The UTV Podcast

The folks on the hill are set to receive a £14,000 pay rise - and not everyone is happy about it. The Independent Remuneration Panel has proposed an uplift in salaries for MLAs from £53,000 to £67,200 per year – a rise of 26.8%, from April 1. Politicians from across the piece have been reacting to the proposals. Meanwhile, a former First Minister has warned a Stormont committee that there is “grow...

In this week’s Going the Extra Mile podcast, Paul talks about his journey from establishing his own business to working to develop business across north Belfast. Read more here You can also watch this episode on ITVX .

Former First Minister Arlene Foster and former deputy First Minister Mark Durkan have appeared before a Stormont committee, to discuss reform within the Stormont Assembly. We are joined by representatives from some of the parties here. MLAs are due to receive a pay rise of almost 30%, but is it justified? Daniel Duffy reports. Peter Mandelson was seen leaving a London police station in the early h...

This week we sit down with Theresa Kelly, a volunteer for Foyle Hospice, where her sister Sarah died of secondary breast cancer a few years ago. Theresa herself now lives with incurable secondary cancer but says the work of the hospice is a comfort to both her and her family. You can watch the episode here

Time is running out to get legislation through the Assembly, what is being done to make sure there's proper scrutiny? The First Minister says it's a 'disgrace' that the Health Minister has suspended Northern Ireland's participation a clinical trial for puberty blockers. We hear from the Executive parties. Sir Keir Starmer is facing two crucial tests - a neck-and-neck by-election in Manchester, as...

As Valentines Day approaches, we are joined with relationship counsellor Anandi, who talks about the changing nature of relationships and the challenges we face. You can watch the episode here

The Prime Minister has secured the backing of his cabinet, while the Scottish Labour leader says he should step down over the Mandelson revelations. We have the very latest with ITV News political correspondnet Carl Dinnen. To reflect on the political turmoil this week, the DUP's Sammy Wilson, the SDLP's Matthew O'Toole and Alliance's Kate Nicholl. What was Peter Mandleson like to deal with when h...

On this week’s Going the Extra Mile I was joined by Peter Lavery who won over £10 million thirty years ago this year and Jonny Johnston who won almost £4 million in the National Lottery in 2023. You can also watch this episode on ITVX.

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston is excluded from the Assembly for breaching Stormont's code of conduct. We look at the state of standards for public representatives and we are joined by TUV Leader Jim Allister. Two years since Stormont came back, is it a milestone worth marking? We hear from the deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly. The Prime Minister is now washing his hands of former Secretary of...

A son of the convicted double murderer Colin Howell has spoken to UTV, describing how his life fell apart when he found out that his father had killed his mother Lesley, and his then lover Hazel Stewart’s husband, Trevor Buchanan - and that he had staged it to look like a suicide pact. The truth was only revealed... almost 20 years later - after Colin Howell’s confession in 2009, implicating Hazel...

This week at Stormont saw a tale of two ministers under pressure, but for very different reasons. First up, Finance Minister John O'Dowd halted a proposed revaluation of business rates in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has faced an urgent question in the Assembly chamber, and a prickly meeting of his department's scrutiny committee. The UUP leadership process re...

The removal of the conditional immunity clause in the Legacy Act will end the pause on prosecutions for Troubles-era crimes. We'll hear from Veterans' Commissioner David Johnstone. As the PSNI launches a recruitment drive, aimed at encouraging more Catholics into the force, we ask why are the police still struggling? Joining Paul Clark to discuss the issue are Dr Jonny Byrne and Allison Morris. Li...

Emma Metcalfe has spent years recovering from alcoholism but now runs her own charity to help others living with addiction. You can watch this episode and catch up with the rest of the series on ITVX

Jon Burrows is on course to be crowned as the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. In his first extended interview we hear what his plans for the party will be and his views on unionist unity. An increasing number of people sleeping rough on our streets, is there a solution to deal with the issue of homelessness? We have a special report, and we'll hear from the Chief Executive of the Housing...

This week saw a new term begin at Stormont, but old problems remained for our politicians to grapple with. Monday began with a dispute over flags. The start of a new year at Stormont was marked by a slew of party leaders taking questions from reporters. The politicians were quizzed on their use of the social media platform 'X', amid growing condemnation of the platform's AI tool 'Grok' and its abi...

After her dad's diagnosis, journalist Fionnuala Sweeney voluntarily created a podcast with the Memory Clinic at Tallaght University Hospital to raise awareness and dispel the myth that dementia is a death sentence. On the lastest episode of Going the Extra Mile, Fionnuala talks about destigmatising the diagnosis, showcasing the ever-growing range of treatments which are available and how we can pr...

A new year and a new row over a flag. This time it's over what flag to fly at the Commonwealth games. Tonight, it's been decided that the Ulster banner will be used. We have an extended interview with the Sports Minister, Gordon Lyons. Social media has become something of a 'wild west' with the latest uproar caused by 'Grok' the AI tool which is being used to create fake sexualised images.  Partie...

A former PSNI detective has urged people to make themselves aware of the signs of coercive control as it could save lives.  James Brannigan worked on the Katie Simpson murder investigation. The young showjumper's death was initially treated as a suicide before concerns were raised and a murder investigation was launched.  Working with members of her family, he established The Katie Trust. It helps...

John O'Dowd has published his long-awaited multi-year draft budget. But he still needs the rest of the Executive to play ball. How difficult will that prove to be? We've been speaking at length to the Finance Minister and we'll be joined by representatives from some of the other parties. Also here with their analysis of the announcement will be Ann Watt from Pivotal and the Economist Paul MacFlynn...

Australian online safety campaigner Emma Mason, whose daughter Tilly took her own life as a result of online bullying, is calling for a social media ban for teenagers to be introduced in the UK. You can watch this episode and catch up with the rest of the series on ITVX

We've put together every episode of 'Going the Extra Mile' in one place .   This is the podcast where Carol Jordan speaks to people who work within their communities, support others, and raise awareness of issues all without the need for recognition or reward. Expect to hear about the women campaigning for improved cervical screening, the lottery winner who has given millions to charity, a former...

After losing his mother Joan in an accident, Marcus Christie was driven to show his appreciation for Air Ambulance NI who were tasked to the scene. This episode is available to watch in full on ITVX .

We talk to organisations and individuals, keen to see the Executive agree a draft three year budget. They tell Stewart Robson it would greatly help them to plan for the future. To discuss the chances of a Budget being agreed - as well as the highs and lows of the political year - I'll be joined by our political editor Tracey Magee; Dr. David McCann; Professor Deirdre Heenan; and Alex Kane. We'll a...

On this week's episode of Going the Extra Mile, Damian McNairney from the People's Kitchen warns that recent statistics showing 58 homeless people have died on Northern Ireland's streets are no surprise to those on the frontline.  This episode is available to watch in full on ITVX .  UTV put the points made by Damian to the Department of Communities and they have referred us to recent press releas...

The final report on the activities of the Army agent codenamed Stakeknife has been published.