Best of Today podcast

Best of Today

Listen to selected highlights from the Today programme.

Listen to selected highlights from the Today programme.

 

#77

Vogue's Chioma Nnadi on Ozempic: 'We're going backwards'

Vogue has given unparalleled access to the Lightroom at Kings Cross for a brand-new exhibition examining the history of the runway and invited Today for an exclusive preview. Emma Barnett sits down with the exhibition curator David Sable, and British Vogue’s Chioma Nnadi, the first black woman to take up the mantle of Head of Editorial Content. Chioma discusses her concerns around weight loss drugs, women of colour breaking the glass ceiling, and whether the fashion industry is doing enough for sustainability. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays. ... Read more

13 Nov 2024

06 MINS

06:33

13 Nov 2024


#76

'Buffer zones' come into effect around abortion clinic

Buffer zones will come into force around abortion clinics in England and Wales from 31 October. It will make it illegal to hand out anti-abortion leaflets within 150m of a clinic or obstruct anyone using or working at an abortion clinic. It will also be illegal to stand and silently pray within the same zone. Emma Barnett reported for Today from an abortion clinic in South London. She spoke to protesters outside and staff at the clinic about the law change. She also spoke to the Labour MP Stella Creasy who has long campaigned for protection zones. The change in the law follows similar bans in Northern Ireland in 2023 and in Scotland in September earlier this year. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays. ... Read more

30 Oct 2024

10 MINS

10:47

30 Oct 2024


#75

Officer who shot Chris Kaba did 'nothing wrong' - colleague

A former colleague of the firearms officer who fatally shot Chris Kaba told Today that he should not have been put on trial for his murder. Metropolitan Police Officer Martyn Blake, shot and killed Mr Kaba – who was unarmed – during a vehicle stop in South London in September 2022. Mr Blake denied killing the 24 year old. The unnamed colleague, who was at the scene immediately after the shots were fired, said: "At no point was there any evidence that Martyn Blake had done anything wrong or at least deviated from his training or indeed the law." Mr Kaba’s family have said they are "devastated" by the outcome. "The acquittal of Martyn Blake isn't just a failure for our family but for all those affected by police violence," his cousin said. "Despite the verdict, we won't be silenced." Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays. ... Read more

22 Oct 2024

08 MINS

08:56

22 Oct 2024


#74

David Cameron: The medical change which might have helped my son

After serving as foreign secretary in the Conservative government until July, Lord Cameron has a new role at the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre, which aims to find cures for rare, genetic conditions like the one his son Ivan was born with. In his first interview with Today since the election, Lord Cameron also urged the government to consider sanctioning two Israeli ministers as a way of "putting pressure" on the country to act within international law. He said the Foreign Office, when he was in charge, had been "working up" plans to put sanctions on Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The BBC has contacted Smotrich and Ben-Gvir for a response. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays. ... Read more

15 Oct 2024

16 MINS

16:11

15 Oct 2024


#73

Best of Today: What should children learn?

The government has started a major review of the curriculum and assessment in England's schools, chaired by education policy expert Becky Francis. But how could we rethink England's curriculum and assessment? Today hears from schools across the country trying new ways of doing things from using AI in classrooms to a more skills based approach and looking at why the 'exam season' might cease to exist. The series hears from: former Conservative Schools Minister Nick Gibb; Jill Duffy from the OCR exam board; Jason Arday, former guest editor of the Today Programme and professor of the sociology of education at Cambridge University; Sir Ian Livingstone, a giant of modern British business and the man behind the Livingstone Academy; and Claire Heald, CEO of the Cam Academy Trust. Producer: Sareen Bains Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays. ... Read more

11 Oct 2024

39 MINS

39:51

11 Oct 2024


#72

Today Listener Series: Young people and politics

Earlier this year, the Today programme gave our listeners the chance to look at an issue that matters to them. Herbie and Ayesha both voted for the first time this year. They wanted to look at the disconnect they believe exists between young people and politicians. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am. ... Read more

19 Sep 2024

09 MINS

09:20

19 Sep 2024


#71

Today Listener Series: NHS Forensic Psychology centre in Liverpool

All this week we've been hearing stories brought to us by Today listeners. Dr Lisa Wright and Dr Mark Walton are both clinical psychologists, who work on Merseyside in the only NHS unit of its kind - where they are trying to cut criminal offending rates using therapy. It's not an alternative to prison - the NHS Forensic Psychology centre in Liverpool works with people who have served custodial sentences who might be at risk of re-offending. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am. ... Read more

18 Sep 2024

13 MINS

13:32

18 Sep 2024


#70

Today Listener Series: Is university worth it?

Earlier this year, the Today programme gave our listeners the chance to look at an issue that matters to them. Anna and Chloe - along with Chloe's 19 year-old daughter Pearl - wanted to ask "University: Is it worth it?" and interrogate the value of a university education in 2024. As part of our coverage, Today has exclusively seen a blueprint for the future of universities in England. Universities UK, which represents 142 universities, is calling for a rise in tuition fees linked to inflation and more government support for students. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am. ... Read more

17 Sep 2024

17 MINS

17:02

17 Sep 2024


#69

Today Listener Series: Where's my bus?

Earlier this year we gave listeners the chance to ask us to look at an issue for them. Martin and Sandra from Macclesfield, in East Cheshire called their application Where’s my bus? They both rely on the buses to get around and met on a Facebook group dedicated to their local bus service. The new government has plans to give local authorities more power to take control over bus services, for example through a ‘franchising’ arrangement. Our Transport Corr Katy Austin took a look at whether this plan will help listeners like Martin and Sandra and Today presenter Nick Robinson spoke to Graham Vidler, Chief Executive, Confederation of Passenger Transport. ... Read more

16 Sep 2024

16 MINS

16:13

16 Sep 2024


#68

Today Listener Series: The disappearing children

All this week the Today programme is looking at stories that have been brought to us by our listeners. Vanessa and Toby are parent governors at a secondary school in South London. They have noticed far fewer children and families where they live, and primary schools closing down as a result. Exclusive research for Today has shown that primary school numbers have fallen by 5% in London in the last five years. And they are projected to continue falling at double the rate of the rest of England. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am. ... Read more

16 Sep 2024

12 MINS

12:28

16 Sep 2024


#67

Garry Richardson's 50 years at the BBC

Garry Richardson has finished his last sports bulletin on Radio 4's Today programme - 50 years to the day since he started at the BBC. Garry is best known for his sporting interviews, but his career has ranged from climbing towers for Radio Oxford to singing with the great Buddy Greco. James Naughtie picks some of the highlights from Garry's half century. ... Read more

09 Sep 2024

07 MINS

07:56

09 Sep 2024


#66

Dr Clare Bailey Mosley: We want to honour Michael’s work

Radio 4 is marking Friday 12th as “Just One Thing Day” in celebration of Dr Michael Mosley’s life and legacy. Throughout the week, we’ve asked his friends and colleagues to tell us what change they might have made that was down to him. Speaking to Today’s Justin Webb, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley shares touching tributes, and reflects on his work, influence, and legacy. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays. ... Read more

12 Jul 2024

15 MINS

15:14

12 Jul 2024


#65

The Today Debate: Is justice delayed, justice denied?

The Today Debate is about taking a subject and pulling it apart with more time than we have in the morning. Amid a significant backlog in crown courts in England and Wales and related problems in the system in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Today presenter Mishal Husain asks if justice delayed is justice denied? Joining Mishal on the Today debate panel are Claire Waxman, the Independent Victims' Commissioner for London; Charlie Taylor; His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales; Joanna Hardy-Susskind, a barrister at Red Lion Chambers; Lord Falconer, Labour Peer and former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and Sir Max Hill, who was the director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales until October last year. ... Read more

13 Feb 2024

36 MINS

36:31

13 Feb 2024


#64

Theresa May: 'During PMQs my blood sugar went up'

When Theresa May was diagnosed with type 1 in her 50s, she told the consultant: "I'm too old. I can't be”. Lady May says she would also eat Jelly Babies when her blood sugar dropped during meetings. The former Prime Minister has now chaired a parliamentary inquiry into the life-threatening consequences of having both type 1 diabetes and an eating disorder. She speaks to Today's Justin Webb why a joined-up approach by the NHS is needed so that healthcare professionals are aware of the 'conflicting pressures' on people with type 1 and an eating disorder. She also discusses her experience while in government of managing her blood sugar levels. ... Read more

23 Jan 2024

12 MINS

12:25

23 Jan 2024


#63

Dame Emma Walmsley Guest Edits Today

The last of our Christmas guest editors is the CEO of the global biopharma company GSK, Dame Emma Walmsley. She wanted her programme to look to the year ahead with optimism. In these highlights from her programme hear Dame Emma in conversation with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who urges politicians not to treat their opponents as enemies but as fellow human beings. Dame Emma also speaks to the Health Minister for Singapore; visits Kew Gardens and she asks former guest editor and Nobel Laureate Sir Paul Nurse to discuss with a group of students, the scientific and technological advances they are most excited for in 2024. Simon Jack interviews Dame Emma to end her programme and she chooses a special piece of music. ... Read more

01 Jan 2024

1 HR 14 MINS

1:14:34

01 Jan 2024


#62

Professor Jason Arday Guest Edits Today

Professor Jason Arday is our latest Christmas guest editor. This year he was appointed as one of Cambridge’s youngest ever professors. A significant accolade by any measure but even more so when you consider that Professor Arday was diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay aged just three and didn't learn to speak until he was eleven or read and write until he was eighteen. He uses his programme to look at improving adult literacy and he speaks to the head of Universal Music UK about championing neurodiversity in the workplace. Professor Arday also indulges his passion for 90s music with a discussion including Blur drummer Dave Rowntree and as a fan of a sharp suit, he champions the tailoring industry. ... Read more

30 Dec 2023

53 MINS

53:11

30 Dec 2023


#61

Andrew Malkinson Guest Edits Today

Andrew Malkinson is Today's latest Christmas guest editor. He spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit before being cleared in July. He uses his programme to look at justice and how one can cope with being locked up unjustly. He speaks to John McCarthy, who was held hostage for more than five years in the 1980s. While in prison, the world of astronomy and space offered Andrew a sense of release and sanctuary from the immediate confines of his daily experience and a way to expand his world. So as part of his guest edit, he visits Jodrell Bank observatory. And he tells Today's Justin Webb about the months since his conviction was overturned and how he still feels anger. ... Read more

29 Dec 2023

49 MINS

49:45

29 Dec 2023