

Newscast
BBC News
The BBC's daily news podcast, Newscast dives into the day's biggest news stories so you're never out of your depth.Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you're ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest news, developments in politics in Westminster and beyond.Newscast is hosted by trusted politics and news journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer. GET IN TOUCH:
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to 03301239480
Email Newscast@bbc.co.uk
Or use the hashtag #BBCNewscastYou can register for Castfest tickets here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to 03301239480
Email Newscast@bbc.co.uk
Or use the hashtag #BBCNewscastYou can register for Castfest tickets here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 11, 2022 • 33min
L'électioncast
Macron and Le Pen set to face-off again...Following Sunday’s results from the first-round of the French presidential elections, incumbent Emmanuel Macron will take on challenger Marine Le Pen in a repeat of the 2017 contest. Philippe Marlière, Professor of French and European Politics at University College London, runs us through the possible outcomes.And on another busy day in Westminster, Adam is joined by the BBC’s Vicki Young and Dominic Casciani to discuss the guilty verdict in the murder of Sir David Amess MP, the conviction of Wakefield MP, Imran Ahmad Khan, for sexual assault, and the ongoing row over the Chancellor’s tax affairs.Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate, with Cordelia Hemming and Ben Cooper. The studio director was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Apr 8, 2022 • 30min
Sunflower TurmOil
Sima Kotecha is sitting in for Adam while he’s on his holiday… and where Sima goes, her mum often follows. She’s realised that the war in Ukraine is having an impact on supply chains, in particular sunflower oil. Gary Lewis, the president of the National Edible Oil Distributors’ Association explains what’s happening.Actor Siobhán McSweeney, also known as Sister Michael from Channel 4’s Derry Girls, speaks about the government’s intentions to privatise the channel.And we talk to a woman in Devon who’s trying to provide a home for a family that’s fled Ukraine, but they’ve been dogged by bureaucracy and delays. The BBC’s home editor Mark Easton is also on the programme, having interviewed Home Secretary Priti Patel about government schemes to help refugees.Today's Newscast was made by Alison Gee, Chris Flynn, Cordelia Hemming and Miranda Slade. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Apr 7, 2022 • 33min
Watt Strategy?
Government launches its nuclear and wind energy plans... Secunder Kermani hosts today's Newscast. He's joined by the BBC's Alex Forsyth and Emma Pinchbeck, boss of the energy industry’s trade body, to pore over the details.
Meanwhile, there's political chaos in Pakistan (where Secunder is based right now). The Wall Street Journal’s Saeed Shah explains what's been going on.Today’s Newscast was made by Cordelia Hemming, Ben Cooper and Miranda Slade. The studio director was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Apr 6, 2022 • 28min
Sheer-an Relief
Ed Sheeran wins Shape of You copyright case... Sinéad Garvan, entertainment reporter, and Dr Hayleigh Bosher, an intellectual property expert, chat it all through with Alex Forsyth. What could the judgement mean for the music industry?
And, from today employers and employees will start paying more National Insurance to help fund the NHS and social care. We're joined by the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Paul Johnson, to examine the impact on people's budgets.
Today’s Newscast was made by Ben Cooper and Cordelia Hemming. The studio director was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Apr 5, 2022 • 27min
DespAirports
Covid causes more travel chaos...With Easter getaways disrupted for people up and down the country, Steffan Powell (who's sitting in for Adam on today's episode) and medical editor, Fergus Walsh, talk through the latest Covid developments.
And, as the Environment Agency teams up with the makers of the video game Minecraft, Miles Jacobson, creator of the Football Manager game, explains the roles that video games can play in the real world.
Today’s Newscast was made by Cordelia Hemming, Ben Cooper and Miranda Slade. The studio director was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Apr 4, 2022 • 30min
Goodbye Dot Cotton
We mark the death of EastEnders legend June Brown, who played Dot Cotton. She was 95.In its latest report, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says we need to cut emissions immediately and use technology to suck CO2 from the atmosphere. One of the authors, Gregory Nemet, tells Lewis Goodall that there’s reason to be optimistic. And, as the cost of living continues to rise, we hear from one woman who’s been unable to heat her home for more than three weeks. Today’s Newscast was made by Alison Gee, Cordelia Hemming, Chris Flynn and Miranda Slade. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Apr 1, 2022 • 33min
Newscastround
Celebrating 50 years of Newsround... Adam chats through some of the highs (and lows) of the programme with his fellow ex-presenters, Julie Etchingham and Krishnan Guru-Murthy, as well as current presenter, De’Graft Mensah.And we talk energy bills with the BBC's Simon Jack and Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times... Today’s Newscast was made by Cordelia Hemming, Chris Flynn and Ben Cooper. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Mar 31, 2022 • 29min
The Fresh Prince of Excheq-Air
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak talks inflation, energy prices, taxes… and Will Smith.In Laura's last interview as the BBC's political editor, the chancellor defends his Spring Statement and says being popular is not his priority. He also likens his difficult week to Hollywood star Will Smith's after his wife received unwanted attention.
This edition of Newscast was made by Danny Wittenberg, John Murphy and Chris Flynn. The editor was Alison Gee.

Mar 30, 2022 • 32min
Shropshire Maternity Scandal
A review into the maternity practices at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust by senior midwife, Donna Ockenden, has found that catastrophic failures may have led to the deaths of more than 200 babies, nine mothers and left other infants with life-changing injuries. Adam discusses the report and its consequences with Newsnight’s Sima Kotecha and Shaun Lintern, health editor at the Sunday Times.Also, Jamie Wallis, the Conservative MP for Bridgend, has become the first MP to come out as trans. The BBC’s Gareth Lewis explains the significance.Today’s Newscast was made by Tim Walklate, with John Murphy and Ben Cooper. The technical producer was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Alison Gee.

Mar 29, 2022 • 33min
Wined and Fined
Police say they’re issuing 20 fines over No 10 lockdown parties, but will this put the PM under renewed political pressure? Adam is joined by Laura and the BBC’s Daniel Sandford to chew over what we know so far.Also… Will Smith’s Oscars slap apology is deconstructed by Lux Alptraum, who has studied the art of saying sorry. And a report says Jackie Weaver did NOT actually have the authority. We get her reaction. This edition of Newscast was made by Tim Walklate with John Murphy and Ben Cooper. The technical producer was Emma Crowe.


