Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast
Ian Hislop and Private Eye magazine venture into the world of audio with Page 94, hosted by Andrew Hunter Murray. Available from Private Eye at www.private-eye.co.uk as well as on Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon and many other audio platforms.
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Recent Episodes
187: Feel The Burnham
Jul 28, 2026The team discuss how Andy Burnham’s social media is annoying the ‘lobby’; the mad debate over North Sea drilling continues; and how to make the new PM funny.
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This episode of Page 94 explores Andy Burnham's first week as Prime Minister, focusing on his revolutionary social media strategy that bypasses traditional lobby journalists in favor of direct-to-public content creation. The panel discusses how Burnham is reimagining political communication through Instagram, TikTok, and influencer partnerships, while also examining his early policy announcements on North Sea drilling, prisons, and his approach to governance that combines left-wing messaging with pragmatic centrism.
- Burnham's Social Media Revolution and the Lobby Bypass
- Why Burnham's Strategy Works Where Sunak's Failed
186: Fa-rage Against The Machine
Jul 14, 2026The team (with guest Jane Mackenzie) discuss Nigel Farage's by-election gamble, the latest military procurement disasters, and the lowdown on Prince Harry’s trial against the Mail.
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A comprehensive discussion of major UK political and legal developments, focusing on Nigel Farage's by-election controversy over undeclared donations, the growing influence of right-wing populist politics, serious issues with defense procurement, and Prince Harry's comprehensive legal defeat against the Daily Mail. The episode examines accountability in politics, the dysfunction of British military spending, and the decline of traditional celebrity journalism.
- Farage's By-Election and Donation Scandal
- Rupert Lowe and the American Right-Wing Ecosystem
185: Manc To The Future
Jun 30, 2026Ian, Helen, Andy and Richard Brooks discuss Andy Burnham’s vision for Britain (AKA Even Greater Manchester), the non-existent ban on air-conditioning, and a new book on Emperor Trump.
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In this episode of Page 94, Andrew Hunter-Murray joins Ian Hislop, Helen Lewis, and Richard Brooks to discuss Andy Burnham's vision for Britain as he positions himself for a potential Prime Minister run. The panel examines his plans for regional devolution and reindustrialization through the lens of past failures, particularly in Teesside. They also debate the air conditioning culture war, climate policy, and dissect a revealing new book about Trump's second term that shows how he's operating an increasingly imperial presidency with minimal constraints.
- Andy Burnham's Prime Ministerial Pitch and Regional Devolution
- The Teesside Warning: When Regional Power Goes Wrong
184: Coup What A Scorcher
Jun 24, 2026The Private Eye team, minus Andy but plus Matt Muir, wave a sad farewell to Keir Starmer and prepare themselves for Andy Burnham and the Burnaissance. Also: is Nigel Farage running out of steam?
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This special episode of Page 94 covers the dramatic resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer following Labour's defeat in the Mayfield by-election to Andy Burnham. The panel dissects Starmer's brief tenure, the state of British politics, the rise of right-wing parties, and what the future holds under a potential Burnham premiership. The discussion ranges from Starmer's achievements and failures to the digital campaign landscape and the challenges facing the next Labour leader.
- Keir Starmer's Resignation: Timing and Tone
- Why Starmer Failed: The Charisma Deficit and Establishment Problem
183: Fight! Fight! Fight!
Jun 16, 2026The team (plus guest Sarah Shannon) catch up on the latest White House cage fight, on the World Cup, on the USA and Iran's actual fight, and on the British fight for the right between Reform and Resto...
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This episode covers the spectacle of a UFC cage fight on the White House lawn during Trump's 80th birthday celebrations, the complicated 2025 FIFA World Cup plagued by visa issues and commercialization, and the rise of far-right party Restore threatening to split conservative votes in the Makerfield by-election while traditional media outlets struggle to maintain relevance.
- Trump's White House UFC Spectacle
- The Iran Deal and Trump's Foreign Policy
182: Make Hay
Jun 02, 2026The team record a special episode from the Hay Festival. Featuring Tony Blair, Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon, and all your other - favourite? - characters from the news.
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A live episode of Page 94 (the Private Eye podcast) recorded at the Hay Festival, featuring Helen Lewis, Adam Ramsay, and Ian Hislop discussing current political turmoil in the UK and US. The discussion ranges from Tony Blair's intervention in the Labour leadership contest, to Peter Murrell's embezzlement scandal, Trump's chaotic second term, and the state of political discourse in an age of social media-driven anger.
- Tony Blair's Intervention and Labour's Identity Crisis
- Peter Murrell's Embezzlement and SNP Scandal
181: And The Winner Is...
Jun 01, 2026You've heard the stories. You've admired the piles of paper in the Eye office (video viewers only). And now it's time to learn which brilliant story has won this year's Paul Foot Award!
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This episode of the Private Eye podcast features the announcement of the 2026 Paul Foot Award, presented by editor Ian Hislop. The award, named after the legendary campaigning journalist Paul Foot, recognizes outstanding investigative journalism. Peter Gagan and Khadija Sharif won for their investigative work, with Hislop emphasizing Paul Foot's legacy of making serious journalism both entertaining and accessible while maintaining its integrity and importance.
- Introduction and Paul Foot's Legacy
- The Importance of Making Journalism Entertaining
180: PAUL FOOT 2026: THE PINCH-OF-SALT PATH
May 30, 2026Chloe Hadjimatheou of the Observer looked into a beloved, million-selling bestseller, The Salt Path, and found the book arguably fit the 'fiction' shelves better.
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Private Eye journalist Chloe Hedgmouth-O investigates 'The Salt Path,' a bestselling memoir by Raina Winn (legally Sally Walker) that was marketed as 'unflinchingly honest' by Penguin. The book tells the story of a couple who lose their home and face a terminal illness diagnosis, then walk 630 miles of Britain's southwest coastal path, leading to a miraculous health recovery. Through investigative journalism, Hedgmouth-O uncovered significant discrepancies between the memoir's claims and reality, including alleged financial fraud, misrepresented circumstances around the home loss, and serious questions about the authenticity of the terminal illness diagnosis.
- The Salt Path Memoir and Its Success
- The Initial Tip-Off and Investigation Begins
179: PAUL FOOT 2026: UNSAFE CONVICTIONS
May 29, 2026Adam Bychawski reported on how people who've been wrongly imprisoned - sometimes for many years - are still not being compensated even after they've overturned their convictions, thank to a 2014 chang...
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Journalist Adam Bahawsky investigates the UK's broken compensation scheme for wrongly convicted individuals, revealing how a 2014 law change made it virtually impossible for exonerated people to receive compensation. Despite having their convictions overturned, victims now must prove their innocence beyond reasonable doubt—reversing the burden of proof and resulting in a 94% rejection rate for compensation claims.
- Origins of the Investigation
- The 2014 Law Change That Changed Everything
178: PAUL FOOT 2026: HARD LABOUR
May 28, 2026Peter Geoghegan and Khadija Sharife uncovered how Labour Together - the think-tank which helped make Keir Starmer PM - had hired a PR firm to try and discredit journalists asking them questions about ...
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Peter Gagan, editor of Democracy for Sale, discusses his investigation into how Labour Together, the organization behind Keir Starmer's rise to power, hired PR firm APCO Worldwide to investigate and discredit journalists who reported on their £730,000 in undeclared political donations. The story reveals an unusually aggressive response to negative press coverage, involving surveillance of journalists and attempts to undermine their credibility, ultimately leading to the resignation of Labour MP Josh Simons from his Cabinet Office position.
- Labour Together's Origins and Morgan McSweeney's Rise
- The Undeclared Funding Scandal
177: PAUL FOOT 2026: RAAC AND RUIN
May 27, 2026Lindsay Bruce of the Aberdeen Press and Journal fought for justice for homeowners facing ruin after they learned their homes were full of dodgy concrete. Her campaign eventually led to a complete surr...
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Lindsay Bruce from the Aberdeen Press and Journal discusses her Paul Foot Award-shortlisted investigation into the RAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) crisis affecting 500 homes in Aberdeen. Her 'Trapped by RAC' campaign successfully pressured authorities to offer homeowners fair compensation after they faced potential bankruptcy and homelessness when their homes were deemed unsafe due to crumbling concrete roofs.
- Understanding the RAC Crisis
- The Human Cost of the Crisis
176: PAUL FOOT 2026: A PROVEN LAWYER
May 26, 2026Daniel Timms of the Sheffield Tribune tells the story of the solicitor who used legal loopholes to extract sums of £25,000 from Yorkshire homeowners. Part of Private Eye's Paul Foot Award 2026 shortli...
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This episode of Page 94's Paul Foot Award mini-series features Daniel Timms from the Sheffield Tribune discussing his investigation into solicitor Andrew Milne, who threatened homeowners with legal action after buying their freeholds, in some cases extracting over £25,000. The story reveals systematic exploitation of Sheffield's unusual leasehold system, regulatory failures by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority, and the challenges of local investigative journalism in the face of legal threats.
- The Freehold Exploitation Scheme
- Questionable Legal Breaches and Unjustified Damages
175: PAUL FOOT 2026: CUTTING CORNERS
May 25, 2026Joe Duggan of the i paper tells the story of the workers falling ill and dying with silicosis after cutting fashionable kitchen counters without adequate protection. Part of Private Eye's Paul Foot Aw...
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Joe Duggan from Private Eye discusses his investigation into silicosis cases among young workers cutting engineered stone for kitchen worktops. This fashionable material, containing up to 95% silica, has led to over 50 diagnosed cases of severe lung disease in the UK, with at least four deaths. The reporting has prompted regulatory action from the Health and Safety Executive and exposed how migrant workers are being exploited by firms cutting safety corners to save costs.
- The Discovery of a Hidden Health Crisis
- Why Engineered Stone Is So Dangerous
174: Burnham Would, Wesley Snipes
May 19, 2026The team discuss the Labour leadership, play Helen’s new quiz ‘Faction or Fiction’, and Saba Salman joins for a post-pre-mortem on the local elections.
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173: The Antisemitism Spectrum
May 06, 2026The team discuss antisemitism across the British political scene, Nigel Farage's £5million bung, and one of the (few) bits of Parliament that genuinely works.
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Private Eye's Page 94 podcast discusses the UK local elections, focusing on the rise of Reform and the Green Party, anti-Semitism concerns across the political spectrum, Nigel Farage's £5 million donation from a Thai-based crypto businessman, press freedom challenges, and BBC job cuts. The panel also highlights the effectiveness of parliamentary select committees as a functioning part of British democracy.
- Local Elections and the Rise of Fringe Parties
- Anti-Semitism Across the Political Spectrum
172: A Kicking For Keir
Apr 21, 2026Who wants to give Keir Starmer a kicking? Basically everyone. Rotten Boroughs editor Saba Salman joins Helen Lewis, Ian Hislop and Adam Macqueen to explain how British politics has fractured and how M...
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Helen Lewis hosts this episode of Page 94, examining the upcoming UK local elections with Private Eye's Adam McQueen, Ian Hislop, and Rotten Boroughs editor Sabah Salman. The discussion covers Reform UK's expansion beyond traditional strongholds, Labour's struggles in Birmingham, the fracturing of British politics into left and right blocs, and the challenges facing councils amid bankruptcy and inadequate funding. The episode also features a Queen Elizabeth II centenary quiz marking what would have been her 100th birthday.
- Reform UK's Local Election Strategy and Vetting Problems
- Green Party Vetting Crisis and Defections
171: Meta's Not Better
Apr 08, 2026Is social media really as fun, child-friendly and good for mental health as everyone says? Helen, Adam, Andy and Matt Muir investigate. Plus, Reform and the Greens’ mirror-image election offerings, an...
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This episode of Page 94 explores the evolving landscape of social media, with new Ofcom data revealing declining engagement and changing user behavior, particularly around the debate over banning social media for under-16s. The panel examines Reform UK and the Green Party's policy platforms ahead of local elections, noting both parties' sophisticated use of podcasts and social media for political campaigning. The episode concludes with a dramatic reading of Facebook messages between Prince Harry and a Mail on Sunday journalist, revealing a previously undisclosed friendly relationship during his litigation against Associated Newspapers.
- The Decline of Traditional Social Media Engagement
- The Social Media Ban Debate and Mental Health Concerns
170: Mad King Donald
Mar 24, 2026Ian, Helen, Andy and special guest Richard Brooks discuss the USA entering its 'insane absolute monarch' era, the ongoing mayhem in the world's oil and gas markets, and check in on the financial arran...
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This episode of Page 94 podcast examines the chaotic early weeks of Trump's war with Iran, revealing a complete lack of planning and a White House where nobody can say no to the president. The discussion then pivots to the UK's Reform Party and their troubling relationships with cryptocurrency, offshore donors, and tax avoidance schemes that contradict their populist messaging.
- Trump's Iran War: A Comedy of Errors
- The MAGA Split: Foreign Policy Divides Trump's Base
169: War On Iran: Aya-Tollad You So
Mar 10, 2026Why did Trump declare his latest perfect, ‘very complete', already-won war, and how long will it go on? What will it do to American and British politics? Why can’t anyone in the British press remember...
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The Page 94 podcast team discusses the US strikes on Iran, their justifications and consequences, while examining how British media coverage mirrors the 2003 Iraq War. They also analyze the shocking Green Party victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, exploring what it reveals about British politics and Labour's vulnerabilities. The conversation weaves through energy security, the reality of North Sea drilling claims, and how both wars and elections are being covered in an increasingly America-focused British press.
- The War on Iran: Why Did It Happen?
- Trump's Health, Motivations, and Political Calculations
168: A Tale Of Two Andrews
Feb 24, 2026Ian, Adam, Andy and Rachael Claye discuss two men named Andrew - one who used to be a prince, and one who's still a solicitor with a very dubious practice.
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Private Eye's Page 94 podcast examines two controversial Andrews: solicitor Andrew Milne, who exploits legal technicalities to bully and extort money from vulnerable people, and Prince Andrew, whose arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office raises serious questions about accountability and national security. The episode reveals systematic failures in regulation, from the Solicitors Regulation Authority's eight-year inaction to the Royal Family's decades of protection that may have enabled security breaches.
- Andrew Milne: The Litigious Solicitor
- Systemic Failures: The Leasehold Problem