The rocket returns

Commentator and author, Paul Embery joins the Planet Normal rocket alongside Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan to discuss what he sees as the Labour Party’s big problem: losing working-class voters. Plus, you’re never more than two metres away from discussion of the lockdown on Planet Normal - Paul tells us why he thinks the latest coronavirus restrictions haven’t been subjected to enough scrutiny.Also on the podcast: Allison calculates just how few freedoms we have left, Liam makes the case for healthy discussion on alternative solutions to the UK’s covid crisis and the pair wonder if they can keep up dry January amid a deluge of bad news.Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Do you need help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |Get 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Jan 202159min

As we say goodbye to 2020, Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan take a trip down memory lane and look back at an extraordinary year with some of our star guests that have featured on Planet Normal. From our first guest, Alan Johnson giving his verdict on schools returning after lockdown to Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of M16 telling us that he believes that coronavirus started as an accident.Also on the podcast, as we try to bring some joy at the end of a rollercoaster year, singer and actress Patti Boulaye spreads some much-needed happiness. Patti reveals how she accidentally auditioned for 'Hair' the musical, why being part of the Queen's diamond jubilee was the highpoint of her career and Patti treats us to a brief performance! Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Do you need help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |Get 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normalSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 Des 20201h 23min

Bake Off host Prue Leith puts on her spaceboots to join Planet Normal this week to tell Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why she believes older people should not be a priority for the vaccine (including herself), that she's confident the restaurant industry will bounce back, and her scandalous secret to good custard (spoiler: it involves the shop-bought stuff!)Also on the podcast: Allison and Liam discuss the reaction to the new strain of the virus, Allison reveals that you wouldn't want to mess with her when it comes to monopoly, and we listen to some of your voicemails with your New Year government policies. Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Do you need help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |Get 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normalSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 Des 202055min

Former Australian diplomat, Mark Higgie joins Planet Normal this week to tell Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why he's got a good feeling about a Brexit trade deal, why it's inaccurate to dress 'no deal' up as 'Australian' and why he urges extreme caution in doing trade deals with China.Also on the podcast: Allison reveals how a well-placed NHS source says there is no real evidence for the whole of London to go into tier three restrictions, Liam speaks out against a potential Covid Christmas u-turn and we get an update from listener, Robert on a very happy reunion with his wife, Josephine in her care home. We're giving Planet Normal listeners the chance to feature on our Christmas podcasts. We want you to record a fifteen second voicemail message telling us why you love your trips to Planet Normal and suggesting one policy you think this government should adopt. All you need to do is call 07867 162 170 and leave a voicemail. Remember to tell us your name and where you're calling from! Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Do you need help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Get 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17 Des 20201h

As a Brexit deal floats on thin ice, we take a dive into the fishing industry and speak to Brian Stuart from Fraserburgh in Scotland, who's been a fisherman for over two decades. Brian tells Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why his fellow Scottish fisherman want Brexit at any cost, how they despair of the Common Fisheries Policy and why you have to be a bit mad to choose to spend your day on choppy waters!Also on the podcast, Liam explains why he thinks the vaccine is the Great Barrington Declaration in disguise, Allison feels let down by the mainstream media reporting of the pandemic and our presenters treat us to their best Maggie Thatcher impressions. Speak to Allison, Liam and your other favourite Telegraph writers by taking part in our charity phone-in. Call 0800 117 118 between 10.30am and 2.30pm on Sunday 13 December.|Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Do you need help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Get 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Des 202059min

Matthew Goodwin, academic, author and Brex-pert takes his seat in the spaceship to Planet Normal, alongside Telegraph columnists and co-pilots, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. Professor Goodwin weighs in on why he thinks Boris Johnson urgently needs to 'reset his premiership', the very real possibility of a Labour-SNP coalition, and why he believes both Brexiteers and Remainers will blame each other for post-Brexit economic disruption.Also on the podcast: Liam laments the oncoming 'unemployment tsunami', Allison takes a stand against Christmas housework and both our hosts celebrate the Pfizer vaccine.Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Do you need help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Get 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Des 202059min

Broadcaster Richard Madeley dons the spare spacesuit for this week's trip to Planet Normal. Richard tells Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why he won't be blindly "following the science" but interrogating it, reveals why he feels let down by his profession when it comes to corona, and explains how his whole life was changed by the twist of a Rubix cube.Also on the podcast: Allison is fed up of being told that 'Christmas is saved', Liam breaks down the recent spending review and worries the economy could also suffer from 'long covid' and one of our presenters treats listeners to a festive musical interlude!Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Do you need help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Get 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Nov 20201h

Conservative MP, Steve Baker makes his debut Planet Normal voyage in this turbulent week in politics. As the deputy chair of the Covid Recovery Group, a group of Tory MPs against lockdowns, he tells Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why a third lockdown could lead to an "enormous rebellion" in Parliament, why the PM must challenge SAGE more stringently and why he believes that Dominic Cummings leaving Downing Street won't impact upon Brexit. Also on the podcast: Allison queries whether now is the right time for the Government's green agenda, and Liam brings a 'Deal or No Deal' Brexit update and has a stark warning for the PM if he neglects the Red Wall voters that won him the last election.Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Do you need help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Get 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Nov 202058min