Brexitcast

If you choose not to get a vaccine, the risk is on you and the government shouldn't leave restrictions in place to protect anti-vaxxers. That's what Mark Harper, the Conservative chairman of the 'Covid Recovery Group' thinks. He joins us to tell us why his group is putting pressure on the government to lift lockdown. And you may have noticed that it’s rather chilly outside. So we thought we’d head up to Braemar in The Highlands to find out what it’s like to fix a hydro-electric generator at minus 23C. Chilly! Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Rick Kelsey, Alix Pickles Editor: Dino Sofos

It looks like we're going to have to understand new variants of the virus for a long time. Adam and Laura hear from the Cambridge scientist in charge of tracking them, Professor Sharon Peacock. And as quarantine hotels prepare to open up in the UK, we catch up with Rebecca in New Zealand as she leaves 14 days isolation.Studio manager: Emma Crowe Producers: Danny Wittenberg, Alix Pickles, Kameron Virk, Jack Suddaby Senior Producer: Rick Kelsey Assistant Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos

An app to prove your vaccination status when you fly abroad could be on its way. We hear from Alexandre de Juniac, the head of the international airline trade body IATA, on whether the concept of vaccine passports could become reality. Also Greg James and Bella Mackie tell us how they’re loving going back to school for their new podcast. Studio Manager: Emma Crowe Producers: Natalie Ktena, Alix Pickles, Georgia Coen Senior Producer: Rick Kelsey Deputy Editor: Emma Close Editor: Dino Sofos

Adam speaks to James Gallagher and Dr Vanessa Apea for the latest on vaccines, variations and how to ensure higher take-up among those in ethnic minorities.And we are joined by Love Island’s Dr Alex, who’s just been appointed the government's youth mental health adviser.Studio Director: Russell Newlove Producers: Cristina Criddle, Georgia Coan, Jack Suddaby, Kameron Virk and Alix Pickles Episode editor: Ben Weisz Editor: Dino Sofos

Did you see the Handforth Parish Council virtual meeting? Everyone else did! Adam is joined by Mathamatician, Hannah Fry, and Medical Historian, Mark Honigsbaum, to talk about how pandemics actually end. And Radio 4’s Melvyn Bragg pops in to explain How to... Melvyn Bragg. It’s a bumper podcast for your locked down weekend.Producers: Alix Pickles, Ben Weisz, Danny Wittenberg, Georgia Coan, Kameron Virk, Rick Kelsey Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

Teachers have been sent messages inviting them to book appointments for vaccinations, against official priority rules. Our very own Newscast Reporter, Daniel Wittenberg, explains what’s going on. And North America Tech Reporter, James Clayton, walks Adam through the History of Amazon, after Jeff Bezos announces he'll step down as CEO of the e-commerce giant.Producers: Kameron Virk, Georgia Coan, Frankie Tobi Senior Producer: Rick Kelsey Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

The Health Secretary talks about Contagion the movie, as hospital admissions and deaths caused by Covid-19 are now on a “downward slope”. Our Health Editor Hugh, goes through the numbers. And elsewhere, Brexit tensions over the Irish border keep bubbling up, Laura and Katya join Adam to explain what’s next.Studio Manager: Michael Regaard Producers: Frankie Tobi, Georgia Coen and Jack Suddaby Output Editor: Rick Kelsey Editor: Dino Sofos

How is England clamping down on the new variant? Professor Robin Shattock from Imperial College joins us to tell us about the new variant and how to vaccinate against it. And Sarah Smith gives us the latest lockdown news from Scotland. Also, the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is jailed. We discuss golden toilet brushes with Sarah Rainsford in Moscow. Studio Director: Russell Newlove Producers: Cristina Criddle, Georgia Coan and Jack Suddaby Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

As MPs debate the cladding crisis, Adam and Laura are joined by Sarah Corker and Newscaster Jenni Garratt to discuss how leasholders' woes could destabilise the housing market. And as the military seizes control in Myanmar, Fergal Keane explains how its detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi can be seen as both hero and villain. Studio Director: Russell Newlove Producers: Jack Suddaby, Georgia Coan, Natalie Ktena, Rick Kelsey Episode Editor: Ben Weisz Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

The AstraZeneca vaccine has been signed off by the EU today, but there's still a row about when they'll get their doses. Fergus and Vicki join Adam to make sense of the latest, as the bloc threatens to restrict vaccines crossing the border to Northern Ireland - overriding part of the Brexit deal. Also, are you sleeping well? If not - Dr Guy Meadows has some great advice for you.Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Jack Suddaby, Daniel Wittenberg, Kameron Virk, Rick Kelsey, Georgia Coan Episode Editor: Ben Weisz Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

A row erupts between the EU and drugs company AstraZeneca over vaccine shortages.Adam, Laura and Katya talk to German MEP, Dr Peter Liese, who is not happy at all. And we're joined by Tom O'Hara from Janus Henderson Investors to find out why GameStop shares have caused such a frenzy.Studio Director: Michael Regaard Producers: Daniel Wittenberg and Georgia Coan Editor: Dino Sofos

There’s no back to school until at least 8th March in England, on the day we finally hear about hotel quarantine. We hear from Rebecca who's stuck in a one of them in New Zealand. Adam, Laura and Hugh talk about the UK's latest travel restrictions and how we might come out of them.Track listing in the student special: Aya Anne - Better (featuring King Marino) Cole LC - Grip N Slide H33RA - I DON'T MIND Kastro - outside The Mirror Ball Test - Amuse Bouche THEO - Jealous YazMean - AVENUE YourBoyWonder - DIFFERENTStudio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Jack Suddaby, Kameron Virk, Georgia Coan, Ben Weisz Reporter: De'Graft Mensah Senior Producer: Rick Kelsey Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

The tech entrepreneur talks to us about moving people away from university and his dad's tech skills. It's also the sad day the UK went over 100,000 Covid deaths; Adam, Laura and Fergus process the moment with psychotherapist Julia Samuel.Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Alix Pickles, Daniel Wittenberg, Ben Weisz Senior Producer: Rick Kelsey Editor: Dino Sofos

What should you do if you find yourself checking the bulletins at bedtime? Fiona Bruce is the subject of the latest “Dear Deidre”. And BBC Scotland’s new Political Editor, Glenn Campbell, joins Adam and Laura to celebrate Burns Night… by talking about the future of the United Kingdom.Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Alix Pickles, Daniel Wittenberg Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

Ruby Wax gives us her thoughts for looking after your mental health in a pandemic. And, we hear from Vicki and Hugh after the government warned that the new coronavirus variant could be more deadly than the last.Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Cristina Criddle, Georgia Coan, Rick Kelsey, Alix Pickles Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

The Brexitcast band has come together again and this time they've got Midge Ure from Ultravox with them! Three weeks since the end of the Brexit transition, Adam, Laura, Chris and Katya come together to talk about what the impact of Brexit has been for business owners, lorry drivers and touring musicians. Studio Director: Mike Regaard Producer: Georgia Coan Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

Biden, what you gonna do? Adam and Laura go transatlantic with the BBC’s Nick Bryant in Washington and a former US Deputy Ambassador to the UK, Lewis Luken. What could the impact of a Biden presidency be on life in the UK?   Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Georgia Coen, Rick Kelsey, Ben Weisz Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

Large backlogs in criminal courts means some crimes from last year, will not go before a jury until 2022. Barrister Alexandra Wilson drops in, to tell us she’s frustrated to see some courts being used to film dramas, rather than hear real cases, that are piling up because of the pandemic.And we ask: how do you make smart motorways smarter?Studio Director: Emma Crowe Producers: Alix Pickles, Georgia Coen Episode Editor: Rick Kelsey Editor: Dino Sofos

Sea shanties are flooding social media, so we wrote our own for Newscast. More than four million people have now had Covid vaccines - but why is the rollout 'lumpy'? Laura Kuenssberg and Hugh Pym give us the latest. We also hear from Moscow, where President Putin's fiercest critic has been arrested. And as influencers come under fire for trips to Dubai, we speak to the man who links them up with advertising opportunities. Studio Manager: Emma Crowe Producers: Georgia Coan and Cristina Criddle Episode Editor: Ben Weisz Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos

Two men's journey through the snow. Newscaster Paul describes how he felt walking his 82-year-old neighbour, Henry, through the snow to get vaccinated. And the BBC's Sima Kotecha (with her her mum, Hansa Kotecha) join Adam to talk through why fake news could be causing people from British South Asian communities to reject the vaccine. Producer: Alix Pickles Assistant Editor: Sam Bonham Editor: Dino Sofos