The Standard

From The Standard Theatre Podcast Nancy and the Nicks review Jez Butterworth and Sam Mendes's production of The Hills of California at the Harold Pinter Theatre. To hear the full episode, which includes their interview with Felicity Huffman for Hir, click this link. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Businesses set to offer Friday discounts and deals. Which restaurants are promoting offers? Will cut-price deals tempt more people back into the city. Our City Hall & Transport Editor Ross Lydall reveals the businesses offering deals on Fridays so far, and discusses whether cut-price fares, food and drink will tempt people back into the office. In this episode:Revealed: The business offering deals alreadyWhy cafés and restaurants are ‘piggybacking’ off the mayor’s cut-price faresWill cheaper train and tube tickets win Sadiq Khan votes?The special Friday deal that would tempt Ross back to the cityFollow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this preview edition of our Brave New World, series Evgeny Lebedev describes his experience at a psychedelic retreat in Costa Rica where he encountered Ayahuasca, a plant-based brew used by indigenous healers. Psychedelics researcher Professor David Nutt also returns to the show to explain what’s happening to the mind when DMT is used and how some believe it can help with recovery from trauma. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London buskers audition to perform on the tube for the first time since pre-pandemic. TfL’s search for talent whose music “reflects the sounds of London”. Why busking on the tube is unlike any other gig. We speak with hopeful musicians hoping to secure a licence to perform on the London Underground. Plus, judge Anjali Perin explains what kind of musicians they’re looking for. In this episode:Audio and interviews with buskers: Francesco Masone, Cedar Rose Johnson, Aaron Wiggett and Hide TakemotoJudge Anjali Perin describes how buskers need to ‘adapt’ to changing mood on the tubeFollow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest YouGov poll shows the Labour candidate is on 49% and his Tory rival Susan Hall is on 24%. Patrick Diamond, Professor of Public Policy at Queen Mary University of London, outlines the three key areas that could impact Sadiq Khan's campaign, and explains why there needs to be a ‘more constructive relationship’ between London's mayor and central government. In this episode:Which key areas could dent Sadiq’s reelection hopes?How a Labour government could boost investment in LondonHow important will ULEZ be in the mayoral election race?What is Susan Hall’s ‘trump card’?Follow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sadiq Khan and Susan Hall each release statements calling for unity. Rishi Sunak condemns Lee Anderson’s remarks, but refuses to call them ‘Islamophobic’. Our Political Editor Nicholas Cecil discusses the mayoral candidates’ calls for unity, the ‘tense’ nature of UK politics in 2024, and why social media is making political division worse. In this episode:The Lee Anderson fallout explainedWhy UK politics are ‘very heated’ at the momentWhat next for Lee Anderson?How the Gaza conflict will continue to impact UK politicsFollow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anaïs Mitchell, the creator of Hadestown, joins us to chat the musical's return to London, and in a very special first for The Standard Theatre podcast, Mitchell played two songs from the show such as Way Down Hadestown. (To hear both songs listen to the full episode on The Standard Theatre Podcast.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Households in Britain will soon potentially be saving over £200 on those sky-high energy bills.Gas and electricity charges are set to fall by 12.3 per cent in April to their lowest level since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.Regulator Ofgem announced the cap for the average annual household dual fuel bill will be £1,690 - that’s a saving of £238 over one year, which applies to the April to June quarter.Plus, how City economists predict cutting the energy tariff cap will help inflation drop to as low as two per cent in April.Evening Standard business editor Jonathan Prynn has the latest in this episode of The Standard podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle faced a no confidence motion signed by some 59 MPs in a neutrality row over a Gaza ceasefire vote.He was under pressure over his handling of a tinderbox debate on an SNP motion that resulted in the passing of a Labour amendment - potentially helping Sir Keir Starmer head-off a rebellion among his own MPs.Chaos descended on the chamber as the motion was approved, with Scottish National Party and Conservative MPs walking out in protest.It came as crowds of protesters outside beamed pro-Palestine slogans on to Big Ben.Sir Lindsay said his actions were meant to help protect the safety of a number of MPs being targeted by activists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Popping up 600ft above London’s skyline, the BT Tower has been a West End landmark since the 1960s.Now, the once high-tech monolith that began its life as the Post Office Tower is being transformed into a hotel in a £275 million sale.BT has agreed to sell the nearly 60-year-old, Grade-II listed tower to American chain MCR Hotels, offering future punters the chance to sleep in the clouds.To find out more about this end of an era - and the beginning of a new one, we’re joined in the studio by the Evening Standard’s business editor Jonathan Prynn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.