Stephen Bush

I don't know if they... Have they had any readings here or not?

Yes, well, you're correct.

Mickey the Malarial Mosquito goes to Merthyr Tydfil is the new story.

Yeah, well, the political upheavals that have bristled across the UK have brought a new pro-independence government to Wales, and with Plaid Cymru raising the issue of independence, we do have to be prepared here.

We're in Hay-on-Wye, which is right on the Welsh border with England, so if war breaks out, this festival is going to be right in the front line.

And I've got a map of the festival site here, and, look, whoever can take control of the gift shop...

I wish we could control the main transit route between the discovery stage where we're recording and the ice cream truck.

The coffee stall is looking strategically crucial at the south end of the site for any forces attacking either over the hills from Abergavenny or from the badlands of Herefordshire, whilst we can expect some fierce fighting around the salad dressing counter in the canteen.

It's a war.

It's always about the oil.

Right, at the end of our Wales round, it's now eight to Kiri and Chloe, six to Stephen and Robin.

Right, so for our next round, this can go to Stephen and Robin.

New story or children's book, Harpo's Horrible Secret, and Saj and Gary want a chat.

That is the genuine kid's book, yeah.

So what is the news story?

Saj and Gary want to chat.

What do you guys think of the national conversation?

Is it going to help us heal as a country?

Yes, this is the National Conversation Project.

Researchers are asking participants to complete a survey, then record a 60-second voice note to be analysed by AI to tell us all what this country really is, what this country really thinks, and what this country really thinks it is.