Best of the Spectator

Jose Pizarro is a Spanish chef, writer, and restauranteur. He came to London in 2000 and opened a series of well-loved Spanish restaurants, including Jose's Tapas Bar. He is the author of five cookbooks. In this episode, he talks to Lara and Livvy about growing up on a farm in Spain, why he loves sherry, and bringing tapas to Britain. Table Talk is a series of podcasts where Lara Prendergast and O...

With Dominic Green, host of ' The Green Room ' podcast and Life and Arts Editor of Spectator USA. Presented by Freddy Gray. Americano is a series of in-depth discussions on American politics with the best pundits stateside. Presented by Freddy Gray, editor of Spectator USA. Click here to listen to previous episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, as the royal scandals start stacking up, we ask if the younger Windsors are letting the Queen down (00:30). Plus, what sort of message should the government send to the public about a no deal Brexit (11:05)? And last, we talk Parma ham and sourdough – and the dangers that come with introducing your children to bourgeois diets (30:05). With Jan Moir, Angela Levin, Stewart Jackson, Poppy...

Even books editors have to go on holiday sometimes, so Spectator Books is taking a hiatus for a couple of weeks. But so there's not a gaping gap in your life where the podcast used to be, we're bringing out some of our favourite episodes from our archive. This summer, Mick Herron has published the latest of his Jackson Lamb novels, Joe Country. It's a terrific read. So what better time to look bac...

When a nuclear power plant was built on the coast of Cumbria in the 1940s, nobody had much idea about what to do with nuclear fuel once it had been spent. Today that place is Sellafield, engaged in Europe's largest clean-up of nuclear waste in what is perhaps the world's most complicated nuclear site. It's got its own police force, its own railway station, and its own unique set of challenges - on...

With Katy Balls and Fraser Nelson. Presented by Cindy Yu. Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s Holy Smoke podcast discusses two looming disasters for Pope Francis.  The first is the ‘Amazon Synod’ in October, at which the world’s bishops will discuss a bizarre plan to ordain Amazon ‘village elders’ as priests. The framework for the synod has already been published; Damian's guest Dr Ed Condon uses the word ‘Orwellian’ to describe the language it employs.  The second threat to Fr...

Dame Joan Collins is an actress, author, and entrepreneur. Her acting career spans three quarters of a century, including 1950s Hollywood movies, to her role as Alexis Carrington in Dynasty. In this episode, she talks to Katy about breaking into acting as a young woman, what she thinks about Love Island, and why she supports both Boris Johnson and Brexit. Women With Balls is a podcast series where...

As Matteo Salvini seeks to take the reins of Italy all for himself, we ask, what exactly defines the ‘far right’ these days (00:05)? We also take a look at Downing Street’s own power grab as it seeks to centralise control over the rest of Whitehall (15:55). And last, Melissa Kite tells Lara about getting her dogs blessed by a reverend (29:55). With Douglas Murray, Anne McElvoy, Katy Balls, Jonatha...

Even books editors have to go on holiday sometimes, so Spectator Books is taking a hiatus for a couple of weeks. But so there's not a gaping gap in your life where the podcast used to be, we're bringing out some of our favourite episodes from our archive. Sam is joined by the critic Alex Clark and Damian Barr — memoirist and host of the Savoy’s Literary Salon — to talk about summer reading. What d...

With Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls. Presented by Cindy Yu. Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Vander Weyer, our Business Editor, speaks to three leading businesspeople in the Midlands about the Economic Disruptor finalists in this region. Tune in to find out more about the company that makes your Asos returns quick and easy, an ‘Airbnb for schools’, and the next generation of light-weight car speakers. --- Human progress has depended on economic disruptors since long before the adve...

Lara speaks to Olivia Potts, Spectator Life’s Vintage Chef and co-host of the Table Talk podcast, about Olivia’s new book, A Half-Baked Idea. Before she became a food writer and Cordon-Bleu trained chef, Olivia was a former president of the Cambridge Union and a high-flying criminal barrister. But her mother’s death changed all that. Tune in to hear a story of love, grief, hope, and cake.   Presen...

This week, our writers tell us about their favourite British beaches, from Cornwall to Northern Ireland (24:15). But before then, there’s of course some Brexit chat as we ask whether parliament can stop a no deal Brexit in the autumn (00:25), and – has Desert Island Discs lost the plot (15:05)? With James Forsyth, Catherine Haddon, Katy Balls, Michael Heath, Kate Chisholm, Douglas Murray, Laura Fr...

In this week’s books podcast, we’re getting Romantic. Sam is joined by the writer Adam Nicolson and the artist Tom Hammick to talk about their new book The Making of Poetry: Coleridge, Wordsworth and their Year of Marvels . In it, Adam describes how — inspired by Richard Holmes’s 'footsteps' approach — he attempted to imaginatively inhabit the worlds of Coleridge and Wordsworth in the crucial year...

With James Forsyth and Katy Balls. Presented by Cindy Yu. Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click here to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Vander Weyer, our Business Editor, speaks to three leading businesspeople for London and the South about the Economic Disruptor finalists in this region. Tune in to find out more about Muslim dating algorithms, waterless toilets, e-bike converters, and more. --- Human progress has depended on economic disruptors since long before the advent of the internet. Motor cars remained rare luxuries...

Karen Pierce is the UK's Permanent Representative to the UN. In this episode, she talks to Katy about her career ambitions when she was young, using Lewis Carroll to combat the Russians, and what day to day life is like in the UN. Women With Balls is a podcast series where Katy Balls speak to women at the top of their respective games. To hear past episodes, visit spectator.co.uk/balls . Hosted on...

Boris Johnson’s ‘do-or-die’ Brexit is fewer than 100 days away, but will the UK and EU reach a compromise deal before then (00:25)? Plus, should museums care where their donations come from (14:00)? And last, would you eat a BBQ roasted cricket (26:10)? With James Forsyth, Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, Claire Fox, Chris Garrard, Cassandra Coburn and Shami Radia. Presented by Lara Prendergast and Kat...

The star New York Times columnist David Brooks has never been afraid to go beyond the usual remit of day-to-day politics. His new book The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life is exactly what it sounds like: a guide to the Meaning of Life, somewhere between a spiritual autobiography and a manual for living. He joins Sam to explain how he’s changed his mind about the meaning of life since hi...

It's less than four years since Jeremy Corbyn's hard-left sect seized control of the Labour Party, and yet already its anti-Semitic views – so alien to Labour tradition – seem too deeply rooted to eradicate. Today's 'Holy Smoke' podcast puts this sinister development in the broader context of the 'Red-Green' alliance – the love affair between the progressive Left and the Jew-haters of jihadist Isl...

Human progress has depended on economic disruptors since long before the advent of the internet. Motor cars remained rare luxuries until a disruptor called Henry Ford perfected the Model T assembly line. Today’s online auction, home-stay, ride-share and crowdfunding sites have generated markets and money flows that barely existed before, to the great benefit of providers and consumers. Today’s man...

With Stephen Kinnock, Labour MP for Aberavon, and Katy Balls. Presented by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tracey MacLeod is a broadcaster and food critic, known for hosting the BBC's The Late Show and for regularly guest starring in  Masterchef. She is friends with Helen Fielding, who based the character of Jude from Bridget Jones on MacLeod. In this special edition of Table Talk, brought to you live from the sofas of Latitude Festival, MacLeod talks about her life through food. Table Talk is a series...

Boris Johnson has officially become Prime Minister – so what can we expect from his first 100 days (00:25)? And with the Gulf situation hotting up, what should Britain’s policy towards Iran be (11:25)? And last, we hear from a historian who kayaked the length of the UK and Ireland within a year (25:20). With James Forsyth, Simon Hart MP, Con Coughlin, Lina Khatib, and Dr David Gange. Presented by...