Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

Private Eye has been reporting on the Post Office scandal for over a decade: Richard Brooks joins the team to discuss how we got here and where things go next. Plus, updates on the Mirror Hacking debacle and the massive profits being made on Teesside.

In a special between-Christmas-and-New-Year episode, Helen grills Adam and Andy on the big news of 2023. Contains all your favourite characters from the year - Nadine! Boris! Piers Moron! and more Prince Harry than you thought possible.

Ian is joined by Harry Enfield, Jan Ravens and Lewis Macleod to bring the Private Eye annual 2023 (available in shops now. Ed.) to the stage. Featuring Sylvie Krin, EJ Thribb, William McGonagall, Sir Herbert Gussett and many more!

The team discuss the Labour leader's newfound love of Thatcher, the news from COP28 and the Telegraph deal that even its journalists are against.

The team discuss the reshuffle, discover what David Cameron has been doing in his gap years, and what Suella Braverman would do if only she were home secretary. Plus: The Crown and a Nadine Dorries quiz.

The team look at how Fleet Street is covering the Covid Inquiry given their own compromised hacks, discuss the man behind last week's conservative ARC conference, and pick a few holes in Nadine Dorries' The Plot. Plus, Matt Muir reveals what progress Rishi Sunak's AI conference has really made in averting an AI-pocalypse. 

Ian, Helen, Adam and Andy discuss the Conservative by-electoral apocalypse, reveal why Donald Trump could be coming to a court near you, and say a fond farewell to cartoonist Tony Husband. 

Ian, Helen, Andy, and Richard Brooks discuss scrapping HS2, scrap on Teesside, long-delayed justice for victims of the Post Office and Labour's new policy of borrowing all its ideas from the pages of the Eye. 

Ian, Helen, Adam and Andrew cover how the papers treated Russell Brand, Rishi Sunak?s climate U-turn, who really writes the Daily Mail's opinion pieces and Rupert Murdoch?s long-awaited step down (or sideways). Plus, Solomon Hughes provides an indispensable guide to the corporate side of Party Conferences, and where to get the best snacks. 

The Eye team discuss failing ceilings, the return of Big Liz Truss, wave goodbye to Mohammed Fayed and reveal why the Tees Valley isn't suing us (yet). Featuring Jane Mackenzie, Adam Macqueen, Helen Lewis, Andrew Hunter Murray and Ian Hislop.

Andy, Helen and Adam take a look at the completely resigned Nadine Dorries, the Revenge of the Maybot, and the Great Royal Reboot (where you press a big button and then nothing happens). Plus, Richard Brooks digs into the figures at a very successful - then mysteriously unsuccessful - PPE supplier.

Ian, Helen and Adam join Andrew to discuss the government?s new invention of ?The Week?, the complete anchor Dan Wootton, and the smallest conceivable audience at the Edinburgh Fringe. Plus, Jane Mackenzie reveals what?s behind the spate of buildings going on fire up and down the country.

Elon Musk?s X marks the spod; debanking Nigel Farage and debagging Coutts; the reinvention of Rishi ? the petrolhead PM; plus the inside story of the Royal Free hospital?s stem cell scandal.

Episode 83. Helen Lewis, Adam Macqueen and Jane Mackenzie join Andrew Hunter Murray to discuss the week's news: Have I got Huws For You, the imminent by-election bonanza and things (schools) falling apart. Plus, Solomon Hughes and Sarah Shannon reveal the UK's water situation.

Episode 82. Ian Hislop, Adam Macqueen and Helen Lewis take a look back at the week?s news, including Jeremy Clarkson?s car crash of a column, super injunctions that may or may not exist and children identifying as cats, or possibly just taking the piss. Plus journalist Richard Brooks goes down on the solar farm in Oxfordshire and looks for where the sun isn?t shining.

Episode 81. Ian Hislop, Adam Macqueen and Helen Lewis take a look back at the week?s news - including Boris Johnson?s dangerously thin column, big SLAPPS and newspaper fire-sales; and medical correspondent Phil Hammond answers all your inquiries about the Covid Inquiry.

Episode 80. Find out which of this year?s six entries won the grand prize, in a mini-episode recorded live at the Paul Foot Award in London. Featuring Ian Hislop, chief judge Padraig Reidy, and the Mystery Winner.

Episode 79. In the second half of the Paul Foot Award Shortlist, teams from the Sunday Times, Vice and the Guardian reveal what they've been digging into - namely Boris Johnson and the BBC chairman, Baroness Mone and a £200million PPE deal, and the dangerous rise of Andrew Tate. Tune in later this week for Part III, live from the award ceremony!

Episode 78. In the most exciting crossover event in podcast history, the Paul Foot Award comes in three parts this year. In Part I the brilliant hacks from the Times, Observer and Newsquest Cumbria tell their stories, of unregulated psychologists in the family courts, dangerous police Taser use and British Gas breaking into people's homes to fit prepayment meters.

Episode 77. Matt Muir provides the Eye?s take on new AI technology ChatGPT, which may well obliterate mankind in a new and exciting way, while Jane Mackenzie reveals the latest on open-cast mines in Wales, which might contribute to wiping out the species in an old-fashioned way.

Episode 76. A mega-millions local government derby: Richard Brooks explains the mysterious dealings behind the Teeside ?Freeport?, and Tim Minogue reveals how Croydon council managed to go bankrupt three times in two years. Free acre of highly contaminated waste ground with every download!

Episode 75. For the first time since 2019 the Eye returns to the National Theatre for a live rendition of the Private Eye Annual. Including the dulcet tones of Lewis Macleod, Jan Ravens, Harry Enfield, and Ian Hislop. Merry Christmas!

Episode 74. Jane Mackenzie and Solomon Hughes unravel the tangled tale of who owns Britain?s military housing (spoiler: not only is it not the British government, it isn?t even owned in Britain) and Sarah Shannon takes a quick World Tour of the *other* countries involved in the World Cup who?ve been living up to the high standards set by Qatar. Free kick with every download!

Episode 73. NHS and Saudi Deals. Heather Mills and the Eye?s medical correspondent Phil Hammond explain the ambulance crisis, appointments crisis, and all the other crises currently afflicting the national health service and what (if anything) can be done about them; and Solomon Hughes partially lifts the lid on a mysterious deal between the UK government and Saudi Arabia, which is currently too secret for the British taxpayer to know about. 40 free new hospitals (as promised by Boris Johnson) with every download!

Episode 72. Finally being held not-over-Zoom for the first time in three years, this special episode comes from the Paul Foot Awards held to celebrate investigative journalism and commemorate the Eye?s great campaigning journalist Paul Foot. Download now to learn about six fascinating and enraging stories from six brilliant reporting teams!

Episode 71. Richard Brooks reveals the latest on Ehud Sheleg, former Conservative Party treasurer and now Sir Ehud following the donation of a few million pounds; and in a Jubilee Special, Adam Macqueen discusses ?The Queen And Eye? and Brenda?s 70-plus appearances on the cover over her 70-year reign. Free gong with every download!

Episode 70. Antony Goldman and human rights correspondent Dr Grim reveal how Russia has spent decades practising for its war on Ukraine in other bits of the world. Plus a rare Good News Special: Eye hack Jane Mackenzie reveals what?s been going on in the government?s troubled Covid-catch-up programme for schools.

Episode 69. Richard Brooks and Solomon Hughes discuss their recent appearance with editor Ian Hislop before the Parliamentary Committee on Standards, discussing MPs? second jobs (and asking the MPs on the committee about their own financial interests). Free £100,000-a-year consultancy position with every download!

Episode 68. Tim Minogue of Rotten Boroughs tells the story of a pub landlord bankrupted and imprisoned by a local council vendetta, who has finally secured justice after more than 20 years; and housing correspondent Rachael Claye lifts the lid on the government?s (latest) promise to sort out the cladding crisis to see how much good it will actually do.

Episode 67. Francis Wheen and Adam Macqueen provide the lowdown behind the punch-up that's knocked the royal family sideways; and Lewis MacLeod and Jan Ravens bring the Eye's 2021 annual to life in our traditional 'Not At The National Theatre Due To Covid' show. 30 minutes of free glorious isolation from the world with every download!

Episode 66. Jane Mackenzie and Karen Liebreich explain the sewage crisis which is sluicing its way into Britain?s rivers and coasts, and human rights correspondent Dr Grim discusses the Iranian regime?s prison system. A thousand free litres of raw effluent with every download!

Episode 65. Richard Brooks and Solomon Hughes cover both ends of the Covid wealth gap - from the companies making mega-millions out of lazy procurement processes all the way to the workers having their wages levelled down rather than up. Free major government contract with every download!

Episode 64. The Eye?s medical correspondent Phil Hammond discusses what comes next in the fight against Covid, and Jane Mackenzie covers the fight over what happens next under Stonehenge. Free sarsen with every download!

Episode 63. It Was 60 Years Ago Today. Adam Macqueen and Ian Hislop discuss the forthcoming '60 Yearbook', a guide to the last six decades as seen by Private Eye. Free plug with every download!

Episode 62. Stay six Feet away from everyone else and tune in to the best investigative journalism broadcast of the year, featuring a cast of thousands of brilliant journalists and insights into their work. Featuring Cobra meetings, Barnard Castle, dubious Covid contracts, David Cameron?s text messages, and much, much more.

Episode 61. Richard Brooks and Solomon Hughes return for a follow-up episode about ACOBA and the revolving door - spoiler alert, the problems haven?t been fixed - plus a Reader?s Complaints Special with editor Ian Hislop.

Episode 60. Jane Mackenzie and Solomon Hughes discuss the new ?Integrated Review? of Britain?s defences in the 21st century, and the thrilling new war machines that don?t quite exist yet; and Heather Mills turns over mobile homes to reveal the pitfalls that lie beneath them. Free BAE Systems Tempest fighter aircraft with every download!

Episode 59. Jane Mackenzie reveals how the government?s catch-up tutoring programme for Covid-hit schools is going to work (or not work), and Ian Hislop and Francis Wheen discuss the suddenly fashionable Robert Maxwell and his habit of putting on the writs.

Episode 58. Richard Brooks has been on a pilgrimage to Kent to uncover the hidden chaos of Brexit; Tim Minogue reveals the unexpected downsides of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, and Francis Wheen laments the departure of one of the Telegraph's finest hacks, who also happens to be the Chinese ambassador to Britain.

Episode 57. MD, AKA Phil Hammond, gives a roundup of the year?s Covid news, Richard Brooks and Solomon Hughes look under the bonnet of the government?s latest outsourcing disasters, we speak to Sarah Shannon about Farmed Salmon, and say farewell to the Eye?s friend John Sessions. Free (glass of) port with every download!

Episode 56. In a one-off departure from our usual format, Ian Hislop interviews James Alefantis - the Washington restaurateur whose pizza restaurant has been swept up in multiple conspiracy theories - first Pizzagate and now QAnon.

Episode 55. Eye hacks Tim Minogue and Adam Macqueen discuss the latest goings-on at BBC News, who's being sacked and who isn't (yet); Phil Hammond, aka MD, reveals what's going on at The Agency Formerly Known As Public Health England; and Ian Hislop provides some insight into the magazine trade, via the Eye's latest sales figures. Free advert for subscription with every download!

Episode 54. Richard Brooks reveals the big governmental lessons from COVID-19, Heather Mills and Sarah Shannon discuss the beggaring of sailors around the world by complacent shipowners, and Francis Wheen reports on the bugging the Fabulous Feuding Barclay Brothers have been engaging in.

Episode 53. This month's podcast comes to you from the Paul Foot Awards 2020, featuring all the shortlisted entries for the best investigative journalism of the year. Includes cameos from Ian Hislop and Chief Judge Padraig Reidy, and sound effects from the star-studded Paul Foot Awards party, recorded last year as parties are no longer allowed. Free canapé with every download!

Episode 52. This month?s podcast is all about COVID-19. The Eye?s medical correspondent, MD, discusses the latest developments, plus some faint lights at the end of the tunnel, and a team of the Eye?s hacks reveal how the pandemic has affected the EU, education, housing, social media, and the Street of Shame. Free face mask with every download! (Only joking, there are none left anywhere)

Episode 51. This month?s podcast is all about the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the Eye?s coverage of it. Featuring Adam Macqueen, Jane Mackenzie and Francis Wheen. Free tin of tomatoes with every download! (Only joking, there are none left.)

Episode 50. Rachael Claye and Peter Apps discuss the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire and the web of failures leading up to the tragedy in 2017. Also, the Eye's Francis Wheen reveals why the Commonwealth is looking askance at its high-rolling Secretary General - who used to work for Private Eye...

Episode 49. Richard Brooks and Nick Wallis reveal the extraordinary twenty-year scandal that has been dogging the Post Office, the editor discusses how to make fun of the Royal Family, and Flunkey's true identity is revealed (or not). Free sub-postmaster with every download!

Episode 48. An all-star cast brings the Private Eye annual from page to stage for a Christmas bonanza. Starring Ian Hislop, John Sessions, Lewis MacLeod, Jan Ravens and Harry Enfield. Free tiding of comfort and joy with every download!

Episode 47. A podcast tribute to the Eye's first editor, Christopher Booker, including interviews with Adam Macqueen and Ian Hislop. Free E.J. Thribb-threnody with every download!