The podcast that speaks your language. News and views from beyond the bubble with Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, every Thursday.
Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan take their first trip to Planet Normal, a space for shrewd political analysis from a distinctly “down-to-earth” perspective.
This week, Allison struggles to defend Dominic Cummings, Liam reveals why the Prime Minister’s most senior advisor once slept on his floor and former Home Secretary, Alan Johnson weighs in on the reopening of schools - with some disquieting words for teachers’ unions.
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In Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan's second trip to Planet Normal, former Head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove tells Allison why he believes the coronavirus started as an accident after it escaped from a Chinese lab, how organised intelligence activities at British universities aren't merely the stuff of spy novels and why he's ticked off with George Osborne.
Telegraph subscribers can listen to the explosive full interview here: https://bit.ly/2U6hxcQ
It's what feels like week number 582 of lockdown, and it's trip number three to Planet Normal. This week, Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan blast off into a lively debate on what they'd like to do to a statue of Gavin Wiliamson and whether theme parks could possibly be safer than schools.
Plus renowned oncologist, Professor Karol Sikora weighs in on why he wants the nation to "unwash" their brains of fear, and he submits to the ultimate black hole: a war of words with Piers Morgan.
Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/
Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/
Novelist Lionel Shriver buckles up to join Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan for their fourth trip to Planet Normal. She tells us why her political views lose her both friends and awards, and why today’s literature fails to pique her interest.
Plus, Allison and Liam weigh in on the footballer who took on the government and won, Marcus Rashford, why the reopening of schools should be “obligatoire” and they reveal who was "leader of the pack" during their Scout and Guides days.
Listen to the Telegraph's Audio Football Club podcast: https://www.playpodca.st/afc
Former Governor of the Bank of England, Lord Mervyn King, is the co-pilot on Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan's fifth orbiting of Planet Normal.
He tells us why he believes no-deal Brexit scaremongering was an attempt to reverse the referendum result, how quantitative easing isn't always the answer, and why politicians should admit to changing their minds.
Plus, Allison and Liam mourn the simplicity of a pre-Covid pint in the pub, childhood in a time before Health and Safety (hand grenades anyone?!) and their battle with the dreaded "Quarantine Fifteen".
Shaun Bailey, Conservative candidate for London Mayor, touches down on Planet Normal, alongside Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. The former Special Advisor to the PM tells Allison why we're in for a "summer of discontent", why Labour hasn't been able to curb London's knife crime crisis and how speaking out against the Left as a black person is seen as an act of bravery. Oh - and how he found love over a Müller Corner...
Plus, Allison and Liam lament Leicester's second lockdown and question whether a Wimbledon-style queueing system is the way to get Britain back to the pub.
Listen to the Telegraph's Chopper's Politics podcast: https://www.playpodca.st/chopper
Trevor Phillips, broadcaster, writer and former chairman of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, is Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan's latest castaway to Planet Normal. The former Labour candidate for London Mayor tells Liam why guilt obscures media coverage of racial issues, how he knows what it's like to be randomly stopped by the police, and why he believes parts of the Labour Party just don't care about winning elections.
Plus, Allison and Liam discuss the devastating knock-on effect of lockdown on cancer treatments, Rishi Sunak's mini-Budget or "big Economic enchilada", and enjoy listeners' stories of a time before health and safety, featuring a homemade army tank!
Entrepreneur Luke Johnson is Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan's latest guest to blast off to Planet Normal. The man behind Pizza Express and Gail's Bakery tells Allison why the government's only effective lockdown policy has been 'Project Fear', how the High Street will have to get creative to survive, and reveals what other captains of industry are telling him behind closed doors.
Plus, Allison and Liam respectfully disagree over face masks, discuss the government's 'My way or the Huawei' ruling, and enjoy more of your 'elf and safety tales.
Do you need some help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/
Planet Normal goes back to its roots and speaks to... a normal person. This week it’s brave district nurse and Planet Normal listener, Holly, who tells Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan about the horrors of treatments delayed over the coronavirus crisis: a devastating move she thinks will cause more deaths than the pandemic itself. Plus, she reveals how care homes were “bullied” into taking patients with suspected Covid-19 and why some health workers used the pandemic as an excuse to stay home.
Also on the podcast: Allison and Liam reflect on Boris Johnson’s tumultuous first year as PM, the real reason teachers were among the public sector workers to receive a pay rise, and why former Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, won’t be invited on the show anytime soon.
Telegraph subscribers can listen to Holly’s full interview: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/23/people-treatable-cancers-will-die-due-government-scaremongering/
Read The Sunday Telegraph interview with Boris Johnson: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/07/18/boris-johnson-exclusive-interview-will-not-need-another-national/
Listen to the Telegraph's Chopper’s Politics podcast: https://www.playpodca.st/chopper
For the next two weeks former MP Kate Hoey steps into Allison Pearson's space-boots to join Liam Halligan as co-pilot to Planet Normal. Their guest this week is former MEP and director of the Institute of Ideas, Claire Fox, who tells Liam that there is a war on history led from the top, that the BBC is the now the "woke" channel and how she bruises after social media showdowns.
Plus, Kate and Liam discuss the government announcing that people will have to quarantine after returning from Spain, identity politics and racism within football, and of course, Nando's.
Listen to the Telegraph's Chopper's Politics podcast: www.playpodca.st/chopper
