The Standard

Is Sadiq Khan set for a smooth victory? How significant is Ulez for London voters? Will national politics influence voters? Our City Hall Editor Ross Lydall explains how he believes the 2024 mayoral election will unfold, and considers the factors that will make or break Sadiq Khan’s attempt to secure an historic third term as mayor. In this episode:Why this year’s mayoral election could be quite straight forwardCould national politics influence voters?Why the ULEZ expansion could be ‘the dog that may never bark’What would Ross do if he became Mayor?Follow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hospitality industry rakes in £46 billion to beat pre-pandemic income. How Beyoncé and The Weeknd brought huge numbers to the capital. Why are indy venues struggling to stay afloat? Our Local Democracy Reporter Noah Vickers explains the capital’s economic boost, and Arts Correspondent Robert Dex explains why smaller music venues are on a knife-edge. In this episode:Post-pandemic boom down to increased public confidenceWhy inflation suggests the sector’s still behindHow big events like Glasto hamper small music venuesWhy London’s at risk of losing musical talentFollow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The best way to deal with Blue Monday 2024? Book your escape! Our Lifestyle Director Suzannah Ramsdale reveals where to go on holiday this year: The under-the-radar Greek island to explore, Sweden’s eco-friendly floating cabins, the new 2,090-mile bike trail across the Balkans and more. In this episode:‘Cool-cations’: why people are heading to cooler destinations Why Bhutan is the place to go for a truly eco-escapeThe Caribbean island everyone forgets aboutWhy London could have a bumper year for tourismFollow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Culture editor, Nancy Durrant, and chief theatre critic, Nick Curtis, review Macbeth starring David Tennant at the Donmar Warehouse.This is a special cut-down episode taken from The Standard Theatre Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine Tate’s famed for her eponymous sketch show, roles in the American version of The Office and as Donna Noble, Doctor Who’s outspoken companion.Now, Bloomsbury-born Tate is bringing a very London story to life - the Enfield poltergeist.Tate’s appearing in The Enfield Haunting at the Ambassadors Theatre, co-starring David Threlfall, famous as Frank Gallagher in Channel’s 4’s Shameless.In this special edition of the Standard podcast, you’ll hear the Evening Standard’s chief theatre critic and co-host of our Theatre Podcast, Nick Curtis, in conversation with Tate on-stage at the West End playhouse.They also discuss BBC’s Doctor Who, her years of collaboration with David Tennant, the sci-fi show’s reboot with new Time Lord played by Ncuti Gatwa, plus a certain well-known catchphrase. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London is in the grip of a shoplifting epidemic with a huge spike in crimes over the past year.In this episode, the Evening Standard's crime correspondent Anthony France reports how store theft in the capital now costs retailers over £9 million each month as offences soared by almost 50 per cent.The head of the British Retail Consortium says “violence, abuse and theft are all significantly up on pre-Covid levels”.At the same time, Londoners with high-value watches continue to be targeted in increasingly violent robberies - and we’ll have more on this in part two of the Standard podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishi Sunak reveals the Government will introduce emergency legislation to exonerate and compensate hundreds of sub-postmasters wrongly convicted in the Horizon IT scandal.The Standard podcast hears the latest developments in part one with our political editor Nicholas Cecil at Parliament. Then in part two, senior features writer Katie Strick recounts the harrowing story of an innocent London former Post Office manager who was among victims jailed and later exonerated.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan appears to have signalled the start of the 2024 race for City Hall.The mayor’s promised free school meals for all primary school children in the capital to continue as his £140 million flagship policy if he wins a third mayoral termKhan's pledge is echoed by his Conservative rival Susan Hall to help parents struggling with the cost of living crisis.It’s marks a countdown to the mayoral elections in 2 May, which includes the capital's voters going to the polls to elect London Assembly members.The announcement came after a week of Tube strikes by the RMT union in a pay dispute was only averted on Sunday after £30 million was found - but no one’s giving a straight answer about where the mystery money’s come from.The Standard podcast has the latest from City Hall editor Ross Lydall and local democracy reporter Noah Vickers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hollywood stars were out for the 81st Golden Globes - and we’ve got the highlights and red carpet gossip for you.The ceremony’s short-notice host was comedian Jo Koy, taking the helm for the first time - but some of his jokes fell pretty flat, with one particular lead balloon sparking a ‘death stare’ from Taylor Swift in the celeb-packed audience.So, who went home from the Beverly Hills Hilton with another trophy for the cabinet, and who left the three-hour ceremony disappointed?Plus, discover the contents of the celeb goody bags reportedly worth $500,000.The Standard podcast’s joined by Evening Standard celebrity correspondent Tina Campbell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oklahoma! actor Patrick Vaill - who plays scientist Dr Brenner as a young man in the stage adaptation of Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre - joins us to discuss everything from the ‘Upside Down’.This interview is taken from The Standard Theatre Podcast and was recorded in December when the West End show opened.Vaill’s role was made famous in the Netflix sci-fi horror series by Hollywood star Matthew Modine - who’s also a Standard Theatre podcast alum.To hear Vaill’s full interview, click here.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.