Newscast

Will coronavirus permanently change the film industry? And when can we go to the cinema again? In this blockbuster episode, Simon Mayo, Mark Kermode, and actor and director, Chris Addison, join us to talk movies. And 'Brexitcast Strikes Back'! Dr Katya Adler is back for a Brexit update. Studio Manager: Emma Crowe Producers: Harriet Noble, Frankie Tobi and Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Emma Close...

How many people in the UK have had coronavirus? Adam, Laura, Chris and Fergus chat everything we do and don’t know about antibody tests, immunity, and the rate of infection with Professor Tom Solomon from The University of Liverpool. And as the UK looks to expand on its ‘Test Track and Trace’ policy, we hear about the Seoul club night that sparked a search for 32,000 people. Also on the programme,...

Why has coronavirus hit care homes so hard? Adam, Laura and Fergus talk through the issues affecting care homes. The government’s strategy, the lack of personal protective equipment and the high numbers of coronavirus deaths. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Frankie Tobi, Seren Jones Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today that the government’s furlough support scheme that pays the wages of workers on leave due to coronavirus would be extended across all sectors until October. But, with employers being asked to contribute to the scheme from August onwards, questions remain. We hear Laura’s interview with the Chancellor, and ask how businesses that have no current date in si...

Do I need to wear a face mask? When can I get the childminder back? Can I move into my new student house? Laura, Adam, Chris and Fergus try their best to answer your questions about the new lockdown measures. Sounds Engineer: Simon Nunn Producers: Harriet Noble, Nick Rotherham and Natalie Ktena Editor: Dino Sofos

Long: The PM unveils his ‘conditional plan’ to reopen society. People who can’t work from home should return to work and a new Covid Alert System will decide how lockdown restrictions will be eased in future. But there were a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ in Boris Johnson’s speech. Adam, Laura, Chris and Fergus explain what we learnt and what we still don’t know. Sound Engineer: William Allott Producer:...

The Queen guitarist tells us bands need to "rethink" whether touring and playing to large crowds is appropriate in a post-corona world. We're joined by Theresa May's former chief of staff, Lord Gavin Barwell, to discuss lifting lockdown. And Stephanie Flanders from Bloomberg tells us how worried we should be about the economy. Producers: Frankie Tobi, Harriet Noble, Natalie Ktena and Seren Jones E...

Is it realistic to start thinking about a summer holiday abroad? Even if the airports reopen, will it be safe to travel? John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of London Heathrow Airport joins the pod to talk about temperature tests and travel plans. And the prime minister Boris Johnson faces Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer for the very first time at Prime Minister’s Questions. Producers: Jo Deahl,...

Professor Neil Ferguson’s advice played a big part in the government imposed lockdown. But he’s now quit after the Daily Telegraph reported he allowed a woman to visit his home. Also, as Scotland considers introducing social bubbles, the stars of the TikTok house tell us what it’s like to live in one. And football legend, John Barnes and Radio 1 legend, Chris Stark, on when the football season sho...

How will government’s new test, track and trace strategy work? BBC Technology Correspondent, Rory Cellen-Jones, joins Adam, Laura and co to talk about the new NHS mobile app trial, the ins and outs of manual contract-tracing and the wonder that is the Isle of Wight. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Jo Deahl, Ben Weisz, Natalie Ktena Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

What happened in Wuhan? Our woman keeping her eye on China, Carrie Gracie, joins us to delve into wet markets and government labs. Back on home soil, Matt Hancock succeeded in meeting his target for testing, but there is some sobering data about the people most impacted by Covid-19. Producers: Nicholas Rotherham, Harriet Noble and Seren Jones. Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos Sound...

The PM says that UK has "past the peak" of the coronavirus pandemic and announces that he'll be setting out plans for how lockdown restrictions will be eased this time next week. And are you missing the pub? We are. So we speak to two pub owners about how social distancing measures could affect their industry. We're also missing a good pub quiz so Anne Hegerty from The Chase hosts a virtual one fo...

As the number of UK deaths from Coronavirus rises even further, Fergus visits a hospital taking part in a large scale clinical trial that hopes to find a treatment. Professor Martin Landray, one of the trial’s leads, tells Adam, Laura and Fergus how the 8,000 person trial aims to see if any existing drugs could offer a solution. Also on the podcast, we discuss if home schooling could have a long-t...

Jon Culshaw and the former Foreign Secretary join us. David Miliband, who now heads up the International Rescue Committee, predicts there will be up to one billion cases of coronavirus in conflict affected and fragile countries. And Dead Ringers star Jon Culshaw joins the pod to celebrate the return of Alan Bennett’s (or should that be Chris Mason’s) Talking Heads. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Jo De...

Boris Johnson resumed his duties as prime minister today, starting with a speech outside No 10 urging the public to stick with the lockdown restrictions. Adam, Laura, Chris and Fergus look at what's in the PM’s in tray and discuss how far away we might be from ‘phase two’ of the coronavirus response. Plus, Izzy Wheatley tells us how zoos are responding to the crisis and gives a tour around the pan...

On this side of the Atlantic, scientists at Oxford University inject two volunteers with what they hope will be one of the vaccines that beats coronavirus. In the US, President Trump suggests scientists try researching the efficacy of putting disinfectant into the body to fight the virus. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Harriet Noble, and Seren Jones Assistant Editors: Emma Close and Sam Bonham Editor:...

While Westminster remains tight-lipped on how lockdown restrictions could be lifted, Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has spelled out what an exit strategy might look like there. But, emphasised it won’t happen anytime soon… Adam, Laura and Chris are joined by Scotland Editor Sarah Smith to discuss. And how can creativity help us during times of crisis? The model and activist, Adwoa Abo...

Although talk of a vaccine and an exit plan for lockdown grows, England’s Chief Medical Officer says it’s “wholly unrealistic” to think life can return to normal soon. We find out where all the money raised by Captain Tom will go. And Adam and Chris make plans to recreate Oktoberfest. Producers: Frankie Tobi, Nick Rotherham, Nat Ktena and Ben Weisz Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham, Emma Close Editor:...

Are people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds at greater risk of becoming seriously ill with Covid-19? Rianna Croxford delves into the data. Plus Tolly T, Milena and Audrey, hosts of The Receipts Podcast, join Adam and Laura to answer your lockdown dilemmas. Producers: Harriet Noble, Nick Rotherham, Nat Ktena and Ben Weisz Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

School's back and the BBC is here to help! We're joined by Deborah James, the new host of the new BBC Bitsesize Primary and Secondary Planner podcasts, for some homeschooling tips. And we're always hearing about Personal Protective Equipment but what actually is it? Adam Laura and Fergus chat to Dr Ron Daniels, a man who knows a thing or two about PPE. Producers: Frankie Tobi, Jo Deahl, Nick Rothe...

After the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talk about how people are looking after their mental health during the pandemic, Adam is joined by Tina Daheley and Anne-Maria Newham MBE, a nursing director from Nottinghamshire. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Harriet Noble, Ione Well, Natalie Ktena and Ben Weisz. Assistant Producers: Sam Bonham and Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos

As the government extends its lockdown for at least another three weeks, Labour’s new leader Sir Keir Starmer says he thinks Dominic Raab has been reluctant to sign-off on an exit strategy, with Boris Johnson off sick. Adam, Laura, Chris and Fergus are joined by Katya to discuss how measures are being eased in Europe. And we hear about the new CPAP machines that could revolutionise treatment for t...

Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas joins the pod. As Donald Trump says the US will halt funding for the World Health Organisation, we ask who is WHO?. And the government announces more testing for care homes. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Frankie Tobi, Ione Wells and Ben Weisz. Assistant Editors: Emma Close and Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

How bad is this going to get? Adam, Laura and Fergus are joined by Ruth Alexander from BBC Radio 4's 'More or Less' programme to take a closer look at the death toll figures and the latest forecast by the UK's tax and spending watchdog that warns the UK economy could shrink by a record 35% by June. We also take a look at 5G conspiracy theories with our Disinformation reporter, Marianna Spring and...

An Americast takeover... Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Anthony Zurcher join Adam to talk about how America is dealing with coronavirus. With a stateside view from Congresswoman Donna Shalala, who is the longest serving Health Secretary in US history. Producers: Nick Rotherham, Frankie Tobi and Alicia Burrell Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos