Planet Normal

It’s a joyous week on Planet Normal as co-pilot Pearson returns to her rightful place at the helm of the rocket. And she’s not short of things to say. It’s three big cheers for the end of Covid restrictions, but only one and a half of those are for Prime Minister Boris Johnson.  Allison fears the public mindset is now the biggest threat, and expects squeals about the end of restrictions from...

As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to build, co-pilot Halligan is joined for one week only by a new co-presenter. Telegraph defence editor, Con Coughlin, steps in to give his take on the recent developments in the region and how it could affect the rest of the world. Con believes Russia remains the biggest threat to the Western Alliance, but warns we shouldn’t overlook...

The bell has rung for Parliamentary recess but the political drama shows no signs of slowing down, and neither do our co-pilots. Fresh from announcing he'll be standing down at the next election, MP Sir Charles Walker joins our co-pilots on the rocket to explain why he thinks it would be ‘heroic’ and ‘courageous’ for the PM to resign. He also says that the public has to shoulder some res...

Another week on Planet Normal poses more questions over the future of our Prime Minister. But do our co-pilots think Mr Johnson is a dead man walking or, to borrow a phrase from PM himself, that the Partygate storm is merely a 'pyramid of piffle'? Allison's done defending Boris Johnson for good, but Liam's advice for the PM? The economy, stupid. Co-pilot Halligan thinks he should channel Bill...

The nation waits for Sue Gray's 'Partygate' report, and Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan are here to fill the void. Will the PM cling on? Yes, says Liam, but there are more important issues at hand. He tells us what. Meanwhile Allison wonders if we're seeing a coordinated campaign against the PM from Tory ranks. And she too has been ambushed by cake. Joining our co-pilots on the rocket this week...

Actress and presenter Denise Welch brings some star power to Planet Normal, as she joins Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan in their rocket of right-thinking. She used to pull pints in the Rovers Return, but these days, you can find her engaging with her hundreds of thousands of Twitter followers on the real-world impact of repeated Covid lockdowns. Not one to shy away from dif...

Boarding the rocket of right-thinking in a podcast exclusive, no less, is Lord Frost. The one-time chief Brexit negotiator, who quit his Cabinet role as Brexit minister in December, tells Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson how the Government’s ineffective Covid policy drove him out of Downing Street, what it was really like sitting opposite Brussels on the negotiating table and why he advises slow...

With a new year comes a new wave of cynicism on our rocket of right thinking. This week, Allison wonders why the government has made it respectable for healthy people to skive work, while Liam predicts a year of ‘political unrest’. And both co-pilots ponder the question, how much Covid testing is too much? Joining us on our Planet Normal voyage is pub owner and hospitality champion, Adam Broo...

Parliamentary sketchwriter Madeline Grant joins Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan to give listeners the inside track on a tumultuous week in the Commons and why she believes the PM can no longer count on his own party to support further Covid measures. Plus, as The Telegraph's resident James Bond expert, she recommends her top instalment for your Christmas viewing. Also on the podcast: Liam t...

Minister for Trade Penny Mordaunt beams into the Planet Normal rocket from Atlanta, Georgia, in the week where Boris Johnson suffered the most bruising rebellion of his premiership. Over 100 of her Conservative colleagues voted against his plans for Covid passports. The former Cabinet minister tells Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why, and brings listeners the inside track o...

The government's Covid 'Plan B' is here and our co-pilots have a lot of adjectives to describe it. Spoiler alert: they’re far from complimentary. Fresh from watching THAT latest press briefing, Liam thinks that the government has broken the social contract with the public and will struggle to get them to comply with the latest restrictions in light of the Christmas party scanda...

Christmas. Usually heralded by snow on the ground, Christmas trees and Mariah Carey. And, it seems, a new Covid-19 variant. On this week's podcast, columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan weigh in on the latest developments and tell us why they're confident festivities mustn't take a hit, despite some scientists acting as if the UK is in the eye of the pandemic storm. Making her second t...

Another seven days on Planet Normal means another ‘numpty of the week’ and this time our very own Prime Minister is a hot contender. Liam tells listeners why he thinks Boris Johnson is ‘winging it’, while Allison worries that the PM has been taking writing tips from his infant son following his recent chaotic speech at the CBI conference. But will Sir Keir Starmer's popularity surge as B...

Everything's gone a bit pear-shaped, and it hasn't escaped the notice of Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. With inflation above 4% and the cost of living spiralling, Liam tells listeners why he's convinced the PM is distracted by "chaos" within Tory ranks, while Allison has her head in her hands over the political class' "deflection and denial" following the di...

It’s the 75th voyage to Planet Normal, but our co-pilots Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan aren't popping corks just yet. On this week's episode, they have strong words for the head of NHS England Amanda Pritchard, whose recent error on Covid admissions statistics had them putting their heads in their hands. Luckily Planet Normal's resident hospital bed occupancy expert (AKA Ms Pearson)...

Broadcaster and and former Director of Strategy to David Cameron, Steve Hilton makes a rare UK media appearance to tell our Planet Normal co-pilots, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, how his former boss was actually a Eurosceptic, what President Biden has in common with a Monty Python sketch and why things are looking good for Donald Trump in 2024. And with the spotlight on all things green this...

It’s Budget week, which means big announcements, big spending and big celebrations for Allison, who arrives for our recording with a big surprise for Liam: she’s only gone and won an award. Our co-pilot may have a trophy, but she’s got more than a few questions for our resident economist, co-pilot Halligan who is on hand to explain why he thinks Chancellor Rishi Sunak might have earned himself the...

Mark Francois and Andrew Rosindell pay tribute to their fellow Conservative MP and much-loved friend, Sir David Amess, following his tragic death. But should MPs' security be ramped up? Mr Francois tells our podcast co-hosts, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why overly zealous measures risk "letting the bad guys win", while Mr Rosindell asks why his friend never held ministerial office. Also on t...

MPs' report into the UK's early pandemic response is out – and it’s given Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan 144 pages of pause for thought. They tell listeners why it's simply not balanced on the collateral damage caused by lockdowns, and query the intentions of one of the document's authors.  Elsewhere, Allison has actually read Liam’s column in order to understand what’s really go...

It’s Tory Conference week and Liam Halligan is camped out in Manchester, surviving on stale sandwiches and a hotel minibar, to give Allison Pearson the inside track on the party's movers and shakers. The PM’s speech may have brought the laughs but both our hosts were left wanting more: no policy announcements, barely a mention of the pandemic, and ‘gaping holes’ in his arguments. Nul points from o...

Robert Peston, ITV News Political Editor, joins Liam Halligan and guest co-host, Claire Fox on this week’s trip to Planet Normal. Buckets and spades at the ready as the trio head to the seaside to dissect the Labour Party conference, but it’s less happy holidays and more angry hecklers at Sir Keir Starmer’s eagerly-awaited “make-or-break” speech. Liam tells listeners why the party failed to score...

Energy prices are up, universal credit is down and Waitrose is out of pitta bread. It certainly is shaping up to be the perfect storm aboard Planet Normal this week. So buckle up for turbulence as Allison declares war on the GP’s trade union, whilst Liam declares the government's green policies as ‘pie in the sky’ promises in need of a reality check. Also stowing away on t...

Professor of Pop Paul Gambaccini boards this week's rocket to Planet Normal, with some disquieting words for the Metropolitan Police after he signed an open letter calling for the head of the force, Cressida Dick, to be replaced in her role. In a damning interview, he tells Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why, seven years after he was cleared of claims of sexual abuse, he feels he was used as 'h...

There’s a new tax in town and it’s got Allison rather confused. But not to worry - our resident economics guru, Liam Halligan has got his nerdiest hat on to break down the newly-announced health and social care levy. He tells listeners why the move is far from a long-term solution to the social care crisis, and reveals the real reason he believes Boris Johnson has hiked taxes to their highest...

Allison's in the BMA's bad books. Hell hath no fury like a Pearson scorned as she shares her prescription with her podcast co-pilot, Liam Halligan for the next stage in her fight to bring back face-to-face GP appointments.  Also on the show: it's the start of a new school year, but new books don't spell an end to the disruptions for our children. Liam has some disquieting words for the t...