The Standard

On March 12th 2020, the cast and crew of Six were preparing to debut their West End smash on the Broadway stage: then the New York governor closed all the theatres to stop the spread of Covid. Now, the show’s made a triumphant return to the Lyric Theatre in London, with plans to re-open in the Big Apple in September. Co-writer/director Lucy Moss joins the show to tell us what it’s like to make a comeback in a pandemic, and how they’re determined to keep performing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Biden is heading to the UK next week for the G7 conference, in his first foreign trip since becoming President. Boris Johnson was the first person Mr Biden called when he picked up the keys to the White House, but there have been questions over whether the US/UK relationship is under strain. Controversies include Brexit, Boris Johnson’s support of Donald Trump, and the now Prime Minister’s comments about Barack Obama being “part-Kenyan” in 2016. But UCL expert in international politics Dr Julie Norman says the two leaders do have a lot in common and the summit at Carbis Bay is a chance for them to reforge the “special relationship”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Channel 5’s new Anne Boleyn drama’s launching with black actor Jodie Turner-Smith playing the doomed second wide of Henry VIII.It’s another example of colour-blind casting in period dramas, following Bridgerton and the Great, but this time the character is a real, very well known, person. The Evening Standard’s Katie Rosseinsky tells us why producers are increasingly hiring diverse casts for historical pieces, and why audiences appear to be supporting their choices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A leading scientist has told the Evening Standard people should enjoy “life that looks vaguely normal” this weekend as temperatures rise for the bank holiday. Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, says he’s confident vaccines are working against the Indian variant of Covid-19, but is warning people to remain cautious.That would lead to the government being able to lift final lockdown restrictions on June 21st, but the British Beer and Pub Association fears many of its members won’t make it.With some restrictions still in place, around 2,000 bars have not been able to re-open. It’s predicted around half of the number of pints expected to be sold this weekend will actually be served.The Association’s chief executive, Emma McClarkin, joins the podcast to tell us why even with the sun coming out this spring bank holiday may leave some publicans with nothing to celebrate.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the show to look at the impact of Dominic Cummings’ appearance before MPs on the health and science select committees. The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has hit back against the former No10 senior adviser who on Wednesday delivered a devastating verdict on the Government’s handling of the pandemic.Boris Johnson, who faced claims that he was unfit for office, denied Mr Cummings’ assertion that Government failings had resulted in tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths. But Nicholas tells us two of Britain’s leading coronavirus experts, Professor Neil Ferguson and Professor John Edmunds, backed up Mr Cummings’s central charge against the Government, that delays over imposing lockdowns were partly to blame for the high death toll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evening Standard columnist Ayesha Hazarika discusses Dominic Cumming’s extraordinary evidence to MPs on the Commons Health and Science committees.The former advisor to Boris Johnson claims the Prime Minister offered to be injected with coronavirus on TV to show how it was harmless and got distracted by his fiancée “going crackers” over a newspaper story about their dog. He also says Health Secretary Matt Hancock should have been sacked for “lying to everybody in multiple occasions, in meeting after meeting in the Cabinet room and publicly.” Ayesha says Mr Cummings’ allegations are “more than just bad blood and revenge” for being sacked and merit further investigation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Cabinet minister has told people “don’t travel to and from Hounslow” and seven other areas in England - unless it is an essential journey - to stop the spread of the Indian Covid-19 variant. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey also appeared to suggest people living in the borough should consider whether a half-term holiday abroad "really is essential".  The Evening Standard's deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil says the government guidance has come as a surprise to the local council and health chiefs, who say it's adding to confusion around lockdown restrictions. He also tells us Sadiq Khan has asked whether advice not to travel to and from Hounslow apart from essential journeys could have an impact on Heathrow airport.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government doesn't want people going to Spain on holiday, but figures obtained by the Evening Standard suggests they are anyway. Jonathan Prynn tells us how bookings for flights to the popular destination have rocketed even though it's still on the amber list. It follows Spain officially lifting restrictions for UK travellers, with visitors no longer needing to take a PCR Covid-19 test. Infection and death rates in Spain have fallen recently after a six month state of emergency, which was lifted in early May. But restrictions remain in place, including legally being required to wear masks on the beach. Jonathan tells us anyone taking a holiday there may find it's not the experience they expected.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s Royal Editor Robert Jobson tells us about the reaction inside Buckingham Palace following a report that found Princess Diana’s 1995 Panorama interview was obtained through “deceit”.He explains why it was Prince William who recorded the royal family’s statement on the Dyson inquiry, and not his father Prince Charles. But Robert also tells us he disagrees with William over the “legitimacy” of the interview, arguing Princess Diana knew what she was saying and banning it from ever being shown again would “silence her”.The report found Journalist Martin Bashir, who carried out the interview, was in “serious breach” of the BBC’s producer guidelines by obtaining faked bank statements and showing them to Earl Spencer, Diana’s brother, to gain access to the princess.Mr Bashir has apologised for faking the documents and said it was “an action I deeply regret”, but maintains it had “no bearing whatsoever on the personal choice by Princess Diana to take part in the interview”.Also, Lizzie Edmonds looks at Prince Harry’s new documentary series with Oprah Winfrey, The Me You Can’t See. He’s using it to highlight mental health issues, but he’s making more revelations about life as a royal.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travel journalist Simon Calder joins us from Clapham Junction to break down how a massive overhaul of train services will affect commuters and travellers. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced a new publicly-owned body, Great British Railways, which will bring trains and track under one roof, set prices and mark the end of the franchise system.Simon tells us the new system should see action taken against delays, but he thinks ticket prices are “very unlikely” to come down because of the way it’s being set up. He also talks about a possible review of the foreign travel traffic light system which has relatively few countries on the green list, and unclear advice about whether people should go to places on the amber one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.