The News Quiz

For the final episode of this series, we look at some of the stories that we're leaving unresolved in our 'News Quiz 2026 Summer Break Cliffhanger Special'. This includes the latest on the Peter Mandelson scandal and the back and forth between Trump, Israel and Iran. We also discuss the British animals which might make it onto our banknotes, and Andy challenges the panel on their best ways to impr...

Andy Zaltzman is joined by his panel of political satirists to unpack the critical essays of Tony Blair, the spending habits of Peter Murrell and the SNP, the sweltering heat, social media ban proposals for under 16s and young people in record levels of unemployment. This week's panellists are Scott Bennett, Cody Dahler, Ayesha Hazarika and Bella Hull. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional mat...

Recorded at Hay Festival, Andy asks the panel the dreaded question - is Brexit back on the table? Also on the menu is Welsh independence, the National Conversation and an update on just how much money has been wasted on HS2. This week's panellists are Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Robin Morgan, Stephen Bush and Chloe Petts. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Maisie Adair, Catherine Br...

What a week it's been for the Prime Minister. In the aftermath of seismic local elections results, there's been non-stop Labour party in-fighting. Wes Streeting has resigned as Health Secretary so the race for Labour leader is seemingly on - who will throw their hat in the ring? Will Andy Burnham, i.e. the King of the North, make his move? In other news, the panel discuss Trump's state visit to Ch...

Recorded on Friday morning, Andy and the panel dig into the election results from 7 May. Who's done well? Who's done not so well? And how does this have anything to do with The Grand National? Also up for discussion is the Met Gala and the legend that is Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Mike Shephard, Cameron Loxdale, Stephanie Kemp an...

Some hot topics of conversation this week include the ever evolving Peter Mandelson vetting saga, phones being banned in schools and robots who can take over the world... sorry robots who can take over sports. Helping Andy make sense of it all are Daliso Chaponda, Catherine Bohart, Hugo Rifkind and Ria Lina. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Jade Gebbie, Christina Riggs, Henry...

After six weeks off air Andy Zaltzman is back. Helping him kick off the series are Andrew Maxwell, Zoe Lyons, Stephen Bush and Kiri Pritchard-McLean. They'll be tackling the big questions - how is the country feeling ahead of the potentially seismic elections on 7th May? Why is Donald Trump feuding with the Pope and why are mini-gherkins now harder to find than ever? Written by Andy Zaltzman. With...

Joining Andy for the final episode of this series are Simon Evans, Zoe Lyons, Cindy Yu and Ahir Shah and not one of them can be deemed a flight risk. Along with the latest on Peter Mandelson's arrest they discuss how UK politics is no longer a two-party system with the Greens and Reform taking centre stage in Gorton and Denton, why Trump's State of the Union address could have been mercifully shor...

Top of the agenda this week is some royal breaking news - who got a special birthday visit from the police? We'll be analysing yet another government U-turn and see who's emerged from the shadows for Nigel Farage's proposed 'shadow cabinet'. Plus a couple of stories on robots and aliens - something for everyone. Joining Andy this week is Mark Steel, Daliso Chaponda, Coco Khan and Bella Hull. Writt...

This week the panel discuss PM Keir Starmer fighting off a potential coup; whether it's a good idea to take Valentine's day tips from a two-timing Norwegian athlete; and after 40 days of rain in some parts of the UK, is the country actually getting sunnier? Joining Andy this week is Alasdair Beckett-King, Rachel Fairburn, Stephen Bush and Mhairi Black Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional mate...

Is there a way out for Keir Starmer after the Peter Mandelson scandal? Who fled 'under the cover of darkness' from their royal lodgings? What exactly is a humble address? And why are iguanas falling out of trees? Helping Andy answer some of the big questions of the week are Desiree Burch, Pierre Novellie, Daniel Finkelstein and Catherine Bohart. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material b...

On the agenda this week is Starmer vs Burnham in Labour's latest civil war, Suella Braverman's defection to Reform, and working out how to save The Great British pub. To get to the bottom of all this, Andy is joined by Daliso Chaponda, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Hugo Rifkind and Holly Walsh. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Christina Riggs, Cameron Loxdale and Sarah Mills Produce...

This week we'll be looking at Trump's Board of Peace and asking whether Trump is bored of peace. We'll be working out how China managed to afford to get on the central London property ladder with their new mega-embassy, and hoping that a clever cow who can use a tool to scratch its back can up its game and sort out global diplomacy before it's too late. Joining Andy to help make sense of all the m...

Andy's returned from The Ashes and is back in the News Quiz chair. He's come home to a selection of defections, some serious U-turning and 30,000 properties without water in his hometown of Tunbridge Wells. He was only away for one week! Helping Andy make sense of it all is Susie McCabe, Paul Sinha, Cindy Yu and Scott Bennett. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Mike Shephard, E...

With Andy away at The Ashes, guest host Ian Smith steps in to make sense of a dramatic news week. Topics include the US capturing Nicolás Maduro and threatening to invade Greenland, new driving rules for the over 70s and the problem with Grok AI. Helping Ian decide which way to turn are Ria Lina, Hugo Rifkind, Lucy Porter and Geoff Norcott. Written by Ian Smith. With additional material by: Mike S...

A satirical smorgasbord of The News Quiz's best bits of the year, covering local elections, flag fever, Starmer's struggles, Trump's travails, and a very special meeting between King Charles and Pope Leo XIV. Written and presented by Andy Zaltzman. Producer: Rajiv Karia Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4 An Eco-Aud...

Alasdair Beckett-King, Laura Lexx, Ahir Shah and Ava Santina join Andy Zaltzman for this week's quiz. Brace yourselves for stories about the stripping of both Royal Titles and Royal Crown Jewels as well as the big question of the moment, are things better or worse than they used to be? Written by Andy Zaltzman Additional material by: Milo Edwards, Cameron Loxdale, Ruth Husko and Marty Gleeson Prod...

In a week of budget talks, IMF forecasts of Inflation on the British horizon, flood risk reports and approval of solar farms, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Adam Kay, Zoe Lyons, Ria Lina and Stephen Bush to break down this week's news. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Daman Bamrah, Ruth Husko, Christina Riggs and Peter Tellouche. Producer: Rajiv Karia Executive Producer: Pete Str...

In the week where Trump brokered a peace deal in the Middle East, buzz was generated at the Conservative Party Conference (honestly), the Home Office announces greater restrictions on protests, and the world's first footballer billionaire is crowned, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Scott Bennett, Ayesha Hazarika, Kate Cheka and Ian Smith to break down this weeks news. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With add...

At this week's Labour Conference, Kier Starmer warned that Britain faces a 'fork in the road'. Helping Andy Zaltzman decide which way to turn are Ian Smith, Celya AB, Hugo Rifkind and Zoe Lyons. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Cody Dahler, Eve Delaney and John Tothill Producer: Georgia Keating and James Robinson Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Production Coordinator: Jodie...

In the week where Trump addressed the UN, Lib Dems conferred on the beaches of Bournemouth, and a Seagull Summit came to Inverness, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Simon Evans, Neil Delamere, Tiff Stevenson and Cindy Yu to break it all down. Expect talk of the Burnham from behind, the Boriswave, and the wettest generation since the floods. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Jade Geb...

Andy Zaltzman is joined by Hugo Rifkind, Pierre Novellie, Sara Barron and Lucy Porter to break down the week in news. The panel unpack Trump's second state visit, the reserve banquet of seat fillers, foreign investment from the US, Ed Davey's Ancient Greek punishment, chimps drunk on fruit, and why Penny Mordaunt thinks it's no fun to be a Conservative anymore. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With addit...

Andy Zaltzman is joined by Daliso Chaponda, Susie McCabe, Geoff Norcott and Ash Sarkar to break down the week in news. Expect discussion on the Labour Deputy Leader Election, the return of the Mandelson, strikes on Qatar, Russian drones in Poland and telepathic Google searches. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Simon Alcock, Carwyn Blayney, Ruth Husko and Alex Kealy. Producer:...

Andy Zaltzman is joined by Alasdair Beckett-King, Andrew Maxwell, Lucy Porter and Coco Khan to break down the week in news. Topics include Angela Rayner skipping out on stamp duty, Xi Jinping's summit, the decline in cement, a new leader for the Green Party, and the rapid multiplication of St George's flags. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Rebecca Bain, Milo Edwards, Ruth Hu...

Andy Zaltzman is joined by Glenn Moore, Felicity Ward, Athena Kugblenu and Marie Le Conte to break down the week in news. The panel discuss Musk and Trump's messy break up, getting Britain ready for a war and why children shouldn't be trusted to do town planning. Written by Andy Zaltzman. With additional material by: Eve Delaney, Jade Gebbie, Cameron Loxdale and Alexandra Haddow. Producer: Pete St...