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Planet Normal

Planet Normal

The Telegraph

The podcast that speaks your language. News and views from beyond the bubble with Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, every Thursday.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Top 10 Planet Normal Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Planet Normal episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Planet Normal for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Planet Normal episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Planet Normal - You have the freedom to be silenced
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11/13/24 • 76 min

In wake of co-pilot Pearson’s shock visit from the police on Remembrance Sunday, the rocket reflects on the principle of free speech in our country. Allison explains what happens when the journalist becomes the story...


Elsewhere Liam gives his take on why the Harris campaign failed to reach many voters in the US election after his trip across the pond last week.


Also Joining your co-pilots on the rocket this week to discuss her arrest following a tweet about the Southport killings, is Bernadette Spofforth.


And your co-pilots weigh in on the latest news from the COP29 conference.


Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/

Read Allison: ‘My visit from police on Remembrance Sunday is living proof of our two-tier justice system’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/12/my-visit-from-police-is-proof-of-two-tier-justice-system/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: [email protected] |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Planet Normal - Stick to the plan

Stick to the plan

Planet Normal

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02/15/24 • 62 min

Give children brick phones, not smartphones, says this week's guest on the rocket of right thinking, Sophie Winkleman. The Peep Show star gives an insight into her plea to promote screen free learning for children and finds time to share a sprinkling of showbiz gossip on the rocket...


Plus your co-pilots experience some déja-vu, as the Tories demonstrate another set of 'barely managed meltdowns.'


But is the Prime Minister really ‘sticking to the plan?’


Liam gives his take on the latest stagnant inflation figures, but warns that if the PM doesn’t change his plan we could be headed for economic woe and a recession.


And weighing into the latest drama from the Labour Party, Allison thinks the party might be being eaten by its own ‘diversity dragon', and has also found time to invent a new game: introducing ‘Rishi Bingo’.


Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Liam: "The issue that could decide the election - and it's not the economy"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/02/11/immigration-not-economy-key-election-success/ |

Read Allison: ‘Greedy universities don’t seem to care about white middle-class British kids’https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/02/14/britain-white-middle-class-teenagers-greedy-universities/\

Sophie Winkleman: "Screens in schools are harming our children"

https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/screens-schools-harming-children |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: [email protected] |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Planet Normal - Tsunami of woes

Tsunami of woes

Planet Normal

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04/13/22 • 58 min

It's been a bruising week for the Government, with all eyes on the Chancellor's family finances before a damaging stream of Partygate penalty notices.

And with inflation on the rise and the cost of living crisis intensifying, it seems the tsunami of woes has only just begun for Boris Johnson. So can the PM navigate the storm?

Co-pilot Pearson is well and truly undecided, as she confesses she is experiencing ‘Starmer-esque’ levels of fence-sitting over Boris Johnson's future as Prime Minister.

Liam thinks there will be plenty of voters out to give the Tory party ‘bloody noses’ at the upcoming local elections, but it's still unlikely Boris will be replaced as leader. He believes there's much more pain to come in the cost of living crisis, and savvy leadership hopefuls will keep the PM around as a 'sponge' to absorb the worst of it.

Also joining our co-pilots on another mission to the refuge of sweet reason is historian Professor Robert Tombs who beams in to give our co-pilots his thoughts on the French election.

As a self-proclaimed Brexiteer, Professor Tombs is concerned that neither a Macron or Le Pen presidency will be good news for the UK. He also warns that the far-right candidate could be disastrous for the Eurozone.

And finally, co-pilot Pearson has been doing her economic homework. One house point for knowing what the definition of PPI is!


Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Listen to Chopper’s Politics: Listen to Chopper's Politics: https://www.playpodca.st/chopper |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: [email protected] |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Planet Normal - A Glittering Labour Conference
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10/11/23 • 59 min

It’s an 'alright' from Liverpool this week as the rocket orbits the Labour Party Conference. So, as the glitter settles around Keir Starmer’s speech, and jacket, what do your co-pilots make of the opposing Party’s speeches?


Liam thinks the Labour Party leader delivered a ‘blinder’ and is impressed by the Party’s focus on issues such as housing and the cost of living crisis.


Allison agrees but ponders if Labour are simply appealing to the many disillusioned Conservative voters.

And what really went down at this year’s fringe meetings? Liam has the inside track.


Hopping aboard the rocket this week is former head teacher Mike Fairclough who shares his heartbreaking and shocking story of how he has been ostracised and disgraced as a teacher for giving his opinion on school closures and vaccinations at his former school.


And both Allison and Liam respond to the devastating events in Israel.


Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison ‘The horror in Israel has put the failure of Western multiculturalism on shocking display’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2023/10/10/allison-pearson-hamas-massacre-israel-britain-jewish/|

Support Mike's crowd funder for his case: https://democracythree.org/a-battle-for-free-speech |

Find out more about Telegraph Money here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: [email protected] |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Planet Normal - Jumping off the Boris bus
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07/06/22 • 58 min

It’s been a dramatic week since the rocket's last journey, with scores of cabinet resignations shaking the Johnson Premiership. So will the squealing piglet’s head finally reach the chopping block? And which member of the Tory party could be waiting in the wings to take over?

Liam warns the job is a poisoned chalice, and wonders who would want to take the crown when an economic crisis is looming. Co-pilot Pearson is determined that Boris Johnson's replacement must be a Brexiteer, as she mourns the loss of broken promises made by the PM in his astounding 2019 victory.

Joining our co-pilots this week is Donna Ockenden, the senior midwife who led the review into the maternity scandal at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trusts. In a moving interview she tells our co-pilots about the emotional toll the review took on her, and why she thinks mothers must be made aware of the risks of remote midwife led units (MLU).

In light of the interview, co-pilot Pearson vows to launch a campaign to investigate this issue further, watch this space...

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read 'NHS must disclose risks of giving birth in midwifery-led unit, Donna Ockenden warns': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/07/07/nhs-must-disclose-risks-giving-birth-midwifery-led-unit-donna/ |

Listen to Chopper’s Politics: https://www.playpodca.st/chopper |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: [email protected] |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Planet Normal - "I told you so" doesn't quite say it
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06/07/23 • 60 min

There’s a lot to discuss this week; the latest lockdown report, Sir Keir Starmer taking on the Unions and some High Court action. Your co-pilots are strapped in ready to give their take.

It's a big week for the covid misinformation brigade as the latest lockdown report lands in the rocket. Is retribution in the air? As for the country's own inquiry, it all seems to be taking an awfully long time (as Liam says, even the Italians have finished theirs!) .

The co-pilots also examine Sir Keir Starmer’s latest net zero policies. Allison thinks its supporters need to get out of 'Ed Milliband’s windmills of your mind' and into the real world. While Liam thinks the policies will cause implications for our carbon footprint and could cost more.

Also strapping into the rocket this week is author and journalist Brendan O'Neill who tells our co-pilots the negative labelling of free speech could have damning consequences for our democracy, as laid out in his new book, A Heretic's Manifesto: Essays on the Unsayable.

And brace yourselves, there’s a spot of karaoke from our co-pilots...


Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Listen to Chopper’s Politics: https://www.playpodca.st/chopper |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: [email protected] |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Planet Normal - Not a first class health service
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04/03/24 • 58 min

There’s a lot of madness orbiting the rocket this week as your co-pilots tackle the latest ghastly news from the NHS and author JK Rowling's reaction to the latest SNP legislation, not to mention the redesign of our Union Jack for the Olympics.


Allison thinks we could be on the way to a ‘backdoor blasphemy’ law in light of Scotland's hate crime bill.


Whilst Liam agrees and is disappointed with the Scottish media’s coverage of the law maker’s decision.


Returning to the rocket for his second voyage this week is Tory peer, Dr Tony Sewell, who discusses his reaction to the most recent race report from Kemi Badenoch, as well as his latest book, Black Success: The Surprising Truth.


Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Sarah Knapton ‘Number of patients waiting four weeks to see GP soars all over England’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/02/patients-waiting-four-weeks-for-gp-appointment-soars-nhs/ |

Read Allison ‘The new Team GB flag trashes everything that’s iconic about the Union Jack’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/04/03/the-team-gb-flag-rebrand-olympics/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: [email protected] |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Planet Normal - Top hats, PPE and crashing disappointment
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06/23/21 • 60 min

Freedom day has come and gone, and with little freedom restored, co-hosts Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan tell listeners why they feel a rebellion rising. Can opinion polls suggesting the country still supports lockdown be true? Not according to co-pilot Halligan, who tells us why he thinks pollsters’ leading questions are skewing the results. Meanwhile Allison impresses Liam with her newly-acquired scientific vocabulary, and ‘George’ shares some exciting news.

Also visiting Planet Normal: Developmental biologist Dr Emma Hilton reflects on the announcement that weightlifter, Laurel Hubbard will become the first transgender athlete to compete at this year’s Olympic Games. She shares research suggesting the loss of muscle mass in trans women undergoing hormone treatment is ‘surprisingly’ small, and argues that being exclusive in sport is necessary for fair competition. But where do Liam and Allison stand on the transgender athlete debate? All is revealed within.

Allison and Liam will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 24th June from 11am-12pm:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/06/23/planet-normal-trans-athlete-debate-line-must-drawn-stealing/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Listen to Chopper's Politics: www.playpodca.st/chopper |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: [email protected] |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Planet Normal - Get out of my pub!

Get out of my pub!

Planet Normal

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04/21/21 • 59 min

David Owen, former Foreign Secretary and one of the SDP's Gang of Four, boards a flight to Planet Normal this week. He tells Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why he thinks it's a problem that former Prime Ministers no longer join the House of Lords and expresses his regret that the late Shirley Williams didn't acknowledge her own potential.

Plus David attempts to answer a seemingly simple question posed by Liam: is Boris Johnson a ‘great’ Prime Minister?

Elsewhere, they think it's all over.... it is now! And by 'it' we mean the new European Super League of course. Allison and Liam get into what that news meant to your average football fan. Plus Allison reflects on the coverage of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, and those powerful images of the Queen sitting alone in the chapel.

Allison and Liam will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 22nd April from 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/22/david-owen-many-able-women-lack-confidence-shirley-williams/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/allison-pearson/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read how the ‘George Floyd Policing Act’ could limit policing powers in the US: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/20/will-derek-chauvins-conviction-change-us-policing/ |

Read Laura Donnelly ‘Only 32 people hospitalised with COVID after having had vaccination’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/20/exclusive-just-32-people-hospital-covid-vaccination/ |

Listen to Bryony Gordon's Mad World: https://www.playpodca.st/madworld |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Read more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: [email protected] |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Planet Normal - Exclusive Interview with Fujitsu insider
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01/17/24 • 74 min

This episode was recorded before The Rwanda Bill cleared the Commons


Strapping into the rocket alongside your co-pilots this week is former Fujitsu employee ‘Robin’ who gives an exclusive inside take on what really went on to cause such a huge miscarriage of justice.


Plus, it’s official: the Conservative party has gone full ‘Tonto’ but is Britain's once most reliable party really heading for a breakup?

Allison thinks the country is crying out for a more right-wing Conservative Party, and that Reform UK could really make waves in the next General Election.

Whilst Liam questions whether Reform's policy of abolishing the 'first past the post' approach would be beneficial for the country, as it can lead to endless coalitions and very little being actioned.

But both agree that the issue of small boats and the Rwanda plan currently splitting the party will be a deciding factor in the next election.


And the mailbag is bursting with reader’s response to the Post Office Scandal.


Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ |

Read Allison: ‘’The only thing shocking about a 1997-style wipeout is that Sunak might keep 169 seats’: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2024/01/16/conservative-election-1997-wipeout-sunak-government-voters/|


Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |


Email: [email protected] |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Planet Normal have?

Planet Normal currently has 232 episodes available.

What topics does Planet Normal cover?

The podcast is about News, Society & Culture, Podcasts and Current Affairs.

What is the most popular episode on Planet Normal?

The episode title 'You have the freedom to be silenced' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Planet Normal?

The average episode length on Planet Normal is 58 minutes.

How often are episodes of Planet Normal released?

Episodes of Planet Normal are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Planet Normal?

The first episode of Planet Normal was released on May 28, 2020.

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