Planet Normal

4.7 (81)
Society & Culture

The podcast that speaks your language. News and views from beyond the bubble with Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, every Thursday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18h ago

Celebrity downfalls, security scares, and the EU reset

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/49Vhldkkybk It’s another week of news turbulence as you co-pilots wade through the biggest cultural and geopolitical news flashpoints. Liam and Allison begin by discussing the downfall of Russell Brand and the hypocrisy now on display from the liberal elites that once lauded him. Meanwhile, the pair react to the alarming news that US Military aircraft and equipment has been evacuated from air bases in the UK, asking what this says about the state of the nation's security. And they dive into the ongoing debate over welfare reform. Stowing away in the rocket this week is Catherine McBride OBE, who looks at the reality behind Labour’s EU “Reset” and warns of the perils of joining the customs union. You can explore the data that Catherine mentioned and more on the Great British Business Council website at https://gbbc.uk/ Highlights Planet Normal: Celebrity downfalls, security scares, and the EU resetThe Downfall of Russell Brand Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Trump’s oil price chaos isn’t over yet’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/11/08/trumps-oil-price-chaos-not-over-yet/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ | Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 5

The hard left, the high street and the house of Trump

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VyLxbLsnrqY The rocket of right thinking is back as the co-pilots tackle a turbulent week in British and American politics, from Donald Trump's midterm election defeat to Andy Burnham's latest interventions and Shabana Mahmood's immigration climbdown. Liam and Allison discuss the Democrats' sweeping victory in the US midterm elections and what it means for Donald Trump's presidency, while noting Britain's mounting economic pressures and the prospect of an early general election. Meanwhile, Allison takes aim at Shabana Mahmood's watered-down immigration reforms and discusses the disturbing murder of teenager Henry Novak and his family's treatment by police in the aftermath. Stowing away this week is Poundland founder Steve Smith, who reflects on building one of Britain's best-known discount retailers and explains why he believes the embattled high street chain can, and must, be saved amid fears of its move towards administration. Highlights Donald Trump and the Democrats' sweeping US midterm election victoryShabana Mahmood's immigration reforms and indefinite leave to remainPoundland founder Steve Smith on the retailer's financial crisis and future Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor | Read Allison ‘Anti-white racism in the police is laid bare by the treatment of Henry Nowak’s family’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11/03/allison-pearson-anti-white-racism-police-henry-nowak/ | Read Allison ‘Labour is forcing me to prepare for a disaster of its own making’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/27/labour-forcing-me-prepare-disaster/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Nothing-burger Budget will leave a bad taste’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/11/01/nothing-burger-budget-will-leave-a-bad-taste/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ | Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 29

Fiddling with Gherkins whilst the Grid Burns

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: The rocket of right thinking is back for a crucial Budget Special as Chancellor John Healey delivers his low-key first budget amidst mounting economic pressure. Joining the co-pilots to unpack the reality behind the numbers is the brilliant Telegraph columnist, Roger Bootle, who assesses Britain's fragile fiscal health, rising bond yields, and the hidden costs of net-zero policies. Liam dives into the underwhelming fiscal statement, the reality of soaring debt interest payments, and the political calculations behind a potential early general election. Meanwhile Allison and Roger dissect the widening gap between official economic forecasts and the harsh daily struggles of hardworking taxpayers, alongside updates on Allison’s survivalist prepping. Highlights Planet Normal: Budget reaction specialAllison and Liam are joined by Telegraph columnist, Roger Bootle Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor | Read Allison ‘The horror of Aberfan will never die, but neither will the humanity’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/21/horror-aberfan-never-die-neither-humanity/ | Read Allison ‘Labour is forcing me to prepare for a disaster of its own making’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/27/labour-forcing-me-prepare-disaster/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘No time for schadenfreude if French bonds blow up first’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/25/no-time-for-schadenfreude-if-french-bonds-blow-up-first/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ | Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 21

Planet Normal: Live Special at The Battle of Ideas 2026

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: Recorded live in front of a packed room at the Battle of Ideas Festival in Westminster, your co-pilots are joined by two special guests to help them tackle the week’s biggest cultural and economical flashpoints. Liam opens by examining widespread European unrest and the mounting fiscal pressures facing the UK as the October budget approaches, drawing parallels to the 1976 IMF bailout. Will it end up being a tale of two Healeys? Meanwhile, Allison dives into the looming threat of power cuts, the staggering costs of propping up a rickety national energy grid, and her new obsession with survivalist prepping. Joining Allison and Liam onstage are Lucy Connolly who discusses her new book A Tweet Too Far, alongside Cambridge professor Robert Tombs, who breaks down the ongoing battles over British History and free speech. Highlights Planet Normal: Live at The Battle of IdeasAllison and Liam are joined by Cambridge professor Robert Tombs and Lucy Connolly Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor | Read Allison ‘Suspend asylum and save Britain before it’s too late’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/13/allison-pearson-suspend-asylum-claims-nigel-farage/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Crazy diesel prices are a misfortune of our own making’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/18/crazy-diesel-prices-are-a-misfortune-of-our-own-making/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ | Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 14

Nigel Farage: Ignoring threats to my safety is ‘outright prejudice’

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qiNe1Vw1fBY With the October Budget looming larger on the horizon, your co-pilots are cutting through all the noise to deliver the big talking points this week and are joined on the Rocket of right thinking by a very special guest. Liam dives into Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s recent comments on The Rest is Politics, where he reopened the Brexit debate and claimed Russian interference in the 2016 referendum, drawing public rebuke from MI5 boss Ken McCallum. Meanwhile, Allison addresses the ongoing warnings of potential power cuts amidst the mounting crisis surrounding the UK’s energy infrastructure, by sharing her new hobby of disaster prepping. Plus stepping into the Rocket this week is Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, who discusses a range of topics including a policy announcement on asylum claims and personal threats to his security. Planet Normal: Bringing back Brexit? You must be JokingGuest Nigel Farage: The Reform UK leader assesses Asylum policy, small boats and security threats to politicians on the right Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor | Buy your ticket for the Battle of Ideas: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/battle-of-ideas-festival-tickets-2026/ | Read Allison ‘Suspend asylum and save Britain before it’s too late’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/13/allison-pearson-suspend-asylum-claims-nigel-farage/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘The battle of ideas looming over the British economy’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/11/the-battle-of-ideas-looming-over-the-british-economy/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ | Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 7

Labour’s energy insecurity intensifies

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4ZZZoH77k14 Another week, another conference and the October Budget looms but mere weeks away… however your co-pilots wade through the slurry to bring you the tasty news morsels. Liam shares his direct observations from the Troy conference floor, assessing the party’s mood, policy direction, and leadership. Meanwhile, Allison addresses the rising tide of antisemitism and highlights her latest Telegraph column marking the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Strapping in this week is financial expert John Banerjee who tells your co-pilot why the UK is lagging behind in energy policy and how it could affect our opportunity to become a leader in AI… Highlights Planet Normal: Labour’s energy insecurity intensifiesOctober 7 Anniversary: Allison reflects on her column marking three years since the Hamas attacks.Guest John Banerjee: The former macro trader assesses Britain's fiscal health and energy infrastructure.Energy Security: The co-pilots discuss Britain's fragile energy grid Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor | Buy your ticket for the Battle of Ideas: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/battle-of-ideas-festival-tickets-2026/ | Read Allison ‘The horrors of Oct 7 are still seared into my mind. Why won’t the West wake up?’ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/10/06/october-7-horrors/ | Read Allison ‘Suella Braverman: My immigrant family was too proud for benefits’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/04/suella-braverman-my-father-was-too-proud-to-go-on-the-dole/ | Read Allison ‘Is Richard E Grant a Machiavellian schemer or a giddy fool?’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/02/richard-e-grant-celebrity-traitors-schemer-or-fool/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Burnham’s conference speech was detached from fiscal reality’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/10/04/burnhams-conference-speech-was-detached-from-fiscal-reality/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ | Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 30

Burnham’s economics of empty promises

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZeBZTYZaSTE Your Planet Normal co-pilots return to a tsunami of news, promises from Labour conference and Andy Burnham to ease the nations finances and is the Home Secretary watering down her own migration policies? Allison takes aim at the PM’s pledges, calling them nothing but empty words and laying blame so far in the past you’d be forgiven for not realising we have had successive failures from Government since the 70s. Liam delves into the costing of the social care promises and how scrapping the triple lock, in favour of a double lock, will work in reality. Stowing away is former Home Secretary Suella Braverman who tells your co pilots about her life, politics and career in her new book, ‘Patriot: Empire, betrayal, and hope’. Highlights Planet Normal: Burnham’s false hope economicsSocial care plans fall flatShabana Mahmood waters down immigration plansTriple lock scrapped, but will it balance any books Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor | Buy Suella’s book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/patriot/suella-braverman/9781918944044 | Buy your ticket for the Battle of Ideas: https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/battle-of-ideas-festival-tickets-2026/ | Watch ‘Stirling Series | The SAS: The Past, Present and Future of UK Special Forces’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELisq0gwlqY | Read Allison ‘Suella Braverman: My immigrant family was too proud for benefits’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/04/suella-braverman-my-father-was-too-proud-to-go-on-the-dole/ | Read Allison ‘Is Richard E Grant a Machiavellian schemer or a giddy fool?’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/10/02/richard-e-grant-celebrity-traitors-schemer-or-fool/ | Read Allison ‘Now more than ever, we must stand up for the SAS’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/29/stand-up-for-sas/ | Read Allison ‘Strictly won’t survive if it carries on selling out for the youth audience’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/26/allison-pearson-strictly-youth-pandering/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘Trump’s diesel ban would be a disaster – for Britain and the White House’’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/09/27/trumps-diesel-ban-disaster-britain-white-house/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ | Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 23

The green blob is choking the life out of the UK

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3pSGqJiJryw This week on Planet Normal, co-pilots Halligan and Pearson, shed some light on the risk of a blackout Britain this winter… Liam targets Labour’s attacks on industrialists like Sir Jim Ratcliffe, arguing that dismissing wealth creators as ‘tax exiles’ ignores their massive tax and employment contributions. Meanwhile, Allison takes aim at Andy Burnham’s new National Centre for Information Defence, dubbed the ‘Ministry of Truth’, arguing Labour is labelling public outrage over energy bills and illegal immigration as ‘misinformation’ rather than addressing core failures. Strapping into the rocket this week is former RAF pilot and engineer Richard Lyons who talks your co-pilots through his new book, The Energy Trap: Why the renewable energy transition can’t work - and what can…. Highlights Planet Normal: The green blob is choking the life out of the UKAllison dismantles the government's "misinformation" centreLabour's failings will cause blackouts this winterAlarm over the government's borrowing costs Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor | Read more from Richard: https://richardlyon.substack.com/ | Read Allison ‘Make no mistake earl Spencer is on a mission to destroy the King’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/22/earl-spencer-destroy-king-destabilise-monarchy/ | Read Allison ‘Net zero is a national suicide pact’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/20/net-zero-is-a-national-suicide-pact/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Liam ‘The Bank of England is being far too timid’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/09/20/the-bank-of-england-is-being-far-too-timid/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ | Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ | Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk | For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The world’s #1 most listened-to podcast on the Russia-Ukraine war. Trusted by over 140 million listeners, every weekday The Telegraph’s award-winning team provides breaking news and expert analysis on military strategy, weaponry and the geopolitics of Vladimir Putin vs. Volodymyr Zelensky. And ask: where does Donald Trump fit in? From frontline reporting and battlefield analysis to deep dives on military strategy, sanctions, energy markets, and global security, we cover the latest war updates alongside history, economics, culture, and daily life in Ukraine and Russia. Featuring expert insight on weapons systems, cyber warfare, humanitarian issues, and what happens next, it is widely considered the go-to source for understanding the conflict. NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE: Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest JOIN OUR MEMBERS’ CLUB: To support the team, join UTL+. For a small monthly fee, you’ll get behind-the-scenes content, bonus videos, and discounted tickets to live events and merch – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdHjleMvPSs-JEjiQ8_D2cA/join EMAIL US: Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.8 (1819)

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Daily News
The Diamond King The rise and fall of Nirav Modi, accused of India’s biggest ever bank fraud – and how The Telegraph caught him. Nirav Modi was a billionaire diamond tycoon whose jewellery was worn by Kate Winslet and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. But in 2018 he was charged with masterminding a £1.3 billion fraud. Now one of the world’s most wanted men, he disappeared. Where was he hiding and would he face justice? Telegraph Investigates: Discover The Telegraph’s most gripping and hard-hitting investigative journalism, all in one place. Go behind the scenes with our top reporters as they uncover untold stories, expose injustices, and reveal shocking criminal revelations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4.7 (30)

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Documentary

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Judith Allison Pearson

Host
Liam Halligan

Host
Steven Smith

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Roger Bootle

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Lucy Connolly

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Ben Cobley

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Russell Quirk

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Ross Clark

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Richard Tice

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Richard Williams

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4.7

out of 5

81 Ratings

Immoral

12/09/2024

The S.K.P. Machine

The aged should be killed (“assisted dying”) in order to save money? Monstrous!
Very insightful. Thank you.

06/27/2024

Kevin Leary

Always interesting, and especially so today, approaching the election with Peter Hitchens as a guest.
Sanity saving

03/23/2023

Em Boddy

Thank God for Pearson and Halligan over the last three years. They brought nuance to the fore, and spoke for those of us who didn’t have a platform. I continue to look forward to their weekly podcast.
The Frenchman with the American Passport

02/02/2023

lechienquimord

As a longtime listener and avid fan of the U.K. culture and politics I have to give a resounding “Bravo” “Hoorah” and “Je ne sais quoi” to Allison and Liam. Listening to a clearer perspicacious view of U.K. current affairs by non establishment types like yourselves makes me less want to chunder in the loo and more wish to visit the last great refuge of territory outside the U.K. mainland but still a British Overseas Territory, Gibraltar and pal around with the locals. I’ll probably be listening to Planet Normal on my way there.