Best of the Spectator

With James Forsyth and Katy Balls.Presented by Cindy Yu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson.Presented by Lara Prendergast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Theresa May prepares to unveil her Brexit deal, we ask: just how bad is it, and what happened to ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’ (00:50)? In the American midterms, the Blue Wave didn’t happen, but Democrats did take control of the House of Representatives – what next for Trump’s presidency (17:15)? And last, as we approach Remembrance Sunday, who are the lives we are remembering, and is it time to move on (28:10)?With James Forsyth, Charles Grant, Kate Andrews, Leslie Vinjamuri, Liz Hunt, and Glyn Prysor.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Geoff Dyer, one of our most wayward and wittiest writers, about his new book Broadsword Calling Danny Boy, a frame-by-frame discussion of the classic war movie Where Eagles Dare. Learn from Geoff about the importance of squinting in Clint Eastwood’s thespian toolbox, about the joy of snow-patrol Action Man, about why he shied away from plans for "Alistair MacLean: A Critical Reappraisal", and about why on earth Geoff would follow a learned book about Tarkovsky’s Stalker with a discussion of a piece of late-60s schlock. Plus: what happens when you get on the wrong side of Julian Barnes.Presented by Sam Leith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The young atheist writer Guy Stagg threw in his job a few years ago to undertake a pilgrimage to Jerusalem via Rome - choosing a hazardous medieval route across the Alps. It nearly killed him: at one stage, trying to cross a broken bridge in Switzerland, he ended up partially submerged in the water, held up only by his rucksack. On this week’s Holy Smoke podcast, Guy explains why his journey was a pilgrimage, not just travels. And Damian talks to Harry Mount, editor of The Oldie, why he’s irresistibly drawn to church buildings while remaining an unbeliever - albeit an agnostic rather than an atheist.Presented by Damian Thompson.Produced by Connor O'Hara and Cindy Yu.This episode was first released in July this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Fraser Nelson and James Forsyth.Presented by Lara Prendergast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Spectator Radio's newest addition - Table Talk. Each episode, Olivia Potts and Lara Prendergast will be joined by a guest familiar to Spectator readers. Lara and Livvy will discuss their life story, through the food and drink that has come to define it.For our inaugural episode, Livvy and Lara are joined by Prue Leith: chef, restaurateur, broadcaster, journalist, novelist and, of course, Great British Bake Off presenter. They chat about her time in South Africa and Paris, and how that helped shape her attitude to food. She comes clean about some of her cooking mishaps, making sandwiches for both toffs and builders, being the first woman to have a proper restaurant in London, why she hates washing up, and her first cookbook in 25 years, Prue: My All-time Favourite Recipes.We do hope you’ll enjoy this new addition to Spectator Radio. We’ve got more episodes coming up, including interviews with Sophia Money-Coutts, Bryony Gordon and the Spectator’s editor, Fraser Nelson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Angela Merkel steps down as party leader – what was her legacy and can the EU project survive without her (00:40)? We also discuss whether WhatsApp has made it harder for MPs to plot (12:25); and last, should Brits be allowed to forage wild mushrooms (22:50)?With Douglas Murray, Sophie Pedder, Katy Balls, Paul Staines, Stewart Jackson, Daniel Butler, and Josh Barrie.Presented by Lara Prendergast.Produced by Cindy Yu and Alastair Thomas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Spectator Books, Sam talks to Ben Schott. The author of Schott's Miscellany, Ben's literary productions have taken an unexpected turn with the publication this week of his first novel. Jeeves and the King of Clubs is a tribute or companion piece to P G Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster novels, published with the authorisation of the Wodehouse estate. What the hell was he thinking? Ben comes clean -- and also talks about the joys of nerdiness, the difficulty of living up to Plum, and the Spectator's role in the whole story.Presented by Sam Leith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was Philip Hammond's Budget a reckless splurge, or a shrewd political budget that draws a new dividing line with Jeremy Corbyn? In this special podcast, Fraser Nelson talks to James Forsyth and Richard Buxton, Head of Merian Global Investors. We discuss why business is actually more afraid of Corbyn than Brexit, and how Hammond's budget is as good as can be expected at this point in time.Sponsored by Merian Global Investors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.