The Story

As Britain becomes the first country to embark on a mass Covid-19 vaccination programme, Stories of our times have been given exclusive access to new polling showing just how difficult that task might be for the government. We hear from those who carried out the research about why more than a quarter of the UK’s population are 'vaccine hesitant', while 12% simply will not be vaccinated at all. Meanwhile, an expert on vaccine communication strategies explains what more can be done to tackle the misinformation that’s driving so many people to consider avoiding the coronavirus vaccine. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:-Dr Phillip Lee, a GP who is also a former Conservative MP who defected to the Lib Dems over Brexit.-Thomas Borwick helped to run the Vote Leave campaign and set up get your jabs.com.-Heidi Larson, Professor of anthropology at London school of hygiene and tropical medicine. Professor Larson also founded The Vaccine Confidence Project to help fight global anti-vaccination information.Host: Manveen Rana.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cameron Wellington, a teenager from Walsall, died on November 19th after catching coronavirus. He left a devastated family behind, but could lives like his have been saved if the UK’s second national lockdown had taken place earlier? The Sunday Times Insight team have published a major investigation into the government’s handling of the second wave, and the false dichotomy between saving the economy and saving lives. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Read the Insight team's investigation here.Guests:Jane and Norman Wellington, parents of Cameron Wellington.George Arbuthnott, Deputy Editor, Sunday Times Insight. Jonathan Calvert, Editor, Sunday Times Insight. Host: Manveen Rana.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group filed for administration last week we trace the rise and fall of the former 'king of the high street'. Is this the final nail in the coffin of his retail empire? The Sunday Times’s business editor Oliver Shah, a man who’s written the book when it comes to Sir Philip, shares the stories of his working relationship and what went wrong for the tycoon.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Oliver Shah, Sunday Times business editor.Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips used: BBC, Iconic, Sky News, New York Magazine.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The leading Catholic school Ampleforth College has been temporarily banned by the government from taking on new pupils because of safety concerns. The boarding school is challenging a poor Ofsted report but the government said it was too slow in making improvements highlighted by repeated inspections dating back to March 2018. How did the school get here and what will happen now?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:Sian Griffiths, Education and families editor for The Sunday Times.A30, a former pupil at Ampleforth.Robin Dyer, Headmaster of Ampleforth College.Host: David Aaronovitch.Links to useful charities:Rape Crisis for England and Wales, NSPCC, Safeline, The Survivors Trust.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All this week, rainbow coloured bootlaces and armbands are being worn by football players nationwide. This is to mark the Premier League's annual 'rainbow laces' campaign in support of the LGBT+ community. As well as being a celebration of inclusion, the campaign serves as a reminder of the absence of openly gay professional male footballers in the sport. Why is this still the case?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Rebecca is a sports reporter and feature writer for the Times and Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips used: Football Daily, Kick It Out, BBC Three, ITV.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June, the charismatic leader of the Nkuringo gorilla group was killed by a poacher. The incident shocked the conservation community and caused an international outcry. How has the death of Rafiki affected the human and gorilla communities in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest? And is the pandemic responsible for a rise in poaching?This episode is in support of Tusk, one of three charities backed by The Times and Sunday Times Christmas Appeal.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests:Jane Flanagan, Africa correspondent for The Times.Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, wildlife vet and founder and CEO of Conservation for Public Health.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips used: Tusk.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah will speak at a High Court inquest into the death of her daughter Ella who died following an asthma attack in 2013. She believes it was the high levels of pollution that caused her daughters death. If the coroner rules that air pollution directly caused Ella's death, she would become the first person in the UK and possibly the world to have that listed on her death certificate.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.You can read more about The Times clean air campaign here.Guests: Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, Ella’s mother.Ben Webster, Times Environment editor.Charlie Parker, Times trainee reporter.Host: Manveen Rana.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When news broke of the assassination of the head of Iran’s nuclear programme the details suggested an operation straight out of an action film. The Iranian government’s story however was very different and involved remote controlled weapons. Yet, the question remained: who was behind the operation and what does it mean for Middle Eastern politics?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guests: Anshel Pfeffer, Times Israel correspondent.Holly Dagres, non-resident fellow at the Washington based think tank, the Atlantic council. Host: Manveen Rana. Clips used: BBC, Channel 4, CNN, France 24, MSNBC, Sky.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week the UK approved its first coronavirus vaccine for widespread use. With the end now clearly in sight, does the government's current plan for a relaxation of restrictions over Christmas still make sense?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Stephen Reicher, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of St Andrews. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Times Radio, BBC Radio.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday at the High Court, a judgement was passed that could have major implications for the treatment of children at gender identity clinics.We speak to two people with very different perspectives: Keira Bell, the 23-year-old who detransitioned and is at the centre of the case; and the mother of a young transgender man, who thinks the court made the wrong decision.Guests:Sian Griffiths, education and families editor, The Sunday Times.Keira Bell, one of the people at the centre of the High Court decision.Jo, the parent of a young transgender man who was also treated at the Tavistock clinic. Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Sky News.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.