Planet Normal

The Telegraph

The podcast that speaks your language. News and views from beyond the bubble with Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, every Thursday.

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317 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes317

Newest first

Nov 25, 2021 · 1 hr
The Numpty Class
Another seven days on Planet Normal means another ‘numpty of the week’ and this time our very own Prime Minister is a hot contender. Liam tells listeners why he thinks Boris Johnson is ‘winging it’, while Allison worries that the PM has been taking writing tips from his infant son following his recent chaotic speech at the CBI conference. But will Sir Keir Starmer's popularity surge as Boris Johnson's dwindles? Or would that be all too... normal? Also on the podcast: award-winning science writer Matt Ridley boards the rocket to tell our co-pilots why he's spent months investigating the origins of Covid-19. He tells us why swift and widespread dismissal of the Wuhan lab leak theory was a ‘shocking episode in the history of science’, and proposes his solution to see health information shared more quickly, fully and globally. Plus, the Great British Bake Off causes a stir as our co-pilots reveal who they would have crowned champion. Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 25th of November 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/11/25/planet-normal-dismissing-wuhan-lab-leak-conspiracy-theory-shocking | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Brian Moore's Full Contact: www.playpodca.st/fullcontact | 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 | For 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.
Nov 18, 2021 · 59 min
A full-blown Winter of Discontent
Everything's gone a bit pear-shaped, and it hasn't escaped the notice of Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. With inflation above 4% and the cost of living spiralling, Liam tells listeners why he's convinced the PM is distracted by "chaos" within Tory ranks, while Allison has her head in her hands over the political class' "deflection and denial" following the distressing attack in Liverpool. Plus, never two to shy away from difficult subjects, our co-hosts welcome academic and terrorism expert Dr Rakib Ehsan aboard the rocket to share his concerns over the UK's Prevent strategy, the portrayal of Muslim people in the media and why our leaders are suffering from "bigotry of low expectations". And a particularly complimentary listener email leaves Ms Pearson blushing... Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Bed of Lies: https://www.playpodca.st/bedoflies | 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 | For 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.
Nov 11, 2021 · 1 hr
Sleaze, statistics and a sing-song
It’s the 75th voyage to Planet Normal, but our co-pilots Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan aren't popping corks just yet. On this week's episode, they have strong words for the head of NHS England Amanda Pritchard, whose recent error on Covid admissions statistics had them putting their heads in their hands. Luckily Planet Normal's resident hospital bed occupancy expert (AKA Ms Pearson) is on hand to set the record straight. Plus, our co-hosts disagree entirely respectfully on the NHS "jab for jobs" announcement. Joining us on the rocket of right-thinking is Oxford emeritus fellow Professor Lawrence Goldman, who doesn't hold back on the problems in UK university fundraising in the wake of the Mosley money row. But it's not just Oxford accepting money from dubious sources. He tells Allison and Liam why he believes the problem is 'systemic', with institutions throwing 'academic principles and common sense out of the window'. And brace yourselves, co-pilot Halligan treats listeners to a special musical performance... Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 11th of November 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/11/11/planet-normal-money-common-sense-uk-universities/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Bed of Lies: https://www.playpodca.st/bedoflies | 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 | For 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.
Nov 4, 2021 · 1 hr
The Great, the Good, the Greta
Broadcaster and and former Director of Strategy to David Cameron, Steve Hilton makes a rare UK media appearance to tell our Planet Normal co-pilots, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, how his former boss was actually a Eurosceptic, what President Biden has in common with a Monty Python sketch and why things are looking good for Donald Trump in 2024. And with the spotlight on all things green this week, the Planet Normal rocket takes a virtual trip to Cop26. Allison disregards the gathering as a 'pantomime', Liam tells us why he's backing the Indian approach to net zero, and our co-pilots agree that were they attending a climate change summit, they might skip the private jet. Also on the podcast: have the charms of French President Emmanuel Macron finally worn off for Ms Pearson? Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Chopper's Politics: https://www.playpodca.st/chopper | 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 | For 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.
Oct 27, 2021 · 53 min
The Big Budget Breakdown
It’s Budget week, which means big announcements, big spending and big celebrations for Allison, who arrives for our recording with a big surprise for Liam: she’s only gone and won an award. Our co-pilot may have a trophy, but she’s got more than a few questions for our resident economist, co-pilot Halligan who is on hand to explain why he thinks Chancellor Rishi Sunak might have earned himself the nickname ’Risky Rishi’ after delivering his third Budget. But do the sums really add up? Also joining our co-pilots is Telegraph columnist Ben Wright, who tells Planet Normal why he felt as if he were watching a Labour chancellor instead of a Conservative one. And did we mention Allison won an award? Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 28th of October 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/10/27/planet-normal-big-budget-breakdown/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read more from Ben: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/ben-wright/ | Listen to Chopper's Politics: https://www.playpodca.st/chopper | 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 | For 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.
Oct 20, 2021 · 59 min
He was everyone's equal
Mark Francois and Andrew Rosindell pay tribute to their fellow Conservative MP and much-loved friend, Sir David Amess, following his tragic death. But should MPs' security be ramped up? Mr Francois tells our podcast co-hosts, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why overly zealous measures risk "letting the bad guys win", while Mr Rosindell asks why his friend never held ministerial office. Also on the podcast: with COP26 on the horizon, cold showers are in and they get an even colder response from Ms Pearson. The irony of holding a climate change summit held amid a global energy crisis isn’t lost on our co-pilot as Allison declares the Prime Minister’s latest energy plans an act of virtue signalling, while Liam encourages a smarter approach to renewable energy. And there’s a revelatory update from our NHS insider, George in the light of the recent spike in Covid infections. Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 21st of October 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/10/20/best-us-paying-tribute-sir-david-amess/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Bed of Lies: www.playpodca.st/bedoflies | 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 | For 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.
Oct 13, 2021 · 1 hr
That Covid report
MPs' report into the UK's early pandemic response is out – and it’s given Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan 144 pages of pause for thought. They tell listeners why it's simply not balanced on the collateral damage caused by lockdowns, and query the intentions of one of the document's authors. Elsewhere, Allison has actually read Liam’s column in order to understand what’s really going on with the energy crisis, Liam dreams of a return to the seventies and the Planet Normal rocket makes a stopover at the cinema as our co-pilots review the latest Bond film. And joining our Planet Normal rocket this week is Luke Murfitt, founder and CEO of Integrity Cleaning, who tells Liam how a diagnosis with Parkinson's aged just 34 has sped his life up rather than slowing it down, and how his business managed to double its turnover over lockdown. Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 14th October 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/10/13/planet-normal-will-people-screaming-lockdowns-going-forward/ | Read more from Allison Pearson: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam Halligan: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Bed of Lies: www.playpodca.st/bedoflies | 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 | For 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.
Oct 6, 2021 · 59 min
The boat that didn't rock
It’s Tory Conference week and Liam Halligan is camped out in Manchester, surviving on stale sandwiches and a hotel minibar, to give Allison Pearson the inside track on the party's movers and shakers. The PM’s speech may have brought the laughs but both our hosts were left wanting more: no policy announcements, barely a mention of the pandemic, and ‘gaping holes’ in his arguments. Nul points from our co-pilots. Joining them aboard the rocket this week is fellow Telegraph columnist, Philip Johnston, who has been to not one, not two but forty Conservative conferences. He tells Allison why he thinks politicians aren’t as talented as they once were, and ranks his favourite ever three MPs. Also on the show: Allison brings a revealing update from George, our NHS insider, and Liam answers the all-important question: what is stagflation? Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 7th October 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/10/06/planet-normal-boris-johnson-complete-denial-dire-place-country/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read more from Philip: | https:/www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/philip-johnston/ | Listen to The Telegraph's Off Script podcast: https://www.playpodca.st/offscript | 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 | For 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.
Sep 29, 2021 · 58 min
Teeny gains for Labour
Robert Peston, ITV News Political Editor, joins Liam Halligan and guest co-host, Claire Fox on this week’s trip to Planet Normal. Buckets and spades at the ready as the trio head to the seaside to dissect the Labour Party conference, but it’s less happy holidays and more angry hecklers at Sir Keir Starmer’s eagerly-awaited “make-or-break” speech. Liam tells listeners why the party failed to score an open goal, while Claire accuses the leader of merely “ticking boxes”. But has his time on the conference floor left him any closer to power? Our co-hosts deliver their verdicts. Also on the show: Robert Peston lays bare the state of journalism, laments the death of respectful disagreement and tells Liam why he has quite such little respect for authority. And a poetic listener impresses our co-pilots as they delve into the Planet Normal mailbag. Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Read more from Claire: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/claire-fox | Listen to The Telegraph's Off Script podcast: https://www.playpodca.st/offscript | 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 | For 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.
Sep 22, 2021 · 1 hr
All the ingredients for a perfect storm
Energy prices are up, universal credit is down and Waitrose is out of pitta bread. It certainly is shaping up to be the perfect storm aboard Planet Normal this week. So buckle up for turbulence as Allison declares war on the GP’s trade union, whilst Liam declares the government's green policies as ‘pie in the sky’ promises in need of a reality check. Also stowing away on the rocket of right thinking this week, is leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice who is keen to tell Allison and Liam why he now calls the Tories the ‘Con-Socialists’ and pitches his unique vision for Britain as a 'Singapore off the coast of Europe'. Plus we have a traumatising trip down memory lane for some, as our co-pilots share some listener memories of dreaded P.E lessons. You've been warned! Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 23rd September 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/09/22/richard-tice-conservatives-like-con-socialists/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to History Defended: www.telegraph.co.uk/history-defended 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 | For 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.
Sep 15, 2021 · 59 min
Straight sets, straight talking
Professor of Pop Paul Gambaccini boards this week's rocket to Planet Normal, with some disquieting words for the Metropolitan Police after he signed an open letter calling for the head of the force, Cressida Dick, to be replaced in her role. In a damning interview, he tells Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why, seven years after he was cleared of claims of sexual abuse, he feels he was used as 'human flypaper' to encourage others to make allegations against celebrities. Plus: it's straight sets and straight talking this week as our co-pilots applaud US Open winner Emma Raducanu for her poise, her grace and her lack of grunting. Our co-pilots indulge in a nostalgic trip down British sporting memory lane. And it’s not just tennis that’s holding court this week: Liam warns of an 'Autumn of discontent', Allison tells listeners why Chris Whitty has left her feeling as if she's living through Groundhog Day and both our co-pilots notice a growing sense of disillusionment with the government. Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to History Defended: www.telegraph.co.uk/history-defended | 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 | For 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.
Sep 8, 2021 · 59 min
Welcome to tax-and-spend Toryism
There’s a new tax in town and it’s got Allison rather confused. But not to worry - our resident economics guru, Liam Halligan has got his nerdiest hat on to break down the newly-announced health and social care levy. He tells listeners why the move is far from a long-term solution to the social care crisis, and reveals the real reason he believes Boris Johnson has hiked taxes to their highest level since the Second World War. This week's guest, touching down on the refuge of reasoned views, is NHS GP Renee Hoenderkamp. She tells our co-pilots why an unwarranted fear of catching coronavirus twice means too few GPs have returned to in-person care, why she just can't support Covid vaccinations for under 18s, and why on earth she chose to redo her A-Levels in her thirties. Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 9th September 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/09/08/planet-normal-no-longer-have-conservative-government/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to History Defended: www.telegraph.co.uk/history-defended | 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 | For 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.
Sep 1, 2021 · 59 min
Nailed to the naughty step
Allison's in the BMA's bad books. Hell hath no fury like a Pearson scorned as she shares her prescription with her podcast co-pilot, Liam Halligan for the next stage in her fight to bring back face-to-face GP appointments. Also on the show: it's the start of a new school year, but new books don't spell an end to the disruptions for our children. Liam has some disquieting words for the teaching unions ahead of the national return to the classroom. Also boarding the rocket of right-thinking, Professor Carl Heneghan, Director of Oxford University's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine drops in to tell our co-pilots why he believes the JCVI should prioritise a vaccine booster programme for over 65s over the immunisation of under-18s - and leaves our co-pilots wishing he were their GP. Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 2nd September 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/09/02/children-not-showing-symptoms-covid-should-stay-school-says/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Chopper's Politics: https://www.playpodca.st/chopper | 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 | For 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.
Aug 25, 2021 · 57 min
The great jabs-for-kids debate
Can a pre-teen consent to a coronavirus vaccine? That's the big question Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson are grabbling with this week, after an anonymous Planet Normal listener reveals that the NHS is drawing up plans to vaccinate 12-year-olds. And as co-pilot Halligan returns from his Aegean Odyssey (AKA his annual holiday to Greece), he comes back not just with a podcast, but also with an interview with James Glancy, Army veteran turned documentary maker. James boards a first-class seat on the rocket of right thinking this week to reflect on his time serving as a Royal Marine during three tours of Afghanistan and why he thinks the ‘special relationship’ between Great Britain and the United States should be confined to the ‘dustbin of history’. Allison and Liam will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 1st July from 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/08/25/nhs-draws-plans-vaccinate-12-year-olds/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Imposters: www.playpodca.st/imposters | 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 | For 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.
Aug 18, 2021 · 59 min
One hell of a week on Planet Earth
Time to pack our bags and head for Planet Normal? Horrifying events in Afghanistan leave Allison Pearson and fellow columnist and guest co-host, Tim Stanley feeling as if they've woken up in a dystopian nightmare. Allison hopes the evacuation process will start to prioritise women and children, Tim argues that withdrawing troops a decade earlier could have seen the very same outcome and both our co-pilots question President Biden’s motivations in leaving the country in the first place. Also on the podcast: parish priest and broadcaster the Reverend Canon Giles Fraser boards our rocket of right thinking and tells former Sunday school teacher Allison why the gap between a Left and Liberal Church of England and the Brexit-voting public is ‘a real problem’, and why virtual worship just doesn’t cut it. Plus: Allison shares details of a very Welsh reunion with her mother after more than 18 months, while Tim tells listeners how a recent clumsy mistake is proving rather costly. Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 19th August 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/08/18/gap-church-england-brexit-voting-public/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Tim: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/t/tf-tj/tim-stanley/ | Listen to Hong Kong Silenced: www.playpodca.st/hongkong | 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 | For 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.
Aug 11, 2021 · 59 min
Grade A mess
Tim Stanley, Telegraph columnist and leader writer, joins Allison Pearson on this week’s podcast, while Captain Halligan is on his very own Aegean Odyssey (AKA a Ryanair flight to Greece). The pair award the education secretary an F for allowing top A-Level grades to be handed out to almost half of school leavers - a move our hosts agree isn’t really that generous after all - and reflect on the latest Covid confusion. Our new co-pilot is a loyal follower of Boris Johnson, but has his loyalty been shaken by 17 months of inconsistencies within his pandemic response? Not so… Tim explains all. Also on the podcast: education reformer and “Britain’s strictest headmistress” Katharine Birbalsingh lets Allison in on the real reason behind this year’s grade inflation, lays out why she thinks calls to decolonise the curriculum are “appalling” and explains why - cue groans from our younger listeners - exams must stay. Allison and Liam will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 12th August 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education-and-careers/2021/08/12/planet-normal-need-have-conversation-grade-inflation/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Tim: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/t/tf-tj/tim-stanley/ | Listen to Hong Kong Silenced: www.playpodca.st/hongkong | 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 | For 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.
Aug 4, 2021 · 56 min
More flip-flops than a summer holiday
Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson are back with a bang from their holidays for another much needed trip to Planet Normal. This week Allison surprises Liam with her sudden reincarnation as a BMX expert, as both hosts celebrate the uplift in mood delivered by Team GB at the Olympic Games. Away from Tokyo, Allison adds the PM to her own 'Amber watchlist' after the government's flip flopping on travel policies, and Liam ruminates on a return of Number 10 versus Number 11 bickering this week. Also on the podcast: Dr Charles Levinson, founder of private home visit doctor service 'Doctor Call' boards the rocket of right thinking to tell our co-pilots why he thinks the public health response to the pandemic has caused more harm than the virus itself. Allison and Liam will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 5th August 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/08/05/public-policy-response-illness-has-caused-harm-illness | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Hong Kong Silenced: www.playpodca.st/hongkong | 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 | For 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.
Jul 14, 2021 · 1 hr 7 min
The War of the Noses
In the words of Alice Cooper, “School’s out for Summer”. The holidays are fast approaching but there’s no rest for our co-pilots, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, as Allison accuses the Left of weaponising the use of face masks, Liam predicts public finger-wagging for those choosing to ditch them, and our hosts nail their colours to the mast on the so-called “War of the Noses”. Also on the podcast: LSE behavioural scientist Professor Paul Dolan cruises into the Planet Normal atmosphere to tell listeners why the government must honour its social contract of freedom in a post-vaccine world, and why the cost of achieving zero-Covid is just too high. Plus, a particularly moving email from a Brown Owl gives our co-pilots pause for thought. Allison and Liam will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 14th July from 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/07/15/planet-normal-rural-areas-will-see-mask-wearing-drop-entirely/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Imposters: www.playpodca.st/imposters | 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 | For 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.
Jul 7, 2021 · 1 hr
The juggle struggle
Meet the mothers taking on the system over the way children have been sidelined in lockdown decision-making. Working mums Molly, Liz and Christine added a string to their collective bow when they were forced to become home teachers over much of 2020 - and another one when they later set up pressure group, Us for Them. It campaigns for the needs of the young to be prioritised over the pandemic and beyond. This week they board an extra large Planet Normal rocket, telling Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why calling children ‘resilient’ is simply a means of justifying putting adults first, plus they lay out the very real effect lockdown measures have had on their own kids. Elsewhere, has the Saj been had? Liam wonders whether the ‘doom-monger scientists’ will have their way in delaying the new Health Secretary’s freedom day deadline, Allison tells us why the NHS’ George Cross victory saw her jaw drop, and a powerful interview leaves one of our co-pilots cowering in the corner of the Planet Normal capsule. Allison and Liam will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 8th July from 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/07/08/not-enough-call-children-resilient-must-put-first/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/| Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/| Listen to Hong Kong Silenced: www.playpodca.st/hongkong | 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 | For 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.
Jun 30, 2021 · 59 min
England in, Hancock out
Good news for football fans, bad news for the former health secretary. A week of highs and lows, or highs and highs - according to our co-pilots, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. They tell listeners why hypocrisy is too weak a word for the actions of Mr Hancock, and Liam gives us the inside line on new health secretary, Sajid Javid’s first moves. Also on the podcast: SDP leader William Clouston boards the rocket of reason to tell listeners what sets his party apart in the much-anticipated by-election in Batley and Spen, and why he thinks the Labour Party no longer shares the values of its former voters. Warning: This episode contains a terrible impression of the current PM. Allison and Liam will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 1st July from 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/06/30/planet-normal-matt-hancock-has-done-us-favour-exposing-westminsters/ | Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ | Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ | Listen to Hong Kong Silenced: https://www.playpodca.st/hongkong | 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 | For 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.