Sense Check

Reach plc
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Welcome to Sense Check, where The Mirror’s Nicola Thorp interrogates the state of modern Britain. Twice a week, Nicola gets to the heart of the issues that matter, speaking to everyone from politicians and grassroots activists to murder investigators and foreign policy experts. Expect sharp interviews and deep dives into the stories shaping Britain and the world beyond. Get ready for some proper chat about politics, culture, and life’s big questions!

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    ITV Undercover Sting: Why Farage Isn't Sacking Reform Candidates | Sense Check

    This week on Sense Check, Nicola Thorp is joined by PoliticsJOE’s Ava Santina to unpack the fallout from ITV’s explosive undercover documentary on Reform UK. They dive into the troubling footage of canvassers, discuss the party's controversial vetting process, and examine Nigel Farage’s defense of the comments as “pub banter.” Nicola challenges the narrative that bigotry is an inherently "working-class" trait, while Ava explains how the undercover footage disrupts the party's carefully crafted strategy of speaking to two very different audiences. Ava and Nicola also look ahead at Reform UK’s strategy to bypass mainstream scrutiny by launching their own £10 million media channel, Reform TV. They debate the broader ethics of politicians presenting news shows, drawing comparisons to Donald Trump's media playbook, and pitch a few satirical reality TV shows of their own (anyone up for Come Dine With Nigel?). Plus, they Sense Check the newly announced all-British GB News Radio station. A statement from Reform UK to the Mirror said: "Where members, activists and councillors have clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations have commenced. In some cases, there have been suspensions and due process must be followed. "Reform UK has improved and prioritised its vetting procedures, but from time to time, a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting. This is the same for all organisations. However good the vetting, one cannot vet a future comment especially in circumstances where an individual is entrapped in a discussion with an undercover reporter. There is no room for racism in Reform UK." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  2. 6d ago

    'I found my 14-year-old son dying’ | A mother’s urgent warning | Sense Check

    In this episode of Sense Check, host Nicola Thorp sits down with Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son Julian “Jools” Sweeney tragically died in April 2022. Ellen believes Jools's death is directly linked to the content he was viewing on social media. Now, she is on a mission to save other children. After being blocked from accessing her son's TikTok data, Ellen is taking legal action against the platform and successfully campaigning to change UK law so bereaved parents can automatically access their children's online data—efforts that recently earned her a Pride of Britain award. In this interview, Ellen shares advice for parents navigating the digital age and urges families to adopt a strict "no phones in the bedroom" rule to stop late-night doomscrolling and advises delaying smartphone ownership for as long as possible. Watch to hear Ellen’s powerful story and learn how you can better protect your children from unseen online harms. In relation to Ms Roome’s case, a TikTok spokesman previously told the Mirror: “Our deepest sympathies remain with these families. We strictly prohibit content that promotes or encourages dangerous behaviour. Using robust detection systems and dedicated enforcement teams to proactively identify and remove this content, we remove 99% that's found to break these rules before it is reported to us. As a company, we comply with the UK’s strict data protection laws.” For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  3. Oct 16

    ‘IT WAS MORTIFYING!’ | Angela Rayner opens up about her Stamp Duty mistake

    In this first episode of Sense Check with Nicola Thorp; Angela Rayner insists she never consider walking away from frontline politics when she was forced to resign from the heart of government over her tax affairs. Opening up about the painful episode in her career, the Labour heavyweight said her previous experience of hardship had given her a sense of perspective on life at Westminster. Ms Rayner - who returned to Cabinet in Andy Burnham's new administration in July - said the "rollercoaster of hell" experience with the traumatic premature birth of her second son at just 23 weeks had given her an "anchor". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • 3 Episodes

About

Welcome to Sense Check, where The Mirror’s Nicola Thorp interrogates the state of modern Britain. Twice a week, Nicola gets to the heart of the issues that matter, speaking to everyone from politicians and grassroots activists to murder investigators and foreign policy experts. Expect sharp interviews and deep dives into the stories shaping Britain and the world beyond. Get ready for some proper chat about politics, culture, and life’s big questions!

Information

  • Creator
    Reach plc
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3

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