The Standard

Taken from The Standard Theatre Podcast, hear deputy culture editor Nick Clark chat to Bafta-winner Joseph Fiennes for his role as Gareth Southgate in Dear England.This play has just opened in the West End after a sell-out run at the National Theatre.To hear the full episode click this link.For all the latest news head to standard.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rugby World Cup semi-finals 2023 are here. Only four teams remain in the competition and this weekend sees New Zealand face Argentina, while England take on the title holders, South Africa. The Springboks are the favourites but if this tournament has taught us anything it’s that nothing is guaranteed.The Standard’s Rugby Correspondent, Nick Purewal, joins us from France to discuss England's chances, the team power ranking, and whether or not this is the best South Africa team ever.In part two, we hear from the Evening Standard’s Rugby Podcast with Lawrence Dallaglio, as they look ahead to the semifinals, with Irish rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Curtis, Nancy Durrant and Nick Clark from our culture team run through the incredible shortlist for the 67th Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Showcasing the best productions and performances to grace the capital over the past 12 months. Find out all the details about the event, the stars attending, and most importantly, who is in the running for a highly coveted prize.Be sure to listen to the Standard's Theatre Podcast for all the latest news, reviews and interviews straight from Theatreland. New episodes drop every Sunday, make sure you follow so you never miss a thing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Afua Hirsch hit forty years old, she had an encounter that made her rethink her own, and society’s, attitudes towards body image and ancestry. That’s now the basis of her new book Decolonising My Body, which follows her year-long journey through what she calls “Radical Unlearning”.In this episode of the Standard, Sagal Mohammed talks to Afua about her book, and we have an exclusive extract from the audiobook version involving a life-changing encounter with Oprah Winfrey. You can find the video of this interview on our Youtube channel and there's also a further extract from the book at standard.co.ukExtracted from ‘Decolonising My Body: a Radical Exploration of Rituals and Beauty’, by Afua Hirsch, published by Square Peg at £20. Copyright Afua Hirsch 2023 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday as concerns grow that the Israel-Hamas conflict could expand into a larger regional conflict.It’s whilst the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip becomes more dire, the UN says a million Gazans have already been displaced by Israeli airstrikes. Power is out, drinking water is running scarce, and fuel supplies for hospital generators are low.Our Defence Editor, Robert Fox, shares his insight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a growing humanitarian crisis at the crossing point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt as more than a million people, including many Britons, desperately head south to flee air raids and threatened imminent Israeli invasion.Rafah border crossing is currently the Palestinians’ only route out of the enclave, with Hamas, Egypt and Israel all having a degree of control over who can pass through it.Anthony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said on Sunday the crossing would open to allow aid in and evacuation of some foreign passport holders - but Cairo says Tel Aviv’s not cooperating.Now, thousands of people have gathered at the border in a bid to flee Gaza, which has been cut off since Hamas gunmen launched a wave of deadly, torturous terror attacks and hostage snatches in Israel to spark the crisis.Latest with Evening Standard political editor Nicholas Cecil.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a cut down bonus episode taken from our business podcast, How to be a CEO.Charlie Bigham is the founder of the food company that bears his own name. Created in 1996 in his own kitchen, it now employs 700 people and sells dishes from chicken and mushroom pies you put in the oven to pan-fried Pad Thais. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s two decades since the launch of the contemporary art fair that secured London’s place at the centre of the modern creative world.Frieze London celebrates 20 years since its first event for high-end art buyers who’ve got at least a few thousand - and much more - to splurge.As well as the contemporary fair in Regent’s Park with works by artists including Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Yinka Shonibare and Grayson Perry.Meanwhile, this year’s event marks a new campaign backed by the Standard to salute the capital’s successes in the arts, called London Creates.It was established to promote the our visual arts scene and is being supported by Mayor Sadiq Khan and artists including, Gilbert and George.The influential Spitalfields-based duo contributed two special collector’s editions Evening Standard ‘Art for All’ front pages.This episode with Frieze London director Eva Langret and Evening Standard arts correspondent Robert Dex. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London relatives of pensioners kidnapped by Hamas in Israel told how their elderly parents were forced from their beds and taken to Gaza as hostages.Noam Sagi, whose 75-year-old mother, Ada, along with Sharone Lifschitz’s mum and dad, aged 83 and 85, were kidnapped as squads of heavily-armed Hamas gunmen launched terror attacks across southern Israel.The British-Israelis spoke out to highlight the desperate plight of 17 Britons, including children, are dead or missing - while at the London press conference it was revealed a six-month-old baby is among Hamas captives.As Israel’s war with Hamas escalates with retaliatory rockets pounding the Gaza Strip and infrastructure’s cut off for Palestinians living there, what now the military strategy - and chances of rescuing what’s believed to be around 150 hostages? In-depth analysis with Evening Standard defence editor Robert Fox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The glamour of international air travel is bouncing back - and Heathrow Airport bosses say they’ve got the passenger numbers to prove it.LHR revealed on Wednesday that the number of travellers was back above pre-pandemic levels for the first time.Airport bosses say more than seven million passengers took off or landed over September, soaring past 2019’s figures of nearly 6.8 million travellers.The Leader podcast’s joined by Evening Standard business editor Jonathan Prynn.Plus, latest on a major fire sparked by an exploding car at Luton Airport, where five people were taken to hospital and firefighters spent 12 hours battling the flames.Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service say their current hypothesis is the blaze started accidentally in the £20million Terminal Car Park Two. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.