The UTV Podcast

As MLAs prepare to vote on whether or not to extend the controversial post-Brexit trading arrangements, Paul Reilly has an in-depth report and we hear from the DUP and the SDLP Opposition. A new Government brings new Committee chairs, but what plans does the new head of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee have at Westminster? Tonia Antoniazzi will be joining us from London.  Plus, how are polit...

Counting in the Irish General Election has finished and the horse-trading now starts over who will form the next Government? We're in Dublin with our Political Editor Tracey Magee and the Irish Independent's Kevin Doyle. We'll also be speaking to senior figures from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Victims groups explain why they have no faith in the newly established ICRIR. One organisation claims thos...

With the three larger parties neck and neck in the polls, Jordan Moates reports from Dublin and we ask if there's any chance Sinn Fein could become a government party. I'll also be joined by Kevin Doyle. On Friday the House of Commons will vote on a controversial bill on assisted dying. Joining me to discuss that, the DUP's Carla Lockhart who's strongly opposed to the move and Jeevun Sandher from...

Thousands of farmers descend on Westminster demanding changes to the controversial inheritance tax changes; but will the government blink? Jordan Moates speaks at length to one farmer about his fears over the planned tax changes and what he thinks now needs to happen. I'll be joined from Westminster by the Ulster Farmers Union Vice President, John McLenaghan and; farmer Martin Williams, who helped...

Mike Nesbitt warns that he will not be able to match the pay deals agreed in other parts of the UK As UTV reveals the Education Minister ignored advice not to meet the Loyalist Communities Council. We'll hear from the Chair of the Education Committee Nick Mathison.  The Dáil has been dissolved as an Irish election is called for November 29th. After a spate of scandals engulfing Sinn Féin over rece...

On today's episode, Belfast City Councillor JJ Magee says he absolutely denies any allegation of inappropriate conduct and looks forward to being exonerated. Our Political Correspondent Vicki Hawthorne will have the latest. As violence against women and girls continues to plague society here, we're joined in the studio by Justice Minister Naomi Long for an in-depth interview. As the dust settles o...

The first Labour budget for fifteen years will be announced this week. How will it impact society here? We’ll chat to representatives from various sectors who will tell us what they want to see. And we'll have expert studio analysis. Plus, we’ll be joined by political betting analyst William Kedjayni who’ll be talking us through the US Presidential Election and the Tory leadership contest. Our com...

The First Minister Michelle O'Neill insists that Sinn Fein records show the teenager who received those inappropriate messages by Niall O'Donnaghaile was 17. I'll be joined by our Political Editor Tracey Magee and from Dublin by The Irish Independent's Kevin Doyle. We've already been warned by Chancellor Rachel Reeves that next week's budget will be painful, but just how bad might it be for some....

Brian Stanley leaves Sinn Fein claiming he was subjected to a kangaroo court. The party says the entire matter, which led to the internal inquiry, is now being investigated by Gardai. Thirty years after the IRA and loyalist ceasefires were announced, the Assembly will debate a motion calling on the Executive to force paramilitaries to leave the stage.  That motion is being brought by the SDLP. You...

Tough questions for the First Minister over the Michael McMonagle scandal. Michelle O'Neill again apologises for the party's shortcomings. Jordan Moates reports.  Discussing the latest developments will be be Professor Deirdre Heenan, Suzanne Breen and Hugh O'Connell.  The number of students missing school in Northern Ireland is at a record high. Sarah McCarron has that exclusive report and we'll...

Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy says the party did not give permission for references to a former press officer who was under investigation for sex offences and has no explanation as to why they were provided. The push for a United Ireland is at the heart of Sinn Fein's conference in Athlone. Our Political Correspondent Vicki Hawthorne has that report. Jordan Moates was at the Ulster Unionist party confe...

At the Labour Party Conference the Secretary of State warns the Stormont Executive - it must live within its means. He also says he is not getting rid of the controversial newly formed legacy body, the ICRIR. He has been speaking at length to our Political Editor Tracey Magee in Liverpool Plus, after the loss of three Parliamentary seats in the recent General Election, the new DUP leader tells his...

As the five main party leaders send a joint letter to the Treasury lambasting the decision to pause hundreds of millions of pounds of investment,  Our Political Editor speaks at length to Stormont Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald. After months of controvery over Casement Park, a decision's finally been made not to build a UEFA standard stadium. Many are pleased, many are not.  I'll be disucssing...

Every year thousands of women attend routine smear tests as part of a programme to help prevent cervical cancer.  But we can reveal for more than a decade multiple screeners at one health trust were falling way short of recognised standards, failings which we find were not addressed either by their employers or watchdogs for years.  While the results of a large-scale review into issues at the Sout...

The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information has revealed that it's received 85 enquiries since it became operational in May. The truth recovery organisation was established as part of the previous government's controversial legacy act. The ICRIR chief commissioner, the former Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan, talks to our Political Editor Tracey Magee about the work of the or...

We'll be analysing the detail of the new draft Programme for Government document with former senior civil servant Ann Watt and Economist Paul Mac Flynn. And we'll hear from several of the sectors affected by it. The Head of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and information Recovery tells our Political Editor that the organisation must demonstrate to victims  that it will do what it say...

The Lyric theatre is preparing to stage a re-imagined version of the great Shakespearian play Richard the Third. The title character is being played by Belfast actor Michael Patrick, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year. He's been speaking to our reporter Paul Reilly about his life-limiting condition and how he's drawing on his own experiences to portray the iconic role, not to m...

In-depth interviews with the man and woman who will soon be leading the Ulster Unionist Party and SDLP - Mike Nesbitt and Claire Hanna. Listening to what they'll have to say will be our commentators, Allison Morris, Alex Kane and David McCann. As the House of Commons returns from its summer break, we assess the Labour Government two months in with Kevin Magure and Peter Cardwell.

The Vodcast returns and it's back to the future in politics and music. Jordan Moates and Carol Jordan roll with it. You can also watch this episode on ITVX here . 

This week's UTV Vodcast goes barking up a different tree and becomes the Dogcast.  Emma Patterson, presenter of Dogs With Jobs and producer Simon McIntyre have over the first half of this year been all around the country filming some amazing dogs with incredible jobs. The first two episodes are out and available now on ITVX . You can, as always watch the Vodcast on ITVX as well.  Dogs with Jobs is...

Rhys McClenaghan won a famous gold medal on the pommel hourse at the Paris Olympics becoming the fourth athlete from Northern Ireland to win gold at the games. The Newtownards mans glory in Paris added to his World and European championship medals. He's been speaking to our sports correspondent Ruth Gorman along with his coach Luke Carson. This was an ITVX extended interview which you can watch he...

UTV's current affairs programme Up Close returns to look at racism as figures show that Northern Ireland is now more racist than it is sectarian, with race hate incidents over the past 12 months at an all time high.  The programme looks at what's behind the upsurge in race-related hate crime against minority communities, and hears from those who lives have been devastated by racism, including one...

One of Belfast city centre's oldest, and most historially significant alleyways - has re-opened to the public after more than 50 years.  'Sugarhouse Entry,' situated off High street in the city centre, was closed during the troubles - but now, thanks to extensive work, the public has access once again. We sent our reporter Daniel Duffy to check it out and he walked the entry to get an insight into...

Carol Jordan and Jordan Moore discuss the past week's sporting successes. 

Carol Jordan and Jordan Moates discuss some of the stories making the news in Northern Ireland.