Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

The team (plus guest Sarah Shannon) catch up on the latest White House cage fight, on the World Cup, on the USA and Iran's actual fight, and on the British fight for the right between Reform and Restore.

The team record a special episode from the Hay Festival. Featuring Tony Blair, Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Nicola Sturgeon, and all your other - favourite? - characters from the news. 

You've heard the stories. You've admired the piles of paper in the Eye office (video viewers only). And now it's time to learn which brilliant story has won this year's Paul Foot Award! 

Chloe Hadjimatheou of the Observer looked into a beloved, million-selling bestseller, The Salt Path, and found the book arguably fit the 'fiction' shelves better. 

Adam Bychawski reported on how people who've been wrongly imprisoned - sometimes for many years - are still not being compensated even after they've overturned their convictions, thank to a 2014 change in the law.  

Peter Geoghegan and Khadija Sharife uncovered how Labour Together - the think-tank which helped make Keir Starmer PM - had hired a PR firm to try and discredit journalists asking them questions about their funding.

Lindsay Bruce of the Aberdeen Press and Journal fought for justice for homeowners facing ruin after they learned their homes were full of dodgy concrete. Her campaign eventually led to a complete surrender by local authorities and compensation for affected homeowners. 

Daniel Timms of the Sheffield Tribune tells the story of the solicitor who used legal loopholes to extract sums of £25,000 from Yorkshire homeowners. Part of Private Eye's Paul Foot Award 2026 shortlist series. 

Joe Duggan of the i paper tells the story of the workers falling ill and dying with silicosis after cutting fashionable kitchen counters without adequate protection. Part of Private Eye's Paul Foot Award 2026 shortlist series. 

The team discuss the Labour leadership, play Helen’s new quiz ‘Faction or Fiction’, and Saba Salman joins for a post-pre-mortem on the local elections.

The team discuss antisemitism across the British political scene, Nigel Farage's £5million bung, and one of the (few) bits of Parliament that genuinely works. 

Who wants to give Keir Starmer a kicking? Basically everyone. Rotten Boroughs editor Saba Salman joins Helen Lewis, Ian Hislop and Adam Macqueen to explain how British politics has fractured and how May's elections will be a total bunfight. Plus: how did Elizabeth II become Brenda, and what nicknames for Harry and Meghan never took off?

Is social media really as fun, child-friendly and good for mental health as everyone says? Helen, Adam, Andy and Matt Muir investigate. Plus, Reform and the Greens’ mirror-image election offerings, and a new (unauthorised) drama about the Prince Harry-Daily Mail trial.

Ian, Helen, Andy and special guest Richard Brooks discuss the USA entering its 'insane absolute monarch' era, the ongoing mayhem in the world's oil and gas markets, and check in on the financial arrangements of 'Little Donald', AKA Nigel Farage, and his Reform UK colleagues. 

Why did Trump declare his latest perfect, ‘very complete', already-won war, and how long will it go on? What will it do to American and British politics? Why can’t anyone in the British press remember the lessons of last time? What will this do to energy prices and the energy transition? And is this all a deliberate distraction from the Gorton and Denton by-election? Ian, Helen, Adam and Andy discuss the latest quiet week in world politics.

Ian, Adam, Andy and Rachael Claye discuss two men named Andrew - one who used to be a prince, and one who's still a solicitor with a very dubious practice. 

Street Of Shame writer Adam Macqueen updates Ian Hislop, Helen Lewis and Andrew Hunter Murray on the curious background to some of Prince Harry's key witnesses.

The latest break in Peter Mandelson’s CV, the other secrets hiding in the Epstein files, and what comes next for the British government. With Ian Hislop, Helen Lewis, Adam MacQueen and Andrew Hunter Murray.

What is an 'Andy Burnham’ and can it be stopped? Why has Donald Trump made a photocopy of the UN and called it the Board of Peace? And was this episode description drafted by AI for an overworked journalist? (No, it wasn’t.) Ian, Helen, Adam and Andy explore these questions and more.

Why does the USA now have masked militias roaming its streets with almost no oversight? Why do some of the people who want to win London’s next Mayoral election seem to hate the city so much? And if Prince Harry texts you to recruit you for his next lawsuit, should you answer? Ian, Helen, Adam and Andy explore these questions and more.

It's the Eye Quiz of the last year! Adam, Helen and Andy get out the sleigh bells and the silly hats, and quiz each other on all the biggest, smallest and stupidest news stories of 2025. 

Ian Hislop, Jan Ravens, Lewis Macleod and Harry Enfield appeared live at London's Criterion Theatre for a special Christmas show (and to plug the Eye Annual, still available in all good bookshops).

Rotten Boroughs correspondent Saba Salman joins Adam, Helen and Andy to discuss the Reform Party, Your Party, the Democratic Party and Part 94 of who's going to own the Telegraph. 

The team discuss Donald Trump’s legal methods, the mayhem in the UK government (part 94) and what’s really going on at the Amazon climate summit. 

Ian, Helen, Andy and Richard Brooks discuss the week’s royal fallout, the forthcoming Budget, and get an update on all the murky business on Teesside. 

The team play a packed-out Cheltenham Literature Festival and answer the big questions: Do we owe Donald Trump an apology? How did things get so bad for Labour so fast? And will the Eye ever increase its font size? 

Adam, Ian and Jane Mackenzie discuss the new Archbishop of Canterbury and what makes her different from all her predecessors over the past 1500 years and the police forces prepared to break the rules to look after their own, while Helen and Andy discuss RFK junior and his very peculiar ideas about Making America Healthy Again

Ian, Adam, Andy and special guest Justine Smith discuss the chaos at Your Party, the scandal of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), and the ongoing perm-bloodbath at Reach Newspapers.

Adam, Helen, Ian and Andy discuss the Re-shuffle, the Re-signation of Angela Rayner, and the Re-form government we’re told is inevitable. Plus, ‘Free Speech Corner’ returns - this time about the arrest of Graham Linehan and the difficulties with policing the internet.

After 10 years and 150 episodes, Adam, Helen and Andy have finally got around to recording an actual introductory episode for Page 94, including a guide to the podcast and Private Eye magazine - including some of the best bits of the podcast’s archive. Welcome! 

Ian, Helen, Adam and Andy discuss the new memoir by Nicola Sturgeon and its effect on Scottish politics, the risks of falling in love with ChatGPT, and the rise in British columnists phoning it in from abroad.

The story of the Eye reader who printed out a joke from the Eye, took it to a march… and got arrested. Page 94 interviews the man at the centre of the story, and the team discuss in a Free Speech Summer Special.

Ian, Helen, Adam and Andy discuss the schism tearing apart the previously harmonious MAGA movement, ask Jane Mackenzie about the goings-on at Bangor Cathedral, and enjoy a special Fictional Memoir quiz about the biggest story in the book world.

Ian, Helen, Adam and Andy discuss Labour’s first year in almost-power, Britain’s recent unseasonal warmth and what might possibly be causing it, and what you can and can’t shout at Glasto.

Sarah Shannon joins as the team discuss Reform’s calamitous start in their new councils, the rain on Donald Trump’s parade, and enjoy a quiz all about politicians’ outside earnings.

Robert Jenrick and Richard Hermer are the two opposite ends of British Politics: Helen and Adam discuss the New Angry Right, Butch Keir and the Leftie Lawyers. Plus a chat with Ian Hislop and Nick Newman about the late, great Barry Fantoni - so, farewell then…

Adam reveals which foreign governments own which bits of the British press, Helen takes a safari into Elon Musk’s AI, and Andrew reveals how Page 94 got him through the doors of Parliament.

Recorded at the Paul Foot Award ceremony in London, here is the announcement of this year’s winner - plus a bonus interview with last year’s champion Tristan Kirk about what has changed since he won.

Abi Whistance (The Liverpool Post) wrote a four-part investigation exposing a Liverpool housing charity which left its residents in dire conditions, yet funnelled millions of pounds into a complicated web of private firms linked to the charity’s owner. For six days Page 94 is covering the extraordinary stories of the investigative journalists shortlisted for this year’s Paul Foot Award, before the winner’s announcement on Tuesday. 

Aaron Walawalkar (Liberty Investigates, shortlisted with Harriet Clugston and in partnership with Sky News, Metro and The Guardian) investigated British universities’ harsh treatment of pro-Palestinian student protests, and how the institutions themselves cooperated with police.For six days Page 94 is covering the extraordinary stories of the investigative journalists shortlisted for this year’s Paul Foot Award, before the winner’s announcement next week. 

Jim Waterson (London Centric) revealed the rash of broken legs across London caused by heavy Lime electric bikes falling on their own riders, and asks: who is in charge of keeping commuters safe? For six days Page 94 is covering the extraordinary stories of the investigative journalists shortlisted for this year’s Paul Foot Award, before the winner’s announcement next week. 

Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff (The Guardian/Reuters Institute) wrote about the disappearance of Fiona Holm and why it was overlooked by the press – and how the media chooses which missing people get coverage and which don’t. For six days, Page 94 is covering the extraordinary stories of the investigative journalists shortlisted for this year’s Paul Foot Award, before the winner’s announcement next week.

Patrick Butler and Josh Halliday (The Guardian) uncovered how vulnerable British carers were taken to court for accidentally claiming carer’s allowance while working part-time – even though many had tried to report their earnings to the Department of Work and Pensions. This week, Page 94 is covering the extraordinary stories of the investigative journalists shortlisted for this year’s Paul Foot Award, before the winner’s announcement next week.

For six days Page 94 is covering the extraordinary stories of the investigative journalists shortlisted for this year’s Paul Foot Award, before the winner’s announcement next week.First up is Laura Hughes (The Financial Times) for her deep-dive about the abandoned mines leaching toxic lead into British soil, livestock and food, and why nobody is taking responsibility. 

In a world-first live show broadcast from the Cambridge Literary Festival, the team answer all the most pressing questions about Private Eye. Is there a future for print? Which cover caused most cancellations? Which of Ian's fallen enemies does he secretly miss? And much more. 

The truth behind the British Steel debacle as revealed by guest Richard Brooks; plus the new phenomenon of 'Yank Avoidance' and a roadmap through the confusing landscape of BBC podcasting. 

Ian, Helen, Adam and Andy discuss how the US president has thrown Britain's media off-kilter, and  the new 'Abundance' theory which will eventually give us all solar-powered hover cars (maybe). Plus, a valedictory interview with Tim Minogue looking back over 26 years of Rotten Boroughs. 

Ian, Jane, Adam and Andy discuss the AI journalists coming to a paper near you, plus the rash of dodgy qualifications currently springing up in British universities. EYE TV: watch our forthcoming live Page 94 show from the comfort of your screen: https://www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com/events/private-eye-podcast-live-helen-lewis-ian-hislop-andrew-hunter-andrew-murray/

Helen, Adam and Andy reveal what's behind the latest bunfight at Reform UK, mull over how to replace the BBC licence fee, and take a fact-finding tour of Saudi Arabia.

Ian, Helen, Adam and Andy discuss how the Right went online and  stayed there, and the secrets of Succession Season 5 (AKA the Murdoch family lawsuit). Plus, Phil Hammond reveals the latest in the Lucy Letby story and the continuing campaign arguing her trial was mishandled.