The Standard

Since January, there have been close to one hundred cases of measles reported In North London. The UK managed to eliminate measles via mass vaccination just under ten years ago. How did we get here, and how serious is this latest epidemic? In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to child immunisation specialist Dr Helen Bedford, professor of Children's Health at UCL Great Ormond Street Inst...

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games has been historic for Team GB, with podium placements in snowboarding, skiing, skeleton and curling. So, what exactly is in the mountain air this year? In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to decorated British ski champion, coach and winter sports pundit, Chemmy Alcott, about her experience reporting from the Winter Games at Milano-Cortina. They discuss the...

Yesterday Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince and Duke of York, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office during his time as trade envoy to the UK. So, what’s next for Andrew, and how will the royal family navigate this hurdle? In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s crime correspondent, Anthony France, to dig into how the justice system deals with...

London Fashion Week starts today, and the excitement is palpable. Julian MacDonald is back, Joseph are debuting a new runway collection for the first time in 8 years, and everyone is holding their breath for the Burberry finale. In this episode of The Standard, host Tamara Kormornick sits down with the Standard’s fashion editor Joe Bromley and lifestyle editor Jessica Burrell for a conversation ab...

The takeover of Hampstead Heath’s cafés has sparked bullying accusations, a legal battle, and impassioned petitioning from locals — with actor Benedict Cumberbatch weighing in.  In today’s episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Standard journalist Niva Yadav about how the controversial café shakeup spiralled into much more than a storm in a teacup. Plus, Niva Yadav speaks to Hoxton Beach c...

London is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive tourist destinations in the world. It’s set to get even more pricey this year with the introduction of a tourist tax that is predicted to raise £350 million per year. Is implementing an overnight levy the right move for London? To understand why councillors are backing the idea, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Councillor Claire Holland, l...

Social media is flooded with food influencers hyping up viral dishes and sharing ‘hidden gems’. But rave restaurant reviews come with a cost — often the experience for fellow diners. In this episode, Jeremy King tells The Standard about the behaviour of certain influencers in The Park, and the new policy he has put in place to thwart disruptive content creation. Plus, host Tamara Kormornick speaks...

Many of the 5.8 million Brits who took out a Plan 2 student loan over the past decade are now facing astonishing levels of debt, and the government’s latest salary threshold freeze will nudge more graduates into repaying more than ever. So, is it high time the system had a shake up? In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s editor of the Londoner’s Diary and features writer,...

Liverpool Street Station has had a major redevelopment plan green-lit by the City Corporation this week. The scheme would be mostly funded by office space situated in a new 320ft tall tower block, much to the dismay of Victorian heritage enthusiasts. Was this the right call? In this episode of The Standard, host Tamara Kormornick sits down with the Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor, Ross L...

Emerald Fennel’s sizzling film adaptation of Emily Bronte’s canonical novel has divided critics ahead of its public release on Saturday 14. In this episode of The Standard, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to the Standard’s culture and lifestyle writer, India Block, about the gothic-inspired romance starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, from Fennel’s controversial creative choices to Charli XCX’s...

Valentine’s Day is notoriously easy to get wrong — from forgettable restaurants to naff gifts. This year, the pressure is even more intense, as Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday.  In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s Going Out editor, David Ellis, and food and drink writer, Josh Barrie, to get their recommendations on where to eat — and not eat — on Valentine’s D...

Londoners are using cocaine more than ever, and men’s usage tips the scales two-to-one. So, why is London the ‘cocaine capital’ of Europe? In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to freelance journalist Jordan Page, who recently investigated the capital’s latest Class A drug epidemic. They talk about how London’s pub culture intersects with the city’s cocaine habits, and why men in particul...

It’s been a trying week for the Prime Minister. Allegations surrounding Lord Peter Mandelson have angered many within the party, and raised fresh questions about Keir Starmer’s authority. Should Labour be panicking? In this episode, The Standard's political editor Nic Cecil speaks with Baroness Ayesha Hazarika, former advisor to senior Labour politicians, who worked closely with Peter Ma...

For this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny is joined by psychologist, author, and researcher Dr Jim Fadiman, a central figure in the modern understanding of psychedelics, who also goes by the “father of microdosing”. Drawing on decades of research and thousands of user reports, the conversation traces the history of psychedelics - from early scientific study in the 1950s and 60s, through prohibit...

Over the weekend, suspicious photographs of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with an unnamed woman surfaced among the latest batch of the Epstein files. While King Charles’ decision to strip Andrew of his titles was met with widespread approval, it also sparked questions over the Royals’ living arrangements - and inevitably, their finances.  In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Chris B...

As Industry returns for its fourth series, the show continues to raise the stakes – and audience heart rates. But are its latest calamities a case of art imitating life? In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Laura Martin, who recently wrote an article for The Standard about power dynamics in Industry, and culture writer for The Standard, Maddy Mussen. Together, they discuss what the sh...

Over the weekend, the self-titled documentary Melania  hit cinemas worldwide. Its release comes at a volatile moment, with political turmoil at home and Donald Trump once again making waves over foreign policy and America's global influence. In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick sits down with Standard columnist Melanie McDonagh, fresh from a screening to ask: who is Melania Trump telling t...

Over the past few years, the UK government has promised a tougher stance on money laundering. With new challenges that include cryptocurrency and the soaring value of gold, how will Britain ever get clean from its dirty money reputation? In this episode, The Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford speaks to Joe Powell, the Labour MP for Kensington and Bayswater, who founded the Ke...

Unemployment among young Londoners has hit a nine-year high, and the latest figures show the jobless rate in the capital disproportionately affects 16 to 24-year-olds. So, is the future for young Londoners truly bleak? In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick is joined by the Standard’s business editor Jonathan Prynn to unpack the most recent figures from the Office of National Statistics. Together...

In their election manifesto, Labour promised to tackle unregulated and unaffordable ground rent charges. So, is a £250 pound cap on ground rent real progress for homeowners?  In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick sits down with the Standard’s deputy editor of homes and property Meghann Murdock to gauge the significance of the government’s latest announcement. Plus, she speaks to Harry Scoff...

A £500m plan to redevelop East London’s historic Truman Brewery has sparked a bitter row in Brick Lane. The proposed scheme features new retail and restaurant units, a cinema, private housing and, controversially, a data centre. The plans have divided residents, businesses and politicians ahead of a critical local council election. In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard ’s...

Iran is facing one of the most brutal waves of extreme violence in its recent history. Beyond protests outside the Iranian embassy in London, the reaction from the UK government, and Britain as a whole, has been subdued. In this episode, The Standard ’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford speaks to former security minister Tom Tugendhat MP about the Iranian leadership crisis, the West’s...

The UK has approved plans for China to build its largest European embassy in London, near the Tower of London – a controversial move that has triggered serious national security concerns. As Keir Starmer prepares to visit Beijing, has the government misjudged the risks? On this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, who is a vocal critic of t...

For episode five of Brave New World , Evgeny is joined by Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences - the company working on de-extinction and species preservation, including its flagship woolly mammoth project. Together, they explore what “bringing back” an extinct species actually means in practice: rebuilding fragmented ancient DNA, comparing it to a close living relative (the Asian...

Blue Monday is behind us – and January is often the best time of year to book a holiday. In this bumper travel episode, The Standard ’s lifestyle director Suzannah Ramsdale joins travel journalist Alicia Miller to unpack the trendiest destinations for 2026. From meadows in Cantabria to the sandy beaches of the new Maldives, the two select options for different budgets and trip lengths – and break...