Behind the Headlines

Behind the Headlines - Monday 2nd Nov 2026

It’s a Halloween special edition of Behind the Headlines, with a few proper chills along the way. We pay tribute to Sir Patrick Stewart, who has died aged 86. Then it’s off to a pumpkin patch, before we take a visit to one of Britain’s most haunted pubs, and there is some Ghostbuster-style paranormal activity in Southampton.

We chat to Prime Minister Andy Burnham eho defends the government’s plans on welfare and faces questions from business in Derby, while Westminster argues over whether ministers are delaying tough calls on defence spending. Also in this episode: the new helicopter weight limit facing North Sea oil and gas workers, and guide dog puppies taking on a haunted house ahead of Halloween.

Behind the Headlines - Wednesday 28th October 2026

Behind The Headlines - Tuesday 27th October 2026

Behind the Headlines - Monday 26th October 2026

We are following the Royal British Legion’s 2026 Poppy Appeal as it launches We hear from serving personnel, veterans and families about the support the appeal funds, and the £50 million target to help when it’s needed most. Plus, Cambridge City FC make history with what’s thought to be the UK’s first all‑women’s amputee football matches Newcastle rolls out the red carpet for the Mercury Music Pri...

Wednesday 21st October, 2026: we're in Aberfan for the 60th anniversary of the Welsh village's disaster; tackling both cowboy cosmetics and antisemitism in schools; reaction to the greenlight to drill in the Jackdaw oil field off Scotland; some good news for tea drinkers; and the glamorous granny who took on the Miss Great Britain contestants. Kat Wright is your host.

Behind the Headlines - Tuesday 20th October 2026

Behind the Headlines - Mon 19th October 2026

In Leeds, there’s a very different kind of “mower” at work – a herd of goats brought in to tackle steep, overgrown terrain Visitors return to Yorkshire Wildlife Park for the first time since last weekend’s fatal tiger attack We also reflect on the Aberfan disaster ahead of its 60th anniversary, get the latest on severe drought restrictions in the West Country, and hear why CPR hesitation around wo...

Five years on from the murder of Sir David Amess, his daughter Katie tells us why his legacy still feels so present We’re also in Dumfries and Galloway for the final day of Baby Loss Awareness Week. Plus we catch up on two royal visits in Wales and Nottingham

Is enough being done to protect politicians in the UK? Popular former Southend West MP David Amess was murdered by an Islamist terrorist, five years ago today. We hear from his daughter Katie, who shares close memories of her dad and – in the wake of the killing of former MP Ann Widdecombe – questions if anything has been learned since Sir David’s death. Presented by Abi Simpson. Interviews conduc...

Wednesday 14th October, 2026: the latest from Yorkshire Wildlife Park on the man killed by a tiger; Britain's support for Ukraine; the couple trying to prevent future, avoidable baby, deaths; we hear from a fitness guru trying to tackle children's tooth decay; and Happy 100th Birthday to "the best bear in all the world". Kat Wright is your host.

Behind the Headlines - Tuesday 13th October 2026

Behind the Headlines - Monday 12th October 2026

Labour comfortably holds Sir Keir Starmer’s former seat of Holborn and St Pancras in a by-election Pubs in Nottingham sell “German-rate” pints in a push for lower beer tax, a Nelson Mandela statue is unveiled in Glasgow, and Everton looks set to go up for sale again.

This week on Behind the Headlines, we start with something uplifting as care home residents and staff take to the stage for the Care Sector’s Got Talent grand final We also hear from the family of 12-year-old Mia St Hilaire, after a coroner rules her death from an allergic reaction to a milkshake was avoidable, Plus: the Prime Minister meets Germany’s Chancellor over cyber threats

Wednesday 7th October, 2026: bereaved families hopeful of answers from maternity inquiry; remembering the October 7 attacks three years on; Kemi's big policy announcement as she closes Tory party conference; and hope for jobs after Jaguar Land Rover announcement. Kat Wright is your host.

Behind the Headlines - Tuesday October 6th 2026

Behind the Headlines - Monday 5th October 2026

Manchester City’s long-running financial case takes another twist as the club confirms it’s appealing after being found guilty of breaching Premier League rules. Also in this episode: should vapes be sold in plain packaging to make them less appealing to children? And new government plans to make family flights cheaper.

What should have been a sacred day of prayer turned into a nightmare. A year after the Yom Kippur attack at Heaton Park Synagogue, we return to a community still living in its shadow, where rising antisemitic incidents are changing daily life. We hear from a mother who hides her Star of David, and from one of the people who helped hold the synagogue doors shut as the attacker tried to force his wa...

Today on Behind the Headlines, we look ahead to the return of Celebrity Traitors, and hear why experts think this second series could be even more psychologically intense as friendships and mind games take centre stage. We unpack the government’s plan to release hundreds of prisoners early to ease overcrowding We pay tribute to Dame Esther Rantzen, from her groundbreaking work with Childline to he...

Wednesday 30th September: a step closer to flying cars; major update on the Grenfell Tower investigation; hope for endometriosis sufferers; wrapping up the Labour party conference; and the cost of restaurant no-shows. Kat Wright is your host