The Story
1,235 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★ - 126 ratingsThe Story: the flagship podcast from The Times and Sunday Times. One remarkable story, told in depth, each day.
Hosts Manveen Rana and Luke Jones take you to the heart of the story you need to know with exclusive reports and investigations.
Plus, each month, William Hague hosts an agenda-setting interview with a key newsmaker or thinker.
Discover the story behind the story with world-class journalism from The Times and Sunday Times.
The Story is available at the start of your day from Monday to Friday, with bonus ‘Inside the Newsroom’ episodes every Saturday for Times subscribers, available by connecting your subscription via Apple Podcasts.
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Episodes
Philippa Gregory's Normal Women
November 19, 2023 11:09 - 47 minutes - 109 MBThis Sunday we're bringing you a bonus episode from a new podcast: Normal Women, from celebrated novelist and historian Philippa Gregory. Normal Women is a radical retelling of our nation’s story – not of the rise and fall of kings and the occasional queen – but of social and cultural change, powered by the determination, persistence and effectiveness of women, from 1066 to modern times. This is not a podcast about three or four well-known heroines. It is a story about millions of women: th...
VAR: Is technology ruining football?
November 17, 2023 00:01 - 22 minutes - 51 MBSeven years ago, Fifa introduced the VAR system: the video assistant referee. It was meant to help make quicker, more accurate decisions about on-field incidents like off-side and handballs. But after a series of recent errors, is it ruining the beautiful game? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Martyn Ziegler, Chief Sports Reporter, The Times and The Sunday Times. H...
The end of The Crown: What did we really learn?
November 16, 2023 00:01 - 25 minutes - 59.4 MBThe final season of the hit Netflix series The Crown comes out today. The show has reanimated events lost to history, and put our fascination with the royals into overdrive, but it has also made liberal use of its creative licence. So what has it taught us? And does it matter if drama plays with the truth of real lives? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Andrew Billen...
Why the West Bank is about to erupt
November 15, 2023 00:01 - 26 minutes - 61.5 MBAs Israel focuses on fighting Hamas in Gaza, tensions are rising in the other Palestinian territory, the occupied West Bank. Since October 7, violence between Palestinians and Israeli settlers has led to the death of over 180 people, mostly Palestinians. With Israel now fighting on two fronts - Gaza and Lebanon - could it cope with a third? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. ...
Cameron in, Braverman out: Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle
November 14, 2023 00:01 - 25 minutes - 57.2 MBFormer prime minister David Cameron is back in the government after Rishi Sunak’s cabinet reshuffle. Pressure had been mounting on Sunak to sack Suella Braverman after a controversial opinion piece in The Times last week. So why is Cameron back? And what do the appointments mean for the Conservatives and their election strategy? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ste...
Should Zelensky negotiate with Putin?
November 13, 2023 00:01 - 23 minutes - 54.5 MBThe head of Ukraine’s military says the war is at a stalemate. Meanwhile, Western attention is shifting to the Israel-Gaza conflict. So is a military victory off the table and should President Zelensky start negotiating with President Putin? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Mark Galeotti, historian, Sunday Times contributor and author of Putin’s Wars: From Chechnya...
The world according to Nadine Dorries
November 11, 2023 00:01 - 27 minutes - 63.6 MB“This really is the single weirdest book I have ever read, and anyone who does not reach the same conclusion after reading it should be sectioned.” That was our colleague Patrick Maguire’s verdict on ‘The Plot: The Political Assassination of Boris Johnson’ by former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, which was published on Thursday. So this weekend we’re bringing you an episode of another Times podcast, Red Box, in which Patrick journeys into Nadine Dorries's world with Times Radio presente...
The culture war comes to the National Trust
November 10, 2023 00:01 - 27 minutes - 63.4 MBTomorrow is the Annual General Meeting of the National Trust - and battle lines are being drawn. Over the past two years, a protest faction called 'Restore Trust' has emerged to challenge the UK's biggest charity. They accuse the organisation of playing politics by highlighting links to colonialism and slavery. But The National Trust says that the history of Empire needs to be part of what we preserve and document. So, can the most quintessentially British institution weather the storm of th...
Gaza protests: The new split in British politics?
November 09, 2023 00:01 - 30 minutes - 68.7 MBSuella Braverman has accused the Metropolitan Police of “playing favourites” with protesters as she clashed with Britain’s most senior officer over his decision to give the go-ahead to Saturday’s pro-Palestinian march. Her comments come after the government spent much of the past week on a collision course with protesters and the police over the protests planned for Saturday – Armistice Day – which Rishi Sunak confirmed last night would go ahead. Meanwhile, a Labour frontbencher has resign...
The new Great Power Bloc: How China, Russia and Iran are rallying against the West
November 08, 2023 00:01 - 24 minutes - 55.4 MBUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a whistle stop tour of the Middle East earlier this week, as part of a frantic diplomatic effort to de-escalate the Israel-Gaza crisis. His visit comes as China calls for a ceasefire in a bid to position itself as the neutral arbiter in the region. US politicians have labelled Russia, China and Iran as the ‘axis of evil’ - so should the West be worried? And how have the wars in Ukraine and Gaza deepened those relationships? This podcast was b...
Meet Robert Kennedy Jr: The US election wild card
November 07, 2023 00:01 - 26 minutes - 59.7 MBScion of the Kennedy dynasty, Robert Kennedy Jr has ditched the Democrats and declared his candidacy in the 2024 US Presidential race, running as an Independent. But in a Biden-Trump run-off, who does Kennedy hurt most? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: David Charter, US Editor, The Times. Host: Luke Jones. Clips: PBS, CNN, Reuters, ABC News, Fox News, News Nation...
A Very British Scandal: How Captain Tom's charity got caught up in controversy
November 06, 2023 00:01 - 24 minutes - 57 MBCaptain Sir Tom Moore’s daughter has come under scrutiny after the Charity Commission opened an investigation into links between her family and the charity set up in his name, the Captain Tom Foundation. They are also facing questions over Captain Tom’s book deal, and over an unauthorised spa. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: James Beal, Social Affairs Editor, The ...
How to win an election
November 04, 2023 00:01 - 41 minutes - 93.9 MBAs the parties prepare to do battle at the polls, The Times launches a new podcast, 'How to Win an Election', in which we bring together three of the most experienced political strategists of the past four decades: legendary architect of New Labour, Peter Mandelson; Daniel Finkelstein, who has worked alongside Tory leaders and prime ministers from John Major onwards as they fought to modernise the party; and Polly Mackenzie, a policy expert who helped negotiate the Liberal Democrat-Conservat...
Is Israel’s war with Hamas winnable?
November 03, 2023 00:31 - 29 minutes - 67.3 MBLast night Israel's military said its forces had "advanced another significant stage in the war" and encircled Gaza City, the most built-up area of the Gaza Strip and the heart of the Hamas tunnel network. Israel's government says the purpose of the war is to eliminate Hamas, but is that an objective that can be achieved? We speak to a former major-general who was once the UK's most senior commander in Iraq, tasked with eliminating Isis. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the suppor...
How ‘ugly’ Birkenstocks conquered fashion and feminism
November 02, 2023 00:01 - 26 minutes - 59.7 MBGerman shoemakers Birkenstock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange at a valuation of more than $8 billion last month, and the sandals are top of John Lewis’ must-have Christmas list this year. So how did this nearly 250-year-old company go from orthopaedic footwear to a cameo in the Barbie film? And how did the shoe woo the fashion industry? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofou...
After the blackout: What's happening in Gaza?
November 01, 2023 00:01 - 26 minutes - 60.9 MBDuring a 34-hour communications blackout that began on Friday evening, Israel launched its ground invasion into Gaza. With thousands of Palestinians killed and conditions in the territory deteriorating, the UN secretary general has repeated his call for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian access. Israel has rejected this saying “calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas” and that it is committed to getting all its hostages back home. So, now that the IDF's troops have en...
WhatsApps, ‘f***wits’ and ‘Dr Death’: The Covid inquiry heats up
October 31, 2023 00:01 - 28 minutes - 66 MBDominic Cummings gives evidence to the UK’s Covid inquiry today – the latest in a string of senior advisors to Boris Johnson to do so. The published evidence, including private WhatsApp conversations, is bringing to light internecine grudges between those in charge. We catch up on what’s been revealed so far. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Edi...
Why MI5 is so worried about AI and the next election
October 30, 2023 00:01 - 25 minutes - 58 MBThis week world leaders and AI companies will gather for a summit at Bletchley Park, the Second World War code-breaking centre. It’s the most important attempt yet to formulate a shared view on what artificial intelligence might be capable of and how it should be regulated. But with elections taking place in both the US and the UK in the next year or so, could the threat posed by AI deepfakes to democracy be much more immediate, as the head of MI5 has warned? This podcast was brought to yo...
How Taylor Swift became the voice of a generation
October 28, 2023 23:01 - 25 minutes - 57.8 MBFriday was a big day for Taylor Swift. She released the reimagined version of her 2014 album 1989, and was declared a billionaire by business news outlet Bloomberg. So this weekend we're listening back to our conversation with The Sunday Times' resident Swiftie, Charlotte Ivers. What is it about the pop princess that has the power to influence an entire generation and their politics? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscr...
Sextapes, gossip blogs, and Paris Hilton: How the noughties went toxic
October 26, 2023 23:01 - 28 minutes - 66.3 MBThis week Britney Spears released her new memoir, and is the latest celebrity to open up about the trauma of being a young famous woman in the 2000s. Post-MeToo and the Russell Brand allegations, there has been a collective re-evaluation of how stars like Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan were treated. So why did we want to see them humiliated? And why did so many of us think it was normal? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Ti...
Does Hamas have a strategy?
October 25, 2023 23:01 - 27 minutes - 63.5 MBAs Israel conducts 'wide-scale' retaliatory strikes against Gaza, the humanitarian crisis in the area has reached devastating proportions. Thousands are dead and food, fuel and water have almost run out. If this was part of the plan, what is the strategy and is there an end game? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Louise Callaghan, Middle East Correspondent, The S...
Get out of jail free: The new Tory prisons policy
October 24, 2023 23:02 - 25 minutes - 57.6 MBPrisons in England and Wales are at full capacity. Exclusive reporting for the Times revealed judges were being advised to suspend sentences, rather than put prisoners away. After HS2, concrete in schools, and NHS waiting lists, where will this latest scandal leave the Tories’ reputation for competence? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Catherine Baksi, former ba...
Exposing a multibillion-pound cover-up at HS2
October 23, 2023 23:01 - 33 minutes - 77.4 MBAs the cost began to spiral, HS2 bosses allegedly shredded documents, sacked whistleblowers and used misleading projections to keep the scheme alive and the cash coming. We speak to the team behind a new investigation into the beleaguered rail project, and hear one whistleblower’s secret recordings. HS2 Ltd denies any wrongdoing. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: -...
What’s behind Britain’s shoplifting epidemic?
October 23, 2023 03:00 - 28 minutes - 65.6 MBShoplifting offences have risen by 25 per cent in the past year alone, according to the Office for National Statistics. With some incidents turning increasingly violent, and many perpetrators going unpunished, business owners are calling for action. So what’s behind the rise? And what might be the solution? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Louise Eccles, Consumer A...
Israel-Gaza: Two of our Jewish writers reflect on the past two weeks
October 19, 2023 23:01 - 28 minutes - 65 MBTwo weeks into the current Israel-Gaza conflict, we take a moment to reflect on the events of October 7th and their aftermath. In this personal conversation, our colleagues Josh Glancy and Gabriel Pogrund discuss the impact on British Jews. Stories of Our Times will continue to cover this story from many different angles, including further conversations with members of the communities affected by the conflict. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times ...
Israel-Gaza: How the conflict could spread
October 18, 2023 23:01 - 24 minutes - 55.1 MBThe attack on a hospital in Gaza, leaving at least 500 dead, has led to fears that the situation is spiralling out of control. With each side blaming the other for the bombing, how can a regional conflict be contained, and war on a global scale be averted? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Catherine Philp, World Affairs Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Clip...
The Great Big Bedbug Outbreak: Real or hype?
October 17, 2023 23:01 - 23 minutes - 53.7 MBMayor of London Sadiq Khan says that bedbugs on the Underground are a ‘real cause for concern’, after fears that an infestation in Paris could spread to the UK capital and beyond. But how bad is the problem in France really? And what should you do if you spot one of the little creatures? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Natalie Steed, producer, Folk on Foot podcas...
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, explained
October 16, 2023 23:01 - 39 minutes - 90.6 MBThe past century has seen the borders of Palestine and then Israel shift. From the Balfour Declaration in 1917 – when Britain first promised a Jewish homeland – a fierce struggle over land and nationhood has taken place. Whether you need a beginner’s guide to the history or just a reminder, we'll take you from that date through to the conflict today. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesof...
A fertility deception, DNA and the half sister
October 16, 2023 03:00 - 28 minutes - 64.2 MBThis story is a disturbing illustration of how one man can seemingly go through life lying to women, abandoning them with children while paying no child support. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Article: Unmasked: the ‘infertile’ father of multiple children with different women https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unmasked-the-infertile-father-of-multiple-children-with-diffe...
Rape, assault and corruption: The police officers breaking the law
October 13, 2023 03:00 - 24 minutes - 55.9 MBThe murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer shocked the nation and eroded public trust in the police. Now The Times has exposed the scale of serious crimes committed by 145 by serving policemen and women - from rape and violence to corruption and fraud. Times subscribers can read more about the 145 police officers convicted of serious offences. This episode contains material that some listeners may find upsetting. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of reader...
The modelling agencies recruiting from refugee camps
October 12, 2023 03:00 - 29 minutes - 66.9 MBModelling agencies are recruiting young people who have fled war-torn African countries and are living in extreme poverty. They are flown to Europe to take part in fashion castings, but some return within days or weeks, often laden with debt. We speak to the journalists behind the Sunday Times investigation. With thanks to Edwin Okoth who provided additional reporting on this investigation, and Mari Malek from Runways to Freedom. This episode contains material that some listeners may fin...
Why the next election isn’t yet a done deal
October 11, 2023 03:00 - 24 minutes - 55.3 MBThe 2023 conference season is winding down. But did the parties achieve what they wanted - and needed - to? And did they shift the dial when it comes to the result of the next general election? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Lara Spirit, Red Box Editor, The Times. Kate McCann, Political Editor and Presenter, Times Radio. Host: Manveen Rana. Get in touch: s...
Israel goes to war
October 09, 2023 23:01 - 29 minutes - 67.2 MBOn Saturday the militant Palestinian group Hamas launched an unprecedented terrorist attack on Israel, killing more than 900 people in Israel and taking up to 130 hostages. In response, Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, declared war and launched airstrikes killing almost 690 people in Gaza. His defence minister ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip, which aid organisations have warned could end up amounting to “war crimes”. Meanwhile, Hamas has threatened to execute a host...
Is Disney losing the magic?
October 09, 2023 03:00 - 26 minutes - 61.5 MBAs Disney celebrates its 100th birthday this month, a series of recent flops and gargantuan acquisitions has left people asking whether the shine is beginning to wear off. Plus, we look back at the studio’s past - including the time when Donald Duck dressed up as a Nazi. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Ed Potton, Arts Commissioning Editor, The Times. Host: Manveen...
The problem for Keir Starmer
October 06, 2023 03:00 - 28 minutes - 65.3 MBIf the polls are to be believed, Sir Keir Starmer is on track for a comfortable victory at the next general election – and just this morning, he has hailed a by-election win in the Glasgow seat of Rutherglen & Hamilton West as a "seismic result". But voters are less clear on what he and his party would do with power. This weekend the Labour Party's annual conference – perhaps the last before the next election – kicks off in Liverpool. Amid accusations of flip-flopping and u-turns galore, ou...
Will the mystery of Tupac’s death finally be solved?
October 05, 2023 03:00 - 27 minutes - 63.2 MBAlmost thirty years after hip-hop star Tupac Shakur was shot dead in a Las Vegas drive-by, a former gang leader has been charged with his murder. So how did new information come to light? And will this finally put to rest one of hip-hop’s lasting mysteries? Article: Will the mystery of Tupac’s murder finally be solved? https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/will-the-mystery-of-tupac-s-murder-finally-be-solved-lvv2c9z3t This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Ti...
Why the West is starting to fracture over Ukraine
October 03, 2023 23:01 - 29 minutes - 66.8 MBLast night, for the first time in American history, the House of Representatives voted to remove its speaker from office. It was a victory for a group of Republicans who oppose giving Ukraine further American aid – which, for now, is on pause. Meanwhile in Europe, Slovakia's recent elections saw a new, pro-Russia, leader pledging to end support for Ukraine. What does all this mean for Kyiv's war effort? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Su...
Sam Bankman-Fried: The inside story from the author of The Big Short
October 03, 2023 03:00 - 36 minutes - 83.6 MBMichael Lewis, author of The Big Short, met Sam Bankman-Fried when his crypto exchange was rewriting the rules of global finance and was by his side when the empire imploded. Ahead of his fraud trial which starts today, this is the inside story of the crypto whizz kid at the heart of one of the 21st century's most spectacular financial collapses. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourti...
Europe's drug death capital: Is decriminalisation Scotland’s answer?
October 02, 2023 03:00 - 28 minutes - 65.3 MBScotland has the highest drug-related death rate in Europe – and last week approved plans for its first drug consumption room to try and reduce deaths. It’s a step closer to the SNP’s goal of decriminalisation – so what can they learn from Portugal, which decriminalised drugs over twenty years ago? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - John Boothman, Political Corresp...
The reinvention of Rishi: Can he save the Tories?
September 29, 2023 03:00 - 32 minutes - 73.6 MBFrom A-levels to net zero, the prime minister has new plans to bite into Labour’s poll lead. No 10 wants voters to meet the ‘real Rish’ – a decisive PM who focuses on our long-term problems. But, as Conservatives gather for their annual conference this weekend, is that enough to revive the party’s faltering popularity? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Tim Shipman, ...
The untold story of the woman who escaped the Yorkshire Ripper
September 28, 2023 03:00 - 32 minutes - 74.4 MBIn the summer of 1979, Ruth Shaw was a student in Bradford, walking alone one night when she encountered Peter Sutcliffe – the serial killer the papers had nicknamed the Yorkshire Ripper. But her encounter wasn’t recorded by police. 44 years later, this is her untold story. This podcast contains scenes of a graphic nature. Ruth’s story was first told to Michael Bilton in his book ‘Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper’ which is now being serialised on ITV on Mondays at 9...
On the frontline: One night in Ukraine
September 27, 2023 03:00 - 27 minutes - 64 MBWe bring you the story of one Ukrainian command post as a patrol runs into chaos on the eastern bank of the Dnipro river, with Anthony Loyd who returned from reporting there last week. Plus, what should we make of the state of the war? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Anthony Loyd, Senior Foreign Correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana. Articles: A firefight ...
Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘hell' island and the woman who exposed its secrets
September 26, 2023 03:00 - 34 minutes - 79.1 MBFor the past four years, the former Attorney General of the US Virgin Islands has been entrenched in a battle with the estate of the financier, paedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times, Denise George reveals how she tracked down the moneymen who she says protected Epstein, and explains why she’s taking on one of America’s biggest banks. Article: Jeffrey Epstein’s ‘hell' island — and the woman who exposed its secrets: https://www.thetimes...
Can a ‘miracle’ weight loss drug end Britain's obesity epidemic?
September 25, 2023 03:00 - 30 minutes - 68.7 MBIt’s a diabetic drug that recently became a weight loss diet fad for the rich because of its ability to suppress hunger. Now, Wegovy, a drug similar to Ozempic, has been approved specifically for weight loss for the clinically obese in the UK. But is an injection our best bet at tackling obesity? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: Charlotte Ivers, Staff Writer, The ...
How the rich and powerful try to intimidate the press
September 23, 2023 03:00 - 32 minutes - 73.9 MBThis week the editors of The Times and The Sunday Times wrote to the justice secretary, calling for a crackdown on the misuse of libel laws by the super-rich. Together with more than 60 editors, reporters and lawyers, they called for a specific law to address Slapps – strategic lawsuits against public participation. In this bonus Saturday episode, we’re listening back to a conversation with Times Media’s editorial legal director Pia Sarma, first broadcast in January, in which she argues it'...
How HS2 went off the rails
September 22, 2023 03:00 - 24 minutes - 55.3 MBThe high speed railway HS2 has been quietly graded ‘red’ by the government’s infrastructure watchdog, meaning successful delivery appears unachievable. The cost of the line - planned to run between London, and central and northern England - is at £71 billion so far; nearly £2,500 for every UK household. So what went wrong? Who’s got rich off this? And will it ever be finished? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today...
Russell Brand investigation: What happened next
September 20, 2023 23:01 - 36 minutes - 84.5 MBLast weekend The Times and The Sunday Times – together with Channel 4's Dispatches – broke the news of allegations against Russell Brand including rape and sexual assault. Russell Brand strongly denies all the allegations. So what happened next? Today we catch up with The Times’ head of investigations to answer listener questions and examine the fallout from the investigation. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe toda...
Death in the blood: The most shocking scandal in NHS history
September 20, 2023 03:00 - 35 minutes - 80.6 MBFrom the 1970s onwards, an estimated 5,000 NHS patients were given contaminated blood products, which contained deadly diseases like hepatitis and HIV. Today, half of those infected have died. How did this happen? As her new book is published, we hear from the Sunday Times journalist who unearthed the story, and followed it for 20 years to get answers. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storieso...
Why is Temu so cheap? Shopping on the popular but ruthless Chinese app
September 19, 2023 03:00 - 25 minutes - 58 MBWelcome to Temu, the world’s biggest bargain bin. Since launching just five months ago, the app has been downloaded more than nine million times in the UK alone. Our correspondent has spent a day shopping on Temu, and delves into the tricks the Chinese retailer uses to ruthlessly undercut its rivals. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Sam Chambers, Chief Business Corre...
The Ukrainian honeytrappers ensnaring Putin's lonely soldiers
September 18, 2023 03:00 - 25 minutes - 58.5 MBUkrainian women are making fake profiles on dating apps, matching with Putin’s lonely troops and tricking them into revealing information that could help Ukraine win the war. In a rare interview, we speak to one of the women who is dating for victory. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guests: - Maxim Tucker, Assistant Foreign Editor, The Times. - ‘Angelica’, Ukrainian hon...