This Is Why
Sky News
The world’s a pretty confusing place right now – so how do you make sense of it all? This Is Why takes one story every day, explains how we got here and why it matters to you.
Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions.
Available every weekday afternoon.
This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk
Sky News’ Niall Paterson speaks to experts and correspondents from around the world, getting simple answers to some complex questions.
Available every weekday afternoon.
This Is Why is a Sky News podcast – if you have a question, contact us: why@sky.uk
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 18, 2026 • 16min
Is it safe to let out Britain’s most notorious prisoner?
Martin Brunt, long-serving crime correspondent known for high-profile case reporting, discusses Charles Bronson’s parole bid. He talks about his decades-long correspondence with Bronson. He explores Bronson’s turn to art, life in segregation, public fascination, and the parole board’s possible next steps.
Feb 17, 2026 • 14min
Lost Boys: Is demonising teenage boys part of the problem?
Jason Farrell, Sky News home affairs editor who documented a mentoring project, and Chris Edwards, a headteacher who set up a volunteer male mentoring scheme. They discuss boys falling behind at school and the rise in absent fatherhood. They explore how labeling boys harms them, community mentors stepping up, and social media and cultural influences on young men.
Feb 16, 2026 • 15min
Should the UK be ready for chemical warfare with Moscow?
Michael Clarke, defence and security analyst, examines Russia's strategic behaviour and NATO readiness. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former head of the British Army’s Chemical Weapons Unit, explains how exotic toxins can be sourced and deployed. They discuss alleged use of a dart frog toxin, patterns of Kremlin poisonings, timing of disclosures at Munich, and whether the UK should prepare for chemical warfare.
Feb 13, 2026 • 13min
The teen who could lead North Korea: Who is Kim Jong Un's young’un?
Hazel Smith, SOAS professor and North Korea expert, discusses Kim Ju Ae and the regime's succession theater. She unpacks propaganda shaping the Kim family's mystique. She outlines how elite networks, secrecy and risks shape a potential heir's sheltered life. The conversation traces early public appearances and the intelligence puzzles around succession.
Feb 12, 2026 • 18min
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s apology: did he mean it?
Ed Conway, Sky News economics and data editor, brings data-driven analysis and reflects on an interview with Sir Jim Ratcliffe. He explains why Ratcliffe’s comments about migration caused uproar. Short segments cover the Antwerp chemicals summit, errors in Ratcliffe’s numbers, migration data and economic impacts, and whether the apology addressed the language or the views behind it.
Feb 11, 2026 • 15min
Should the 'Suffolk Strangler' have been stopped sooner?
Emma Birchley, a Sky News correspondent who covers regional crime, discusses the Suffolk Strangler case. She describes fear in Ipswich, a 1999 abduction attempt that was reportedly dismissed by police, and whether missed leads could have prevented later murders. The conversation also touches on calls for inquiry and the lasting trauma of the survivor who escaped.
10 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 14min
Inside Number 10: Can Starmer survive?
Gavin Barwell, former chief of staff to Theresa May and now a Lord, shares insider memories of Downing Street life. He reflects on the pressure and emotional toll during crises. He breaks down why senior resignations matter and how the chief of staff role shapes a premiership. He also weighs whether Starmer can reset his operation and survive the current turmoil.
Feb 9, 2026 • 14min
Will the Andrew claims overshadow William in Saudi?
Rhiannon Mills, royal correspondent reporting from Saudi Arabia, gives on-the-ground analysis of the Prince of Wales' trip and the palace's response to fresh Andrew allegations. She covers new claims about confidential documents, why the palace spoke now, diplomatic aims in Saudi and the tightrope of private human rights concerns versus public soft power.
Feb 6, 2026 • 18min
Mandelson – the biggest political scandal since Profumo?
Vanessa Holburn, author and historian of the Profumo affair, offers concise historical perspective. She traces parallels between the 1960s scandal and recent Mandelson–Epstein controversy. Short scenes cover Britain’s social norms then, John Profumo’s rise, Christine Keeler’s role, Stephen Ward’s circle, and how the affair came to public light.
Feb 5, 2026 • 12min
Has US star Savannah Guthrie’s mum been abducted?
David Blevins, Sky News US correspondent and Trump100 co-host, gives on-the-ground reporting of the high-profile disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie’s mother. He outlines why the case is treated as suspicious, the timeline and concerning signs found at the home. He also covers search methods, forensic leads, public and White House responses, and why Nancy’s health raises urgency.
