What You Need To Know

ITV News

The quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories. Our team of specialist correspondents plus guests bring you information and analysis you can trust so you get What You Need To Know in minutes.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

705 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes705

Newest first

Dec 23, 2024 · 14 min
Why you'll soon pay more for your crisis-hit water supply
The firms responsible for Britain’s water supply continue to make headlines for all the wrong reasons. Homes are left without water and leaks left unfixed across the system, all while record levels of sewage is pumped every day into our rivers. And the other bad news? You’ll soon be paying more for the pleasure. So how is yet another water bill rise being justified? Business and Economics Editor Joel Hills tells Charlie Frost what you need to know… You can follow this link for a guide to the latest price rises in England and Wales by region: https://www.itv.com/news/2024-12-19/how-much-will-your-water-company-raise-its-bills And if you're struggling to pay your water bills, this article offers a wealth of advice: https://www.itv.com/news/2024-02-02/what-should-you-do-if-youre-struggling-to-pay-your-water-bill
Dec 20, 2024 · 10 min
White Christmas? It's more likely than you think...
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Just like the ones we used to know. Will our tree tops really glisten? Well give this quick briefing a listen To hear why - on December 25th - there may well be some snow… After the ropey rhyming, weather presenter Alex Beresford brings some seasonal cheer - and a few laughs - as he tells Charlie Frost what you need to know…
Dec 18, 2024 · 12 min
Gisèle Pelicot: A seismic trial, but will it bring change?
For the past four months, a trial in France has caught global attention, as a court has heard how Dominique Pelicot tranquilized his wife of 50 years so dozens of men he found online could rape her. Those 50 men, including Dominique Pelicot, stood trial for rape and sexual assault, while their survivor Gisele Pelicot, waived her anonymity to testify. The case has started a new conversation in France about victims of abuse and the treatment of women as a whole, but will it bring the changes campaigners are calling for? Lucrezia Millarini is joined by ITV News Correspondents - Chloe Keedy and Rachel Townsend from France, where they've been covering different aspects of this case.
Dec 16, 2024 · 13 min
'Killing on an industrial scale' Syrians unearth mass graves after Assad's ousting
It's been a week since the Assad regime's fall, and the desperate search for those subjected to its horrors continues. Families searching for answers are slowly starting to discover the grim realities of where missing loved ones may be. What has the fall of Assad unearthed, and what does it mean for the future? From Syria, John Ray speaks to Charlene White and this is what you need to know...
Dec 13, 2024 · 9 min
Can Syrians find hope after the Assad horrors?
Humam Husari opened the world’s eyes to the horrors in Syria’s civil war. After filming the death and desperation caused by Bashar al Assad’s forces, he too was forced to flee for the safety of the UK. So what does Assad’s surprise ousting mean for Humam and other Syrians? And what does it mean for the world? In this special episode, he tells Faye Barker what you need to know…
Dec 11, 2024 · 14 min
The scandal of the babies buried in unmarked graves
An investigation by ITV News has found that nearly 200 babies have laid buried in unmarked graves across England for decades. The burials were often carried out in secret and without the knowledge of families. So how has the truth stayed hidden for so long? And why won’t the government say sorry? After leading the investigation, Social Affairs Correspondent Sarah Corker tells Geraint Vincent what you need to know... If you have been affected by anything you have heard, Safe Spaces is an independent service which offers confidential support to survivors of Church-related abuse. You can contact them on 0300 303 1056 or on their website here: https://safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk/ And if you have any information relevant to this story, Sarah and the team can be reached via email at investigations@itv.com
Dec 9, 2024 · 12 min
Assad ousted: what happens now?
It’s the beginning of a new age for Syria after the fall of President Bashar al Assad. In the end his family’s brutal 53 year regime collapsed in a matter of days, triggering celebrations across Syria and questions around the world. The main one being: what comes next? Mazen Gharibah, an academic from Homs and the chief executive of the Syrian British Consortium, provides the answers and more, as he tells Nina Hossain what you need to know...
Dec 6, 2024 · 17 min
On the frontline: Battling burnout in children's social services
Across the country, everyday, young lives are hanging in the balance. Referrals for children to social services is on the rise and for many social workers, the phone doesn’t stop ringing and the pressure keeps on building. And it seems poverty is a major driving force behind this. So, when did things get so dire? And what can be done to keep social workers in their jobs? ITV News Investigations Editor Daniel Hewitt and Producer Isabel Alderson-Blench tell Lucrezia Millarini what you need to know...
Dec 4, 2024 · 13 min
Why has civil war reignited in Syria?
The geopolitical struggles across the Middle East have once again been thrown into turmoil. In Syria, rebels have swept into Aleppo, launching their largest assault on President Assad in years. Now, the Jihadist group, HTS, have now reignited civil war across Syria, leaving the country on the brink of yet another humanitarian crisis. So, who are the rebels? What do they want? And what’s the wider impact? Senior International Correspondent, John Irvine tells Lucrezia Millarini what you need to know...
Dec 2, 2024 · 13 min
Why are so many with IBD suffering in silence?
Sophie had to wait 14 years to get her diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis. After years of having her symptoms ignored, she was rushed into A&E and ended up having her bowel removed. And she’s not alone - ITV News can reveal that half a million people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease are being failed by services across the UK. And with no cure for the life-long illness, many are left struggling to cope. So, why are so many left to suffer in silence? ITV News Producer Esme Jones and ITV News Reporter, Cari Davies tell Mary Nightingale what you need to know…
Nov 29, 2024 · 14 min
Black Fraud Day: How to ditch the dodgy deals
Black Friday has arrived, and the deals are everywhere. Plus, with Cyber Monday right around the corner, scams are more widespread than ever. From fake websites to misleading offers to phishing attempts – the dodgy deals are all designed to trick you into losing your money. So, how do you spot the red flags and shop safely this season? From Which?, Consumer expert, Lisa Webb tells Lucrezia Millarini what you need to know…
Nov 27, 2024 · 9 min
Skinny jabs: Shedding pounds or losing lives?
They’re marketed as a ‘miracle injection.’ Weight loss jabs have become the popular answer to the UK’s growing obesity crisis. But new research from ITV News can reveal that these very injections have suspected links to at least 18 deaths. So, what happens when the jabs go wrong? And are there enough warnings in place? ITV News Health Correspondent Rebecca Barry tells Lucrezia Millarini what you need to know…
Nov 25, 2024 · 11 min
Does a stormier Britain call for smarter forecasting?
As Storm Bert battered Britain last weekend, at least five people have died, and widespread havoc continues to spread across the country. Now, forecasters and politicians have come under fire as complaints over poor warnings and the UK’s defence systems are growing. So, could we have been better prepared? Or is our extreme weather becoming so unpredictable that we need an overhaul? ITV News Weather Presenter, Becky Mantin tells Sally Bidulph what you need to know…
Nov 22, 2024 · 12 min
Why Britain’s backstreet cosmetic surgery industry is booming
It’s been called the ‘Wild West.’ Britain’s backstreet cometic surgery industry is booming - in salons, shops and even people’s homes. Up and down the country, unregulated procedures are taking place, leaving patients bruised, botched and some with life threatening conditions. So, why is there still no regulation here in the UK? And what can be done to change this? Cree Haughton tells Lucrezia Millarini what you need to know…
Nov 20, 2024 · 15 min
Why Britain’s biggest unsolved mass murder is being revisited 50 years later
It is one of the largest unsolved mass murders in British history. The Birmingham bombings in 1974, where 21 people were killed in two pubs, has become an enduring symbol of the Troubles and a case of justice long delayed. 50 years on, as memories fade and potential witnesses have died, many unanswered questions remain. So, what happened? And will there be a public inquiry? ITV News Midlands Correspondent Ben Chapman tells Tom Bradby what you need to know…
Nov 18, 2024 · 23 min
Trapped: The UK's dirtiest secret
You wouldn’t think this is Great Britain. Behind closed doors, people across the country are living in homes not fit for humans, left completely trapped. And the dirty secret is - they are being housed by the British state. So why have they been so neglected? And what needs to be done to change it? ITV News Investigations Editor, Daniel Hewitt tells Nina Hossain what you need to know… For more on this, head over to thetrapped.co.uk or you can find the series, The Trapped wherever you get your podcasts...
Nov 15, 2024 · 9 min
The Assisted Dying Bill: How will it work and why is it so controversial?
The question of whether terminally ill people should have the right to end their lives has long been discussed and debated. And this week, as a new law was proposed, MP’s have been left more divided than ever after widespread opposition to the bill. So is the assisted dying bill doomed? Or is it likely to become law? And how would it work? ITV News UK Editor, Paul Brand tells Charlene White what you need to know…
Nov 13, 2024 · 8 min
Will Liam Payne’s death result in better care of young artists?
The death of One Direction star Liam Payne sent shockwaves around the world. And has shone a significant spotlight on the pressures young artists face and the support they receive or perhaps the lack of it. Now, as the music industry faces urgent questions over duty of care, record labels are doing some serious rethinking over the treatment of their artists. So, will this wakeup call change things? ITV News Arts Editor Nina Nannar tells Lucrezia Millarini what you need to know…
Nov 11, 2024 · 18 min
Why Trump’s comeback casts a shadow over COP29 climate goals
From Hurricane Helene to the Spanish floods, governments around the world are dealing with the impacts of climate change. But with Donald Trump’s victory in the US election, the are fears among climate scientists and activists that global climate action could lose momentum. So as COP29 arrives in Azerbaijan, and goals are agreed - will Trump get in the way of them? And how worried should international leaders be? ITV News Science Correspondent, Martin Stew tells Cari Davies what you need to know…
Nov 8, 2024 · 13 min
The urgent crisis in children’s reading
From J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books to Roald Dahl’s tales, kids have long been kept entertained by these classics. But, today, these books are struggling to capture children’s imaginations in the same way. Reading for pleasure amongst under 18s has hit a ‘crisis’ point with the number enjoying it in their free time dropping to just one in three. So, what’s behind this? And what are the long-term impacts? ITV News Social Affairs Correspondent, Sarah Corker tells Lucrezia Millarini what you need to know…