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The Standard
Author: The Evening Standard
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From our headquarters in the heart of London, The Standard podcast sets the agenda. Top news insiders discuss the pressure-points of the day’s topics. Hear unrivalled insight on politics, culture, going out, sport, and fashion, with award-winning journalists and celebrity guests. Join us Monday to Friday at 4pm.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1757 Episodes
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Boris Johnson says the country has a "moral duty" to get children back in school this September. But with scientists debating the safety of it, how does the government plan to re-open classrooms without increasing the risk of coronavirus spreading? The Prime Minister says he has a plan, but there doesn't seem to be much detail being released to the public. Our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil reveals what ministers have been telling him, and how encouraging more pupils to walk or cycle will be a key part of the strategy. Also, one of Britain's finest actors Simon Callow's written for the Evening Standard about the loss of live performance and the tragedy of theatres being wiped out by covid-19. He joins the podcast to tell us why London will not be the same without its vibrant performing arts sector. Also, on the day four of the city's major pantomimes say they won't be going ahead this year, Simon explains how panto is essential to bringing young people into theatres and developing a life-long love of the stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Starmer has spent much of the week defending his decision not to join the US and Israel’s offensive in Iran, saying that “any UK actions must always have a lawful basis'.In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to international legal expert Marko Milanovic, Professor of Public International Law at the University of Reading. They discuss the legality of the US-Israeli intervention in Iran, if Starmer made the right call on behalf of Britain, and whether flouting international law can ever be justified on moral grounds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Restaurateur Jeremy King’s latest venture, a revamp of the 200 year old Simpson’s in The Strand, speaks to London’s latest trend – classic dining.In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s Going Out Editor and restaurant critic, David Ellis, about why diners are regaining an appetite for traditional fare. Plus, David shares his recommendations for London’s most classic institutions, including newcomers who are embracing tried and tested dishes with a modern twist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dubai, alongside its Middle Eastern neighbours, is being targeted by Iranian strikes that have so far caused damage to airports, hotels and ports. At least 94,000 stranded Brits have registered their location with the Foreign Office to prepare for evacuation, and airlines have, albeit slowly, begun to repatriate travellers.In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to freelance writer, Tom Place, who has been reporting on the repatriation story for The Standard. She also speaks to London expat Harley Mcgaughran, the CEO and founder of luxury shopping service, Trendsourcing, who does not regret his decision to ditch London for Dubai as of yet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Over the weekend, the US and Israel seized on an opportune moment to eliminate senior figures of the ruling militia in Iran, including the supreme leader Ayatollah Khemeni. The UK, however, has not been instrumental to the success of this mission so far. In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s chief political correspondent, Rachael Burford, about Keir Starmer’s decision to refuse to send British military support for the initial strikes. Plus, a conversation with Laila Jazayeri, the Director of the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women in the UK, to discuss the reaction to Khemeni’s death in Iran and the diaspora, and lay out alternative leadership paths for the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Londoners may notice their outgoings increase, due to higher TFL fares that kicked in yesterday. The cost of pay as you go Tube, rail and DLR services are rising by an average of 6% but it’s not all bad news, as bus fares and travel card fares have been frozen for now. To understand the latest changes to fares, host Tamara Kormornick sits down with Ross Lydall, the Standard’s City Hall and Transport correspondent, for a London travel update. They discuss why TFL made the decision to raise fares this spring, access to airports via public transport, and whether it is time to discontinue travel subsidies that older Londoners enjoy to fill in TFL’s funding gap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There will be no major clubs left at all in the UK by 2030 if venue closures continue at the current rate, according to the Night Time Industries Association. Will Sadiq Khan’s London Nightlife Taskforce be able to preserve the capital’s late-night scene?In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Cameron Leslie, co-founder of Fabric and chair of the Independent Nightlife Taskforce. They discuss the recommendations from the taskforce’s latest report, the city’s evolving club culture, and Cameron’s outlook for London’s night-time economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny is joined by Dr Sabine Donnai, a physician specialising in precision medicine, preventive health, and is the founder of Viavi Healthcare. They explore brain health beyond standard scans, discussing how gut function, inflammation, environmental exposure, and stress interact over time. Drawing on Evgeny’s own test results, Sabine explains why she believes long-term cognitive resilience starts not with extreme biohacks, but with fixing the basics - particularly the gut. The conversation concludes with practical takeaways: reduce inflammatory foods, increase dietary diversity and fermented foods, support cardiovascular health, and avoid turning longevity into another source of stress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election is set to be another major test of Keir Starmer’s authority as leader of the Labour party, following the arrest of his selected former British Ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson.In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s political editor, Nicolas Cecil, alongside chief political correspondent Rachel Burford, to lay out the possible outcomes of the by-election, and weigh up how catastrophic losing could be for Labour — and for Keir Starmer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Since January, there have been close to one hundred cases of measles reported In North London. The UK managed to eliminate measles via mass vaccination just under ten years ago. How did we get here, and how serious is this latest epidemic?In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to child immunisation specialist Dr Helen Bedford, professor of Children's Health at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. They discuss how serious this latest epidemic is, the different factors that have led to the latest measles outbreak, as well as reality test potential solutions like keeping non-vaccinated children out of school. Plus, Tamara also speaks to the Standard’s trainee journalist, Niva Yadav, about how parents in affected areas are coping with news of the outbreak. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games has been historic for Team GB, with podium placements in snowboarding, skiing, skeleton and curling. So, what exactly is in the mountain air this year?In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to decorated British ski champion, coach and winter sports pundit, Chemmy Alcott, about her experience reporting from the Winter Games at Milano-Cortina. They discuss the highs and lows for Team GB, the legacy of the 2026 Winter Games for British athletes, Chemmy’s recommendations for winter sports training facilities if you live in London, and of course, this year’s biggest scandals - both on and off the ice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Yesterday Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince and Duke of York, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office during his time as trade envoy to the UK. So, what’s next for Andrew, and how will the royal family navigate this hurdle?In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s crime correspondent, Anthony France, to dig into how the justice system deals with the crime of misconduct in public office, and how the royal family might cope with a potential trial.Disclaimer: Andrew has strenuously denied wrongdoing and has not accepted any of the allegations. This is a very early stage of the investigation and reporting is necessarily limited. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The takeover of Hampstead Heath’s cafés has sparked bullying accusations, a legal battle, and impassioned petitioning from locals — with actor Benedict Cumberbatch weighing in. In today’s episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Standard journalist Niva Yadav about how the controversial café shakeup spiralled into much more than a storm in a teacup. Plus, Niva Yadav speaks to Hoxton Beach cafe co-owner Emma Fernandez, whose lease has been terminated by the City of London Corporation, and to Daisy Green’s co-founder Prudence Freeman, who breaks her silence on the takeover. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
London is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive tourist destinations in the world. It’s set to get even more pricey this year with the introduction of a tourist tax that is predicted to raise £350 million per year. Is implementing an overnight levy the right move for London?To understand why councillors are backing the idea, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Councillor Claire Holland, leader of the London Borough of Lambeth and chair of London Councils. They discuss how much the overnight levy could generate, how the revenue might be distributed, and whether it’s fair to ask tourists to help fund local infrastructure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Social media is flooded with food influencers hyping up viral dishes and sharing ‘hidden gems’. But rave restaurant reviews come with a cost — often the experience for fellow diners.In this episode, Jeremy King tells The Standard about the behaviour of certain influencers in The Park, and the new policy he has put in place to thwart disruptive content creation. Plus, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s Going Out editor and restaurant critic, David Ellis, for his take on whether influencers help or harm restaurants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Many of the 5.8 million Brits who took out a Plan 2 student loan over the past decade are now facing astonishing levels of debt, and the government’s latest salary threshold freeze will nudge more graduates into repaying more than ever. So, is it high time the system had a shake up?In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s editor of the Londoner’s Diary and features writer, Claudia Cockerell, to discuss recent controversies around the student loans system, and untangle the soaring interest rate levels on repayment plans. Plus, Tamara speaks to the founder of Rethink Repayment, Oliver Gardner, who is calling on the government to reform student loan repayment plans to make the system work better for graduates — and the economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Liverpool Street Station has had a major redevelopment plan green-lit by the City Corporation this week. The scheme would be mostly funded by office space situated in a new 320ft tall tower block, much to the dismay of Victorian heritage enthusiasts. Was this the right call?In this episode of The Standard, host Tamara Kormornick sits down with the Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor, Ross Lydall, to unpick why the merits and downfalls of the application, and why the plans have caused such uproar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Emerald Fennel’s sizzling film adaptation of Emily Bronte’s canonical novel has divided critics ahead of its public release on Saturday 14.In this episode of The Standard, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to the Standard’s culture and lifestyle writer, India Block, about the gothic-inspired romance starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, from Fennel’s controversial creative choices to Charli XCX’s unexpected soundtrack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Valentine’s Day is notoriously easy to get wrong — from forgettable restaurants to naff gifts. This year, the pressure is even more intense, as Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday. In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s Going Out editor, David Ellis, and food and drink writer, Josh Barrie, to get their recommendations on where to eat — and not eat — on Valentine’s Day. Plus, Tamara sits down with the Standard’s shopping editor Abha Shah, to hear her take on elevated gifts that actually feel special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Londoners are using cocaine more than ever, and men’s usage tips the scales two-to-one. So, why is London the ‘cocaine capital’ of Europe?In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to freelance journalist Jordan Page, who recently investigated the capital’s latest Class A drug epidemic. They talk about how London’s pub culture intersects with the city’s cocaine habits, and why men in particular are using the drug more than ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.























