The Times Red Box Podcast

Matt Chorley charts the rise and fall of the Sunday political TV shows with Sunday Shows at 50. Last week, we looked at the birth of Weekend World and this week, we look at how David Frost dominated the Sunday shows for over a decade. Interviewees including his son Wilfred Frost, his editor Barney Jones, Trevor Phillips, Peter Mandelson, Chris Evans, politicians including Neil Kinnock, Tony Blair, and William Hague, and prominent journalists Jeremy Vine and John Humphrys. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley charts the rise and fall of the Sunday political TV show, starting by going behind-the-scenes of the heavyweight, sometimes heavy-going, Weekend World which launched in 1972. The brainchild of John Birt, it was fronted first by Peter Jay, then later the formidable former Labour MP Brian Walden, and then finally former Conservative MP Matthew Parris. From Walden’s complex interviewing format, to a relaunch which cost Parris his wonky teeth, this is the story of a show which made political and journalistic careers. Interviewees including Peter Jay, former Times economics editor and first Weekend World presenter; Matthew Parris, Weekend World's last presenter; producers David Aaronovitch, Trevor Phillips and Peter Mandelson, politicians including Neil Kinnock, Tony Blair, and William Hague, and prominent journalists Jeremy Vine and John Humphrys. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones hears from Daniel Roher, the director of new film 'Navalny', as well as Vladimir Ashukov, former Executive Director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation which was founded by Alexei Navalny. He also speaks to Andrei Soldatov, Senior Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis and Author of 'The Compatriots' after it emerged that Putin has removed over 100 agents from their posts.PLUS Melanie Reid and James Forsyth discuss Johnson's survival and ambulance waiting times. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones sits in for Matt Chorley. How does a country join NATO? He speaks to Mary Elise Sarotte is a Professor of Post-Cold War history at John Hopkins University and the author of Not One Inch, Tytti Tuppurainen, the Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Torbjorn Sjostrom from the Swedish polling company Novus. PLUS minister Andrew Griffith and columnists James Marriott and Manveen Rana on the news that the government's plans to send migrants to Rwanda for processing. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones speaks to journalists from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to get the news from the four corners of the UK. Alice Thomson and Robert Crampton discuss partygate and Amber Heard's latest court battle with Johnny Depp. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones speaks to Robin Niblett who is standing down after 15 years as Director of the International Affairs Think Tank Chatham House.PLUS Daniel Finkelstein and David Aaronovitch discuss the day's news. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Luke Jones speaks to Times France Correspondent Charles Bremner, Mireille Clapot, an MP for Macron's En Marche in Drome in the South-East of France and Lord Peter Ricketts to find out the latest from the French Elections.PLUS Carol Lewis and Libby Purves discuss the day's news. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Patrick Maguire sits in for Matt Chorley and talks about the 1992 General Election and what an explosive election it was. Interviews with Neil Kinnock, Chris Patten and Phil Webster. Columnists Melanie Reid and Josh Glancy go through the news on Rishi Sunak, Germany’s response to Ukraine and best places to live. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mark Pack, author of the new book 'Polling Unpacked', tells Matt Chorley about the history of opinion polls, and the five great polling disasters in UK and American history. PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott discuss creative thinking See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to political podcast enthusiast David Runciman to dissect the last six years of Talking Politics and why more Prime Ministers are from Oxford rather than Cambridge.PLUS Dorothy Byrne and Abigail Rabbett discuss the day's news. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Holly Watt, Sir Alistair Graham and Stephen Hammond to see what the rules are for employing spouses.PLUS Manveen Rana and David Aaronovitch discuss the Russian misinformation and Channel 4 privatisation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Times Radio's Chief Political Commentator Lucy Fisher, former Director of Downing Street Communications Sir Craig Oliver and David Herzsenhorn, Chief Brussels Correspondent at Politico and former Washington Correspondent at the New York Times. They explore the frequency of anonymous sources being referred to in the press and whether they can be useful or problematic.PLUS Carol Lewis and Libby Purves on employing your spouse and trigger warnings. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Last year, to mark 300 years since Robert Walpole became Prime Minister, Matt Chorley learnt about every PM through history each week. This year, he's learning about each Leader of the Opposition with Nigel Fletcher from the Centre for Opposition Studies.Each month you'll find a collection of episodes on the podcast. This week, Granville Leveson-Gower, James Harris,  Lord Cairns and Charles Gordon-Lennox. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley charts the rise and fall of Sunday political TV shows with Sunday shows at 50. Last week, we heard about the rise of Andrew Marr and his decision to leave Sunday mornings. It’s the last episode of the documentary series. Matt speaks to the new kid on the Sunday politics block, Sophy Ridge on Sky News, and we hear from Trevor Phillips on confronting ministers over the death of his daughter. PLUS the future of Sunday Shows with Tony Blair, Jeremy Vine and John Humphrys and more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley speaks to Labour grandee Margaret Beckett who has announced she is retiring after half a century in politics, going through her career decade by decade.PLUS: India Knight and James Marriott discuss the days news. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley and the Sunday Times Chief Political Commentator Tim Shipman pause the action to analyse the exchanges between Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions. PLUS: Manveen Rana and Robert Crampton discuss problems with the NHS and fast food job adverts. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is joined by Tom Lubbock from Kekst CNC who has convened the latest Times Radio Focus Group to assess the situation in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and Partygate.PLUS Daniel Finkelstein and Oliver Kamm on Partygate fines and politicians discussing Will Smith. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley reflects on nearly five years since the Manchester Arena bombing with the Northern Editor of the Sunday Times David Collins and Pete Weatherby QC, who represents seven of the families. Also, Times Radio's Phil Williams and Manchester Evening News' Helena Vesty on Manchester hospital admissions and the backlog plus what happened at the Oscars between Will Smith and Chris Rock. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley charts the rise and fall of Sunday political TV shows with Sunday shows at 50. Last week we heard about the 21st century boom of political shows, this week we hear about how the axing of Breakfast with Frost paved the way for a new face of Sunday politics, Andrew Marr. Featuring the man himself, Barney Jones, William Hague, Peter Mandelson and more.. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Chorley is in Leeds to find out how the Spring Statement will affect the local area. James Smith from the Resolution Foundation, Henri Murison, Leeds City Council Leader James Lewis and Kayleigh Hignell. PLUS Rob Parsons & Victoria Finan See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.