Planet Normal
Episodes
Terrific Queen, shame about the country
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's all eyes on the Queen as the nation celebrates Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee, now known on the rocket as 'Platty Joobs.' Our podcast co-hosts ar...
A Gray day for Parliament
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the partygate scandal reaches a crescendo with the release of the much-anticipated Sue Gray report, our co-pilots bring you their highlights from t...
Woke Wars
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Inflation has hit a 40 year high this week and so has our co-pilot's frustration with the NHS.The state of the health service is at the forefront of c...
100 voyages, two co-pilots, one podcast
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This very special 100th episode was recorded live at the Soho Hotel, London.It's a special week on Planet Normal, our co-pilots are celebrating 100 vo...
Complacency coma
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
NB: This episode was recorded on Wednesday May 4th 2022It's Local Election Day, with some 4,350 seats being contested around the country as the rocket...
Leg-gate, Labour and leadership troubles
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With co-pilot Pearson taking a much needed holiday this week, former Labour MP Baroness Kate Hoey steps into the spaceboots once again to help Liam ta...
Marathon of contrition
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It might be a marathon of contrition for our Prime Minister this week, but our co-pilots are making no apologies for their views on the Planet Normal ...
Tsunami of woes
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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....
Economic rubber hits the road
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As national insurance contributions, energy prices and council tax all increased this week, so too did our co-pilot's frustration with the Government'...
National Health Disservice
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's somewhat of a sombre week on Planet Normal, as our co-pilots are left shaken by the findings of the Ockenden inquiry into maternity scandals.The ...
Spring Statement Special
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's a fiscal feast on this week's voyage, with a special episode all about the Chancellor's Spring Statement. And boarding the rocket of right t...
Adding fuel to the cost of living fire
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The cost of living crisis is reaching a boiling point in the UK, and co-pilot Halligan warns things could get even worse. As food and fuel prices...
All paths lead to Moscow
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, our co-pilots are breaking down what the crisis means for the UK and the rest of the world. St...
Putin pushes on in Ukraine
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Entering the capsule of common sense is Former Head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, who tells our co-pilots why he was surprised by Putin’s full-scale...
One and a half cheers for Boris Johnson
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a joyous week on Planet Normal as co-pilot Pearson returns to her rightful place at the helm of the rocket. And she’s not short of things to ...
Russia's big gamble on Ukraine
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to build, co-pilot Halligan is joined for one week only by a new co-presenter. Telegraph defence edito...
Soaking up the political gravy
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The bell has rung for Parliamentary recess but the political drama shows no signs of slowing down, and neither do our co-pilots.Fresh from announ...
Pyramid of piffle
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Another week on Planet Normal poses more questions over the future of our Prime Minister. But do our co-pilots think Mr Johnson is a dead man walking ...
All eyes on Sue Gray
27 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The nation waits for Sue Gray's 'Partygate' report, and Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan are here to fill the void. Will the PM cling on? Yes, says L...
A prime minister in trouble
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Actress and presenter Denise Welch brings some star power to Planet Normal, as she joins Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan in the...
Lord Frost on Partygate, Brexit and why he quit the Cabinet
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Boarding the rocket of right-thinking in a podcast exclusive, no less, is Lord Frost. The one-time chief Brexit negotiator, who quit his Cabinet role ...
A pandemic of testing
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With a new year comes a new wave of cynicism on our rocket of right thinking. This week, Allison wonders why the government has made it respectable fo...
A crackers Christmas
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Parliamentary sketchwriter Madeline Grant joins Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan to give listeners the inside track on a tumultuous week in the ...
Penny Mordaunt on Omicron hysteria, rebel MPs and Brexit
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Minister for Trade Penny Mordaunt beams into the Planet Normal rocket from Atlanta, Georgia, in the week where Boris Johnson suffered the most bruisin...
Parties, Plan B and betrayal
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The government's Covid 'Plan B' is here and our co-pilots have a lot of adjectives to describe it. Spoiler alert: they’re far from co...
The 'moronic' variant
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas. Usually heralded by snow on the ground, Christmas trees and Mariah Carey. And, it seems, a new Covid-19 variant. On this week's podcast, co...
The Numpty Class
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Another seven days on Planet Normal means another ‘numpty of the week’ and this time our very own Prime Minister is a hot contender. Liam tel...
A full-blown Winter of Discontent
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Everything's gone a bit pear-shaped, and it hasn't escaped the notice of Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. With inflation above ...
Sleaze, statistics and a sing-song
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the 75th voyage to Planet Normal, but our co-pilots Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan aren't popping corks just yet. On this week's episod...
The Great, the Good, the Greta
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Broadcaster and and former Director of Strategy to David Cameron, Steve Hilton makes a rare UK media appearance to tell our Planet Normal co-pilots, A...
The Big Budget Breakdown
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Budget week, which means big announcements, big spending and big celebrations for Allison, who arrives for our recording with a big surprise fo...
He was everyone's equal
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Francois and Andrew Rosindell pay tribute to their fellow Conservative MP and much-loved friend, Sir David Amess, following his tragic death. But...
That Covid report
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MPs' report into the UK's early pandemic response is out – and it’s given Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan 144 pages of pause for thought. They t...
The boat that didn't rock
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Tory Conference week and Liam Halligan is camped out in Manchester, surviving on stale sandwiches and a hotel minibar, to give Allison Pearson ...
Teeny gains for Labour
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Peston, ITV News Political Editor, joins Liam Halligan and guest co-host, Claire Fox on this week’s trip to Planet Normal. Buckets and spades...
All the ingredients for a perfect storm
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Energy prices are up, universal credit is down and Waitrose is out of pitta bread. It certainly is shaping up to be the perfect storm aboard Plan...
Straight sets, straight talking
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Professor of Pop Paul Gambaccini boards this week's rocket to Planet Normal, with some disquieting words for the Metropolitan Police after he signed a...
Welcome to tax-and-spend Toryism
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a new tax in town and it’s got Allison rather confused. But not to worry - our resident economics guru, Liam Halligan has got his nerdiest...
Nailed to the naughty step
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Allison's in the BMA's bad books. Hell hath no fury like a Pearson scorned as she shares her prescription with her podcast co-pilot, Liam Halligan for...
The great jabs-for-kids debate
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Can a pre-teen consent to a coronavirus vaccine? That's the big question Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson are grabbling with thi...
One hell of a week on Planet Earth
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Time to pack our bags and head for Planet Normal? Horrifying events in Afghanistan leave Allison Pearson and fellow columnist and guest co-host, Tim S...
Grade A mess
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Stanley, Telegraph columnist and leader writer, joins Allison Pearson on this week’s podcast, while Captain Halligan is on his very own Aegean O...
More flip-flops than a summer holiday
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson are back with a bang from their holidays for another much needed trip to Planet Normal. Th...
The War of the Noses
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the words of Alice Cooper, “School’s out for Summer”. The holidays are fast approaching but there’s no rest for our co-pilots, Allison...
The juggle struggle
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Meet the mothers taking on the system over the way children have been sidelined in lockdown decision-making. Working mums Molly, Liz and Christine add...
England in, Hancock out
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Good news for football fans, bad news for the former health secretary. A week of highs and lows, or highs and highs - according to our co-pilots, Alli...
Top hats, PPE and crashing disappointment
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 r...
A whole new level of lunacy
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Iain Duncan Smith is this week's Planet Normal stowaway, joining Telegraph columnists Liam Halligan and Allison Pearson to discuss the 'real danger' o...
Pearson vs. Lockdown
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Jay Bhattacharya, Stanford medical professor and co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration boards the rocket of sweet reason this week to tell ...
Chinese whispers
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Former Head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove joins Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan’s rocket of right-thinking after British intelligence agencies descr...
The gloves are off
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ding Ding! It's round one in Westminster as Dominic Cummings enters the ring to unleash his blow-by-blow attack on the government's handling...
Fear, fear and more fear
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The doom cycle is all too much for this week's Planet Normal stowaway, Laura Dodsworth. The author and photographer has written a new book on the UK g...
Nonsense on stilts
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The National Health Service or the National Covid Service? The latter, according to this week’s Planet Normal guest, Nick Stokes' whose beloved...
Fifty voyages, two co-pilots, one podcast
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist Rod Liddle joins Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan to mark fifty voyages to Planet Normal. 1.5 million downloads later, Allison has finally...
A Midsummer Night's Nightmare
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Janet Daley, columnist for the Sunday Telegraph, plants the Stars and Stripes on Planet Normal this week. She shares her take on Biden’...
Get out of my pub!
21 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David Owen, former Foreign Secretary and one of the SDP's Gang of Four, boards a flight to Planet Normal this week. He tells ...
Good haircuts, bad grammar
14 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ray Bassett, former Irish diplomat lands on Planet Normal following some of the worst violence in Northern Ireland in decades. As one of the key archi...
Passport to nowhere
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Tony Sewell, chair of the commission behind the long-awaited government report into racial disparities, boards this week's rocket to Planet Normal....
Breadcrumbs of freedom
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Golf is back, "revellers" are enjoying the sunshine and tiny specks of normality are starting to reappear. They can't come soon enough for Telegraph c...
Oddly reassuring, reassuringly odd
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hugh Osmond, the businessman behind the Punch Taverns group lands on Planet Normal with some disquieting words about the failure of business groups to...
All out vaccine war
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Douglas Murray, author, political commentator and associate editor of The Spectator lands on Planet Normal alongside Telegraph columnists Allison Pear...
Courageous stupidity
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor lands on Planet Normal this week, as he tells Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why Budget day was...
What’s a trillion pounds among friends?
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lady Carnarvon, owner of Highclere Castle, swaps "the real-life Downton Abbey" for Planet Normal. She tells our co-pilots why she thinks reopening Eng...
Eyes on the road
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lord Grade, former chairman of the BBC and ITV and CEO of Channel 4, dons his spacesuit to join Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan...
Hawks and Doves
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Olympic medallist Sharron Davies MBE swaps her swimsuit for her spacesuit this week to join Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan on ...
Just one more heave
11 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr John Lee, former NHS consultant pathologist blasts off to Planet Normal alongside Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. He tells ...
Tomorrow will be a good day
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The country loses a beacon of hope in Captain Sir Tom Moore, and this week Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan pay tribute to the former officer. And in...
Who'd be a student?
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
University is the time of your life - unless you're living through a pandemic. Third-year student and listener, Lucy takes a ride in the Planet Normal...
In defence of scepticism
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sir Christopher Meyer, former British ambassador to the US makes his maiden voyage to Planet Normal as Donald Trump’s presidency comes to an end. He...
Scotch eggs for all
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sir Graham Brady, Chairman of the 1922 Committee dons his Planet Normal spacesuit, alongside co-pilots, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan. The MP for ...
A very short dry January
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Commentator and author, Paul Embery joins the Planet Normal rocket alongside Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan to discuss what h...
Oh, what a year!
31 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As we say goodbye to 2020, Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan take a trip down memory lane and look back at an extraordinary year ...
A Planet Normal Christmas
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bake Off host Prue Leith puts on her spaceboots to join Planet Normal this week to tell Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Hallig...
Great British common sense
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Former Australian diplomat, Mark Higgie joins Planet Normal this week to tell Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why he's go...
It’s all a bit fishy
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As a Brexit deal floats on thin ice, we take a dive into the fishing industry and speak to Brian Stuart from Fraserburgh in Scotland, who's been a fis...
A different type of long Covid
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Goodwin, academic, author and Brex-pert takes his seat in the spaceship to Planet Normal, alongside Telegraph columnists and co-pilots, Alliso...
The Five Days of Christmas
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Broadcaster Richard Madeley dons the spare spacesuit for this week's trip to Planet Normal. Richard tells Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan why he won...
A maze of madness
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Conservative MP, Steve Baker makes his debut Planet Normal voyage in this turbulent week in politics. As the deputy chair of the Covid Recovery G...
The National Covid Service
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
An extra special passenger in the Planet Normal rocket this week, as Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan are joined by anonym...
A news tsunami
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan don their pilot gloves and make the voyage to Planet Normal, where they give their verdict on a bumpy week on both s...
Do you Care Minister?
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Every now and then, Planet Normal goes back to its roots and speaks to... a normal person. So joining Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Ha...
The billion pound Covid drop
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Buckle your seatbelts, Planet Normal is set to blast off for another week with it's esteemed pilots, Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Hal...
It'll all end in tiers
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hold onto your helmets, it's another explosive week for Planet Normal, where Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan discuss their fear...
Why the woke need to wake up
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sit tight, it's another bumpy journey to Planet Normal. This week, Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan call out the government for ...
A case of Covid-mania
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Buckle in, it’s been a news-laden week. On today’s podcast: Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan commiserate the lads and lassie...
Science vs Spin
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What a week! Time to grab your space helmets and head to Planet Normal, and joining you in the rocket today is Oxford University epidemiologist, Profe...
You have to laugh
16 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
... or you'll cry. This week Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan are joined by a man whose raison d'être is to get the country smi...
Blighty not frighty
09 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The lockdown rules are changing and Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan aren't happy about it. On today's show, Allison asks what o...
The Great Awokening
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The BBC is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons, and Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan have something to say about it. ...
Red tape and coral spacesuits
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Financier Dame Helena Morrissey dons her spacesuit to join Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan on their latest voyage to Planet No...
"We don't need to be world-leading, we just need to be competent"
20 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
David Davis MP is Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan's latest passenger as they blast off to Planet Normal. The Tory veteran talks about whether the A-...
The ultimate Marmite man
12 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nigel Farage buckles up to join the Telegraph's Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan on their weekly voyage to Planet Normal. Never one to hold back, Mr ...
We can't we all just get along?
05 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Broadcaster Iain Dale hops into the passenger seat to join the Telegraph's Liam Halligan and guest co-pilot Kate Hoey on this week's voyage to Planet ...
A war on history
29 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For the next two weeks former MP Kate Hoey steps into Allison Pearson's space-boots to join Liam Halligan as co-pilot to Planet Normal. Their gue...
The truth about the NHS
22 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Planet Normal goes back to its roots and speaks to... a normal person. This week it’s brave district nurse and Planet Normal listener, Holly, who te...
Don't be afraid to be a contrarian
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Entrepreneur Luke Johnson is Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan's latest guest to blast off to Planet Normal. The man behind Pizza Express and Gail's B...
The magic money forest
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Trevor Phillips, broadcaster, writer and former chairman of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, is Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan's latest ...
Now is the Summer of our Discontent
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Shaun Bailey, Conservative candidate for London Mayor, touches down on Planet Normal, alongside Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halliga...
Banking on a return to normality
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Former Governor of the Bank of England, Lord Mervyn King, is the co-pilot on Telegraph columnists Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan's fifth orbiting o...
We Need to Talk About Unpopular Opinions
17 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Novelist Lionel Shriver buckles up to join Telegraph columnists, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan for their fourth trip to Planet Normal. She tells u...