The Story

Some scientists worry that a new vaccine-resistant strain of the virus could emerge. We speak to virologists about concerns that the UK's vaccine strategy could make an 'escape mutant' more likely.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guests: ...

While attention was pointed towards the storming of the Capitol, over four thousand miles away in north-eastern Alaska, an auction was held to sell the right to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Alaska sits above billions of barrels of oil, but it's also a haven to an array of species and wildlife. What lies behind this controversial decision to allow drilling to go forward?&nb...

Last week, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Donald Trump for inciting a mob that stormed the capitol building - making him the first president in US history to be impeached twice. With a Senate trial looming, and inauguration just days away, what happens next? We look at the past and into the history of impeachment for clues. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of re...

One of the GPs on the frontline of the UK's vaccination efforts, and the Times science correspondent, on the bottlenecks and obstacles that are holding things up. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guests: Rhys Blakely, science correspondent, The Times...

In late 2010, Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire, sparking waves of anti-government protests. Within weeks, the Tunisian president had fled the country, and protests rippled across the Middle East leading to riots, civil unrest and insurgencies. A decade later, we reflect on how the uprisings have reshaped the Arab world—starting in Tunisia,...

Should surgery to alter the reproductive organs of children who are born intersex be stopped? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guests: Faye Kirkland - investigative journalist and a GP. Sara Gillingham - A woman born with intersex traits. Host: Manve...

Is the NHS just weeks from the toughest moment in its history? Chief medical officer Chris Whitty has said the next few weeks will be the worst of the pandemic, and the mayor of London declared a major incident in the city on Friday. Today we speak to doctors on the frontline.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today...

After a turbulent year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally reached a post-Brexit Trade Deal with Brussels. But the UK's exit from the EU customs Union and single market has left financial sector businesses working out what it all means for them. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one mont...

They were scenes that shocked the world: hundreds of supporters of the outgoing president storming into the country's seat of power. On the day expected to be dominated by political shenanigans, it was the actions of the mob that took over. What now for the 'world's leading democracy'? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe tod...

Facial recognition technology is in the spotlight as the surveillance watchdog raises privacy concerns over its use by police forces. Are these new technologies making the country safer, or creating a new privacy nightmare? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.u...

With safety protocols in elite sport back under the spotlight due to recent high profile cases in rugby and football, the Times' Chief Sports Writer, Matt Dickinson, did some soul searching around one of the most brutal of all sports he covers: boxing.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at...

The British are not known as tactile people, a firm handshake will do while our continental neighbours embrace with hugs and kisses, but is that really the whole picture? And what has the lockdown induced separation done for our sense of touch and its importance in our lives? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get...

Could an unpaid British debt be the reason Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held by Iran for the past five years? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guests: Richard Ratcliffe, Nazanin's husband. Catherine Philp, diplomatic correspondent, The Times. Host:...

Cartoonist Peter Brookes looks back on some of the more memorable images of his almost 30 years at The Times, and walks us through his creative process. Click here to see the cartoons discussed in this episode . Guest: Peter Brookes, Times cartoonist. Host: Manveen Rana. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get...

All this week we look back at the biggest stories of the last twelve months. Today: We ask Matt Chorley and Esther Webber to assess the standout moments from the most eventful political year in living memory. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guest: Matt C...

2020 has been quite the year for all of us, but it has been especially tumultuous in the United States. From the coronavirus pandemic to the Black Lives Matter movement to the election, the year has been full of emotionally charged moments. Our journalists have been on the ground for every twist and turn. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday...

All this week we look back at the biggest stories of the year. Today: Coronavirus. How should we separate the science from the conspiracy theories? What have we actually learnt about the virus? And is there now light at the end of the tunnel? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk...

Former table tennis player, Matthew Syed, visits a club in Brighton which gets funding from Sported, one of the charities the Times and Sunday Times is raising money for in its Christmas Appeal. This episode is in support of Sported, one of three charities backed by  The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and...

David Aaronovitch sits down with Times Radio breakfast show host Stig Abell to share some of their most cherished festive page turners. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guests:  Stig Abell - Times Radio Breakfast show host, Sunday Times columnist. Wi...

An investigation by the Times has found that HMRC, the UK’s authority responsible for the collection of taxes used private debt collection companies and letters accusing people left penniless by the pandemic of deliberately avoiding their tax bills. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: th...

A Sunday Times investigation reveals a shady supply chain stretching from west Africa’s hazardous gold mines through Dubai and on to Europe. Who are the people who work on the illegal mines and what can we do as consumers to ensure we buy ethical gold? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thet...

With a week to go before Christmas, Stories of our times hosts Manveen Rana and David Aaronovitch are joined by journalist and wine expert Jane Macquitty, to guide you through five of the best festive wine pairings for Christmas day.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/st...

The MS Estonia sank into the icy Baltic Sea in 1994, descending alongside the evidence of what happened that fateful night where 852 people died. Nearly twenty-six years later the shipwreck still sits on a shallow sea bed and new evidence has raised questions about what caused it to go down.  This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Tim...

During four years in office, President Donald Trump has already handed out a number of controversial pardons to friends and allies, but are there more to come? And what is the intended use of the pardon power? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes . Guests:&nbsp...

As Britain becomes the first country to embark on a mass Covid-19 vaccination programme, Stories of our times have been given exclusive access to new polling showing just how difficult that task might be for the government. We hear from those who carried out the research about why more than a quarter of the UK’s population are 'vaccine hesitant', while 12% simply will not be vaccinated at all. Mea...