Episodes

  • Scuzz Nation, the death of English literature & are you a bad house guest?

    Scuzz Nation, the death of English literature & are you a bad house guest?
    May 8 2025
    Scuzz Nation: Britain’s slow and grubby decline

    If you want to understand why voters flocked to Reform last week, Gus Carter says, look no further than Goat Man. In one ward in Runcorn, ‘residents found that no one would listen when a neighbour filled his derelict house with goats and burned the animals’ manure in his garden’. This embodies Scuzz Nation – a ‘grubbier and more unpleasant’ Britain, ‘where decay happens faster than repair, where crime largely goes unpunished, and where the social fabric has been slashed, graffitied and left by the side of the road’.

    On the podcast, Gus speaks to Dr Lawrence Newport, founder of Crush Crime, to diagnose the issues facing Britain – and offer some solutions to stop the rot. (01:28)

    Next: is it demeaning to study Dickens?

    In the magazine this week, Philip Hensher reviews ‘Literature and Learning: A History of English Studies in Britain’ by Stefan Collini. Philip’s main gripe is that the history stops short of charting the threats posed to the study of English literature in the past fifty years. Accessible, ‘relevant’ short stories are increasingly replacing the classics, as the monuments of Victorian literature defeat today’s undergraduates.

    So can English literature still teach us how to read deeply in an age of diminishing attention spans? Philip joins the podcast alongside Orlando Reade, author and assistant professor at Northeastern University London, where he teaches English and creative writing. (17:47)

    And finally: are you a bad house guest?

    In the magazine, Christa D’Souza bemoans terrible house guests. Set against the idyllic backdrop of her home in the Greek Cyclades, she gives an account of the trials and absurdities of hosting – from towel-hoarding Americans to the toddler-like breakfast habits of many grown adults.

    She joins the podcast alongside our very own agony aunt, Mary Killen, to discuss further – and hopefully offer some advice on how better to deal with rude house guests. (29:04)

    Hosted by Lara Prendergast and Gus Carter.

    Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
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    41 mins
  • Chambers of horrors, the ‘Dubai-ification’ of London & the enduring obsession with Diana

    Chambers of horrors, the ‘Dubai-ification’ of London & the enduring obsession with Diana
    May 1 2025
    This week: the left-wing radicalism of Garden Court

    Garden Court Chambers has a ‘reassuringly traditional’ facade befitting the historic Lincoln’s Inn Fields in the heart of London’s legal district. Yet, writes Ross Clark in the cover article this week, ‘the facade is just that. For behind the pedimented Georgian windows there operates the most radically effective cell of left-wing activists in Britain’.

    Ross argues that cases taken on by Garden Court lawyers raise questions of impartiality. Is this just another example of ‘law’s expanding empire’ over the domain of elected politicians, as former Supreme Court judge Jonathan Sumption has warned?

    The Spectator’s editor, and former Justice Secretary, Michael Gove joined the podcast to discuss. (1:16)

    Next: cultural desert

    ‘From its gloopy green-filled chocolate to its soulless towers, Dubai is exerting a cultural influence over our capital’ writes Angus Colwell in the magazine this week. More and more young people might be moving to the city, but its influence is being exported back.

    With around 250,000 Brits living in the Middle Eastern Emirate, why is Dubai so popular? Angus worries that we may lose some of the ‘pleasingly chaotic’ aesthetic of London to Dubai’s ‘artificial construction’. Angus joined the podcast alongside the writer Louise Perry. (13:43)

    And finally: the enduring obsession with Princess Diana

    Almost 30 years on from her death, why has a fascination with Princess Diana endured? Philip Hensher reviews Dianaworld: An Obsession, by Edward White, in the magazine this week which explores the effect that Diana had – and still has – on people around the world. Why did people feel such a connection to the late Princess of Wales?

    Philip joined the podcast alongside royal commentator Angela Levin. Philip explains that a ‘passive victimhood’ has crept into society since Diana’s death while, for Angela, the public felt they ‘owned’ the Princess. (22:32)

    Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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    37 mins
  • See change, A.I. ghouls & long live the long lunch!

    See change, A.I. ghouls & long live the long lunch!
    Apr 24 2025
    This week: the many crises awaiting the next pope

    ‘Francis was a charismatic pope loved by most of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics’ writes Damian Thompson in the cover article this week. But few of them ‘grasp the scale of the crisis in the Church… The next Vicar of Christ, liberal or conservative’ faces ‘challenges that dwarf those that confronted any incoming pope in living memory’.

    Ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral this weekend, Damian joined the podcast alongside the Catholic theologian Fr Alexander Lucie-Smith to unpack all the political intrigue underpinning the upcoming papal conclave. They say that he who enters the conclave as a pope, leaves as a cardinal – do we have any clues to who could emerge as Francis’s successor? (1:01)

    Next: the ghastliness of AI ghouls

    The late Lily Parr – a chain-smoking, 6ft, Lancastrian, lesbian pre-war footballer – has been resurrected via an AI avatar. All fun and games at first glance but, as Mary Wakefield writes in the magazine this week, what the AI’s creators have summoned is ‘a ghoul, a flimsy echo of Parr, infused with the spirit of Gen Z’, lacking the original’s character. Aside from the obvious issues, is this ethical, or even legal?

    Mary worries that overworked and underpaid teachers could soon deploy AI to summon the spirit of Churchill or Shakespeare. How concerned should we be about AI creep? Mary joined the podcast to discuss. We thought who better to ask about AI than AI itself so ChatGPT’s latest AI model joined Mary to answer a few questions… (19:09)

    And finally: long live long lunch!

    Kenton Allen writes in defence of the traditional business lunch in the magazine this week. And it should be two hours at a minimum. This isn’t a ‘long’ lunch, he says, but a ‘proper’ lunch. What does the decline of the work lunch tell us about society today? Kenton joined the podcast alongside the Spectator’s restaurant critic Tanya Gold. They say there was a serious purpose to a long lunch, something being lost today by the modern workforce. Plus, they share their restaurant tips for the best long lunch. (27:46)

    Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.
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    38 mins
  • Easter special: assisted dying, ‘bunny ebola’ & how do you eat your creme egg?

    Easter special: assisted dying, ‘bunny ebola’ & how do you eat your creme egg?
    Apr 17 2025
    This week: should the assisted dying bill be killed off?

    Six months after Kim Leadbeater MP launched the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a group of Labour MPs have pronounced it ‘irredeemably flawed and not fit to become law’. They say the most basic aspects of the bill – having gone through its committee stage – do not hold up to scrutiny. Dan Hitchens agrees, writing in the magazine this week that ‘it’s hard to summarise the committee’s proceedings except with a kind of Homeric catalogue of rejected amendments’ accompanied by a ‘series of disconcerting public statements’.

    With a third reading vote approaching, what could it tell us about the country we live in? Dan joins the podcast alongside the Revd Fergus Butler-Gallie, who provides the Spectator’s diary for the week. (1:34)

    Next: where are all the rabbits?

    If you’ve noticed fewer rabbits across the countryside that might be due to a killer pandemic that has appeared on Britain’s shores. Henry Williams raises awareness in the magazine this week about Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD), which has a mortality rate of between 70 and 100% and has already left rabbits endangered in countries like Spain. The disease can kill suddenly and is particularly prolific within wild rabbits, which are less likely to be vaccinated than household pets. How concerned should we be? Henry joined the podcast to discuss. (20:56)

    And finally: are creme eggs delicious – or disgusting?

    ‘How do you eat yours?’ asks the famous Cadbury's advert for creme eggs. James Innes-Smith, writing his notes on creme eggs in the magazine this week, responds ‘stamping on them in disgust’. James might not be a fan but most of the British public are – over 220 million of them are sold in the UK each year. Even more astonishing given they’re only available to buy for a third of the year. Why are they loved so much? James joined the podcast alongside The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan, who makes the case for creme eggs. (27:09)

    Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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    34 mins
  • Trump shock, cousin marriage & would you steal from a restaurant?

    Trump shock, cousin marriage & would you steal from a restaurant?
    Apr 10 2025
    This week: Trump’s tariffs – madness or mastermind?

    ‘Shock tactics’ is the headline of our cover article this week, as deputy editor Freddy Gray reflects on a week that has seen the US President upend the global economic order, with back and forth announcements on reciprocal and retaliatory tariffs. At the time of writing, a baseline 10% on imports stands – with higher tariffs remaining for China, Mexico and Canada.

    The initial announcement last week had led to the biggest global market decline since the start of the pandemic, and left countries scrambling to react, whether through negotiation or retaliation. China announced a second wave of retaliatory tariffs – to 84% – and Trump, while softening his stance towards other countries, appeared to lean in to a trade war with China by announcing a further hike to 125%. As Freddy writes, for Trump and his supporters ‘China is America’s chief enemy.’ ‘President Trump just took a massive punch at Xi, right in the chops,’ said Steve Bannon. ‘The overlords of easy money, the sociopathic overlords that run Wall Street, the globalist corporatists and the apartheid state of Silicon Valley – all of them combined are the partners of the Chinese Communist party.’

    But, as Freddy asks in the magazine, is there method in the madness? Freddy joined the podcast to discuss alongside the financial journalist and Spectator contributor Michael Lynn. (1:35)

    Next: should cousin marriages be banned?

    Cousin marriage has been back in the news since the Conservative MP Richard Holden proposed banning the practice. Much of the debate has focused on the British Pakistani community where marriage between cousins is less taboo than other communities within the UK. But, as Iram Ramzan writes in the magazine this week, marriage between cousins has been legal in the UK stretching back to Henry VIII.

    The dictator Saddam Hussein, the musician Jerry Lee Lewis and even the father of evolution Charles Darwin are surprising examples of people who married their first cousins. Iram writes that it was to her horror that her family suggested she marry her second cousin. To what extent is the law the right recourse to deter cousin marriage? And what are the cultural, ethical, as well as genetic, considerations?

    Iram joined the podcast alongside Dominic Wilkinson, professor of medical ethics at the University of Oxford. (18:09)

    And finally: restaurant thefts are rising – why?

    The Spectator’s food columnist Olivia Potts explores how restaurants are facing a rising problem of theft. Gordon Ramsay’s latest restaurant suffered a £2,000 loss in one week for example. from theft. And, as many as 17 million Britons say they have stolen from a pub or restaurant. Why do they do it? And why is restaurant theft a particular problem now? Liv joined us to discuss further, alongside an anonymous contributor who agreed to share their own experience of stealing from restaurants. (29:57)

    Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.
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    39 mins
  • Cruel Labour, the decline of sacred spaces & Clandon Park’s controversial restoration

    Cruel Labour, the decline of sacred spaces & Clandon Park’s controversial restoration
    Apr 3 2025
    This week: Starmerism’s moral vacuum

    ‘Governments need a mission, or they descend into reactive incoherence’ writes Michael Gove in this week’s cover piece. A Labour government, he argues, ‘cannot survive’ without a sense of purpose. The ‘failure of this government to make social justice its mission’ has led to a Spring Statement ‘that was at once hurried, incoherent and cruel – a fiscal drive-by shooting’.
    Michael writes that Starmer wishes to emulate his hero – the post-war Prime Minister Clement Atlee, who founded the NHS and supported a fledgling NATO alliance. Yet, with policy driven by Treasury mandarins, the Labour project is in danger of drifting, as John Major’s premiership did. Starmerism’s policy vacuum is being filled so rapidly by HMT that we are embarking on an era of ‘cruel Labour’.
    Michael joined the podcast to discuss further, alongside John McTernan, former private secretary to Tony Blair. (1:37)

    Next: have the Church’s sacred spaces become community clubs?

    From yoga classes to drag shows, and even a helter-skelter, the Revd Dr Jamie Franklin, host of the podcast Irreverend and author of The Great Return, writes in the magazine this week about what he argues is the ‘tragic misuse of its sacred spaces’ by the Church of England. This new reality may be symptomatic of a wider issue with the leadership of the Church, currently pondering its future. The journalist Quentin Letts provides his own manifesto for the next Archbishop of Canterbury in this week’s diary.
    So do diverse uses of space broaden the Church’s appeal or does it run the risk of diluting its holiness? Quentin, whose new book NUNC! Is out now, joined the podcast alongside Jamie to discuss. (20:52)

    And finally: is Clandon Park a visionary restoration or a catastrophic precedent?

    Calvin Po addresses the ‘conundrum of conservation’ in the Arts lead for the magazine this week: how much of a building can be restored before it becomes a different building entirely?
    Plans have moved forward for the 18th century Palladian mansion Clandon Park, managed by the National Trust, to be preserved in a half-charred form, following its gutting by fire in 2015. The Trust says this ‘approach combines careful conservation, scholarly restoration and sensitive contemporary design’. And The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), founded by William Morris, has hailed the plans, arguing that a full restoration would amount to a ‘feeble and lifeless forgery’ and the ‘Clandon of the future will offer a markedly different visitor experience to that of the past, but one that will have its own interest’.
    Calvin, however, worries that this sets a ‘catastrophic precedent’ for restorations of the future, and The Georgian Group actively opposed the Trust’s proposal, arguing that the building’s merit comes in its original design ‘not in burnt bricks’.
    To discuss further we were joined by The Georgian Group’s director Dr Anya Lucas, and the architectural historian – and former Chair of SPAB – Gillian Darley. (35:17)

    Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson.
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    51 mins
  • The age of the strongman, Tesla under attack & matinee revivals

    The age of the strongman, Tesla under attack & matinee revivals
    Mar 27 2025
    This week: welcome to the age of the strongman

    ‘The world’s most exclusive club… is growing,’ writes Paul Wood in this week’s Spectator. Membership is restricted to a very select few: presidents-for-life. Putin of Russia, Xi of China, Kim of North Korea and MBS of Saudi Arabia are being joined by Erdogan of Turkey – who is currently arresting his leading domestic political opponent – and Donald Trump, who ‘openly admires such autocrats and clearly wants to be one himself’. ‘This is the age of the strongman,’ Wood declares, ‘and the world is far more dangerous because of it.’

    Despite their bombast, these ‘are often troubled characters’, products of difficult childhoods. But ‘the real danger’ lies in their ‘grandiose plans’ and ‘wish to secure their place in history by redrawing the map’ whether over Ukraine, Taiwan or even Greenland. What drives them, and how worried should we be? Paul joined the podcast alongside the Financial Times journalist, and author of The Age of the Strongman, Gideon Rachman. (1:01)

    Next: Tesla owners, beware!

    Jonathan Miller writes in the magazine this week about the phenomenon of Tesla cars being defaced, damaged, and even set fire to. The brand’s association with its owner Elon Musk has made it an ‘accessible but indefensible’ target for activists. And, despite Musk’s role in the Trump administration, this issue isn’t confined to the US. Jonathan joined the podcast from his hamlet in the south of France to talk about how local Tesla-owners are preparing to fight back. A representative from the activist group Tesla Takedown did initially accept an invitation to join the podcast… (15:50)

    And finally: are theatre matinees experiencing a revival?

    Playwright Jonathan Maitland highlights the resurgent popularity of theatre matinees in the arts lead of the magazine. Matinees have a long history within theatre and now offer a greater convenience for diverse audiences in a post-pandemic age. Jonathan’s new play, Wilko: Love and Death and Rock n Roll, is a good example of this. At London’s Southwark Playhouse until the 19th April, they’ve put on extra matinee performances to cope with demand (a small number of tickets are still available).

    Jonathan joined the podcast alongside Nica Burns, the theatre producer and co-owner of the Nimax Theatres group which runs six West End theatres including the Palace, the Apollo and the Garrick. (22:25)

    Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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    35 mins
  • Labour’s growing pains, survival of the hottest & murder most fascinating

    Labour’s growing pains, survival of the hottest & murder most fascinating
    Mar 20 2025
    This week: why is economic growth eluding Labour?

    ‘Growing pains’ declares The Spectator’s cover image this week, as our political editor Katy Balls, our new economics editor Michael Simmons, and George Osborne’s former chief of staff Rupert Harrison analyse the fiscal problems facing the Chancellor.

    ‘Dominic Cummings may have left Whitehall,’ write Katy and Michael, ‘but his spirit lives on.’ ‘We are all Dom now,’ according to one government figure. Keir Starmer’s chief aide Morgan McSweeney has never met Cummings, but the pair share a diagnosis of Britain’s failing economy. Identifying a problem is not, however, the same as solving it. As Rachel Reeves prepares her Spring Statement, ministers are bracing themselves for cuts in day-to-day spending as the public finances deteriorate.

    Is austerity back? Michael and Rupert joined the podcast to discuss further. (1:02)

    Next: survival of the fittest vs seduction by the hottest

    Biologist and Conservative peer Matt Ridley writes about the concept of sexual selection in the magazine this week, explaining that evolution might not just be driven by survival of the fittest but also by section by the hottest. This, he says, would explain some of nature’s most colourful oddities, particularly within birds, as outlined in his new book Birds, Sex and Beauty. Charles Darwin proposed this as a later part of his evolutionary theory, but it caused a rift amongst his contemporaries – why is it a controversial concept? And could it be true for other species such as humans?

    Matt joined the podcast alongside David Puts, Professor of Anthropology and Psychology at Penn State University. (19:13)

    And finally: what makes historic murders so fascinating?

    Historian and author Hallie Rubenhold’s new book, Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress and Dr Crippen, retells the famous murder case from the perspective of the women involved. Lisa Hilton declares it an ‘intellectual adventure’ in the lead book review in the magazine this week. But why do these cases continue to capture our imaginations, decades and even centuries later? And, whether as victims or as accomplices, what makes women such compelling subjects in historic cases like these?

    Hallie joined the podcast alongside the historian and broadcaster Alice Loxton, author of Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives. (30:40)

    Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast.

    Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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    43 mins
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