
Red Lines
The back-stop’s here? Bad puns with top political coverage from Northern Ireland. Red Lines brings you essential analysis and commentary by BBC NI’s politics team.
Latest episodes

May 20, 2020 • 30min
Top Trumps
Mark Carruthers chats to the new US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland With analysis from Mark Devenport.

May 13, 2020 • 35min
Getting your steps up
Mark Carruthers is joined by regulars Gareth Gordon and John Campbell, BBC NI Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly, and former political advisers Tom Kelly and Guto Harri.

May 6, 2020 • 29min
How the dealin's done
Mark Carruthers is joined by former British Ambassador to the US and Germany, Sir Christopher Meyer, and the Former Irish Ambassador to the UK and Italy, Bobby McDonagh and the BBC's Europe Editor, Katya Adler.

Apr 29, 2020 • 28min
Briefing encounters
Mark Carruthers is joined by John Sergeant, Polly Toynbee and Guto Harri to talk communicating with the public during a pandemic.

Apr 22, 2020 • 29min
Crisis Critique
Mark & his guests discuss how politicians are reacting to the coronavirus pandemic.

Apr 8, 2020 • 28min
Frontline reporting from the back garden
Mark Carruthers is joined by regulars Mark Devenport, John Campbell and Enda McClafferty, along with RTE's Legal Affairs turned Covid 19 correspondent, Orla O'Donnell.

Apr 1, 2020 • 27min
Lock-in vs Lockdown
Mark Carruthers is joined by RTE's Miriam O'Callaghan, writer Declan Lawn and BBC NI Political Editor Mark Devenport to look at how society and is dealing with lockdown.

Mar 25, 2020 • 27min
Asking the right questions?
Discussing the interactions between media & politicians during the coronavirus outbreak

Mar 18, 2020 • 24min
RHI: Every single jot and tittle
Mark is joined by Conor Macauley, Mary Kelly & Stephen Grimason to examine the RHI report

Mar 11, 2020 • 25min
Capitol Gains
Mark, Gareth, Enda & Mary chat St Patrick's Day trips to the USA.