Planet Normal
246 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago -The podcast that speaks your language. News and views from beyond the bubble with Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, every Thursday.
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Episodes
Penny Mordaunt on Omicron hysteria, rebel MPs and Brexit
December 16, 2021 00:30 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MBMinister for Trade Penny Mordaunt beams into the Planet Normal rocket from Atlanta, Georgia, in the week where Boris Johnson suffered the most bruising rebellion of his premiership. Over 100 of her Conservative colleagues voted against his plans for Covid passports. The former Cabinet minister tells Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why, and brings listeners the inside track on trade negotiations in post-Brexit Britain. Plus, Liam tells us why he's concerned we're seein...
Parties, Plan B and betrayal
December 09, 2021 00:30 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBThe government's Covid 'Plan B' is here and our co-pilots have a lot of adjectives to describe it. Spoiler alert: they’re far from complimentary. Fresh from watching THAT latest press briefing, Liam thinks that the government has broken the social contract with the public and will struggle to get them to comply with the latest restrictions in light of the Christmas party scandal at No10. And, as if to prove him right, Allison declares that she has no intention of familiarising hers...
Parties, Plan B and betrayal
December 09, 2021 00:30 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBThe government's Covid 'Plan B' is here and our co-pilots have a lot of adjectives to describe it. Spoiler alert: they’re far from complimentary. Fresh from watching THAT latest press briefing, Liam thinks that the government has broken the social contract with the public and will struggle to get them to comply with the latest restrictions in light of the Christmas party scandal at No10. And, as if to prove him right, Allison declares that she has no intention of familiarising herself with ...
The 'moronic' variant
December 02, 2021 00:30 - 1 hour - 54.9 MBChristmas. Usually heralded by snow on the ground, Christmas trees and Mariah Carey. And, it seems, a new Covid-19 variant. On this week's podcast, columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan weigh in on the latest developments and tell us why they're confident festivities mustn't take a hit, despite some scientists acting as if the UK is in the eye of the pandemic storm. Making her second trip to Planet Normal is revered Oxford University epidemiologist Professor Sunetra Gupta, who tells ...
The 'moronic' variant
December 02, 2021 00:30 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBChristmas. Usually heralded by snow on the ground, Christmas trees and Mariah Carey. And, it seems, a new Covid-19 variant. On this week's podcast, columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan weigh in on the latest developments and tell us why they're confident festivities mustn't take a hit, despite some scientists acting as if the UK is in the eye of the pandemic storm. Making her second trip to Planet Normal is revered Oxford University epidemiologist Professor Sunetra Gupta, w...
The Numpty Class
November 25, 2021 01:30 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBAnother seven days on Planet Normal means another ‘numpty of the week’ and this time our very own Prime Minister is a hot contender. Liam tells listeners why he thinks Boris Johnson is ‘winging it’, while Allison worries that the PM has been taking writing tips from his infant son following his recent chaotic speech at the CBI conference. But will Sir Keir Starmer's popularity surge as Boris Johnson's dwindles? Or would that be all too... normal? Also on the podcast: award-winning science w...
A full-blown Winter of Discontent
November 18, 2021 00:30 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBEverything's gone a bit pear-shaped, and it hasn't escaped the notice of Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. With inflation above 4% and the cost of living spiralling, Liam tells listeners why he's convinced the PM is distracted by "chaos" within Tory ranks, while Allison has her head in her hands over the political class' "deflection and denial" following the distressing attack in Liverpool. Plus, never two to shy away from difficult subjects, our co-hosts welc...
A full-blown Winter of Discontent
November 18, 2021 00:30 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBEverything's gone a bit pear-shaped, and it hasn't escaped the notice of Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. With inflation above 4% and the cost of living spiralling, Liam tells listeners why he's convinced the PM is distracted by "chaos" within Tory ranks, while Allison has her head in her hands over the political class' "deflection and denial" following the distressing attack in Liverpool. Plus, never two to shy away from difficult subjects, our co-hosts welcome acade...
Sleaze, statistics and a sing-song
November 11, 2021 00:30 - 1 hour - 54.9 MBIt’s the 75th voyage to Planet Normal, but our co-pilots Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan aren't popping corks just yet. On this week's episode, they have strong words for the head of NHS England Amanda Pritchard, whose recent error on Covid admissions statistics had them putting their heads in their hands. Luckily Planet Normal's resident hospital bed occupancy expert (AKA Ms Pearson) is on hand to set the record straight. Plus, our co-hosts disagree entirely respectfully on the NHS "jab f...
The Great, the Good, the Greta
November 04, 2021 00:30 - 1 hour - 54.9 MBBroadcaster and and former Director of Strategy to David Cameron, Steve Hilton makes a rare UK media appearance to tell our Planet Normal co-pilots, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, how his former boss was actually a Eurosceptic, what President Biden has in common with a Monty Python sketch and why things are looking good for Donald Trump in 2024. And with the spotlight on all things green this week, the Planet Normal rocket takes a virtual trip to Cop26. Allison disregards the gathering ...
The Big Budget Breakdown
October 27, 2021 23:30 - 53 minutes - 48.5 MBIt’s Budget week, which means big announcements, big spending and big celebrations for Allison, who arrives for our recording with a big surprise for Liam: she’s only gone and won an award. Our co-pilot may have a trophy, but she’s got more than a few questions for our resident economist, co-pilot Halligan who is on hand to explain why he thinks Chancellor Rishi Sunak might have earned himself the nickname ’Risky Rishi’ after delivering his third Budget. But do the sums really add up? Als...
He was everyone's equal
October 20, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBMark Francois and Andrew Rosindell pay tribute to their fellow Conservative MP and much-loved friend, Sir David Amess, following his tragic death. But should MPs' security be ramped up? Mr Francois tells our podcast co-hosts, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why overly zealous measures risk "letting the bad guys win", while Mr Rosindell asks why his friend never held ministerial office. Also on the podcast: with COP26 on the horizon, cold showers are in and they get an even colder response...
He was everyone's equal
October 20, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBMark Francois and Andrew Rosindell pay tribute to their fellow Conservative MP and much-loved friend, Sir David Amess, following his tragic death. But should MPs' security be ramped up? Mr Francois tells our podcast co-hosts, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why overly zealous measures risk "letting the bad guys win", while Mr Rosindell asks why his friend never held ministerial office. Also on the podcast: with COP26 on the horizon, cold showers are in and they get an even colder...
That Covid report
October 13, 2021 23:30 - 1 hour - 54.9 MBMPs' report into the UK's early pandemic response is out – and it’s given Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan 144 pages of pause for thought. They tell listeners why it's simply not balanced on the collateral damage caused by lockdowns, and query the intentions of one of the document's authors. Elsewhere, Allison has actually read Liam’s column in order to understand what’s really going on with the energy crisis, Liam dreams of a return to the seventies and the Planet Normal rocket makes a s...
The boat that didn't rock
October 06, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.2 MBIt’s Tory Conference week and Liam Halligan is camped out in Manchester, surviving on stale sandwiches and a hotel minibar, to give Allison Pearson the inside track on the party's movers and shakers. The PM’s speech may have brought the laughs but both our hosts were left wanting more: no policy announcements, barely a mention of the pandemic, and ‘gaping holes’ in his arguments. Nul points from our co-pilots. Joining them aboard the rocket this week is fellow Telegraph columnist, Philip Jo...
Teeny gains for Labour
September 29, 2021 23:30 - 58 minutes - 53.1 MBRobert Peston, ITV News Political Editor, joins Liam Halligan and guest co-host, Claire Fox on this week’s trip to Planet Normal. Buckets and spades at the ready as the trio head to the seaside to dissect the Labour Party conference, but it’s less happy holidays and more angry hecklers at Sir Keir Starmer’s eagerly-awaited “make-or-break” speech. Liam tells listeners why the party failed to score an open goal, while Claire accuses the leader of merely “ticking boxes”. But has his time on the...
All the ingredients for a perfect storm
September 22, 2021 23:30 - 1 hour - 54.8 MBEnergy prices are up, universal credit is down and Waitrose is out of pitta bread. It certainly is shaping up to be the perfect storm aboard Planet Normal this week. So buckle up for turbulence as Allison declares war on the GP’s trade union, whilst Liam declares the government's green policies as ‘pie in the sky’ promises in need of a reality check. Also stowing away on the rocket of right thinking this week, is leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice who is keen to tell Allison and Liam why he...
Straight sets, straight talking
September 15, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.2 MBProfessor of Pop Paul Gambaccini boards this week's rocket to Planet Normal, with some disquieting words for the Metropolitan Police after he signed an open letter calling for the head of the force, Cressida Dick, to be replaced in her role. In a damning interview, he tells Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why, seven years after he was cleared of claims of sexual abuse, he feels he was used as 'human flypaper' to encourage others to make allegations against celebrities. Plus: it's straight...
Welcome to tax-and-spend Toryism
September 08, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MBThere’s a new tax in town and it’s got Allison rather confused. But not to worry - our resident economics guru, Liam Halligan has got his nerdiest hat on to break down the newly-announced health and social care levy. He tells listeners why the move is far from a long-term solution to the social care crisis, and reveals the real reason he believes Boris Johnson has hiked taxes to their highest level since the Second World War. This week's guest, touching down on the refuge of reasoned view...
Nailed to the naughty step
September 01, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBAllison's in the BMA's bad books. Hell hath no fury like a Pearson scorned as she shares her prescription with her podcast co-pilot, Liam Halligan for the next stage in her fight to bring back face-to-face GP appointments. Also on the show: it's the start of a new school year, but new books don't spell an end to the disruptions for our children. Liam has some disquieting words for the teaching unions ahead of the national return to the classroom. Also boarding the rocket of right-thinking...
The great jabs-for-kids debate
August 25, 2021 20:34 - 57 minutes - 52.4 MBCan a pre-teen consent to a coronavirus vaccine? That's the big question Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson are grabbling with this week, after an anonymous Planet Normal listener reveals that the NHS is drawing up plans to vaccinate 12-year-olds. And as co-pilot Halligan returns from his Aegean Odyssey (AKA his annual holiday to Greece), he comes back not just with a podcast, but also with an interview with James Glancy, Army veteran turned documentary maker. James boar...
The great jabs-for-kids debate
August 25, 2021 20:34 - 57 minutes - 52.4 MBCan a pre-teen consent to a coronavirus vaccine? That's the big question Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson are grabbling with this week, after an anonymous Planet Normal listener reveals that the NHS is drawing up plans to vaccinate 12-year-olds. And as co-pilot Halligan returns from his Aegean Odyssey (AKA his annual holiday to Greece), he comes back not just with a podcast, but also with an interview with James Glancy, Army veteran turned documentary maker. J...
One hell of a week on Planet Earth
August 18, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MBTime to pack our bags and head for Planet Normal? Horrifying events in Afghanistan leave Allison Pearson and fellow columnist and guest co-host, Tim Stanley feeling as if they've woken up in a dystopian nightmare. Allison hopes the evacuation process will start to prioritise women and children, Tim argues that withdrawing troops a decade earlier could have seen the very same outcome and both our co-pilots question President Biden’s motivations in leaving the country in the first place. Also...
Grade A mess
August 11, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBTim Stanley, Telegraph columnist and leader writer, joins Allison Pearson on this week’s podcast, while Captain Halligan is on his very own Aegean Odyssey (AKA a Ryanair flight to Greece). The pair award the education secretary an F for allowing top A-Level grades to be handed out to almost half of school leavers - a move our hosts agree isn’t really that generous after all - and reflect on the latest Covid confusion. Our new co-pilot is a loyal follower of Boris Johnson, but has his loyalty...
More flip-flops than a summer holiday
August 04, 2021 23:30 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBTelegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson are back with a bang from their holidays for another much needed trip to Planet Normal. This week Allison surprises Liam with her sudden reincarnation as a BMX expert, as both hosts celebrate the uplift in mood delivered by Team GB at the Olympic Games. Away from Tokyo, Allison adds the PM to her own 'Amber watchlist' after the government's flip flopping on travel policies, and Liam ruminates on a return of Number 10 versus Number 11 b...
More flip-flops than a summer holiday
August 04, 2021 23:30 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBTelegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson are back with a bang from their holidays for another much needed trip to Planet Normal. This week Allison surprises Liam with her sudden reincarnation as a BMX expert, as both hosts celebrate the uplift in mood delivered by Team GB at the Olympic Games. Away from Tokyo, Allison adds the PM to her own 'Amber watchlist' after the government's flip flopping on travel policies, and Liam ruminates on a return of Number 10 versus Nu...
The War of the Noses
July 14, 2021 23:30 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBIn the words of Alice Cooper, “School’s out for Summer”. The holidays are fast approaching but there’s no rest for our co-pilots, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, as Allison accuses the Left of weaponising the use of face masks, Liam predicts public finger-wagging for those choosing to ditch them, and our hosts nail their colours to the mast on the so-called “War of the Noses”. Also on the podcast: LSE behavioural scientist Professor Paul Dolan cruises into the Planet Normal atmosphere to...
The juggle struggle
July 07, 2021 23:30 - 1 hour - 54.9 MBMeet the mothers taking on the system over the way children have been sidelined in lockdown decision-making. Working mums Molly, Liz and Christine added a string to their collective bow when they were forced to become home teachers over much of 2020 - and another one when they later set up pressure group, Us for Them. It campaigns for the needs of the young to be prioritised over the pandemic and beyond. This week they board an extra large Planet Normal rocket, telling Telegraph columnists A...
England in, Hancock out
June 30, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBGood news for football fans, bad news for the former health secretary. A week of highs and lows, or highs and highs - according to our co-pilots, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. They tell listeners why hypocrisy is too weak a word for the actions of Mr Hancock, and Liam gives us the inside line on new health secretary, Sajid Javid’s first moves. Also on the podcast: SDP leader William Clouston boards the rocket of reason to tell listeners what sets his party apart in the much-anticipate...
Top hats, PPE and crashing disappointment
June 23, 2021 23:30 - 1 hour - 54.9 MBFreedom day has come and gone, and with little freedom restored, co-hosts Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan tell listeners why they feel a rebellion rising. Can opinion polls suggesting the country still supports lockdown be true? Not according to co-pilot Halligan, who tells us why he thinks pollsters’ leading questions are skewing the results. Meanwhile Allison impresses Liam with her newly-acquired scientific vocabulary, and ‘George’ shares some exciting news. Also visiting Planet Normal...
Top hats, PPE and crashing disappointment
June 23, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBFreedom day has come and gone, and with little freedom restored, co-hosts Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan tell listeners why they feel a rebellion rising. Can opinion polls suggesting the country still supports lockdown be true? Not according to co-pilot Halligan, who tells us why he thinks pollsters’ leading questions are skewing the results. Meanwhile Allison impresses Liam with her newly-acquired scientific vocabulary, and ‘George’ shares some exciting news. Also visiting Plan...
A whole new level of lunacy
June 16, 2021 23:30 - 57 minutes - 52.2 MBIain Duncan Smith is this week's Planet Normal stowaway, joining Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson to discuss the 'real danger' of annual winter lockdowns, and to tell listeners why it's time for the West to stand up to the 'desperate threat' posed by China's economy, military and ideology. Elsewhere, Freedom Day? More like Freedom Nay. Our co-pilots threaten to move to an entirely new solar system after the PM's recent announcement that June 21st is off. Allison comes ...
Pearson vs. Lockdown
June 09, 2021 23:30 - 58 minutes - 53.1 MBDr Jay Bhattacharya, Stanford medical professor and co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration boards the rocket of sweet reason this week to tell Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why he thinks the UK government should 'declare victory and move on’ after its vaccine rollout success. The lockdown policy, he tells our co-pilots, will be viewed as the single biggest public health mistake in all of history. Elsewhere, with the sun shining Allison considers crashing the ...
Chinese whispers
June 02, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBFormer Head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove joins Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan’s rocket of right-thinking after British intelligence agencies described the Covid-19 lab leak theory as “feasible” - an idea he has long backed. In an explosive interview, Sir Richard tells listeners why China has behaved “appallingly” over the pandemic, and why he believes the US has intelligence on the origins of the virus. Plus, he has some particularly disquieting words for the WHO. Also on the show: Liam t...
The gloves are off
May 26, 2021 23:30 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBDing Ding! It's round one in Westminster as Dominic Cummings enters the ring to unleash his blow-by-blow attack on the government's handling of the Covid pandemic - and Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan were watching. Liam struggles to stand up for his one-time lodger, Allison tells us why she thinks Matt Hancock is the real pantomime villain and they both agree that the former adviser may have delivered one too many punches. Also on the podcast: retired paediatrician a...
Fear, fear and more fear
May 19, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.3 MBThe doom cycle is all too much for this week's Planet Normal stowaway, Laura Dodsworth. The author and photographer has written a new book on the UK government's "weaponisation of fear" over the pandemic, and she joins Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan's rocket of reason to share her damning take on the "unethical" use of behavioural psychology over lockdown. Elsewhere on the podcast, our co-pilots celebrate a victory for common sense after Allison spearheaded a success...
Nonsense on stilts
May 12, 2021 23:30 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBThe National Health Service or the National Covid Service? The latter, according to this week’s Planet Normal guest, Nick Stokes' whose beloved wife, Joy, was a casualty of the NHS’s transition to ’telemedecine’ after vital signs of her cancer were missed. She died just a few weeks ago. On this week's show, Nick entrusts Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan with his story, telling them how Joy was continually refused face-to-face appointments despite having suffered from th...
Fifty voyages, two co-pilots, one podcast
May 05, 2021 23:30 - 58 minutes - 53.2 MBJournalist Rod Liddle joins Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan to mark fifty voyages to Planet Normal. 1.5 million downloads later, Allison has finally learnt what a podcast is. On this week's birthday rocket, Rod tells our co-pilots why "Super Thursday" isn't really so super, and what it was really like editing the Today programme at the "monolithic" BBC. Also on the show: Allison shares a glimpse into her exploding mailbox following her recent calls for GP surgeries to end virtual appointm...
A Midsummer Night's Nightmare
April 28, 2021 23:30 - 1 hour - 54.9 MBJanet Daley, columnist for the Sunday Telegraph, plants the Stars and Stripes on Planet Normal this week. She shares her take on Biden’s first 100 days in office with fellow columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson, and reveals why she thinks the United States’ lack of rooted identity is the cause of most of the country's issues today. Elsewhere, while most of the media is distracted by Number 10’s new curtains, Allison and Liam are more interested in the Post Office scandal, and they c...
Get out of my pub!
April 21, 2021 23:30 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBDavid Owen, former Foreign Secretary and one of the SDP's Gang of Four, boards a flight to Planet Normal this week. He tells Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why he thinks it's a problem that former Prime Ministers no longer join the House of Lords and expresses his regret that the late Shirley Williams didn't acknowledge her own potential. Plus David attempts to answer a seemingly simple question posed by Liam: is Boris Johnson a ‘great’ Prime Minister? Elsewhere, t...
Good haircuts, bad grammar
April 14, 2021 23:30 - 1 hour - 54.9 MBRay Bassett, former Irish diplomat lands on Planet Normal following some of the worst violence in Northern Ireland in decades. As one of the key architects of the Good Friday Agreement, he gives Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson the inside track on a turbulent week, and tells Planet Normal why he believes no side has truly stuck to the agreement. Plus Ray shares some disquieting words about the EU's implementation of post-Brexit border checks. Elsewhere, it's not only t...
Passport to nowhere
April 07, 2021 19:06 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MBDr Tony Sewell, chair of the commission behind the long-awaited government report into racial disparities, boards this week's rocket to Planet Normal. He tells Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson why a desperate attempt to discredit his findings prove their veracity, and why the term 'BAME' needs to go. Elsewhere, liberation from lockdown is edging into view, but will our co-pilots have their vaccine passports ready? Liam tells listeners why he thinks Boris Johns...
Passport to nowhere
April 07, 2021 19:06 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MBDr Tony Sewell, chair of the commission behind the long-awaited government report into racial disparities, boards this week's rocket to Planet Normal. He tells Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson why a desperate attempt to discredit his findings prove their veracity, and why the term 'BAME' needs to go. Elsewhere, liberation from lockdown is edging into view, but will our co-pilots have their vaccine passports ready? Liam tells listeners why he thinks Boris Johnson's curr...
Breadcrumbs of freedom
March 31, 2021 23:30 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MBGolf is back, "revellers" are enjoying the sunshine and tiny specks of normality are starting to reappear. They can't come soon enough for Telegraph columnists and Planet Normal co-pilots Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, who this week celebrate "Happy Monday", struggle to crown just one "Numpty of the Week" and award coveted Planet Normal mugs to two moving listener emails. Boarding the rocket alongside them is Professor Ellen Townsend, leader of the University of Nottingham's Self Harm R...
Oddly reassuring, reassuringly odd
March 25, 2021 00:30 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBHugh Osmond, the businessman behind the Punch Taverns group lands on Planet Normal with some disquieting words about the failure of business groups to speak out for the one in ten Britons who work in hospitality. Plus, he gives Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan the inside track on his legal campaign to accelerate the sector's reopening. Also on the podcast: Allison shares exactly what was on her mind as lockdown marked a grim first anniversary, Liam tells us why he feel...
All out vaccine war
March 18, 2021 06:38 - 59 minutes - 54.2 MBDouglas Murray, author, political commentator and associate editor of The Spectator lands on Planet Normal alongside Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. He tells us why protests, such as the Black Lives Matter marches and recent stands against female harassment, are an inevitable consequence of lockdowns. Plus he urges Britain to take a leaf out of the French book and reject the American-born culture wars. Also on the podcast: Liam makes a strong case for the AstraZeneca...
Courageous stupidity
March 11, 2021 00:30 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MBBen Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor lands on Planet Normal this week, as he tells Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why Budget day was momentous for his region and why he's urging Rishi Sunak to make the entire country a freeport. Plus he reveals how he thinks the Conservative party can keep precious Red Wall seats. Also on the podcast: our hosts wonder if the pandemic has turned into a "casedemic", Liam takes issue with the lack of journalism in Harry and Meghan's Oprah int...
What’s a trillion pounds among friends?
March 04, 2021 00:30 - 58 minutes - 53.9 MBLady Carnarvon, owner of Highclere Castle, swaps "the real-life Downton Abbey" for Planet Normal. She tells our co-pilots why she thinks reopening England's heritage sites in May is too late and just how long it'll take for her company to pay back lockdown loans, plus she imagines how the Dowager Countess would handle the restrictions. Also on the podcast: Liam puts on his economist hat to dissect this week's Budget and Allison is delighted by President Macron's u-turn on giving the Oxford-...
Eyes on the road
February 25, 2021 00:30 - 58 minutes - 53 MBLord Grade, former chairman of the BBC and ITV and CEO of Channel 4, dons his spacesuit to join Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan on their trip to Planet Normal. He tells us why he's cheering on Laurence Fox's anti-woke crusade, how he's fed up with journalists trying to catch the government out and why diversity of opinion is sorely lacking in the UK media. Also on the podcast: Liam makes the case for extra government funding for catch-up lessons in schools, Allison qu...
Hawks and Doves
February 18, 2021 00:30 - 58 minutes - 53.3 MBOlympic medallist Sharron Davies MBE swaps her swimsuit for her spacesuit this week to join Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan on Planet Normal. And with the next games hanging in the balance, Sharron tells us what conditions athletes would accept to see the event go ahead, reflects on her time in the pool, and explains why she feels the rights of female athletes are being eroded. Also on the podcast: Allison sits on the fence on vaccine passports and Liam sets out why t...