Podcasts about Kings Place

The Reform candidate in the historic Makerfield by- election has struggled to answer obvious questions about policy and his own social media comments. In today's dangerous anti-politics mood could this be an advantage for him?To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comSubscribe to Patreon here for exclusive extra content and bonus episodes, plus the regular podcast a day early and ad-free. Dates for the diary: Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham on Wednesday July 1st. Tickets on the Ropetackle website.An extra Rock & Roll Politics Special is live at Kings Place in London on Monday July 13th - added in light of dramas that will follow the Makerfield by- election. Get your tickets here.Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Nigel Farage has chosen to fuel ‘hatred' in relation to a horrific murder, seeking to politicise crudely and obviously. Has he been too crude and obvious? Is the fracturing on the right an opportunity for the government, or is it triggering a dangerous debate framed by the far right?To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comPatreon subscribers can join Steve for an exclusive live stream on Monday June 8th at 7pm. Book your spot here.You can subscribe to Patreon here for the June livestream and more, including bonus episodes and the regular podcast a day early and ad-free. Another date for the diary - an extra Rock & Roll Politics Special is live at Kings Place in London on Monday July 13th - added in light of dramas that will follow the Makerfield by- election. Get your tickets here.Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hannah Murray found fame when she was just 17, playing the self-destructive Cassie in E4's Skins. She juggled an English degree at Cambridge University alongside playing Gilly in HBO's Game Of Thrones and went on to film Detroit, directed by Kathryn Bigelow. When the physical and mental stress required from these roles began to take its toll, Murray sought treatment from a reiki healer. From there, her life began to spiral as she became heavily involved with a ‘healing' organisation whose promises of real-life magic and enlightenment were increasingly seductive. She ended up being sectioned after a psychotic break and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Now, she has written her first book. The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness is a deeply personal account of these events, written with compulsive lyricism. It takes readers on a journey to the edges of reality, where magic is possible, and where the liminal space between what is real and what is imagined becomes ever more porous. In this episode we delve into Hannah's breakdown and what it taught her. We discuss living with BPD, her decision to quit acting and why, as a society, it's so important to talk about severe mental health conditions - even if it makes us uncomfortable. Plus: when does our modern obsession with ‘wellness' go too far? ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Introduction 04:30 Acting Roles and Emotional Toll 07:51 The Memoir 09:17 Traumatic Filming and Aftermath 11:57 Failure to Be Happy Always 16:06 Rapture Highs and Bipolar 18:14 Reiki Rabbit Hole and Cult Questions 28:50 Wellness as Addiction 30:25 Hotel Breakdown Begins 32:17 Exorcism and Delusions 33:26 Realizing You're Sectioned 35:18 Medication and Coming Back 36:12 Shame to Compassion 42:55 Bipolar Mania Explained 48:41 Leaving Acting and Moving On

Tony Blair's essay has triggered detailed responses from Keir Starmer, potential successors and others within the government. Is this a healthy development for a party that seemed fearful of internal debate. or the start of a fatal divide?To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comPatreon subscribers can join Steve for an exclusive live stream on Monday June 8th at 7pm. Book your spot here.You can subscribe to Patreon here for the June livestream and more, including bonus episodes and the regular podcast a day early and ad-free. Another date for the diary - an extra Rock & Roll Politics Special is live at Kings Place in London on Monday July 13th - added in light of dramas that will follow the Makerfield by- election. Get your tickets here.Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Tony Blair's latest long essay he claims to be on the ‘radical centre'. In which case, why are his largely vague arguments welcomed most by those on the right? His elegant writing and capacity to frame big arguments convey a sense of clarity. Time to delve deep to see if he's as clear as he appears to be.• Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on the 13th of July to explore the seismic consequences of the Makerfield by-election, and what could happen next. Tickets are available on the Kings Place website here. • Patreon subscribers can sign up for an exclusive live event on Monday 8th of June. • Subscribe to Patreon here to get the main podcast a day early and ad free, plus bonus podcasts and exclusive live events. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaders and potential leaders are often far more interesting than the stereotypes reported by political journalists. Is this the case with Andy Burnham?To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comPatreon subscribers can join Steve for an exclusive live stream on Monday June 8th at 7pm. Book your spot here.You can subscribe to Patreon here for the June livestream and more, including bonus episodes and the regular podcast a day early and ad-free. Another date for the diary: an extra Rock & Roll Politics Special is live at Kings Place in London on Monday July 13th - added in light of dramas that will follow the Makerfield by- election. Get your tickets here.Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at Jewish Book Week in March 2026, this conversation brings together two writers whose books map Jewish histories that rarely make it onto the festival circuit. With a sold-out crowd at Kings Place in London, Samantha Ellis and Jordan Salama talk about language, loss, food, family archives, and what it means to carry more than one Jewish story at once.Our GuestsSamantha Ellis is a playwright, journalist and author, the daughter of Iraqi Jewish refugees. Her books include How to Be a Heroine and Take Courage: Anne Brontë and the Art of Life. Her latest, Chopping Onions on My Heart (published in the US as Always Carry Salt), explores Judeo-Iraqi Arabic, a language on the verge of extinction, and what we can and cannot pass on to our children. She also worked on the first two Paddington films.Jordan Salama is an award-winning writer whose journalism at The New Yorker covers migration, culture and the environment across the Americas. His second book, Stranger in the Desert, follows his great-grandfather's trail as a Syrian Jewish travelling salesman in the Argentine Andes in the 1920s, beginning with a binder of family history discovered in his grandfather's basement. Jewish Book Week is London's longest running literary festival, hosted by the Jewish Literary Foundation. It attracts award-winning authors and thinkers every year for an exciting programme of debates, talks, and performances at Kings Place, London and online. Find out more here. Key TopicsArab Jews: why the term matters, why it's contested, and what it opens upJewish futures: a generational shift in who is telling these stories and why nowYour GuideJudeo-Iraqi Arabic: the Jewish dialect of Arabic spoken by Iraqi Jews, now critically endangeredKubba shwandar: Iraqi Jewish dumplings of lamb and rice, cooked in a sweet and sour beetroot sauceTurcos: the name given to Arabic-speaking Ottoman immigrants in Latin America, Jewish and Christian alikeWant to learn more?Samantha Ellis appeared previously in Season 2: S2E5 Endangered, Not Erased Explore related conversations on Iraqi/Sephardi identity:S3 E2 Plural and Partial with Linda Dangoor S2 E9 Echoes of Aden at the Table with Claudia Mendoza S1 E6 Other Within the Other with Carol IsaacsSupport the podcast!To help keep this project going:You can make a one-off donation of as little as £5 at Buy Me a Coffee, Or subscribe on Substack Find us elsewhere, here!Show creditsHost / Producer: Eylan EzekielPost-production: Communicating for ImpactArtwork: Emily TheodoreMusic: Aleksafor utransndr KarabanovSound effects: Serge Quadrado Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Labour is slaughtered in spite of promising ‘change' in a country desperate to move on from the failures of the past. But does Starmer - or potential successors - know what they mean by change? And does Farage?To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comYou can get the last few remaining tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London - this coming Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reform and the Greens are expected to make stunning gains in this week's elections. But will either party be ready to develop coherent and credible policies - in line with their very different values - by the time of the general election? It is the phase in the electoral cycle that is the toughest challenge of the lot.To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comYou can get the last few remaining tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special next week at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

King Charles delivered a perfectly pitched speech in Congress, with many barely coded messages. But will Trump, charmed by royalty, change his attitude to the elected government in the UK or to those in the rest of Europe? Plus Morgan McSweeney, Peter Mandelson, and the build up to the 2024 election.To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comYou can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here. And hurry, there are just a few left.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With another prime minister fighting for his political life, some commentators argue that the job has become impossible. Since 2016 there have been six prime ministers. But is the context suddenly impossibly challenging, or is that an excuse for weak or poor leadership?To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comYou can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics – The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we in the final days of Starmer's leadership, or is no potential successor ready to make a move? Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival this Saturday at 8pm. Tickets on the festival website. Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special is live at Kings Place on Monday May 11th. Tickets here. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did Starmer deliberately mislead parliament? No. Did Starmer make a terrible misjudgement in appointing Mandelson with a casual detachment? Yes. This was the plot of the first episode of this dark saga. It is also the plot of the latest eruption in the long running series, with many episodes to come.To join in the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comThe next Rock & Roll Politics live show will be at the Cambridge Literary Festival this Saturday, April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is no money, the economy is barely growing, the war in Iran will cost billions in Britain and there are demands on spending across public services. Yet there is a noisy clamour for huge increases in defence spending. Are the calls for defence to be a priority at the expense of all other demands justified? And what will be the legacies of a landslide Labour government if the investment priority is defence?To join in the never ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative, email steveric14@icloud.comThe next Rock & Roll Politics live show will be at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Hungary's general election the seemingly invincible Viktor Orban has suffered a heavy defeat. But are there any significant lessons for exposing the weaknesses of Reform and other right wing parties in Europe?The next Rock & Roll Politics live show will be at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month marks the fiftieth anniversary since James Callaghan became prime minister. There were many dramas punctuating his short rule in Number 10, but throughout the storms Callaghan showed skilfully how to manage his cabinets.Arguably his leadership marked the final phase of ‘Cabinet Government', but is it now returning under Keir Starmer?To join the never ending debate, send your emails to steveric14@icloud.comThe next Rock & Roll Politics live show will be at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The BBC has a new director general, but is he or his army of senior managers - conveniently detached from direct responsibility for the output - capable of answering a key question: What is the role of a publicly-funded broadcaster in the modern era?Plus, brilliant questions on GB News, the energy crisis and the government's economic policy - is there a hidden agenda?The next Rock & Roll Politics live show will be at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the York Literary Festival, host Steve Richards is joined by the former cabinet minister Alan Johnson to discuss three Labour Prime Ministers that have all won landslide election victories. But do they have much else in common? Listen now for a deep dive on Harold Wilson, Tony Blair and Keir Starmer.The next Rock & Roll Politics live show will be at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special at Kings Place in London on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The emails from the co-operative have been flying - so this podcast concentrates solely on the brilliant, illuminating never-ending debate. Today, a focus on the energy crisis, the media, Iran, and the continuing mysteries of Harold Wilson.Join the never-ending debate - send your emails to steveric14@icloud.comRock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special, at Kings Place on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Observer columnist Philip Collins argues that the future lies on the “centre ground” which he defines as spanning the Cameron government to Blairite Labour. But at a time when voters are impatient for sweeping change, is that outdated, misleading definition a guide for any party or leader/potential leader? And why does a more precise topical definition matter? Plus your thoughts on Michael Gove and Ed Milliband… and of course Iran.To join the never ending debate in the RocknRoll Politics podcast email steveric14@icloud.comGet tickets here for the York Book Festival with Steve Richards and Alan Johnson on Tuesday Mar 26th.Rock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics: The Election Special, at Kings Place on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the departure of Morgan McSweeney, the right in the media and well beyond detect that Ed Miliband has become the unofficial prime minister.  The Spectator editor Michael Gove has written an article on this theme, and is by no means alone. Apparently some of those making the same point used to work for Keir Starmer. But do Gove's arguments make much sense? Time again to forensically examine a single article. Get tickets here for the York Book Festival with Steve Richards and Alan Johnson on Tuesday March 24th. Rock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special, at Kings Place on Monday May 11th here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the departure of Morgan McSweeney, the right in the media and well beyond detect that Ed Miliband has become the unofficial prime minister. The Spectator editor Michael Gove has written an article on this theme, and is by no means alone. Apparently some of those making the same point used to work for Keir Starmer. But do Gove's arguments make much sense? Time again to forensically examine a single article.Get tickets here for the York Book Festival with Steve Richards and Alan Johnson on Tuesday March 24th.Rock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special, at Kings Place on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Energy prices soar and the British government watches on helplessly. If it were not energy costs, it might have been some other sector causing mayhem outside a single government's control. Which is why prime ministers and chancellors are being too clunky when promising to address the cost of living, even if - understandably - it tops the list of voters' concerns. Get tickets here for the York Book Festival with Steve Richards and Alan Johnson on Tuesday Mar 26th. Rock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special, at Kings Place on Monday May 11th here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Energy prices soar and the British government watches on helplessly. If it were not energy costs, it might have been some other sector causing mayhem outside a single government's control. Which is why prime ministers and chancellors are being too clunky when promising to address the cost of living, even if - understandably - it tops the list of voters' concerns.Get tickets here for the York Book Festival with Steve Richards and Alan Johnson on Tuesday Mar 26th.Rock & Roll Politics is at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.And you can get your tickets for Rock & Roll Politics -The Election Special, at Kings Place on Monday May 11th here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The release of the Mandelson documents shows the degree to which his appointment was a huge risk. Why did the lawyerly, cautious Starmer overrule the warnings and press ahead despite all the consequences?• Please join the co-operative's never ending debate: steveric14@icloud.com• Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on May 11th in the aftermath of the dramatic  elections. • Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.  • Subscribe to Patreon here for the main podcast a day early and ad free, plus bonus podcasts and exclusive live events. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The release of the Mandelson documents shows the degree to which his appointment was a huge risk. Why did the lawyerly, cautious Starmer overrule the warnings and press ahead despite all the consequences? • Please join the co-operative's never ending debate: steveric14@icloud.com • Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on May 11th in the aftermath of the dramatic  elections.  • Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.   • Subscribe to Patreon here for the main podcast a day early and ad free, plus bonus podcasts and exclusive live events. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leaks from a national security council meeting suggest cabinet ministers challenged the assumption that Trump should have the automatic right to access British military bases. The grown up discussion was portrayed by some newspapers as a sign of weakness, which says more about those newspapers than Starmer and his ministers. Isn't the Iran crisis showing that the ‘special relationship' is largely a humiliating one for Britain and needs to be challenged more fundamentally once the current crisis is in some way resolved? If resolution is possible…To join the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative email steveric14@icloud.com.Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th.Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on May 11 for post election special.Subscribe to Patreon to support the podcast and join the co-operative's elite wing.Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaks from a national security council meeting suggest cabinet ministers challenged the assumption that Trump should have the automatic right to access British military bases. The grown up discussion was portrayed by some newspapers as a sign of weakness, which says more about those newspapers than Starmer and his ministers. Isn't the Iran crisis showing that the ‘special relationship' is largely a humiliating one for Britain and needs to be challenged more fundamentally once the current crisis is in some way resolved? If resolution is possible… To join the never-ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative email steveric14@icloud.com. Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place on May 11 for post election special. Subscribe to Patreon to support the podcast and join the co-operative's elite wing. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keir Starmer has dared to question the Trump/Netanyahu attack on Iran, implying it is unlawful and without clear objective. An elected UK prime minister has chosen to think for himself rather than follow the US subserviently - and the right wing media and its parties cannot cope. Why?To join the never ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative email steveric14@icloud.comRock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here. And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here.Subscribe to Patreon for an elite co-operative and bonuses galore.Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer has dared to question the Trump/Netanyahu attack on Iran, implying it is unlawful and without clear objective. An elected UK prime minister has chosen to think for himself rather than follow the US subserviently - and the right wing media and its parties cannot cope. Why? To join the never ending debate in the Rock & Roll Politics co-operative email steveric14@icloud.com Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here.  And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for an elite co-operative and bonuses galore. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keir Starmer has said the “mistakes” of Iraq have been learnt and he has published the legal advice that justifies allowing the US to use British military bases in its attacks on Iran. But there were plenty of other “mistakes” in relation to Iraq – are they being repeated now?To join our never-ending debate email your latest thoughts to steveric14@icloud.com• Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here. • And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here.Support the podcast on Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer has said the “mistakes” of Iraq have been learnt and he has published the legal advice that justifies allowing the US to use British military bases in its attacks on Iran. But there were plenty of other “mistakes” in relation to Iraq – are they being repeated now? To join our never-ending debate email your latest thoughts to steveric14@icloud.com • Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here.  • And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here. Support the podcast on Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the end the Greens won the Gorton and Denton by-election with ease. Labour were third in one of their safest seats. Reform is no longer the only insurgent party of ‘change'. Given the restive mood of voters since the 2008 crash, should any of us be surprised by this - except for the Labour leadership following an outdated, shallow and confused strategy? Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here. And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the end the Greens won the Gorton and Denton by-election with ease. Labour were third in one of their safest seats. Reform is no longer the only insurgent party of ‘change'. Given the restive mood of voters since the 2008 crash, should any of us be surprised by this - except for the Labour leadership following an outdated, shallow and confused strategy?  Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here.  And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's by-election has become a big test for Labour, Reform and the Greens. The result is likely to have many consequences, but will it be much of a guide to what will happen in a general election?Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here. And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's by-election has become a big test for Labour, Reform and the Greens. The result is likely to have many consequences, but will it be much of a guide to what will happen in a general election? Rock & Roll Politics is live at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday April 25th. You can get tickets here.  And live at Kings Place on May 11th, days after the May elections: tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Already there is talk of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest triggering the biggest crisis for the royal family since the abdication. But is there much desire amongst most people to no longer be spellbound by what has always been a deeply flawed institution? The next live show at Kings Place is on May 11th, days after the elections. You can get tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad-free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Already there is talk of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest triggering the biggest crisis for the royal family since the abdication. But is there much desire amongst most people to no longer be spellbound by what has always been a deeply flawed institution?The next live show at Kings Place is on May 11th, days after the elections. You can get tickets here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad-free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Right wing commentators and newspapers suggest that with the fall of Morgan McSweeney and Keir Starmer fighting for survival, Labour will move to the left. Would that be the disaster they suggest it would be?Rock & Roll Politics is live on the 11th of May at Kings Place, just days after the May elections. It will be an epic night...Tickets are available here.Subscribe to Patreon here for the main podcast a day early and ad free, plus bonus podcasts and exclusive live events. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Right wing commentators and newspapers suggest that with the fall of Morgan McSweeney and Keir Starmer fighting for survival, Labour will move to the left. Would that be the disaster they suggest it would be? Rock & Roll Politics is live on the 11th of May at Kings Place, just days after the May elections. It will be an epic night...Tickets are available here. Subscribe to Patreon here for the main podcast a day early and ad free, plus bonus podcasts and exclusive live events. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first live show of 2026 we delve deep with the audience in the hall and on the live stream. We go back decades for much needed context and dare to look ahead, and White Van Man Andy makes a guest appearance. The next live show at Kings Place is on May 11th, days after the elections, and will be even more epic than this show.  You can get tickets here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first live show of 2026 we delve deep with the audience in the hall and on the live stream. We go back decades for much needed context and dare to look ahead, and White Van Man Andy makes a guest appearance.  The next live show at Kings Place is on May 11th, days after the elections, and will be even more epic than this show.  You can get tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Morgan McSweeney and - we now discover - Peter Mandelson shaped the Starmer leadership in the run up to the election and beyond. Now they are both gone. Inevitably this will lead to change and the first meaningful ‘reset' in a government of resets. But will it be under Starmer or his successor?Rock & Roll Politics is live and streaming this Wednesday, February 11th at the main concert hall in Kings Place. There are a few tickets left in the hall or to stream it online, and more to make sense of than ever. Get tickets here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Morgan McSweeney and - we now discover - Peter Mandelson shaped the Starmer leadership in the run up to the election and beyond. Now they are both gone. Inevitably this will lead to change and the first meaningful ‘reset' in a government of resets. But will it be under Starmer or his successor? Rock & Roll Politics is live and streaming this Wednesday, February 11th at the main concert hall in Kings Place. There are a few tickets left in the hall or to stream it online, and more to make sense of than ever. Get tickets here. Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free.  Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keir Starmer was not even an MP when Peter Mandelson was part of the New Labour project - a relatively small part. Yet he seems to have had considerable influence over the leadership of Starmer and Morgan McSweeney. Now it is Starmer who is in deep trouble over Mandelson, a figure who was last in government in 2010. How has this happened?Rock & Roll Politics is live at Kings Place next Wednesday. There are a few tickets left, and it will be quite a night in light of fast moving events. Tickets here.Subscribe to Patreon for live events, bonus podcasts and to get the regular podcast a day early and ad free. Written and presented by Steve Richards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first in-studio Empire Podcast of the year, following hot on the heels of our triumphant live episode at Kings Place, sees Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and John Nugent get together to discuss their New Year's resolutions and define what 'cinema' means for them in 2026; review 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, The Rip, and Rental Family, and discuss the week's movie news. Guest-wise, Chris has lovely chats with two twosomes — Ralph Fiennes and Chi Lewis-Parry (yes, back for more after the live show, even if this was recorded months before the live show) from 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and Rental Family's star/director duo, Brendan Fraser and Hikari. Oh, and James tells a joke. Enjoy!

It's been delayed by lurgy, but at last it's here, folks: the latest landmark in the Empire Podcast's epic journey, as we reach our 700th episode (not counting all the interview specials, spoiler specials, and sundry other specials). Recorded live, as is tradition, at Kings Place, London, on Friday January 9, it's a near three-hour odyssey of film-related fun, as Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Ben Travis talk about movie news (Avengers Doomsday trailers! Avatar box office! Tangled casting!), review Hamnet, Giant, and Song Sung Blue, and then take questions from our capacity crowd. And we have more guests than you could shake an Infinity Stone at, as Corin Hardy and Dafne Keen, director and star of new horror movie Whistle, drop by and try to kill our audience; director Bart Layton tells Alex Godfrey all about his new movie, Crime 101; Ben Wheatley returns to the live pod to chat with Beth Webb about his new mind-melting movie, Bulk; 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple stars Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry drop by to talk with Ben Travis about their infected follow-up; and the Russo Brothers themselves, Joe and Anthony, stop by (Joe on Zoom from Los Angeles) to say as much as they can about Avengers Doomsday without giving anything away. The guest interviews section runs from 50:22 - 2:22:36 [approx]. Thanks, as ever, to our guests for being so gracious with their time, everyone who made it happen, Kings Place, DNA for the great spot prizes, and you guys for supporting us through 700 episodes. We're only just getting warmed up. Enjoy!

Don't worry, folks — the Empire Podteam may be engaged elsewhere today (Friday, January 9), preparing to do the live show at Kings Place, London, that marks our 700th episode. But we'd never let you down, and let a Friday go without a dose of Empire Podcast goodness. Which brings us to this interview special, in which Helen O'Hara sits down on Zoom with Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, the stars of Chloe Zhao's emotionally devastating drama, Hamnet (in cinemas from today), about the tragedy that befell William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes; and then, as James Vanderbilt's WWII (well, post-WWII) drama, Nuremberg, hits Sky Cinema, we have a chat between Vanderbilt and Chris Hewitt about the former's determination to make the movie, and much, much more. Episode 700 will be in your feeds by the end of the weekend, but we hope this tides you over until then. Enjoy.

With the Empire Podcast team still in hibernation until the first show of 2026 (our live show at Kings Place, London, on Jan 9 — check kingsplace.co.uk for last-minute tickets), we're plugging the gap where the regular podcast would usually be with something a little different: a look ahead to the films of 2026, in which Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, and James Dyer sit down in the podbooth and, armed with nothing but a calendar, scant research, and some terrible opinions, talk about the films they're excited to see in the year ahead. It's all here, from the unexpected proliferation of sheep-based movies to the biggest box office double date since Barbenheimer: Dunesday. Enjoy — and Happy New Year to all our listeners!

The final Empire Podcast of the year is here, folks, and it's a bumper-sized jamboree, longer than usual and hopefully fit to tide you over until we return with Episode 700 (live from Kings Place) on January 11th. For the first time ever, the revolving fourth chair revolves wildly during the pod itself, so Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, and James Dyer are joined by John Nugent, to answer listeners' questions; Beth Webb, to review Avatar: Fire And Ash, Sentimental Value, Marty Supreme, and The Housemaid; and Alex Godfrey, who joins the team for the News section to pay an extended tribute to the great Rob Reiner, who was so senselessly and shockingly slain, along with his wife Michelle Singer Reiner, this week. Guest-wise, our stocking is truly stuffed, as Chris has lovely chats with Wake Up Dead Man star, and all-round legend, Glenn Close, and Avatar antagonist, Colonel Miles Quaritch himself, Stephen Lang; while Beth has a joyous sit-down with Marty Supreme director, Josh Safdie. We hope you enjoy it. Thanks so much for listening to and supporting the pod this year — Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and we'll see you in 2026.