The Standard

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to the Queen that they will not be returning as working members of the Royal Family. Prince Harry and Meghan initially stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in March 2020 in a quest for personal and financial freedom and now live in Montecito, California. We speak to royal observer Victoria Howard, from the Crown Chronicles, who tells us about the behind-the-scenes tensions at Buckingham Palace over the last 12 months, and why the Duke and Duchess are the real winners of the new arrangement.  Also, London Fashion Week is underway, but it's an all online, covid-safe affair with the usual glamorous parties cancelled during the coronavirus pandemic. But Evening Standard fashion editor Chloe Street tells us coronavirus isn't the only problem - Brexit's causing huge difficulties for the show, and the wider fashion industry itself. She also reveals what her highlights of the event will be, and how some designers are taking advantage of lockdown restrictions to come up with unique visions.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talks have started between Britain and Greece which could pave the way for holidays this summer in the Mediterranean country. Greek tourism minister Harry Theoharis has revealed preliminary discussions are taking place including on “vaccine passports”. Our Deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil says Athens has been impressed by the UK's vaccine rollout, but the discussions may have been prompted by their dire economic situation. He also warns the cost of a trip to Greece may be prohibitive for many, with it likely families of four facing an additional £1000 bill to cover quarantine costs on their return. Meanwhile, Covid-19 infection rates are tumbling in Britain but Boris Johnson's still resisting pressure to speed up the lifting of lockdown. Nicholas tells us that may be down to variations in the rate of infection across the country, and lingering fears of as yet unknown mutations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The boss of Easyjet, Johan Lundgren, sits down with the Evening Standard's Susannah Butter to explain how he thinks the UK's airlines can get off the ground again after nearly a year of pandemic restrictions. Right now, it's far from clear whether people will be allowed to travel this summer, and Mr Lundgren is calling for clarity on how lockdown will be lifted, saying that there is a "pent up demand" for people to get on flights abroad again. They also discuss vaccine passports, which he doesn't think "should be mandated".  And he talks about the future of flight, describing how battery powered planes are already powerful enough to cover 2,000km, which would be 80% of Easyjet's network in Europe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government's hoping rapid coronavirus tests, being trialled at Porton Down, will allow Britain’s devastated entertainment and events industry to reopen in the summer. But our arts correspondent Rob Dex says venue managers and west end producers are only giving the plan a "cautious" welcome. There are concerns about the accuracy of the tests, how can they be delivered to potentially thousands of people queuing for a show, and who's going to pay for them? Will you get a free coronavirus check with your ticket?  Also, deputy arts editor Jessie Thompson reviews Framing Britney Spears which has just been released in the UK. The documentary's re-ignited the #FreeBritney movement over her conservatorship, and caused Justin Timberlake to apologise for his behaviour during his break-up with the singer. Jessie tells us the film will change people's minds about Britney herself, but it's also another example of how some of the world's biggest female stars were treated by their industry in the early 2000s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our political editor Joe Murphy tells us the government’s fears of a new, as yet unknown, coronavirus mutation are behind its “timid” approach to lifting lockdown. Despite pressure from some MPs in his own party, Boris Johnson’s resisting demands to speed up the process saying the way out “will be “cautious but irreversible”.We hear how that’s causing a row inside Downing Street, but measures such as “Covid Passports” are being ruled out.Also, features writer Katie Strick gives us the lowdown on pregnancy for the famous in LA, following the Duchess of Sussex’s announcement that she’s expecting a second baby. Learn about the hospitals where a “natural birth” means not wearing make-up and which celebrity pals might be God parents to the new arrival.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Democrats have rested their case against Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, now the defence begins. After three days of evidence, including the showing of emotive previously unseen footage of the Capitol Hill riots, Rep. Jamie Raskin asked the chamber “what is impeachable conduct if not this?” The former president’s legal team is now mounting their case, which is not expected to last long. It could be all over by Saturday night. From Washington, The Hill’s Juliegrace Brufke joins the show to assess the evidence so far. It’s unlikely 17 Republicans will switch sides, but has the trial torpedoed any chance of another Trump run for the Oval Office? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Hancock says he booked a summer holiday to Cornwall “months ago” but admits there’s “uncertainty” about whether he, or anyone else, will actually be able to make any trips. Our deputy political editor, Nicholas Cecil, says the Health Secretary’s linking the success of the vaccine roll-out to whether lockdown restrictions will be lifted in time for the holiday season. We also talk about the rise of the ’Kent’ variant of coronavirus, which a leading scientist says could become the dominate strain across the world, for up to ten years. And we get an update on the vaccination programme itself, including good news about the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Manderson, aka Professor Green, is a big advocate for opening up the conversation around mental health, having presented documentaries on everything from suicide to child poverty. On this episode of the Leader podcast Evening Standard columnist Jimi Famurewa, sits down with Stephen to talk about the profound effect the pandemic is having on everyone’s mental health, particularly for children, and his thoughts on the impact of social media in our lives.Speaking from his London home, the rapper spoke about working from home and juggling two new businesses Aguulp, a supplement company, and Giz n Greens, a pizza business that he set up with his close friend and chef Gizzi Erskine during the pandemic.This episode is an adaptation from Evening Standard’s video series The Lockdown Sessions, you can watch the full interview here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democrats have set the stage for a historic battle in the Senate as Donald Trump faces allegations he “betrayed the American people” and is guilty of the “most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president”. We’re joined by UCL lecturer in politics and international relations Dr Julie Norman, who guides us through what will happen as the very chamber in which the January 6 Capitol riots takes place now holds the former president’s trial. Mr Trump’s lawyers say the entire thing is unconstitutional “political theatre,” but Dr Norman explains why legal experts have dismissed that, and what Democrats hope to achieve when a guilty verdict is thought unlikely. We also talk about how Joe Biden’s White House is trying to stay out of the drama, but that it’s exposed the biggest problem his administration faces: a deeply divided United States.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy joins us to explain the concerns over the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, as the Prime Minister says he says he has “every confidence” in the jab. It comes after a study of around 2,000 people suggested it only offers minimal protection against mild disease of the variant and, due to the young age of participants, could not conclude whether the jab worked against severe disease.Experts in the UK though say it does guard against the worst of the virus, but it’s possible the country will now need three injections to the ever evolving Covid bug at bay. Also, Joe tells us about the Standard’s exclusive IPSOS Mori poll, showing Britons would prefer Boris Johnson rather than Keir Starmer to be in charge of the rest of the pandemic and the subsequent economic recovery. He says it’s a problem for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who appears to be failing to make an impact with the public, even as the UK has a record coronavirus death toll.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.