- 43 minutes 31 seconds396. Johnny Mercer
Iain Dale interviews former Tory veterans minister Johnny Mercer about his book NO WAY TO RUN A COUNTRY - they speak about whether mavericks can succeed in politics, why he was fired from Boris Johnson's government and whether he has ambitions to return.
11 November 2026, 1:00 am - 1 hour 11 minutes395. Iain Dale (Jacqui Smith)
In an inversion of the format, Jacqui Smith interviews Iain Dale about his autobiography, live at the Edinburgh Fringe!
8 November 2026, 1:00 am - 1 hour 25 minutes394. John Lloyd
Iain Dale interviews the legendary TV producer John Lloyd about his work on Blackadder, Not the Nine O'Clock News, Spitting Image, QI and more!
4 November 2026, 1:00 am - 1 hour 9 minutes393. Jess Phillips
Iain Dale interviews Labour MP and former minister Jess Phillips, live from the Edinburgh Fringe.
28 October 2026, 1:00 am - 1 hour 10 minutes392. Sarah Vine and Andrew Pierce
Iain Dale interviews journalists Sarah Vine and Andrew Pierce about their books - Sarah's on being a political wife and Andrew's on finding his birth mother - live at the Edinburgh Fringe.
21 October 2026, 12:00 am - 1 hour 10 minutes391. Baroness Gillian Shephard and Lord Robin Butler
Iain Dale interviews a couple of peers, one a former Cabinet minister and one a former senior civil servant - Baroness Gillian Shephard and Lord Robin Butler - live from the Edinburgh Fringe.
18 October 2026, 12:00 am - 49 minutes 18 seconds390. Ben Macintyre
Iain Dale interviews historian Ben Macintyre about his fascinating new book REDWOOD: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE COLD WAR'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY SPY.
14 October 2026, 12:00 am - 1 hour 10 minutes389. Michael Crick, John Curtice and Brian Taylor
Iain Dale interviews a trio of political obsessives - broadcaster Michael Crick, political scientist John Curtice and journalist Brian Taylor - live at the Edinburgh Fringe. This episode was recorded before the Clacton by-election.
9 October 2026, 12:00 am - 1 hour 8 minutes388. Simon Sebag Montefiore
Iain Dale interviews historian Simon Sebag Montefiore about his new book THE CAULDRON: THE MAKING OF THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST
7 October 2026, 12:00 am - 50 minutes 29 seconds387. Paul Mason
Iain Dale interviews journalist and broadcaster Paul Mason about his new book REDS: A GLOBAL HISTORY OF COMMUNISM.
2 October 2026, 12:00 am - 44 minutes 39 seconds386. Caroline Slocock
Iain Dale interviews the director of the Civil Exchange think tank, and former civil servant, Caroline Slocock about her new book BAD GOVERNMENT (AND HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER). They speak about the relationship between civil servants and ministers, how civil servants are held to account, and what Caroline thinks is going wrong in Whitehall!
23 September 2026, 12:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App