which was originally called Factory International.
10/18/20237 minutes, 3 seconds
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Former CIA Director on Biden’s Israel visit

Former Director of the CIA General David Petraeus says that President Biden's upcoming trip to the Middle East will give him the chance to ask some difficult questions "behind closed doors". Speaking to Today's Justin Webb, General Petraeus said: "Going to Israel shows how important this is to the President, and to the US." The US says that President Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday and discuss how the country will conduct its operations in a way that "minimises civilian casualties".
10/17/20239 minutes, 16 seconds
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Michael Caine: I'm retiring from film

In the summer of 2014, Bernard Jordan made global headlines. He had staged a “great escape” from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy, commemorating their fallen comrades at the D-Day Landings 70th anniversary. It was a story that captured the imagination of the world as Bernie embodied the defiant, “can-do” spirit of a generation that was fast disappearing. But of course, it wasn’t the whole story. It was an inspirational but sanitised retelling of one man’s need to come to terms with the lasting trauma of war. That story is now in the cinemas in The Great Escaper, starring Sir Michael Caine and the late Glenda Jackson Today's Martha Kearney speaks to Sir Michael and the film's director Oliver Parker. Photo: Martha Kearney and Michael Caine)
10/14/202316 minutes, 50 seconds
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Nick Robinson interviews Sir Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer says he is prepared to "bulldoze" planning rules to get more homes built in England. Speaking to Today's Nick Robinson after his speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, which saw a protester mount the stage and throw glitter over him, the Labour leader says the party is going to have to ignore local opposition to new building projects but that it's "not going to be a crude exercise". He also spoke about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, and proposed funding to the NHS under a Labour government.
10/11/202318 minutes, 32 seconds
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Israel-Gaza: What's next in the conflict?

Today's Martha Kearney broadcasts from Jerusalem as the conflict in Israel and Gaza continues. She speaks to Yossi Schnaider who has had six family members - including two young children - taken hostage by Hamas; and Najla Shawa from Oxfam, who had to evacuate her home in Gaza with her family overnight. Also on Today, Martha spoke to former Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin and Rushdi Abualouf, a BBC reporter in Gaza.
10/10/202321 minutes, 24 seconds
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Nick Robinson interviews Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak defends his plan to ban smoking for younger generation. Speaking to Today's Nick Robinson after making his first speech as leader at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the Prime Minister says he "made a choice about whether to save lives or sit back." He also spoke about the cancellation of the HS2 West Midlands to Manchester line, and his education reform which will see A-levels scrapped.
10/5/202321 minutes, 7 seconds
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Conservative Party conference: Why is HS2 set to be scrapped?

Former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says Covid is to blame for cancellation of the HS2 Birmingham to Manchester line, which the Prime Minister is expected to announce later today. Speaking to Today's Nick Robinson at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester ahead of Rishi Sunak's speech, current Defence Secretary Mr Shapps says that 'Coronavirus is not something anyone could have predicted'. He added that the money could be invested in other transport links in the north of England. We also hear analysis from the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason.
10/4/202314 minutes, 14 seconds
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Conservative Party conference: What do the Tories stand for?

It's the penultimate day of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester and the question on everybody's lips: What do the Tories stand for? That is what Rishi Sunak hopes to answer in his big speech on Wednesday. At the conference, Today's Nick Robinson speaks to former Prime Minister Liz Truss, former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel and Conservative MP Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg. He also spoke to GB News presenter Nigel Farage, who says he able to reshape politics on the right 'more effectively' than if he were to stand for election.
10/3/20238 minutes, 59 seconds
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Conservative Party conference: Chancellor says he 'can't answer' on HS2's future

Jeremy Hunt says he 'can't answer' when asked about the future of the HS2 high-speed rail project, which has been recently plagued by rumours that it will be reduced. Speaking to Today's Nick Robinson at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the Chancellor said:"I do have to answer the question as to why it costs 10 times more to build high-speed rail in this country as across the Channel in France." Mr Hunt also spoke about raising the national living wage and getting people back into the workforce.
10/2/202314 minutes, 14 seconds
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Amol Rajan Interviews Chief Executive of GB News

Laurence Fox's on-air comments about a female journalist were "way past the limits of acceptance" and should have been properly challenged by host Dan Wootton, the boss of GB News has told Today. In an interview with Amol Rajan, Angelos Frangopoulos said he was "appalled" by the comments. Fox and Wootton have been suspended and the channel being investigated by Ofcom, which received 7,300 complaints. Fox sparked the controversy when he asked what "self-respecting man" would "climb into bed" with Ava Evans. "They are not in keeping with the values of us as a business and as a media company," Mr Frangopoulos said. He added "Obviously, we took action immediately. "There is a process that needs to be followed, and we expect that that process will be completed very soon." Fox said on Thursday he was "sorry for demeaning" Evans, while Wootton apologised and said he should have intervened.
9/29/202314 minutes, 18 seconds
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Cracked Actor: Alan Yentob on documenting Bowie

Alan Yentob joins Today to mark the 50th anniversary of the documentary 'Cracked Actor'. The film follows David Bowie during one of the most prolific and fecund periods of his career as he toured America for his 1973 Diamond Dogs tour. The result, called Cracked Actor, was part of the BBC's Omnibus strand, and described by Rolling Stone magazine as the "greatest rockumentary" ever. The film chronicled the star post-Ziggy and pre-Berlin, as Bowie was redefining both himself and popular music. On the film's 50th birthday, a book is published today, called The Fly in the Milk: David Bowie, Cracked Actor. Today's Amol Rajan is joined by the film's director, Alan Yentob, to discuss David Bowie, making documentaries, and the controversies that arise when working with the biggest stars. Photo credit: Alan Ballard, BBC
9/28/20237 minutes, 59 seconds
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Rosebank: UK's largest untapped oil field approved

Regulators have given the go-ahead to develop the UK's largest untapped oil and gas field in the North Sea. Rosebank, located 80 miles west of Shetland, is estimated to contain 500 million barrels of oil. Last month a cross-party group of 50 MPs and peers wrote to the energy secretary arguing it would be "deeply irresponsible" to back the scheme when the government should be driving down carbon emissions. Today's Martha Kearney speaks to Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, who opposes Rosebank, and Gilad Myerson, executive chairman of Ithaca Energy which has a 20 per cent stake in the project. (Image credit: Andrew Perry/PA Wire)
9/27/20238 minutes, 7 seconds
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The Today Debate: Drug deaths in Scotland - is decriminalisation the answer?

The Today Debate is about taking an issue and pulling it apart with more time than we could ever have during the morning. Join Today presenter Mishal Husain, as in front of a live audience in Glasgow, a panel of guests discuss the problem of drug abuse and drug deaths in Scotland. Together they look at different approaches and ask whether decriminalisation is the answer. The panel includes people with personal experience of addiction and those who have seen loved ones derailed. We will also be joined by people working on the frontline and Police Scotland. If you need help with any of the issues raised in the programme there's advice and support on the BBC Action Line website https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline
9/27/202336 minutes, 22 seconds
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The clinic where users would take their own drugs

Drug users in Glasgow would be able to bring their own drugs and take them in a setting where there is healthcare support, under plans being considered in Scotland. It would be the first such space in the UK. The clinic would be close to the city centre, where there is already an NHS prescription service for people who are addicted to heroin. The Scottish government sees it as a significant moment in its effort to tackle drug deaths in Scotland - it also wants to decriminalise possessing drugs for personal use. Today's Mishal Husain visited the existing service and saw how the new clinic would work. She also spoke to BBC Scotland Editor James Cook, and Austin Smith from the Scottish Drugs Forum. Image credit: Getty Images
9/26/202315 minutes, 33 seconds
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Introducing The Today Podcast

Introducing The Today Podcast. A new weekly podcast from the team behind the UK's most influential radio news programme. Join Amol, Nick and guests every Thursday as they give their take on the biggest stories of the week, with insights from behind the scenes at Radio 4's Today. The first episode of The Today Podcast drops on October 5th. Subscribe on BBC Sounds. Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 4346 or email [email protected] The Today Podcast is presented by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson. The producers are Tom Smithard and Stephanie Mitcalf. The editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.
9/25/20233 minutes, 24 seconds
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Rishi Sunak defends rowing back on key green policies

Rishi Sunak insists the UK will still hit net zero by 2050, despite announcing a major shift on green policies in a speech yesterday. Speaking to Today's Nick Robinson, the PM says he is "absolutely not slowing down efforts to combat climate change". Despite warnings the government might miss legally-binding net zero targets, Rishi Sunak also said: "For too long in this debate there hasn't been enough honesty about what's involved." When asked if net zero can be achieved by 2050 if gas boilers can be installed up to 2035 according to the new policy, the PM says: "Both in the cars and vans that we drive, and how we heat our homes, over time to deliver net zero, those things have to change, but we can do that in a measured way." We also hear analysis from the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason.
9/21/202324 minutes, 3 seconds
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A delay to net zero?

Rishi Sunak is considering weakening some of the government's key green commitments in a major policy shift. It could include delaying a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and phasing out gas boilers, multiple sources have told the BBC. The prime minister did not deny the reports, saying he was committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 but in a "more proportionate way". Home Secretary Suella Braverman told Today’s Justin Webb the “costs of achieving some of these arbitrary targets has to be taken into account”. While Sir Alok Sharma, who headed COP26 in Glasgow, spoke to Nick Robinson about what he wants to hear from the prime minister. By: John Walton Credit: PA Location: London, United Kingdom
9/20/202313 minutes, 3 seconds
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American prisoners returning from Iran

Five dual nationals jailed for years in Iran and widely regarded as hostages are on their way home to the United States. The last pieces in a controversial swap mediated by Qatar fell into place when $6bn (£4.8bn) of Iranian funds held in South Korea, paid by the US, reached banks in Doha. The US also granted clemency to 5 Iranian nationals, who were mainly being held on charges of violating US sanctions. Today’s Mishal Husain spoke to Elika Ashoori, the daughter of Anoosheh Ashoori who was released earlier this year from Iran alongside Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. She said: “Personally I am happy for the families. But also on a broader level, it’s highly frustrating. “I do believe that these deals, as long as they’re happening, they’re validating this practice of hostage diplomacy.” We also hear some expert analysis from the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet.
9/19/20237 minutes, 32 seconds
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Russell Brand: Broadcasters launch investigations

Investigations have been launched by the BBC and Channel 4 after comedian and actor Russell Brand was accused of rape and sexual assault. The allegations were made in a joint investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4's Dispatches released over the weekend. Russell Brand has denied the allegations, saying his relationships have been "always consensual" - and appeared at a gig on Saturday night. Speaking to Today's Mishal Husain, Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, called the allegations "incredibly shocking and criminal". Nick Robinson also spoke to former Editor of the Sun David Yelland and Lorraine Heggessey, former BBC One controller, who said that during Brand's time on BBC Radio, there was "an inability to rein him in" after he made inappropriate remarks about a newsreader.
9/18/202317 minutes, 46 seconds
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Italy pleas for help with more than 8,000 migrants arriving on Lampedusa

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini says overcrowded iron boats filled with migrants from Africa arriving on the island of Lampedusa is an ‘act of war’ . The UN migration agency says around eight and a half thousand people arrived in nearly two hundred boats between Monday and Wednesday this week. Today’s Nick Robinson speaks to Laurence Hart, Head of Mission in Italy at the International Organisation of Migrants who explains how unusual it is to have this amount of migrants arrive on the island. Italy's PM Georgia Meloni was elected with a promise to curb illegal migration. Nick also speaks to Nicola Proccacini, a close ally of Georgia Meloni who chairs the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament. Image credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
9/16/202311 minutes, 46 seconds
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Irvine Welsh on Crime, drugs and Trainspotting

Irvine Welsh's TV series Crime is returning for a second series, based on his books ‘Crime’ and ‘Night of the Long Knives’. The best-selling author speaks to Today's Martha Kearney about writing for TV, 30 years of Trainspotting and his thoughts about the relationship Scotland has with drugs.
9/15/202316 minutes, 59 seconds
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Met Police: Patsy Stevenson says apology is 'lip service'

Two of the women arrested at a vigil for Sarah Everard in March 2021 have been paid damages and received letters of apology from the Metropolitan Police. Patsy Stevenson and Dania Al-Obeid took legal action against the force over their arrests at the south London protest during Covid restrictions. When asked by Today's Nick Robinson about whether she thinks the Met is learning from what happened at the vigil, Patsy Stevenson said: "No, it will always be lip service. "Time and time again we see an incident happen, the police do a lot of PR damage. And then they get a new commissioner in. "Where is this reform?"
9/14/20239 minutes, 51 seconds
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Libya floods: 'It's like doomsday'

At least 5,300 people are dead in the Libyan city of Derna after Storm Daniel on Sunday, which resulted in a dam bursting and a river of floodwater sweeping through the streets. With 10,000 people reported missing, the death toll is expected to rise. Today's Martha Kearney spoke to Libyan journalist Johr Ali about his friend, whose entire family was taken by the storm. Justin Webb also spoke to the BBC's International Editor Jeremy Bowen, who said getting aid to the people in need is made harder by the political tensions in the north African country, and to Dr Anas Barghathy, who travelled to the Derna region to volunteer.
9/13/202314 minutes, 49 seconds
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Martha's Rule: 'I'm looking at it from the perspective of patients'

Merope Mills says she will meet Health Secretary Steve Barclay this week to discuss her calls for new patient rights. In an exclusive interview with the Today programme earlier this month, Merope Mills advocated for the NHS to adopt the patient rights policy Martha's Rule, following the preventable death of her 13-year-old daughter Martha from sepsis in 2021. Speaking to the programme on 11 September, NHS England's Medical Director Sir Stephen Powis said he supports the policy, which would allow a patient or their family a statutory right to get a second opinion if they have concerns about care. But speaking to Today’s Mishal Husain about the reaction to her call, Merope says she worries the NHS is looking at things from the perspective of hospitals rather than the view of patients.
9/12/202314 minutes, 8 seconds
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NHS England prepared to support 'Martha's Rule'

Martha Mills was 13 years old when she died in hospital two years ago, after failures by doctors to spot and treat her sepsis. Her mother Merope previously spoke to Today and called for hospitals to implement 'Martha's Rule', where patients and their families would be given the right to an urgent second opinion, if they feel their concerns are not being taken seriously by medical staff. The Health Secretary Steve Barclay then said in the House of Commons that he was looking at introducing a Martha's Rule to the NHS. Labour responded to our interview by saying if the government doesn't act, they will write the rule into the NHS constitution. Today's Mishal Husain speaks to NHS England's National Medical Director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, responds to that interview by Merope Mills and her call for 'Martha's Rule'.
9/11/202313 minutes, 3 seconds
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Young Ones reunite for new play

Adrian Edmondson and Nigel Planer, two of the cast from the 1980s sitcom The Young Ones, have reunited to write a new play. ‘It's Headed Straight Towards Us’ follows two bickering actors and the hapless runner on the film they’re shooting in Iceland, as a volcanic eruption causes their trailer to subside and cuts off the only route of escape. Today’s Martha Kearney speaks to Adrian and Nigel about the idea behind their new play and their experiences on The Young Ones. Credit: GettyImages
9/8/20237 minutes, 30 seconds
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‘The rescue boat was too small’

In June a vessel carrying hundreds of migrants sank 50 miles off the Greek coast. It is thought as many as 600 people drowned as the over-crowded ship sank in the deepest part of the Mediterranean Sea. However questions have been raised about the involvement of the Greek Coast Guard about their involvement in the tragedy. As part of a Radio 4 documentary, BBC Europe correspondent Nick Beake has been trying to find out more about those who managed to escape death on the fatal voyage. Today’s Katya Adler spoke to Nick Beake and to Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner with the UN refugee agency the UNHCR. (Image, Migrants on board ship, Credit, Hellenic Coast Guard/ Reuters)
9/7/20239 minutes, 57 seconds
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Martha’s Rule: How to support patients seeking second opinion

Martha Mills died after failures in her treatment at King's College Hospital. Martha’s mother, Merope, is calling for hospitals around the country to bring in "Martha's rule", which would give parents, carers and patients the right to call for an urgent second clinical opinion from other experts at the same hospital if they have concerns about their current care. The government has said it will explore the introduction of Martha's rule in UK hospitals. Today’s Nick Robinson spoke to Dr Sanjiv Sharma, Medical Director at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Matthew Taylor, Chief executive of the NHS Confederation. Nick Robinson also spoke to Sir Robert Francis, chair of the Francis Report and chair of the Freedom to Speak Up Review, published in 2015. (Image, Merope and Martha Mills, Credit Merope Mills)
9/6/202311 minutes, 50 seconds
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Labour backs ‘Martha's rule’

Thirteen-year-old Martha Mills died after failures by doctors to spot sepsis, and her mother Merope told Today on Monday about her call for hospitals around the country to bring in "Martha's rule". This would give parents, carers and patients the right to call for an urgent second clinical opinion from other experts at the same hospital if they have concerns about their current care. The government said yesterday that it would explore the introduction of "Martha's rule" in UK hospitals. Today’s Martha Kearney spoke to Wes Streeting, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary and Rob Behrens, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. (Image, Merope Mills, Credit BBC)
9/5/202314 minutes, 38 seconds
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Concrete crisis: School repair budgets cut despite warning

More than 150 schools in England have been identified as having a type of potentially dangerous concrete – RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) – with many now closing buildings or classrooms to make them safe. The government has not yet published a list of which schools are affected as it says it wants parents to hear from headteachers and principals about closures first. The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said the government "will spend what it takes" to make schools safe from RAAC. Today’s Nick Robinson spoke to Peter Smith, head teacher at Farlingaye High School in Suffolk and Jonathan Slater, who was Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education until the summer of 2020. Nick Robinson also spoke to Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary. (Image, Parks Primary School, Leicester, Credit Jacob King/ PA)
9/4/202321 minutes, 37 seconds
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Martha's Rule: Challenging culture will make our hospitals safer

Martha Mills was 13 years old when she died in hospital two years ago, after failures by doctors to spot and treat her sepsis. Her parents are calling for hospitals to implement 'Martha's Rule', where patients and their families would be given the right to an urgent second opinion, if they feel their concerns are not being taken seriously by medical staff. Today's Mishal Husain speaks to Martha's mother Merope Mills. (Photo: Martha Mills, Credit: Merope Mills)
9/4/202329 minutes, 51 seconds
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'Life's Not Always a Beach' Guest Edit

Back in March, to mark 20 years of the Today guest editors we gave people the chance to apply in teams to make a programme with us. Thousands of you applied and this summer we have been featuring programmes guest edited by those successful teams of listeners. In the last in the series Vince, Fiona, Derek and Lucas invited us to Tenby in West Wales. For their programme they wanted us to look at what happens when the tourists go home from towns like theirs. They don’t think we spend enough time thinking about the challenges that face coastal communities, not just in Tenby, but across the UK.
9/3/202335 minutes, 46 seconds
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Sajid Javid: What can be done to help prevent suicide?

Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid lost his brother Tariq to suicide in 2018. It is the number one cause of death for young people and biggest killer of men under 50. In a personal report for the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Sajid speaks to people in Bristol, where he grew up, whose lives have been affected by suicide and also speaks to the chief exec of the Samaritans and other mental health campaigners. He then tells Today's Martha Kearney what he thinks the government should be doing to help with suicide prevention. If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, including urgent support, a list of organisations that can help is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline, or you can call for free to hear recorded information on 0800 066 066
9/1/202316 minutes, 43 seconds
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Lucy Letby Inquiry: Powers upgraded to compel witness evidence

After Lucy Letby, the UK's most prolific baby murderer, was sentenced earlier this month, there has been a lot of discussion about what form the public inquiry should take. The government has now decided that it should be led by a judge with full powers to force people to give evidence. That's what the families have been asking for and Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said he has listened to them - but that kind of inquiry is likely to take more time. Today's Martha Kearney first speaks to Dr Stephen Brearey, who is the lead consultant at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital and who originally raised concerns about Lucy Letby in 2015. She also speaks to Sir Robert Francis, who was chair of the inquiry which looked into the failings into care in mid-Staffordshire.
8/31/202311 minutes, 55 seconds
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Air traffic boss addresses ‘anger’ and ‘frustration’ over flight chaos

Monday’s air traffic control problems have led to thousands of passengers being left stranded abroad and in the UK. Many are having to find and pay for alternative routes. Today’s Nick Robinson spoke to Willie Walsh, a former boss of British Airways and now Director General of IATA, The International Air Transport Association about scale of the disruption and Martin Rolfe, the CEO of the National Air Traffic Services. Photo by ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock (14072150f)
8/30/202316 minutes, 36 seconds
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Mayor of London: Expanding Ulez is a 'difficult' but 'vital' decision

Today’s Mishal Husain discusses the arguments for and against the implementation of low emission zones for vehicles. London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, Ulez, has now expanded to cover all of Greater London, with owners of the most polluting cars now facing a £12.50 daily charge to drive in the capital. Whilst these changes have been carried out in at least seven areas in England, the expansion today of London makes it the biggest, affecting nearly 9m people. Mishal first speaks to Irene Bacon, a care worker, who tells us the impact these changes will have on her. She then speaks to Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, who explains why they have decided to expand Ulez to cover all of London. He labels it as a ‘difficult’ but ‘vital’ decision and summarises the implications it will have. He also responds to Irene’s fears by outlining the different schemes available to help solve financial issues. Aaron Chown/PA Wire
8/29/202313 minutes, 19 seconds
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Home Secretary: Minor crimes shouldn’t be dismissed

Today’s Mishal Husain speaks to the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, who states that Police must investigate every theft and follow all reasonable leads to catch offenders. Braverman says that it must change that Police deem some crimes as ‘minor’, effectively allowing criminals to break certain laws. She explains how Police can use evidence from smart doorbells and dashcams to prevent these crimes. Braverman also faces questions on the safety of the Bibby Stockholm, the barge which housed asylum seekers. All residents were moved out after the Legionella bacteria, which can cause serious illness, was detected. She explains that people would go back on the barge “as soon as we have completed the relevant checks” and that she’s been ‘frustrated’ with the recent events. She also explains why she doesn’t rule out the GPS tagging of Channel migrants, and discusses parts of the Illegal Migration Act. Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
8/28/202314 minutes, 37 seconds
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Friendly Neighbours Guest Edit

Back in March, to mark 20 years of the Today guest editors we gave people the chance to apply in teams to make a programme with us. Thousands of you applied and every Saturday through August we’ll be featuring programmes guest edited by those successful teams of listeners. Today it was the turn of ‘Friendly Neighbours’. Sudi, Mike, Pol and Sophie are four friends and neighbours from the Kingsdown area of Bristol. At the heart of their community is the Dove Street Estate, a modernist high rise development built in the 1960s. They want to look at how we make sure that, when we are planning housing developments, we really think about the people and communities who will live there.
8/26/202333 minutes, 5 seconds
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George Osborne says thefts "damaging" for British Museum reputation

Chair of Trustees at the British Museum, George Osborne has told Today around 2,000 items have gone missing from the institution but adds they have started to recover some of them. Yesterday, the British Museum director Hartwig Fischer said he will step down from his role, after treasures were stolen from the London institution. In a statement, he said it was evident the museum "did not respond as comprehensively as it should have" when it was told about the thefts in 2021.
8/26/202311 minutes, 1 second
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Prigozhin: The man who challenged Putin

Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led a failed mutiny against Vladimir Putin, was on a plane that crashed in western Russia, according to aviation officials. Authorities say all 10 people on board were killed after the private aircraft came down near the village of Kuzhenkino. Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, amid heavy speculation. Today’s Nick Robinson and Martha Kearney speaks to Nina Khrushcheva, Professor of international affairs at the New School University in New York, who joins us from Moscow, and Sergei Markov, Putin's former spokesperson. Later in the programme, we were joined by Timothy Snyder, Professor of History at Yale University, and Sir John Sawers, former Chief of MI6 and British Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Photo credit: Courtesy PMC Wagner via Telegram via REUTERS
8/24/202323 minutes, 57 seconds
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US Climate Envoy John Kerry ahead of Cop 28

John Kerry, Joe Biden's climate envoy, is in Edinburgh launching a new forum for ideas and international cooperation called Scottish Global Dialogues. Today's Special Correspondent James Naughtie asked Mr Kerry about the failure of the effort to keep global warming to an increase of 1.5 degrees on pre-industrial levels. Mr Kerry has said he's deliberately staying out of domestic politics in the US and the UK - Jim asked him about the challenges that could cause in the run up to the next climate talks in the Middle East in November.
8/24/20237 minutes, 29 seconds
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The UK's first successful womb transplant

Surgeons in Oxford have carried out the first womb transplant in the UK. The recipient was a 34-year-old woman, and the donor her 40-year-old sister, both of whom wish to remain anonymous. Doctors say both recovered well from surgery and the younger sister plans to have IVF this autumn, using embryos that she and her husband have in storage. A team of around 20 carried out the procedures, lasting around 17 hours, in adjoining operating theatres at the Churchill hospital in February. Today's Justin Webb speaks to the Chairman of Womb Transplant UK, who was the lead surgeon who retrieved the womb, Professor Richard Smith, and the surgeon who transplanted the womb, Isabel Quiroga. Photo Credit: Womb Transplant UK/PA Wire
8/23/20236 minutes, 43 seconds
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Lucy Letby: Whistleblower doctor on NHS accountability

Serial killer Lucy Letby was handed a whole life sentence on Monday at Manchester Crown Court for the murder of seven babies and attempted murder of six others at the neonatal care unit where she was a nurse. Today's Justin Webb speaks to Dr Stephen Brearey, who was the lead consultant on the unit where Letby worked and raised the alarm in October 2015. Dr Brearey claimed senior staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital were worried about reputational damage to the organisation, and that instead of acting on his warnings, he and his colleagues' lives were made 'very difficult'. He claimed his experience was not uncommon in the NHS.
8/22/202312 minutes, 11 seconds
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Nurse Lucy Letby to be sentenced for murdering seven babies

Nurse Lucy Letby is due to be sentenced later after being found guilty of murdering seven babies, making her the UK's most prolific child serial killer in modern times. The trial lasted for more than 10 months and is believed to be the longest murder trial in the UK. She has indicated she will not be in court for the hearing. The government has ordered an independent inquiry into the circumstances behind serial killer Lucy Letby's baby murders. Detectives are reviewing the care of all babies admitted to hospital while Letby was working as a neonatal nurse. The review includes her work placements at Liverpool Women's Hospital in 2012 and 2015, although police say this did not involve any deaths. The Department of Health said it would look at how clinicians' concerns were handled, as a BBC investigation found hospital bosses ignored doctors' warnings about Letby. There are also calls for the inquiry the government has announced to be upgraded into a statutory public inquiry. Today's Mishal Husain speaks to Dame Christine Beasley, former Chief Nursing Officer for England 2004-2012 and current non-Executive director with Kings College NHS Trust, and the Health minister, Claire Coutinho.
8/21/202312 minutes, 1 second
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Concert Band Guest Edit

Back in March, to mark 20 years of the Today guest editors we gave people the chance to apply in teams to make a programme with us. Thousands of you applied and every Saturday through August we’ll be featuring programmes guest edited by those successful teams of listeners. Today it was the turn of Anne, Moyra, Alan and Andrew who are all members of the Dunbartonshire Concert Band. They wanted to use their guest edit to explore the benefits of community music. They commissioned a special report on music education and they asked us to look at whether playing an instrument help keep your brain “fit” as you get older? Their programme features the violinist Nicola Benedetti.
8/19/202338 minutes, 10 seconds
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The Nicola Benedetti Interview

Our programme is guest edited by Moyra, Anne, Alan and Andrew, four members of the Dunbartonshire Concert Band. For their programme they wanted to look at the contribution community music makes to society. The were very keen to hear from the violinist Nicola Benedetti. Not only is she a world acclaimed violinist, but she has campaigned for years for better music provision – especially for children from underprivileged backgrounds. Nicola Benedetti is also “Big Sister” to a social change and music education programme called "The Big Noise" that provides free music tuition alongside free childcare and healthy food. The charity supports 3,500 children across Scotland. Nicola spoke to Today's Simon Jack for this special edition of Today.
8/19/202311 minutes, 18 seconds
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Jamie Cullum remembers renowned broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson

Sir Michael Parkinson has died at the age of 88. Nick Robinson is joined by Jamie Cullum to discuss the illustrious career of the late British broadcaster. Cullum describes how Parkinson’s ‘genuine fascination’ for his guests brought joy to millions and simultaneously helped launch the careers of several young stars. Together, Nick and Cullum recollect their experiences with the chat show host and reflect on his magical career.
8/18/20236 minutes, 52 seconds
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Ella Toone’s touching goal celebration

The first Lioness to score in the 3-1 victory against Australia in the Women's World Cup semi-final was Ella Toone from Tyldesley in Greater Manchester. In keeping with a promise to her best friends, she celebrated her goal by kissing her wrist and forming a heart symbol above her head. Today’s Nick Robinson speaks to Ella’s best friends, Sheona Woodward and Morgan Paddock. The Lionesses are through to the World Cup Final against Spain on Sunday. Image credit: Reuters
8/17/20235 minutes, 22 seconds
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Andy Malkinson: third party DNA evidence found three years after rape conviction

DNA evidence found on the victim's clothes indicated another man had been involved, yet Mr Malkinson remained imprisoned for another 13 years after a wrongful conviction. Today’s Mishal Husain speaks to Dominic Casciani, the BBC’s Home Affairs Correspondent, about how the evidence was uncovered. Mishal also speaks to James Burley, an investigator at Appeal, a legal charity, who worked on Andy Malkinson’s case. She speaks to Lord Garnier KC, former Solicitor General and co-chair of the 2021 Westminster Commission on Miscarriages of Justice who calls for a public inquiry into the Malkinson case. Image credit: PA
8/16/202312 minutes, 16 seconds
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Cancer waiting time targets set to drop in England

Two-thirds of NHS cancer waiting time targets are expected to be dropped in England, in a move the health service says aims to catch cancers earlier. NHS bosses want to reduce the number of targets, most of which have been routinely missed in recent years, down to three. They say the plan is backed by leading cancer experts and will simplify the "outdated" standards. The changes have been under consultation since last year, and an outcome is expected within days. NHS leaders are understood to be keen to press on with the plan as first announced - but it is still subject to final approval by Health Secretary Steve Barclay. Today's Justin Webb speaks to Dr Tom Roques, Vice President of Clinical Oncology at the Royal College of Radiologists and a consultant oncologist, Professor Pat Price, visiting Oncology Professor at Imperial College, and co-founder of the 'catchup with cancer' campaign – which is focused on getting cancer waiting lists down, and to Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
8/14/202318 minutes, 3 seconds
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Good Grief Guest Edit

Back in March, to mark 20 years of the Today guest editors we gave people the chance to apply in teams to make a programme with us. Thousands of you applied and every Saturday through August we’ll be featuring programmes guest edited by those successful teams of listeners. Today it was the turn of Hannah, Cenya and Huzaifah. They are three friends who have all experienced the loss of someone close to them and want to talk about what good grief looks like. Their programme features the former England Cricket Captain Andrew Strauss who set up a foundation in memory of his wife, Ruth, who died of cancer. The Ruth Strauss Foundation supports families facing the death of a parent. If you need support with any of the issues raised in this podcast you can find organisations that can help at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline This guest edit of Today was produced by Laura Cooper, Hazel Morgan and Louisa Lewis.
8/12/202325 minutes, 20 seconds
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Junior doctors begin fifth walkout

Junior doctors are striking due to concerns over the conditions of their job, including overcrowded corridors and long waiting lists. Today’s Justin Webb speaks to Dr. Lucy Cocker and Dr. Adam Collins on why they chose to leave the NHS and move to Australia, where they say offers better prospects. Today’s Martha Kearney speaks to John Glen, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on how he aims to address morale in the NHS and resolving the strikes. Image credit: PA
8/11/202313 minutes, 36 seconds
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Labour's plan to reform the asylum system

Labour's '5 point plan' to reform the asylum system aims to end the use of hotels and set up new agreements with France and other countries to return failed asylum seekers. Today's Nick Robinson speaks to Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper about the party's plans and the government’s recent announcements on migration. (Photo credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire)
8/9/202311 minutes, 47 seconds
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Justice Secretary 'looking very carefully' into what happened in Malkinson case

A controversial rule which deducted living costs from compensation paid to wrongly imprisoned people was been scrapped by the government on Sunday. The change came after the case of Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a rape he did not commit, prompted calls for it to be overhauled. A charity called Appeal fought to clear Mr Malkinson after the official body which investigates miscarriages of justice, the Criminal Cases Review Commission, refused twice to investigate his case. Today's Nick Robinson speaks to the Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, who acted to make the reform with support from the Prime Minister. (Photo credit: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
8/8/202316 minutes, 29 seconds
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First asylum seekers expected on Bibby Stockholm 'imminently'

The BBC has been told that the first asylum seekers will be moved on to an accommodation barge moored in Portland in Dorset later today. The Bibby Stockholm will house up to 500 men over the next 18 months while their claims are assessed. Ministers say it will be cheaper than putting migrants in hotels but campaigners have described the conditions onboard as "inhumane". The plan has been delayed a number of times because of safety concerns. Today's Mishal Husain speaks to Sarah Dines, Safeguarding Minister in the Home Office. (Photo by REUTERS/Toby Melville)
8/7/202316 minutes, 52 seconds
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Messy Fostering Guest Edit

Back in March, to mark 20 years of the Today guest editors we gave people the chance to apply in teams to make a programme with us. Thousands of you applied and every Saturday through August we’ll be featuring programmes guest edited by those successful teams of listeners. Today it was the turn of Amy, Jo and Gig. They've called their team, Messy Fostering. Amy who’s now 23-years-old was fostered at 14 by Gig and ended up spending her summers with her teacher Jo. For them, it worked. But sometimes it doesn't and they wanted to use their guest edit to look at how we can stop foster placements breaking down and recruit and retain more foster families. Their programme features the poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay, the Children's Minister Claire Coutinho and other young people who have been fostered. If you need support with any of the issues raised in this podcast you can find organisations that can help at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline This guest edit of Today was produced by Laura Cooper, Hazel Morgan and Louisa Lewis.
8/5/202336 minutes, 32 seconds
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Can Donald Trump win the Republican primaries?

Despite Donald Trump being charged with conspiring to overturn the US election result in 2020, he is currently ahead of candidates for the Republican nomination for president. On Thursday, former US President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty in a Washington DC court to conspiring to overturn his 2020 election defeat. But, in the latest nationwide poll, he was on level pegging with Joe Biden. He could win the presidential election. Can anti-Trump Republicans turn this around? Today's Justin Webb heard from John Fredericks, a radio talk show host whose show is syndicated nationally across America, and speaks to Scott Jennings, a former Republican special assistant to President George W. Bush and to Will Hurd, former Texas GOP Congressman & Republican candidate for the presidential nomination. Photo credit: REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
8/4/202311 minutes, 59 seconds
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'America is dangerously divided'

Donald Trump has been charged with conspiring to overturn the US election result in 2020. The four counts include an attempt to defraud the 2020 election through dishonesty, fraud, and deceit. The charges follow an inquiry into the riots in Washington DC on 6 January 2021. Trump is accused of "spreading lies" about election fraud for more than two months. In total, Trump has now been charged in three criminal cases - but experts say the latest could be the most serious. The other cases relate to the mishandling of secret documents, and payments to Stormy Daniels, a former porn star. Despite the criminal cases, Trump is the favourite to be the Republican candidate in the 2024 election. Today's Chris Mason speaks to Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, Sebastian Gorka, a former strategist to President Trump and host of the US radio programme America First, and Joe Walsh, who's a former Republican Congressman, and who broke rank with his party over Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
8/2/202313 minutes, 20 seconds
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UK set to ban new petrol cars by 2030

There is pressure on both the Conservatives and Labour to review their climate commitments following the Conservative win in the Uxbridge by-election - where the upcoming extension of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone was one of the big issues. But the government is currently sticking to its plan, supported by Labour, to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, with the sales of hybrid cars to be stopped from 2035. So, can we meet the target in time? In a letter to the prime minister, a group of 43 Conservative MPs wrote the policy was 'unnecessary and unworkable'. They asked him to re-think the 2030 deadline, which comes five years before the EU ban, and warned it risked doing harm to the economy. Fans of EVs have also raised concerns over the ban - are there enough charging points, and enough energy for those charging points, and if the government says goodbye to fuel tax, then how does it make up for it? Today's Justin Webb speaks to Stuart Adam, senior economist at the IFS, Mike Hawes, the chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ken McMeikan, CEO of Moto Services, and Richard Holden, the Transport Minister. They spoke to Justin about whether EVs are accessible to everybody, if the national grid can support the change to EVs, and the price disparity between charging a car at home and at public charging points. Photo credit: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
8/1/202318 minutes, 31 seconds
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The Politics of the Car

Today’s Chris Mason is joined by Rachel Aldred, a Professor of Transport at Westminster University, to discuss the overall success of ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’ and whether they’re here to stay. He then speaks to Linda Taylor, a Transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, who explains the importance of engaging with residents to help find solutions to environmental damage. Steve Berry, a Motoring journalist and former Top Gear presenter, outlines the problem he finds with ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’. Together, the guests look to the future, to discuss the need for better schemes, to provide benefits to future generations.
7/31/202310 minutes, 46 seconds
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Should changes be made to the justice system for the wrongfully convicted?

The rape conviction of Andrew Malkinson has been overturned after serving 17 years in prison for a crime he had always said he did not commit. The exoneration has sparked questions about the criminal justice system and how the wrongfully convicted are treated after they have been found innocent. Today's Justin Webb speaks to former Attorney General Dominic Grieve and Gareth Peirce, defence solicitor who worked on high profile miscarriages of justice including the Birmingham Six. (Image credit: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
7/28/202314 minutes, 10 seconds
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Debbie Weinstein, UK Managing Director of Google

On the Best of Today podcast, Felicity Hannah talks with Debbie Weinstein, the UK and Ireland Managing Director of Google. Debbie talks about Google’s new Artificial Intelligence training programme and explains why she thinks the UK needs a national skills service. They discuss the problems Bard, Google’s AI-powered chatbot, experiences with false information, known as “hallucinations". They also talk about the Online Safety Bill, which could have big implications for tech companies, particularly with regards to how they stop images of child abuse being shared.
7/28/202315 minutes, 51 seconds
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Andrew Malkinson: ‘I want to begin to heal myself’

Andy Malkinson won his fight yesterday to clear his name after 20 years protesting his innocence. 17 of those years he spent in prison after being convicted of rape. The Court of Appeal's decision came after DNA evidence implicated another man in the crime. No forensic evidence linked Mr Malkinson to the attack in 2003. He spoke to Today’s Justin Webb and explained that he no longer wants to live in the UK and wants to begin the process of healing. Photo credit: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
7/27/202316 minutes, 10 seconds
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Nigel Farage: “I was kicked out because of my political views”

NatWest boss Dame Alison Rose has resigned hours after admitting she had made a mistake in speaking about the end of Nigel Farage's relationship with the bank. Today’s Nick Robinson speaks with Nigel Farage who says “the first rule of banking is client confidentiality and she broke that”. Nick also speaks to Sir Philip Augar, a former banker who was a member of the cross-party Future of Banking Commission. He also discusses the market response to Dame Alison’s resignation with Angela Knight, the former Chief Executive of the British Banking Association.
7/26/202319 minutes, 11 seconds
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Labour’s new gender recognition plan

Anneliese Dodds has shared Labour's new plans to "modernise, simplify, and reform" the 'Gender Recognition Act'. Writing in The Guardian, the shadow women and equalities secretary added Labour's reform would keep "medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria", officially confirming the party no longer supports self-ID. Labour's new reforms have received a mix reception from both sides of the debate, with criticisms from LGBTQ+ activists and the public for Labour's ever changing stance on the issue. Anneliese Dodds was not available to discuss the reforms with the Today programme. Today's Nick Robinson speaks to Rosie Duffield, Labour MP for Canterbury and gender critical feminist, and Helen Belcher, a Lib Dem councillor, trans woman, and the chair of TransActual UK.
7/25/20238 minutes, 54 seconds
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Kids Summer Book Club: History

We'll talk about a different theme each week....and this week we are taking a look at history books. Today's Chris Mason is joined by special guest Greg Jenner, a historian and historical consultant to CBBC show Horrible Histories, and is the author of four books, including ‘You Are History: From the Alarm Clock to the Toilet, the Amazing History of the Things You Use Every Day’. We will be joined every week of the school summer holidays by the author Frank Cottrell Boyce and librarian Jennifer Horan. Join us next week for books about nature and climate. You can find all of our recommendations on our Twitter @bbcR4Today and Instagram and Threads - both @bbctodayprogramme.
7/24/202311 minutes, 1 second
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By-election reaction from all parties

The Conservatives have suffered two heavy defeats by Labour and the Lib Dems, but have narrowly held on to former PM Boris Johnson's old Uxbridge seat, after a night of three dramatic by-election results. Today's Nick Robinson speaks to Labour's Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, Conservative Chairman Greg Hands and Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper. There's also analysis from polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice and the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason.
7/21/202325 minutes, 48 seconds
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Global Warming: 'We're on a pathway to at least 2.5 degrees'

Parts of the world are currently experiencing record-breaking temperatures - this weekend, Death Valley in California reached 53.9 degrees centigrade, and Xinjiang in China recorded the country's hottest ever temperature at 52.2 degrees. But how much of the recent heat can be attributed to climate change? What can and should we do about it? And where does it leave the target of limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees, agreed in Paris in 2015 at the climate change summit Cop 21. Professor Sir Robert Watson, Director of Strategic Development for the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia, and former Chair of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, tells Today's Amol Rajan that current pledges from global governments aren't going far enough and suggests 'we're on a pathway of at least 2.5 degrees'.
7/20/20237 minutes, 45 seconds
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Sir Nick Clegg: Talk of AI posing threat to humanity has 'run ahead of the technology'

Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp, is launching an 'open-source' AI to rival ChatGPT. Llama 2, is described as the next generation of their open source large language model which can mimic human creativity and expertise. Today's Nick Robinson speaks to Baroness Kidron, Crossbench Peer in the UK House of Lords and Chair of the 5Rights Foundation, which works to put children’s needs and rights at the heart of digital design. He also speaks to former Deputy Prime Minister and Meta's president of global affairs Sir Nick Clegg. (Photo By Kenzo Tribouillard/afp Via Getty Images)
7/19/202316 minutes, 6 seconds
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Sir Mark Rowley: 'Trust is the central issue'

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has been speaking to Today’s Martha Kearney about efforts to transform the Met's culture, including the removal of more officers. It follows a review earlier this year by Baroness Louise Casey on the force’s culture and standards after the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving police officer Wayne Couzens, in 2021. During the course of her review, another Met officer, David Carrick, was convicted of a series of rapes, sexual offences and torture of women. Baroness Casey found the force was institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic. The Met Commissioner also revealed the force is in talks regarding a pay-out to the family of murdered private detective Daniel Morgan. Mr Morgan was found with an axe in his head in the car park of a pub in Sydenham, south-east London, in 1987. No-one has been convicted over the father of two's killing, since which there have been five inquiries and an inquest, at an estimated cost of more than £40m.The Met has previously admitted corruption hampered the original murder investigation and apologised to Mr Morgan's family. A panel found in 2021 that the Met repeatedly covered up its failings. Photo Credit: Carl De Souza/Pool via REUTERS
7/18/202317 minutes, 31 seconds
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Breakthrough in Alzheimer's treatment

US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly will unveil the full results of its trials of the drug 'donanemab' - which is the second shown to slow progression of dementia. The results of the donanemab trial will be revealed at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam, and the drug could be licenced as safe in the UK in as little as a year to 18 months. The NHS would then have to weigh up the cost effectiveness when it comes to who it can give the drug to. Today's Mishal Husain speaks to Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Research UK and Co-Chair of UK Government Dementia Mission, and Professor Sir John Hardy, Professor of Neurodegenerative Disease at UCL - who advised the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly during the development of donanemab. Photo credit: Denis Balibouse, Reuters
7/17/202311 minutes, 20 seconds
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Germany’s divisions on migration

In recent years, Germany has twice opened its doors to a significant influx of individuals escaping war, establishing itself as the top destination for refugees in Europe. However, the politics of migration remains divisive, with the far-right AFD gaining ground. Today’s Nick Robinson reports from the city in Bavaria where many migrants first set foot on German soil and he examines the debate over the UK Government’s migration policies with Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper. Credit: EPA/ARMIN WEIGEL
7/14/202320 minutes, 32 seconds
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Nick Robinson: Italy's migrant story

The Today programme has been looking at the debate about how to handle the mass movement of people around the world. Sicily is the region where the majority of African migrants to Italy arrive. Migrants make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean in crowded boats that often sink or capsize. Search and rescue ships crewed by volunteers make it their mission to save the lives of migrants who make the crossing looking for new lives. However the Italian government's approach to the boats has got much tougher since the election of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Today’s Nick Robinson spoke to Enrico Trantino, the Mayor of Catania – the port city of Catania in Sicily, where many migrants to Italy first land – and Laurence Hart, Director for Italy at the UN’s International Organisation for Migration. First Nick reports from the streets of Catania. (Image, Enrico Trantino, Mayor of Catania, Credit, BBC)
7/13/202321 minutes, 12 seconds
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Ukraine Nato security package

G7 members are expected to ratify a wide-ranging security pact with Ukraine at the Nato summit in Vilnius on Wednesday. However there is frustration in Kyiv about the perceived slow progress to full membership of NATO. US President Joe Biden earlier suggested a model for Ukraine similar to his country's agreement with Israel. Under that deal, Washington has committed to providing $3.8bn (£2.9bn) in military aid per year over a decade. But unlike Nato membership this does not include a clause to come to the target nation's aid during a time of attack. Today’s Justin Webb spoke to Lord Peter Ricketts former UK permanent representative to Nato and Radek Sikorski, former Polish foreign minister. The BBC’s Europe editor, Katya Adler, reports from Vilnius. (Image, Nato Ukraine flag, Credit, Valentyn Ogirenko, Reuters)
7/12/202313 minutes, 37 seconds
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How is Europe dealing with migration?

More than 1,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in two days, according to government figures. Today's Nick Robinson reports on the journeys many migrants take before that - from North Africa to Europe. He starts in Tunisia, which is now the biggest departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe across the Mediterranean. (Image credit: BBC)
7/10/202311 minutes, 28 seconds
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Tackling gang crime in Merseyside

Following the murder of Elle Edwards, Today’s Amol Rajan discusses solutions to the problem of gang violence in Merseyside. Amol is joined by Emily Spurrell, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, to examine what can be done to cut down on gun violence and organised crime. He then speaks to Sicarius McGrath, who runs a violence reduction consultancy, and was previously involved in gang related crime in Liverpool. Sicarius, who now advocates for gang violence reduction and offender rehabilitation, explains how he believes this sort of crime can be prevented.
7/7/202312 minutes, 37 seconds
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Speaking skills break class barriers, says Keir Starmer.

Today’s Justin Webb is joined by Sir Keir, to discuss Labour’s plans on education and ultimately ‘break the class ceiling.’ The Labour leader outlines his pledge to revamp education, by creating a new focus on oracy skills in schools. He says that this, along with other plans, will enable half a million more children to reach their early learning targets by 2030. He discusses the strikes by University lecturers and explains that he is “uncomfortable” with students going to their graduations with a “blank piece of paper.” (Image credit: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
7/6/202315 minutes, 1 second
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‘We have some huge challenges‘ says NHS Chief Exec.

On its 75th anniversary, Today’s Justin Webb explores the challenges faced by the NHS and considers its future. Justin speaks to Lesley Watts, the chief executive of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and Robert Bleasdale, the hospital’s chief nurse. They discuss how the NHS has evolved over the years, and whether we should be optimistic about its future. Justin then speaks to Amanda Pritchard, the Chief Executive of NHS England, who discusses the future challenges, and how the government can help reduce pressure on the NHS.
7/5/202318 minutes, 41 seconds
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Today Summer Guest Editors

Back in March we asked you, our listeners, if you would like to have a go at making your own edition of the Today programme, to mark 20 years of our guest editors. We asked you to get into teams of three to six people and send us your ideas - and thousands of you did. Our team have spent the last few months going through all your applications, and we called on the help of some former guest editors to make the decision. Today's Amol Rajan reveals who we'll be making the programmes with.
7/5/20235 minutes, 3 seconds
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Today Debate: Is the housing market broken?

The Today Debate is about taking a subject and pulling it apart with more time than we could ever have during the programme in the morning. Today presenter Mishal Husain is joined by a panel of guests in the BBC's Radio Theatre, where in front of a live audience, they discuss the current state of the housing market. On the panel are George Clarke, architect and broadcaster; David Simmonds the Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Planning; David O'Leary from the Home Builders Federation, which represents housebuilders in England and Wales; Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor for the Financial Times and Richard Fearon, Chief Executive of the Leeds Building Society.
7/5/202336 minutes, 35 seconds
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"It’s a very raw space for us… we’re both returning to life”

Rachel Eliza Griffiths' first novel 'Promise' is published a year after her husband, the author Sir Salman Rushdie, was nearly killed in a knife attack. The novel is a story of hope and resistance set during the early phase of the US civil rights movement. Today’s Mishal Husain interviewed Rachel Eliza Griffiths to explore the influence of her mother, who was born during the period in which the novel takes place. Rachel also reflected on the trauma of the near-fatal attack on her husband and said they had both been “very, very grateful and appreciative for the compassion and kindness on an international level” which had been shown to them in its aftermath. Image credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
7/4/20236 minutes, 18 seconds
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June heatwave threatens fish and insects

The UK's hottest June on record caused unprecedented deaths of fish in rivers and disturbed insects and plants, environment groups have warned. The BBC’s Climate Editor, Justin Rowlatt, was at Knowle Locks in Solihull looking at some of the effects of this heatwave on fisheries. Today’s Mishal Husain spoke to John Ellis, the national fisheries manager at the Canal & River Trust. He explained that when it’s warmer fish need more oxygen, but as the temperatures rise water holds less of it. Mishal also spoke to Emily Shuckburgh, the Director of Cambridge Zero, who emphasised the need for action on climate change. Image credit: Getty Images
7/3/202310 minutes, 2 seconds
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'Cricket is not for all'

A long-awaited report into English and Welsh cricket finds that racism, sexism, and class bias are "widespread". The chair of the report, Cindy Butts, spoke to Today's Nick Robinson about how the sport has 'institutional and structural discrimination'. Martha Kearney put the report to the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, who accepted all the findings and promised action on equal pay for female cricketers. (Image credit: Cricket bat and ball, Getty Images)
6/27/202312 minutes, 34 seconds
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Tyrone Mings: An end to homelessness?

The Prince of Wales's charitable foundation is putting in £3m of start-up funding to help make homelessness "rare, brief and unrepeated". Six locations across the UK will be used to test ideas to cut homelessness. "Everyone should have a safe and secure home and be treated with dignity," says Prince William. But Prince William will also face challenges about how someone with such wealth and extensive property holdings can make such calls over homelessness. Mishal Husain was joined in the studio by Lord William Hague, who chairs the prince's Royal Foundation and the footballer Tyrone Mings, a supporter of the plan after experiencing homelessness as a child.
6/26/20239 minutes, 54 seconds
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Are supermarkets profiteering in an era of high food prices?

The Prime Minister has raised concerns over the price of weekly shopping bills for average consumers. On Thursday Rishi Sunak said: ‘We are looking at the supermarkets, making sure they are behaving responsibly and fairly.’ Latest figures released on Wednesday showed that the inflation figure has remained much higher than expected, for the fourth month in a row. The Bank of England has raised interest rates for the 13th consecutive time – from 4.5% to 5% – to try to stop such rapid price rises. Today’s Nick Robinson spoke to Andy Clarke, who is now Chairman of operational improvement company Newton Europe and to Kathleen Kerridge, anti-food poverty campaigner and Chair of the Lived Experience Panel at the Food Foundation. (Image, Customer in supermarket aisle, Credit, Yui Mok PA)
6/23/202310 minutes, 9 seconds
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Interest rate rise expected

The Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates for a 13th consecutive time on Thursday as it tries to stop prices rising so quickly. On Wednesday it was revealed that UK inflation had remained much higher than expected for the fourth month in a row and Karen Ward, a member of chancellor Jeremy Hunt's economic advisory council, told Today that the Bank had "been too hesitant" in its interest rate rises so far and called on it to "create a recession" to curb soaring prices. Today’s Amol Rajan spoke to the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, about what the governments immediate plans were to tackle inflation. Nick Robinson spoke to the Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, about what approach a Labour government would take to slowing the rapid rise in prices. (Image, Bank of England, Credit Yui Mok PA)
6/22/202317 minutes, 43 seconds
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Fall in inflation fails to materialise

The UK's inflation rate stayed at 8.7% in May despite hopes of a fall. BBC Economics editor Faisal Islam joined Nick Robinson and Mishal Husain in the studio to breakdown the inflation figures. Core inflation – which strips out energy and food costs - is at its highest level in the UK for more than 30 years, increasing the likelihood that the Bank of England will raise rates on Thursday. The Office for National Statistics’ chief economist explained what’s behind the rise. Karen Ward, from JP Morgan Asset Management, told Mishal Husain there are signs that a wage-price spiral is emerging, which the Bank "has to nip in the bud".
6/21/202316 minutes, 22 seconds
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Billie Jean King: Women's tennis players 'are the future'

On the 50th anniversary of the Women's Tennis Association, its founder Billie Jean King speaks to Today sports presenter Karthi Gnanasegaram. The tennis champion discussed the voice of women in tennis at the time of the formation of the WTA and what the future holds for women in the sport. (Image credit: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images for LTA)
6/21/20237 minutes, 35 seconds
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Search for the missing Titanic submarine

Planes and ships from the US and Canada are searching a remote area of the North Atlantic for a submersible that went missing during a dive to the wreck of the Titanic, more than 24 hours ago. The US Coast Guard said last night that the sub could have around seventy hours of oxygen left, and that officials were doing everything they could to rescue those missing. A pilot and four passengers - one of them the founder of Ocean Gate Stockton Rush - are on board the vessel, which can reach depths of 13-thousand feet. Mishal heard from Dr Robert Blasiak an ocean researcher at Stockholm Resilience Centre about the Titan submersible craft and from Simon Platts who journeyed in the craft while directing an episode of the BBC's 'Travel Show' last year. Photo credit: American Photo Archive/Alamy/PA Wire
6/20/202313 minutes
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Sir Keir Starmer on the ‘Partygate’ video

Sir Keir Starmer says it is 'inappropriate' for individuals in recent Partygate footage to be receiving honours. Speaking from Edinburgh, the Labour leader said: "I think Rishi Sunak should have said no, but he didn't, he waved [Boris Johnson's honours list] through." When asked if he would have a resignation honours list, Sir Keir said: " No... Tony Blair didn't have a resignation list, its very hard to justify." He also spoke with Mishal Husain about Labour's new energy policy, their approach to wind farms and the future with oil and gas if elected to government.
6/19/202314 minutes, 41 seconds
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Greece Boat Disaster: How did the authorities respond?

At least 78 people have died after a boat sank off the coast of Greece in what is being called 'one of Europe's worst migrant disasters'. The coastguard has been criticised for not intervening earlier but authorities say their offers of aid were refused. With reports suggesting that up to 750 people were aboard the vessel, it’s thought many more people could still be missing at sea. Today's Mishal Husain spoke to BBC correspondent Nick Beake in Kalamata, and Dr Giorgos Vasilagkos, an Hellenic Red Cross volunteer rescue doctor working at the scene. She also spoke to Vincent Cochetel, the UNHCR's special envoy for the Mediterranean and journalist Matina Stevis-Gridneff, who heads up the Brussels bureau for the New York Times.
6/16/202315 minutes, 3 seconds
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Whale song pioneer Roger Payne dies

Famed biologist and conservationist Roger Payne, who first discovered whale song in 1967, has died aged 88. Nature filmmaker Tom Mustill worked with Mr Payne up until his death, and told Today's Amol Rajan: "He totally changed our perception of these animals that we were just slaughtering. "It's not data that drives change in people, it's emotion and connection." We also hear some of the whale song that Mr Payne was so famous for.
6/14/20235 minutes, 19 seconds
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Sir Paul McCartney: "I thought I'd lost them...It's lovely having these memories"

Sir Paul McCartney has unearthed never before seen photographs that chronicle the Beatles at the height of their fame. They were taken by him, across an intense three month period in cities like Paris and New York, and are due to go on display at a new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from the end of June. An accompanying book, 1964: Eyes of the Storm, goes on sale 13th June. Sir Paul showed Today's Martha Kearney around the exhibition, telling her how he felt after rediscovering the photos decades after taking them.
6/13/202332 minutes, 59 seconds
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Michael Gove on Johnson’s exit

The Commons privileges committee meets on Monday to finalise its report on whether Boris Johnson misled the House over Downing Street parties during lockdown. Ahead of the publication of the report, Today’s Justin Webb and Mishal Husain unpick partygate inquiries and Boris Johnson’s resignation, hearing first from the BBC’s political editor, Chris Mason, and then cabinet minister Michael Gove. Mishal asks: Why publish Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list before the conclusion of the partygate inquiry?
6/12/202322 minutes, 18 seconds
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Labour waters down £28bn green investment pledge

The Labour Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has said that "financial stability has to come first" and that the party would not be able to invest a pledged £28bn a year in green industries straightaway if it wins power at the next election. Instead Labour plans to raise investment on an annual basis, reaching £28bn a year by 2027. The war in Ukraine has seen inflation soar and the Bank of England has increased interest rates, making borrowing more expensive, in an attempt to tame rising prices. Today’s Justin Webb spoke to Rachel Reeves about the Green Prosperity Plan and the future of the UK economy. (Image Rachel Reeves, Credit, Henry Nicholls/ Reuters)
6/9/202318 minutes, 37 seconds
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UK summit to address risks of AI

The UK is to host a global summit in London in the autumn to try and coordinate a common global response to the rise of AI technology. Concerns about the risks posed by AI have increased recently with a group of Silicon Valley executives issuing a statement arguing that artificial intelligence could even lead to the extinction of humanity. Today’s Nick Robinson spoke to Palentir's CEO Alex Karp about the summit and asked him how he reacted to calls by Elon Musk and others for a pause in AI research... (Image, Security conference, Credit, Florence Lo/ Reuters)
6/8/20239 minutes, 1 second
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Has Saudi Arabia just bought golf?

The international golfing circuits – the PGA Tour and DP World Tour – have agreed to merge with Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf, giving Saudi Arabia control of the world golf tour. The comes after a year of disruption in the men's game following the launch of LIV. Litigation between the separate tours will cease and they will move forward as part of the same enterprise. Today’s Nick Robinson spoke to Ben Rhodes, former speech writer and deputy national security advisor to President Obama about the deal – and asked why anyone should care who owns a golf tour? (Image, Brooks Koepka, during the first round of the LIV Golf DC 2023 tournament, Credit, Geoff Burke, USA Today Sports)
6/7/20236 minutes, 47 seconds
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Labour on North Sea fossil fuels

Sir Keir Starmer addresses the GMB union, amid criticism of the party’s plans to end new licences for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. The union and the Labour leader are in conflict over the policy. Today’s Justin Webb spoke to GMB General Secretary says he hopes Sir Keir will listen to the concerns, because "we need a managed decline and not a cliff edge". He put the GMB’s concerns to Jonathan Ashworth, Shadow Secretary for Work & Pensions. Image Credit: Reuters/Henry Nicholls
6/6/202311 minutes, 27 seconds
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Russia claims to thwart Ukraine offensive

Russia’s defence ministry says it's thwarted several Ukrainian attacks in occupied parts of the Donetsk region, and inflicted reverses on mechanised units in a forested area of Luhansk. Kyiv hasn’t responded directly to the claims, saying only that there had been almost thirty combat clashes in Donetsk and Luhansk. The defence analyst professor Michael Clarke told Today’s Mishal Husain the activity suggests Ukraine's counter-offensive is now underway with ground operations. She also spoke to Jeremy Bowen, the BBC’s International Editor, about the pluses and minuses facing the counter-offensive. And she received further analysis from General Sir Richard Barrons, a Former Commander of British Joint Forces Command; and Alina Frolova, a former deputy Defence minister of Ukraine. Image credit: Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
6/5/202316 minutes, 30 seconds
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AI: Is there a risk of human extinction?

Dozens of experts - including the heads of OpenAI and Google Deepmind - have supported a statement published on the webpage of the Centre for AI Safety, suggesting it could be an existential threat to humanity. On Wednesday night, the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken & EU Tech Commissioner Margarethe Vestager met and spoke of their hopes of agreeing a new global code of conduct for AI. Today’s Nick Robinson spoke to Nate Sharadin, Research fellow at the Center for AI Safety, and Dame Wendy Hall, the Regius Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton. She also co-chaired the UK government’s AI Review in 2017, and she's a member of the government's AI Council.
6/1/202312 minutes, 7 seconds
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Labour defends donations from Just Stop Oil backer Dale Vince

Shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said Dale Vince, a green energy entrepreneur, was a "legitimate person" to take money from. Tory ministers have called for the donations to be returned, arguing it legitimises Just Stop Oil's tactics. Protests by the environmental group, which wants the government to halt new licences for the exploration of oil and other fossil fuels in the UK, include blocking roads and disrupting sporting events. Shadow international trade secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said Labour had been "extremely clear on our views on Just Stop Oil". "What they are doing is entirely counterproductive and the only debate it's provoking is about our public order laws," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. We spoke to Dale Vince about his support for Labour and the campaign group Just Stop Oil Credit: Just Stop Oil/PA Wire
5/31/20237 minutes, 58 seconds
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The Today Debate: Is 'Greedflation' making food more expensive?

The Today Debate is about taking a subject and pulling it apart with more time than we could ever have during the programme in the morning. Mishal Husain is joined by politicians, campaigners, food retailers and manufacturers in front of a live audience in the BBC's Radio Theatre to ask whether greed is part of the reason food prices remain so high.
5/30/202336 minutes, 43 seconds
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Government plans crackdown on under-age vaping

A recent BBC investigation found that illegal vapes confiscated from school pupils contained far higher levels of lead, nickel and chromium than deemed safe. The prime minister Rishi Sunak said he was shocked by this finding and a new crackdown on vape marketing would prevent the "unacceptable" targeting of children and teens. There will also be a review into the rules around the sale of "nicotine-free" products to under-18s. Labour called the announcement a "baby step" and said urgent action was needed. There is now a fast-moving debate on how to tackle vaping by children. We spoke to two headteachers of secondary schools in England and Kate Pike, the Lead Officer for Vaping at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, about whether these were the right measures. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
5/30/202312 minutes, 4 seconds
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Met Police to stop attending mental health calls

From September, officers will only attend mental health 999 calls where there is an "immediate threat to life". The Met argues the move will free up officer resources after a significant rise in the number of mental health incidents being dealt with by its officers in the past five years. Some police chiefs believe this is down to the service increasingly being seen as the first resort for people in a crisis, as well as a lack of capacity in the NHS and social services to deal with growing mental health demands. Sarah Hughes, chief executive of Mind, has warned there is not enough capacity in other public services to replace the work police officers currently do. Zoe Billingham, who was previously Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue, said the proposals could create a "vacuum". Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she warned there is "simply no other agency to call" other than the police for people in crisis. Ken Marsh, chairman of the Met Police Federation - which represent officers up to the rank of inspector - broadly welcomed the announcement. He said police officers can be required to wait in hospital for up to 12 hours with people suffering from mental health problems or dementia.
5/29/202315 minutes, 29 seconds
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Finley Boden: The tragic murder of a baby

The parents who murdered their 10 month old baby, Finley Boden, will be sentenced on Friday. Key documents which led to a court agreeing to return Finley to his parents in 2020, who then murdered him 39 days later, have been obtained by the BBC. One of the journalists that pushed for access to the court, and obtained transcripts of the case, is BBC Correspondent Sanchia Berg. Today’s Amol Rajan then spoke to Josh MacAlister, the Chair of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, and to Toby Perkins, the Labour MP for Chesterfield, where Finely Boden spent his brief life. They discussed whether greater transparency is something family courts should strive towards, and what went so badly wrong in this case? Image Credit: Derbyshire Police
5/26/202311 minutes, 57 seconds
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'Inspirational' Tina Turner dies aged 83

Tina Turner, the soul star behind hits like The Best and What's Love Got to Do With It, has died aged 83. She overcame abuse by her first husband and her decision to speak out about that violent marriage still inspires other women today. The singer went on to become a global star with her combination of R&B, funk, rock and pop. Today's Amol Rajan speaks to Spice Girl and Women's Aid patron Mel B, and the singer and actress Mica Paris. Nick Robinson speaks to Liz Mitchell, lead singer of Boney M. (Image credit: REUTERS/Rose Prouser)
5/25/202311 minutes, 1 second
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Latest inflation figures 'disappointing'

Inflation has fallen below 10 per cent for the first time since August - but the speed at which prices are rising has slowed less than expected. The Office for National Statistics says the annual rate at which the cost of living is rising fell to 8.7% in April, from 10.1% in March. A slower rate of inflation does not mean prices are coming down, rather that they are not going up so quickly, and food costs are still 19.1% higher than a year ago, according to the Office for National Statistics. Today's Martha Kearney speaks to Dr Sushil Wadhwani, a former member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee who sits on the Chancellor’s Economy Advisory Council, and to Karen Betts, Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation. (Image credit: Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
5/24/202312 minutes, 23 seconds
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What are the dangers of teen vaping?

Vapes confiscated from school pupils contain high levels of lead, nickel and chromium, an investigation by BBC News finds. NHS data from September 2022 shows that vape usage among 15-year-olds has risen to 18%. We hear from listeners concerned about their children vaping and the easy accessibility of vape products. Today's Justin Webb also speaks to John Dunne, Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association, and Alice Wiseman, Addiction Policy Lead for Association of Directors of Public Health. (Image credit: Getty Images)
5/23/20239 minutes, 50 seconds
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Ian McEwan remembers author Martin Amis

Martin Amis, one of the most celebrated British authors of his generation, has died aged 73. He died of oesophageal cancer at his Florida home, the New York Times said, quoting his wife, the writer Isabel Fonseca. Amis is best known for his 1984 novel Money, the 1989 work London Fields and 1995's The Information, and authored 14 novels, several non-fiction books and a memoir in a career spanning 50 years. Speaking to Today's Justin Webb, author Ian McEwan and longtime friend of Mr Amis reflects on the life and legacy of the celebrated novelist.
5/22/202311 minutes, 43 seconds
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‘This violence has to stop’

Fifteen year-old Khayri Mclean was stabbed to death walking home from school in Huddersfield. His mother Charlie pleaded for an end to knife crime, as his teenage murderers were sentenced to life. Jovani Harriott, 17, and Jakele Pusey, 15, stabbed Khayri after ambushing him outside North Huddersfield Trust School last year. They will serve at least 18 years and 16 years respectively. Nick Robinson spoke to reporter Annabel Deas, who interviewed one of the murderers when he was 11, and Alison Lowe, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire. Justin Webb spoke to Sophie Simpson, Co-founder of Conscious Youth – she knew Khayri and is good friends with his mother - and AJ, who's 15 and attends Conscious Youth session. (Image, Khayri McLean, Credit, West Yorkshire Police)
5/19/202321 minutes, 21 seconds
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Cleaning up England's water

England's water companies have apologised for sewage spills into rivers and seas. Following mounting pressure they have agreed invest 10bn to tackle the problem, but the move will lead to higher water bills. Today's Nick Robinson spoke to the clean water campaigner Feargal Sharkey and to Ruth Kelly, Chair of industry group Water UK. He spoke to her about why they have decided to charge their customers for the repairs needed to clean up our waters. Taken on:13 Jan 2023, 18:47 By :Environment Agency Credit: PA
5/18/202316 minutes, 3 seconds
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Humza Yousaf on the challenges facing the SNP

It's been less than 2 months since Humza Yousaf became Scotland’s first minister. So far his premiership has been overshadowed by an investigation into the party’s finances: the SNP’s former Chief Executive and Treasurer were arrested and then released without charge, pending further investigation. The party denies any wrongdoing. Today's Mishal Husain spoke to the first minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf about what it was like taking over the party during such a period of turmoil, and what effect the situation has had on his hopes for independence. By :Euan Cherry. Credit :PA Location :Dundee, United Kingdom
5/17/202311 minutes, 33 seconds
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Behind the scenes at Eurovision

Today’s Justin Webb is in Liverpool as it hosts the Eurovision Song Contest grand final. He has a behind the scenes tour with Martin Green, the BBC’s Eurovision managing director. And he speaks to the students at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) about Liverpool’s rich musical history and getting involved on and off stage at this year’s Eurovision.
5/13/202312 minutes, 21 seconds
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Rail strike disruption

Passengers have been warned to expect significant disruption from the latest train strikes on Friday. Members of the Aslef train drivers' union are walking out at 16 companies including TransPennine Express, Northern, Avanti, East Midlands Railway, Thameslink and Southern. Separately, the RMT union is striking on Saturday 13 May - the day of the Eurovision final in Liverpool. Nick Robinson spoke to Mick Whelan, General Secretary of Aslef, about the disruption to the public caused by the strikes. Martha Kearney spoke to Huw Merriman, Minister for Rail and HS2 about the government’s approach to solving the dispute. (Image, Trains at Victoria Station, Credit, Kirsty O’Connor, PA)
5/12/202316 minutes, 13 seconds
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Woodward and Bernstein on the US

In the early 1970s, Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovered the Watergate scandal - a conspiracy to cover up abuses of power leading all the way to the Oval Office. Their reporting helped to pave the way for the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Are there parallels between recent events in America and the scandal that eventually led to the resignation of the 37th US president? Amol Rajan spoke to Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein about the future of American democracy. You can watch the full interview on BBC Two next Thursday at 7pm. (US journalist, Bob Woodward, Credit Fernando Villar, EPA)
5/11/202311 minutes, 22 seconds
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Jury finds Trump sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll

Former President Donald Trump was found guilty in a civil case for sexually abusing E Jean Carroll, a magazine columnist, in a New York department store in the 1990s. However, he was found not liable for rape. The BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, told us more about what this meant for his presidential campaign, and the nature of the case itself. Today’s Nick Robinson spoke to Gloria Allred - the attorney who is representing other women making allegations against Trump and a prominent conservative Charlie Gerow who is is Vice Chair of CPAC - the Conservative Political Action Conference - the country's oldest and biggest grass roots organisation.
5/10/202313 minutes, 3 seconds
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Is pornography being normalised among children?

Testimonies from young people exploring the links between violent pornography and harmful sexual behaviours are highlighted in a new report published today by the Children’s Commissioner. Today's Justin Webb spoke to Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England, and Michael Conroy, founder of Men At Work – a company set up to train teachers and youth workers to have constructive dialogues with boys and young men about attitudes towards sex and relationships. (Image credit: Jonathan Kirn / Getty Images)
5/9/20237 minutes, 16 seconds
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Police had every intention of arresting us

An anti-monarchy protester detained during the Coronation says he believes the police had "every intention" of arresting him before the event. Chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, Graham Smith, was one of 64 people arrested by the Metropolitan Police in London on Saturday. The Met said it had "a duty to intervene when protest becomes criminal and may cause serious disruption". Justin Webb spoke to Graham Smith of Republic and Ken Marsh, Chairman for the Metropolitan Police Federation, but first Mishal Husain spoke to Caroline Russell, a Green Party member of the London assembly who chairs the Police, Crime Committee. (Image, Republican protestors, Credit, Antonio Zazueta Olmos, Reuters)
5/8/202314 minutes, 42 seconds
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Idea of paying homage 'abhorrent' to King, says Jonathan Dimbleby

For the first time, the public are being given an active role in a Coronation as they are invited to swear allegiance to the King at the ceremony on Saturday. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has reiterated that the oath is voluntary. Today's Justin Webb speaks to broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, a close friend of the King, about what he believes the King thinks of the homage. He also spoke to Samuel Kasumu, former No.10 special adviser for civil society and communities, and Helen Lewis, staff writer at the Atlantic magazine, about the controversial invitation.
5/5/202313 minutes, 59 seconds
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Missy Elliott inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Missy Elliott is considered one of the most important rappers of all time, who changed the landscape of hip-hop with her eccentric beats and innovative rhymes, with hits like Get Ur Freak On and Lose Control. She's also produced and written songs for other artists including Aaliyah, Destiny's Child and Ciara. It's been announced that she will be the first female hip-hop artist to be chosen to join the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Today's Sean Farrington speaks to music journalist Jacqueline Springer and writer Christine Ochefu about the rapper's induction to the roll of honour in her first year of eligibility. (Image credit: John Shearer/Getty Images)
5/4/20237 minutes, 15 seconds
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Should the police take indecent exposure more seriously?

Should the police see indecent exposure as a red flag - a signal that the man who exposes himself could be on the path to committing violent sexual offences? The case of Wayne Couzens, the police officer who murdered Sarah Everard, has persuaded the College of Policing - which sets standards for forces in England and Wales - to re-examine the evidence. He pleaded guilty to three cases of indecent exposure before Sarah's murder. Today's Nick Robinson speaks to Lisa Squire, whose daughter Libby was murdered after being a victim of indecent exposure and now campaigns for change, and Zoe Billingham, former Inspector of Constabulary.
5/3/20237 minutes, 19 seconds
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The WW2 code-breaker going to the Coronation

Betty Webb is one of the last surviving women to have worked on cracking both the German and Japanese codes at Bletchley Park during World War 2. She attended Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation in 1953 - and has been invited to this weekend’s coronation of King Charles III. A week later she will celebrate her 100th Birthday with a party at Bletchley park. Her new book 'No More Secrets' tells the story of her childhood, recruitment to Bletchley and then the pentagon, her vital wartime role deciphering enemy communications, and how it felt to eventually be able to talk about her experiences which she had to keep secret for years. Today's Martha Kearney speaks to Betty Webb about the memoir and her invite to the coronation.
5/2/20238 minutes, 22 seconds
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“Boredom is the compost of imagination”

In December, Today’s Mishal Husain spoke to Frank Cottrell-Boyce, author of children’s books including ‘Millions’ and ‘The Forgotten Coat’. After hearing the interview, Nadia Shireen, children’s author and illustrator, reached out to Frank with the idea of starting a podcast discussing children’s literature. Now, five months later, Today’s Justin Webb heard about their new podcast, ‘Island of Brilliant’, where Frank and Nadia imagine themselves marooned on an island with nothing but children’s books to keep them company. Aimed at adults, it’s both funny and imaginative: as Frank says, “boredom is the compost of imagination”.
5/1/20237 minutes, 16 seconds
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Nurses to strike over bank holiday

Nurses will walk out in an ongoing row over pay starting on Sunday and finishing on Bank Holiday Monday. Today’s Mishal Husain spoke to the General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing and asked her about the decision to include A&E shifts in the strike. Mishal also spoke to Nick Hulme, Chief Executive of Colchester and Ipswich hospitals, to ask him how the strike is going to affect his hospitals. And with two of the biggest health unions now having voted to accept the government’s pay offer, BBC Health Editor Hugh Pym looks at the prospect of whether this could avert more nursing strikes. Photo by ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
4/29/202313 minutes, 19 seconds
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Met may be failing to stop serial killers

The Met may be failing to identify serial killers because it is not properly investigating unexpected deaths, the police watchdog says. It identified five key failings at the Metropolitan Police in a report: a lack of training, poor supervision, "unacceptable" record-keeping, confusing policies and "inadequate" intelligence procedures. Today’s Mishal Husain spoke with Matt Parr, HM Inspector of the Constabulary, about the report. Mishal also spoke to Donna Taylor, the sister of Jack Taylor who was the last victim of Stephen Port, about her experiences dealing with the police following her brother’s death. Finally, Mishal talked to Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police, Louisa Rolfe, regarding the dangers of poor police practices allowing history to ‘repeat itself’.
4/28/202317 minutes, 5 seconds
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Jane Goodall: Disruptive protests ‘counterproductive’

Chimpanzee expert and animal rights campaigner, Dame Jane Goodall, is passionate about saving animals and the environment, but says she does not believe in direct action that disrupts people’s everyday lives. Today’s Martha Kearney talked with Dr Goodall about the impact her campaigns have had across generations, ahead of a new TV series called Jane's Animal Adventures, about a young girl inspired by Goodall's passion. Martha also discussed environmental protests like blocking traffic, which Goodall claims are ‘counterproductive’ and don’t encourage positive change. (Ian West/PA Wire)
4/27/20237 minutes, 2 seconds
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EU better to do business in than the UK, says Microsoft boss

One of Microsoft's senior leaders has hit out after the software giant's deal to buy US video game company Activision Blizzard was blocked by UK regulators. Brad Smith, who is Microsoft's vice chair and president, tells Today's business presenter Sean Farrington of his disappointment at the Competition and Markets Authority's decision to block the proposed $68.7bn (£55bn) takeover which would see Microsoft get hold of massively popular games titles such as Call of Duty, Candy Crush, and World of Warcraft. Sean also spoke to Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the Competition and Markets Authority. (Image credit: Reuters/Dado Ruvic)
4/27/202315 minutes, 9 seconds
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The Today Debate: Do we need a Monarchy?

The Today Debate is about taking a subject and pulling it apart with more time than we could ever have during the Today programme in the morning. Today presenter Mishal Husain was joined by a panel of guests in the BBC's Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House to look at the future of the Royal Family in 'The Today Debate: Do we need a Monarchy?' Joining her were Billy Bragg, the singer and songwriter; Juliet Samuel, a columnist for the Times; Polly Toynbee, a columnist at the Guardian; Charles Moore, former editor of the Telegraph and the Spectator, biographer of Margaret Thatcher and Jason Arday, an academic who works on inequality, race and education.
4/25/202336 minutes, 24 seconds
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UK’s Sudan evacuation plan announced

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has announced that the RAF will begin evacuating British nationals from Sudan. Today’s Martha Kearney spoke to Osman, a British doctor who has been in Khartoum for the past week visiting family. He had decided to try and leave the country by road and said he would have found it difficult to get to an airfield. Martha then heard from General Sir Richard Barrons, Former Commander of Joint Forces Command, on the logistical complexities of the evacuation and to Dr Atia Abdalla Atia, the secretary general of Sudan Doctors Union and a doctor based in Khartoum, about the conflict and the deteriorating situation in his hospital. Image credit: Bundeswehr Handout, 23.04.23
4/25/202314 minutes, 51 seconds
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Evacuation from Sudan conflict

UK diplomats and their families were evacuated from Khartoum on Sunday after fighting escalated. However, potentially thousands of British citizens remain stuck in warzones in Sudan, with many seeking help from the UK government. The BBC’s West Africa correspondent Mayeni Jones spoke to some of those British citizens grappling with whether to flee Sudan or stay put and wait for help. Today’s Mishal Husain put these stories to Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Development and Africa, to see what help the British government is able to provide.
4/24/202313 minutes, 1 second
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Succession writer Lucy Prebble

With the last series of hit TV show Succession on our screens, Today’s Justin Webb speaks to one of its writers and producers, Lucy Prebble, about what’s behind its success. Succession follows the fictional, ultra-wealthy Roy family. The British playwright talks about why she’s proud the US series satirises the lives of the very rich, and discusses the changing nature of television, female characters and comedy writing. (Image Credit: Ian West / PA)
4/22/202325 minutes, 31 seconds
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Top civil servant rejects Dominic Raab criticisms

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab hit out at “activist civil servants” as he resigned over bullying claims yesterday. Lord McDonald, the top civil servant at the Foreign Office when Mr Raab was Foreign Secretary, rejects those criticisms in an exclusive interview with Today’s Justin Webb. (Image Credit: James Manning / PA)
4/22/202314 minutes, 31 seconds
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Vogue editor Edward Enninful

British Vogue editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful, says the latest issue with five disabled cover stars is one of his “proudest moments”. Today’s Mishal Husain spoke with Mr Enninful about why he decided to work with disability activist Sinéad Burke to create the series and how she taught him ‘that a whole group of people are being ignored’. And away from fashion, Martha Kearney looked at jogging. Specifically, the growing trend of running without headphones or other tech. She spoke with Julia Oosthuizen, Founder of Queen's Running Club, and Jimmy Watkins, co-founder of Running Punks about so-called ‘naked running’.
4/21/202314 minutes, 23 seconds
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Sacked CBI boss claims reputation 'destroyed'

The former director general of the business lobbying group CBI says his reputation has been ‘totally destroyed’ after being fired over complaints about his behaviour. Simon Jack, business editor for the BBC, spoke with Tony Danker, who says his name has been wrongly associated with separate claims of rape at the CBI. Today’s Mishal Husain spoke with Brian McBride, President of the CBI, about the grounds for which Mr Danker was sacked, and questions of whether the CBI is fit to represent its nearly 200,000 members.
4/19/202323 minutes, 1 second
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Black maternity mortality rate: “I wasn’t really listened to”

In 2021, an Oxford University analysis of maternal deaths in the UK found that black women were almost four times as likely to die in pregnancy and childbirth as white women - Asian and mixed ethnicity women were twice as likely. The data is part of a report published by the Women and Equalities Committee, which concluded that the role of racism in maternal deaths may have been underestimated by the government and the NHS – and that the "appalling disparity" is still not "fully understood". Today’s Mishal Husain spoke to Professor Marian Knight, who leads a team that investigates every maternal death in the UK. Mishal then talked to mother and co-founder of organisation ‘Five X More’ - Tinuke Awe – who works on improving maternal mortality rates and health outcomes for black women. Finally Mishal heard from Donna Ockenden, a senior midwife who has been conducting independent reviews, who argued for “better, inclusive care”.
4/18/202311 minutes, 16 seconds
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Tensions high in Jerusalem as Easter, Ramadan, and Passover coincide

This month Easter, Ramadan and Passover have all fallen at the same time. The three religious festivals have coincided with heightened tensions in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as ongoing protests against the Jewish nationalist government of Benjamin Netanyahu. As Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter in the city of Jerusalem, the BBC’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen has been speaking to residents from across the religious and political divides.
4/17/20239 minutes, 53 seconds
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US Leaks Suspect Arrested

A 21-year-old US airman will appear in court on Friday in connection with a leak of highly classified military documents about the Ukraine war and other national security issues. Jack Teixeira was arrested by the FBI at his family home in rural Massachusetts on Thursday. Today’s Justin Webb spoke with Barbara Plett-Usher, correspondent in Washington, about Jack Teixeira and the role his involvement with online messaging platform, Discord, played in leaking confidential US intelligence. A representative of the Visual Investigation Team at the New York TImes, Christiaan Triebert, also explains how they successfully tracked down the suspect, after discovering 27 new leaked documents. Then Justin looked at the future of US intelligence with Jim Jeffrey, former US Ambassador to Iraq, and Kurt Volker, former US Special Representative to Ukraine. Ambassador Jeffrey started by answering the question of how someone so young had access to such important material.
4/14/202315 minutes, 12 seconds
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President Biden visits Belfast

Today’s Martha Kearney, presenting from Belfast, spoke to journalist Lyra McKee’s sister, Nichola Corner, and her friend, Alison Miller, about her tragic death four years ago on Easter Monday. Lyra was known as ‘the voice of a generation’, growing up after the Good Friday Agreement yet still surrounded by echoes of violence and division. Alison Miller directed the new documentary about her life and work – ‘Lyra’- which is airing Saturday 15th April. Martha spoke to Ambassador Philip Reeker, former interim US Ambassador to the UK, about the preparation needed for a presidential visit, and Martin Mulholland, Chief Concierge who has worked for 40 years at the Europa - one of the most bombed hotels in Europe - where President Biden has been staying.
4/12/202328 minutes, 19 seconds
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Good Friday Agreement: 25 years on

Today’s Martha Kearney, presenting from Belfast, spoke to former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, who helped negotiate the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He shared mistakes he thought he had made under his administration, but also how the agreement has succeeded to this day, 25 years on. Sir Tony Blair shared what he would do if he was faced with today’s current struggles with devolution. Martha Kearney then spoke to Tim McGarry, one of the writers of TV sitcom ‘Give My Head Peace’, and starring as the role Da. ‘Give My Head Peace’ hit the screens not long after the Good Friday Agreement and broke many taboos about The Troubles - it was based on two families - one Republican, one Loyalist. Even in the darkest of days, people often find a way of cracking a joke to ease the tension…
4/11/202321 minutes, 35 seconds
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Ukrainian children reunited with their parents

Today’s Mishal Husain spoke to the founder of the humanitarian organisation ‘Save Ukraine’, Mykola Kuleba, who is also the Ukraine’s former children’s ombudsman. Kuleba explained how the charity ‘Save Ukraine’ returned Ukrainian children home after they had been taken from Russian occupied areas. Children were visiting what they had been told was a two week summer camp, and have only now been reunited with their parents six months later. Some children, as young as eleven, spoke of being made to sing the Russian national anthem-- or write notes explaining why they hadn't. Thousands of Ukrainian families still have children in Russia. Image credit: Valentyn Ogirenko, 07.04.23
4/10/20239 minutes, 54 seconds
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After Good Friday

A series of events are taking place to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The Good Friday Agreement ended 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles, which cost the lives of more than 3,500 people. However divisions still persist. Police in Northern Ireland believe dissident republicans will use the anniversary to spark violence and attack officers. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is currently blocking the formation of an executive as part of the party's protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements between the UK and EU. The BBC’s Martha Kearney spoke to four people who have grown up since the peace agreement. (Image: Aerial view over City Hall, Belfast, Credit: BBC)
4/7/202314 minutes
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Michael Gove: 'A wider culture of neglect' in social housing sector

Housing Secretary Michael Gove has admitted that the government has made mistakes in the social housing sector. His admission comes following our series on the death of 58-year-old Sheila Seleoane in Peckham, which went unnoticed by her housing association Peabody for more than two years. Sheila's neighbours first alerted the housing association to maggots and 'the smell of death' in 2019 - it wasn't until February 2022 that Sheila's body was found in her flat. Mr Gove told Today's Nick Robinson that some housing associations have a culture where monetary figures have been put 'ahead of the heart and soul engagement with the residents'. (Photo Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
4/6/202312 minutes, 29 seconds
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Sir Mark Rowley: Hundreds of officers to be removed from Met

After former police officer David Carrick was convicted for offences, including dozens of rapes, the Metropolitan Police began a review in January to root out unsuitable staff. It has found that hundreds of officer cases need further checking - the Met Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley says the force can not succeed in its policing mission until changes are made. Today's Mishal Husain talks with Sir Mark regarding the investigation of officer criminal convictions. (Photo Credit: CARL DE SOUZA/Pool via REUTERS)
4/6/20238 minutes, 40 seconds
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How could Sheila Seleoane remain undiscovered for so long?

Sheila Seleoane lay dead for two and a half years before her body was found - despite repeated efforts to raise the alarm. Sheila was a 58-year-old medical secretary who died in her South London flat in August 2019. In a final report by the BBC's Harry Farley, he goes back to speak to her neighbours. Today's Martha Kearney speaks to Ian McDermott, chief executive of Peabody, the housing association which was Sheila’s landlord.
4/5/202314 minutes, 50 seconds
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How can a death go unnoticed in modern society?

Sheila Seleoane was found in her Peckham flat in February 2022 and had to be identified by dental records. Her neighbours initially made complains to their housing association, Peabody, about a foul stench and maggots in 2019 – but the housing association only made one “proactive attempt” to contact the tenant and cut off her gas. Miss Seleoane’s last known contact was with her GP in August 2019, and when her body was found, the cause of her death was unascertained due to the advanced state of composition of her body. But what was she like and who was she? In the second in a series of three, Harry Farley talks to Today’s Justin Webb about loneliness and isolation while living in an urban area.
4/4/20238 minutes, 6 seconds
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Why was my neighbour's body not found for two years?

Residents in a south London block of flats are considering legal action against a housing association, after their neighbour lay dead for two and a half years before her body was found, despite their efforts to raise the alarm. 58-year-old Sheila Seleoane, was a medical secretary, who was found in her flat in Peckham last year. For Sheila's neighbours though it had been obvious for a long time that something was wrong. This week we’re looking more closely at Shelia's story, to explore what happened and what it tells us about modern Britain. Harry Farley speaks to Today's Mishal Husain, and in the first of three reports, he asks why it took so long before Sheila was discovered?
4/3/20239 minutes, 59 seconds
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An experiment in "open justice" in the family courts

Judgements made in the family courts can affect families forever, including placing children in care or for adoption. After decades of calls for greater scrutiny of the family courts, at the end of January journalists gained access to report proceedings, in a landmark pilot scheme. Three court centres in Leeds, Carlisle and Cardiff allowed accredited journalists to report cases for the first time, providing the families involved remained anonymous. Our Correspondent Sanchia Berg spent several weeks in Leeds Family Court attending hearings. This week Today has featured a series of her reports, highlighting some of the issues that are usually hidden, including a mother's 'remarkable turnaround' to win back her baby. Today presenter Martha Kearney, also spoke to the judge who spearheaded the pilot, Justice Lieven.
3/10/202330 minutes, 54 seconds
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'I'm proud Polish people played a part'

Nick Robinson joins the crowds watching US President Joseph Biden's speech in Warsaw.
2/22/20239 minutes, 9 seconds
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Björn from ABBA's Eurovision highlights

Björn Ulvaeus has guest edited BBC Radio 4's Today and his programme included a lot of insights and encounters about Eurovision. Hear him talk to one of the British jurors who in 1974 gave ABBA's Waterloo "nul points" - and doesn't regret it! He also discusses with Erasure's Andy Bell, Radio 1's Adele Roberts and UK Eurovision presenter Rylan Clark the appeal of the contest and ABBA itself to the LGBT+ community. Bjorn also speaks to Martin Österdahl, executive supervisor of Eurovision, about whether it can move to be a fully global competition. (Photo: ABBA triumph at 1974 Eurovision. Credit: BBC)
1/31/202323 minutes, 40 seconds
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Sir Jeremy Fleming Guest Edits Today

Today's fourth Christmas guest editor this year is Sir Jeremy Fleming, director of GCHQ, the UK's largest but probably least known intelligence agency. Hear highlights from his programme which centres on the theme of data and trust, including how we all share our own personal information and how intelligence agencies across the world handle that data. Guests include Avril Haines, the United States director of national intelligence, Vint Cerf, one of the founding fathers of the internet, and multiple Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie, who discusses the use of data in his sport of sailing.
1/6/202338 minutes, 7 seconds
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Dame Sharon White Guest Edits Today

Today’s final Christmas guest editor this year is Dame Sharon White, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership and former head of telecoms regulator Ofcom. She was named as the most powerful black person in the country in the 2023 Power List. One of the key issues for her programme is how society can help more people who have been in care get into employment – and includes a report from the BBC’s Ashley John-Baptiste, who grew up in care. She also speaks to world renown choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne about how to attract a wider audience to ballet, and she interviews England rugby star Maro Itoje about his activism off the field.
1/2/20231 hour, 14 minutes, 39 seconds
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Anne-Marie Imafidon Guest Edits Today

Today’s sixth Christmas guest editor is Anne-Marie Imafidon – computer scientist, CEO and co-presenter of Countdown. Hear highlights of her programme, whose central theme is opportunity. She looks at how we work, how we fund science, and how we recognise the achievements of women which have been lost to history, such as Dr Gladys Mae West, whose maths work paved the way for GPS navigation. We also explore two of Anne-Marie’s big passions – Nigerian food and trainers.
12/31/20221 hour, 4 minutes, 30 seconds
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Björn Ulvaeus Guest Edits Today

Today's fifth Christmas guest editor is Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA. Hear highlights from his programme, which looks at the impact of Artificial Intelligence and technology on music, the future of democracy and of course Eurovision - the contest which launched Abba's global success nearly 50 years ago. Guests include Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics, the historian Noah Yuval Harari, Andy Bell from Erasure, the boss of Eurovision, as well as its UK presenter Rylan Clark, and former culture minister Lord Vaizey.
12/30/20221 hour, 19 minutes, 12 seconds
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe Guest Edits Today

Today's third guest editor this Christmas is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was detained for six years in Iran - before being freed and coming home nine months ago. Hear highlights from her programme including the voices of families of current political prisoners in Iran and Nazanin speaking to chef Yotam Ottolenghi about why one of his recipes has a special resonance for her - and about the solidarity that can be found in food and cooking. Nazanin also has an emotional encounter with tennis ace Andy Murray - she tells him how, while in solitary confinement, she was able to watch him win Wimbledon in 2016 and the joy that brought her. With her husband Richard, she also reflects on trying to get back to normal life against the backdrop of the current uprising and arrests in Iran.
12/28/20221 hour, 12 minutes, 40 seconds
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Jamie Oliver Guest Edits Today

Today's second guest editor this Christmas is Jamie Oliver, the chef, entrepreneur and campaigner. Hear highlights from his programme in our Best of Today podcast, including interviews with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, and former Conservative Chancellor George Osborne about expanding free lunches in schools and providing a healthy array of options for students. Jamie Oliver has been open about his struggles in school with dyslexia. He says he was told he was taught alongside those with special needs. Jamie wanted to speak to the rapper Loyle Carner, who has ADHD about his struggles at school and what food means to him.
12/27/202241 minutes, 12 seconds
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Lord Botham Guest Edits Today

Today's first guest editor this Christmas is Lord Botham, Ian "Beefy" Botham, former England all-rounder, now crossbench peer and UK Trade Envoy to Australia. Hear highlights from his programme in our Best of Today podcast, including an interview with the current England Cricket captain Ben Stokes, about the future of the Test format of the game. It was a chance meeting after a freak injury in 1977 which first put Lord Botham on the path to nearly four decades of fundraising. He reflects on that moment and looks at advances in the treatment of childhood leukaemia, a cause for which he has raised millions of pounds, with the BBC's medical editor Fergus Walsh.
12/26/202240 minutes, 21 seconds
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Joanne Harris: My winter walk

The Today programme has asked some well-known faces to talk about the walks they do and why they’re so important to them at this time of year. Author Joanne Harris, best known for her novel Chocolat, describes her favourite walk from Almondbury, near Huddersfield, and up to Castle Hill. (Image credit: Simone Padovani/Awakening/Getty Images)
12/9/20223 minutes, 35 seconds
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Hunter Davies: My winter walk

The Today programme has asked some well-known faces to talk about the walks they do and why they’re so important to them as part of a winter walks series. Author Hunter Davies, best known for the only authorised biography of the Beatles, describes his favourite walk along Ryde Sands on the Isle of Wight. (Image Credit: Laura Palmer/BBC)
11/26/20223 minutes, 19 seconds
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Jojo Moyes: My winter walk

The Today programme has asked some well-known voices to tell us about their favourite walks at this time of year. Novelist and journalist Jojo Moyes - best known for 'Me Before You' - describes a walk where she is often accompanied by her dogs in Essex, and how it’s helped her when life is challenging. (Image Credit: Jojo Moyes)
11/22/20224 minutes, 20 seconds
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Michelle Gallen: My winter walk

The Today programme has asked some well-known faces to talk about the walks they do and why they’re so important to them as part of a winter walks series. Author Michelle Gallen, who wrote 'Big Girl, Small Town' and 'Factory Girls', describes her favourite walk near her childhood home in Castlederg, West Tyrone. (Image Credit: Deci Gallen)
11/17/20222 minutes, 56 seconds
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Michael Morpurgo: My winter walk

The Today programme has asked some well-known faces to talk about the walks they do and why they’re so important to them as part of a winter walks series. Author Michael Morpurgo, best known for children's novel War Horse, describes his favourite stroll near his home in Devon.
11/11/20224 minutes, 21 seconds
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Gillian Clarke: My winter walk

The Today programme has asked some well-known faces to talk about the walks they do and why they’re so important to them as part of a winter walks series. The poet, who was National Poet of Wales from 2008 to 2016, Gillian Clarke has chosen a path close to her home in Ceredigion.
11/10/20223 minutes, 26 seconds
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Kate Mosse: My winter walk

The Today programme invites some well known faces to speak about their favourite winter walk. Novelist and history writer Kate Mosse describes her walk through Fishbourne Marshes, near Chichester in West Sussex, from the old duck pond round to Bosham and back again. (Image credit: James Watkins/ BBC)
11/9/20223 minutes, 56 seconds
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Simon Armitage: My winter walk

The Today programme is inviting some famous faces to speak about their favourite winter walk. Poet Laureate Simon Armitage describes his walks up Pule Hill, the high point above Marsden and an exposed look-out post over Yorkshire, Lancashire and a high corner of Derbyshire. (Image, Simon Armistage, Credit, Emma Gibbs, BBC)
11/8/20223 minutes, 5 seconds
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Rory Kinnear: My winter walk

The Today programme is inviting some famous faces to describe their favourite winter walk. Actor Rory Kinnear lovingly tells of walking his son and daughter to school. (Image, Rory Kinnear, Credit, Sarah Jeynes, BBC)
11/7/20223 minutes, 55 seconds
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CEO of Ryanair Group, Michael O’Leary

Michael O’Leary has been Chief Executive of Ryanair since 1994, and was appointed CEO of Ryanair Holdings, Europe’s largest airline group, in 2019. He’s been speaking to Today’s business presenter Sean Farrington about his unhappiness with post-Brexit Britain, the impact of inflation on his business, and why we’ve probably seen the last of the €10 flight. (Image, Michael O'Leary; Credit, Getty Images)
8/11/202234 minutes, 50 seconds
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Chairman of John Lewis Partnership, Dame Sharon White

Dame Sharon White is the Chairman of John Lewis Partnership. Overseeing a team of 80,000 partners working at branches and offices of supermarket Waitrose and department store John Lewis around the country, White took over the retailer in February 2020. She talks to Today’s business presenter Sean Farrington about the number of people who have left the labour market since covid and the impact she believes it could have on the economy. (Image, Dame Sharon White, Credit, John Lewis Partnership)
8/9/202238 minutes, 14 seconds
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Jacky Wright’s Today Programme

Jacky Wright is the Chief Digital Officer and Corporate Vice President at Microsoft US. For her Today guest edit, she asked whether young people are being taught the skills they need for the workplaces and jobs of the future. She grew up in Tottenham, North London, and went back for the programme, asking A level students at a school there what they thought would make them employable. She also used the programme to explore what everyday life was like for the generation of multiracial children born during World War Two. Jacky spoke about the importance of role models with one of her own: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and the first elected female head of state in Africa. And there was also time for her to talk about her love of CSI with the show’s creator Anthony Zuiker.
1/3/202235 minutes, 39 seconds
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Mina Smallman’s Today programme

Mina Smallman, guest edited our first Today programme of 2022. Mina is a former Church of England archdeacon and school principal, who began campaigning on violence against women and equity in how victims are seen after two of her daughters were murdered. Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry were murdered in a London park in 2020. For her programme Mina invited Mishal Husain to accompany her and her family and friends on a difficult visit back to the place where Nicole and Bibaa died, where a tree was being planted in their memory. Mina also used her programme to highlight the work of Victim Support and chaplains working in prisons, hospitals and rural communities. Photo: PA
1/1/202232 minutes, 41 seconds
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Dr Jane Goodall’s Today Programme

Dr Jane Goodall is a primatologist, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and a UN Messenger of Peace. She is best known for revolutionising the world's understanding of chimpanzees. She used her Today guest edit to explore some of the ways we can inspire change to protect animals and our environment. She asked the BBC’s Climate Editor, Justin Rowlatt, to look at the links between poverty and climate change. The programme featured reporting from Tanzania where 30 years ago Jane challenged a group of students to take action to protect the wildlife in their towns and villages. Martha Kearney interviewed the Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith on Jane’s behalf, asking him about COP 26 and trophy hunting. There’s music from Notre Dame and Jane reflects on the reaction to her work and image in the 1960s. With Martha Kearney and Mishal Husain.
12/31/202136 minutes, 23 seconds
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General Sir Nick Carter’s Today Programme

General Sir Nick Carter is a retired senior army officer who served as the UK’s Chief of Defence Staff until November this year. He used his Today guest edit to focus on the fallout from the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. He spoke to former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the man in charge of the country before the Taliban takeover. He also chatted with retired racing legend AP McCoy about what his own retirement might have in store for him. Finally, Sir Nick explored his deep love of whiskey with an international blind tasting.
12/30/20211 hour, 2 minutes, 48 seconds
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Raheem Sterling’s Today Programme

The England and Manchester City footballer, Raheem Sterling used his Today programme guest edit to look at the issue of social mobility, after launching his own foundation earlier this year. His programme featured reporting from Jamaica where he was born and North London where he grew up. For his programme he also sat down with England manager, Gareth Southgate, the man he credits for his transition from being a target for a hostile press to a young man now trying to be the role model which so many call on footballers to become. It also featured interviews with his mum Nadine and his sporting hero Usain Bolt. With Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson.
12/29/202152 minutes, 20 seconds
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Raheem Sterling and Gareth Southgate in conversation

Today programme guest editor, the England and Manchester City player, Raheem Sterling wanted discuss what he, his team mates and the country had learned following the Euros this summer. For his programme he sat down with England manager, Gareth Southgate, the man he credits for his transition from being a target for a hostile press to a young man now trying to be the role model which so many call on footballers to become. Nick Robinson travelled to St George’s Park to meet them both.
12/29/202134 minutes, 33 seconds
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James Rebanks’ Today Programme

James Rebanks is a Cumbrian sheep farmer and bestselling author. He used his Today programme guest edit to focus on the government's changes to farm subsidies and to look at whether urban farms can create healthy and happy communities. He discussed whether the British countryside is diverse enough and asked how it can attract a workforce that better reflects modern Britain. Finally, indoctrinated by his father who took him to his first game at Anfield when he was ten, James Rebanks wanted us to talk about Jurgen Klopp and his why he’s popular not only among Liverpool fans, but beyond. With Nick Robinson and Mishal Husain.
12/28/202135 minutes, 12 seconds
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Michael Dobbs’ Today Programme

Lord Dobbs, Michael Dobbs, is a Conservative Peer and author. He has written more than 20 books, but is best known for his political thriller House of Cards. He used his Today Programme guest edit to look at prostate cancer, after his diagnosis earlier this year. It’s a disease which killed his father and brother. His programme also featured a conversation with the Duchess of Cornwall about the importance of reading and a special retelling of the Christmas story from Joseph’s perspective, written and read by Marcus Brigstocke. Featuring Nick Robinson and Justin Webb.
12/27/202135 minutes, 20 seconds
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Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin’s Today programme

Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Bishop of Dover, presents the highlights from her guest edit of Today. The South African concept ‘Ubuntu’ or “I am because you are” is at the heart of her programme, reflecting on our common humanity. She hears from students at a pupil referrals unit, the charity Justice Defenders who work to improve access to justice, and also a Uighur child refugee exiled in Turkey. Including Mishal Husain and Martha Kearney. (Image: Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, credit: Jim Drew)
1/1/202147 minutes, 13 seconds
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Evan Spiegel’s Today programme

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel presents all the highlights from his guest edit for Today, on the theme of the future of the USA. He looks at what big ideas have shaped modern America and what will continue to define it, including justice reform, how society can make wiser investments and the balance of power between tech companies and government. Including Mishal Husain and Simon Jack. (Image: Evan Spiegel, credit: Snap Inc)
1/1/20211 hour, 4 minutes, 5 seconds
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Margaret Atwood’s Today programme

Twice Booker Prize-winning author Margaret Atwood guest edits Today, looking at the theme of change. She interviews climate activist (and 2019 Today guest editor) Greta Thunberg and speaks to The Prince of Wales about campaigning for the environment over several decades. Also, Margaret’s Booker Prize co-winner Bernardine Evaristo speaks to gal-dem founder Liv Little and birdwatcher extraordinaire Mya-Rose Craig, aka Birdgirl. Hosted by Margaret Atwood - including Martha Kearney and Mishal Husain. (Image: Margaret Atwood, credit: Luis Mora)
12/31/202055 minutes, 21 seconds
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Lewis Hamilton’s Today programme

Record-breaking Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton guest edits Today, looking at black British history, the environment, and the power of sport. Lewis speaks to historian Professor David Olusoga about the Black Lives Matter movement and black British historical figures who deserve more attention. We also hear from conservationist Dame Jane Goodall on animal extinction, and find out how motor racing is trying to become more environmentally friendly. Presented by Nick Robinson and Justin Webb. (Image: Lewis Hamilton)
12/30/202050 minutes, 3 seconds
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Sir Jeremy Farrar’s Today programme

Sir Jeremy Farrar, the director of the health research foundation Wellcome Trust, guest edits Today along the theme of uncertainty and clarity in complex times. Sir Jeremy speaks to Dr Anthony Fauci about mixing politics and science, and we hear from Erna Solberg, the Prime Minister of Norway, on leading in uncertain times. Author Elif Shafak gives a more literary take on uncertainty, and England cricketers Sir Andrew Strauss and Nat Sciver discuss how elite sport has adapted in 2020. Also, a special performance from the Wellcome Voices choir. With Nick Robinson and Simon Jack. (Image: Sir Jeremy Farrar, credit: Dave Guttridge, Francis Crick Institute)
12/28/202050 minutes, 10 seconds
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Prue Leith's Today programme

Highlights from Prue Leith's guest edit, presented by Prue herself. Including... a discussion of the issue of assisted dying and how hospitals are trying to improve their food. Also - two cherries on top of an already lovely cake - Prue having a singing lesson... and Olympic diver Tom Daley discussing craft and the new swimming trunks he has crocheted! Also featuring Justin Webb and Mishal Husain. Enjoy. (Image: Prue Leith Credit: Clive Holmes Agency)
12/24/202036 minutes, 23 seconds
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Today guest edits: George the Poet

All the highlights from podcaster and spoken word artist George the Poet's guest edited programme, including a reflection of identity in Uganda, DJ Target on the development of grime music, Ziggy Marley on legalising marijuana, economist Mariana Mazzucato on how society thinks about value, and are video games good for your brain? Presented by Martha Kearney and Sarah Smith, and additional sound design by Benbrick. (Image: George the Poet, credit: BBC)
12/31/20191 hour, 4 minutes, 14 seconds
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Today guest edits: Greta Thunberg

All the highlights from climate activist Greta Thunberg's guest edited programme, including Mishal Husain interviewing her father Svante Thunberg and Greta speaking to Sir David Attenborough for the first time. Also, outgoing Bank of England chief Mark Carney on how the financial sector can tackle climate change, Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja on reducing the music industry’s carbon blueprint, and Shell’s Maarten Wetselaar on big energy’s environmental impact. Presented by Mishal Husain and Sarah Smith. (Image: Greta Thunberg, credit: BBC)
12/30/20191 hour, 9 minutes, 47 seconds
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Today guest edits: Charles Moore

All the highlights from Margaret Thatcher biographer and former Telegraph editor Charles Moore's guest edited programme. It includes US Special Representative on Iran Brian Hook on violent protests in the country, Charles' nephew Felix on being autistic and transgender, former Conservative leader Lord Michael Howard on why the judiciary needs to change, and Charles sets out the case against the BBC's funding model. Presented by Justin Webb and Nick Robinson. (Image: Charles Moore, credit: The Telegraph)
12/28/20191 hour, 1 minute, 6 seconds
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Today guest edits: Baroness Hale

All the highlights from Supreme Court President Baroness Hale's guest edited programme, including Baroness Hale in conversation with US Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Clive Coleman going on a tour of the Supreme Court, a report on coercive control, a discussion about justice in opera with Sir Simon Keenlyside and Ian Bostridge and a Vogue editor on what your jewellery says about you. Presented by Nick Robinson and Justin Webb. (Image: Baroness Hale. Credit: BBC)
12/27/20191 hour, 13 minutes, 27 seconds
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Today guest edits: Grayson Perry

All the highlights from artist Grayson Perry's guest edited programme, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams on faith and political myths, how tinnitus affects singer-songwriter KT Tunstall's life and work, political satire with Guardian columnist Marina Hyde, and if there's a link between sexual fantasies and how you vote with Joe Twyman from Deltapoll. Presented by Justin Webb and Nick Robinson. (Image: Grayson Perry, credit: BBC)
12/26/201945 minutes, 37 seconds