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Alas Vine & Hitchens
An Iron Dome for the UK and Allaying the Blame
On this week’s episode, Peter has finally worked out how to defend the realm (so you might sleep safely in your beds), and Sarah is asking why do some authority figures often go after the wrong people, and leave the real criminals alone?
And the pair pore over our mailbag to consider Britain’s place in two world wars, the valuer of spoiling a ballot paper. What happened when Peter appeared the panel of Have I Got News For You (clue: it changed political history)? How he might go about robbing a bank (unsuccessfully). And to decimalise or not? And what that may or may not have meant to the Roman army.
On our reading and watch list this week:
· What Happened to the Corbetts – Nevil Shute
· The Phoney Victory: The World War II Illusion – Peter Hitchens
· The Guns Of August – Barbara W. Tuchman
· The Life of Brian – Dir: Terry Jones
Please do get in touch, email: Alas@dailymail.co.uk you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas’.
Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter Hitchens
Producer: Philip Wilding
Editor: Chelsey Moore
Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
Executive Producer: Jamie East
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular
To get in touch email alas@mailonline.co.uk, you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on WhatsApp - on 07796 657512 start your message with the word 'alas'
Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter Hitchens
Producer: Phillip Wilding
Editor: Chelsey Moore
Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
Executive Producer: Jamie East
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular
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69. Banned Books and Past-It Politicians
29:37||Season 1, Ep. 69On this week’s episode, Sarah’s asking is eighty too old to be a world leader or any kind of politician and Peter would like to know why the Thought Police are coming after Janet and John. And the pair pore over our mailbag to consider why Peter is s a Swissphile, to wonder what the Victorians ever did for us, how the Mamas and Papas were a musical apex for some and why is one of our presenters practically meat and drink for the Popbitch website. On our reading and watch list this week: · Chocky – John Wyndham· Janet and John – Various· Places Where They Sing – Simon Raven Please do get in touch, email: Alas@dailymail.co.uk you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas’. Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular
67. Abolish the Police and Return of the Blair Creature
44:31||Season 1, Ep. 67On this week’s episode, Sarah is asking what happened in the brutal murder of student Henry Nowak and Peter would like to know why the Blair Creature has returned from the deep to haunt the Labour Party. And the pair pore over our mailbag to consider what the Festival of Britain brought the UK and if we might ever see it’s like again. While Peter embraces the charms of Paris, Sarah less so. They also ask what use libertarianism? But are united in their love of Spain and its wonderful cities.On our reading and watch list this week: · Scarman Report – Lord Scarman· The Abolition of Liberty – Peter Hitchens· Robert Peel: A Biography – Douglas Hurd· Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity) - Pope Leo XIV · Tales from the Alhambra – Washington Irvine Please do get in touch, email: Alas@dailymail.co.uk you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas’. Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular
66. Crime And (No) Punishment and Phew! What a Scorcher!
45:25||Season 1, Ep. 66On this week’s episode, Sarah is asking why a judge thought it was a good idea to let three rapists walk free. And Peter would like to know what the deal is with ridiculous centigrade temperatures. And the pair marvel over Peter’s rakish black eye and pore over our latest mailbag to answer listener questions on whether devolution really can work and is the blueprint for politics on a national scale. The merits of the free bus pass, compulsory voting works for Australia, so why not us? And, perhaps more importantly, why parenting used to be akin to NATO and that was a good thing.On our reading and watch list this week: · A Clockwork Orange – Dir: Stanley Kubrick· Book Of Common Prayer· Unconventional Wisdom – Peter Hitchens Please do get in touch, email: Alas@dailymail.co.uk you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas’. Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular
65. Prawn Again, Bombs and Displaced People
33:07||Season 1, Ep. 65On this week’s episode, two worlds collide as Sarah asks why prawn cocktail and such old school culinary delights as beef bourguignon and banana splits are back on the dinner menu. And Peter will be asking if our policy of bombing foreign countries is driving up mass immigration to the UK. And the pair pore over our latest mailbag to answer listener questions on whether Kemi Badenoch is really a true-blue conservative or more in the mould of someone like libertarian Javier Milei? The merits of the latest cinematic take on the life of Charles De Gaulle, the shortcomings of the Criminal Cases Review Commission and, finally, what did the 60s ever do for us?On our reading and watch list this week: · The Leopard - Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa· I’m Still Here – Dir: Walter Salles· De Gaulle: Tilting Iron - Dir: Antonin BaudryPlease do get in touch, email: Alas@dailymail.co.uk you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas’. Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular
64. Voting for Beginners and the End of the PM
40:48||Season 1, Ep. 64On this week’s episode, Peter will be telling us why first past the post is a much more preferable voting model to proportional representation. And sticking with the electorate, Sarah will be asking if there should be a general election if Keir Starmer finally falls on his sword. And the pair pore over our latest mailbag to answer listener questions on the ‘sovereign’ bases in Cyprus, go back and forth on the latest report on the October 7th attacks. Why has the city of Coventry gone to wrack and ruin since Peter left and do either enjoy the cut and thrust of social media? Peter, you may be surprised to find, is all for it.On our reading and watch list this week: · In The Wet – Nevil Shute· Lost Coventry – David McGrory· 10/7: 100 Human Stories – Lee YaronPlease do get in touch, email: Alas@dailymail.co.uk you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas’. Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular
63. 2000 Days of Lucy Letby and the Badenoch Bounce
32:05||Season 1, Ep. 63On this week’s episode, Peter would like to know why Lucy Letby has been in prison for 2,000 days while there is still little to no evidence against her. And Sarah – struggling valiantly with bronchitis - will be telling you why she was right about Kemi Badenoch all along. And the pair pore over our latest mailbag to ask whatever happened to civilised political debate and can it possibly ever return? Peter doesn’t hold back on his thoughts on Tom Holland’ s Dominion, we hear from a honeymooning listener who’s been traversing Japan by train while listening to Alas… And King Charles II gets a mention, no surprises there.On our reading and watch list this week: · Short Breaks in Mordor: Dawns and Departures of a Scribbler's Life – Peter Hitchens· Blue Ambition: The Unauthorised Biography of Kemi Badenoch - Lord Ashcroft · Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind - Tom HollandPlease do get in touch, email: Alas@dailymail.co.uk you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas’. Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular
62. The Recurring Assassin and Falkland Sovereignty
42:30||Season 1, Ep. 62On this week’s episode, Peter would like to talk about the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, and the time his dad moved a gun across the island, while Sarah wants to talk about yet another attempt on Trump’s life and why security for MPs is so lax in the UK. And the pair pore over our latest mailbag to ask has the Starmer Project corrupted Labour? The latest update on Peter’s long-awaited book about the car (don’t hold your breath), what do the pair really think of psychology? And a teacher writes from Spain to tell us how the changing of the clocks is dumbing down her pupils.On our reading and watch list this week: · The Wizard Of The Kremlin – Giuliano da Empoli· Cracked: Why Psychiatry is Doing More Harm Than Good – James Davies· The Truth About the Drug Companies: How they deceive us and what to do about it - Marcia AngellPlease do get in touch, email: Alas@dailymail.co.uk you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas’. Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular
61. Risible Renters’ Act and Disguised Privilege
40:19||Season 1, Ep. 61On this week’s episode, as Sarah is ousted from her rental home, she’s asking why Labour’s so-called revolutionary renters’ act is such a damp squib and, staying with the left, Peter wants to know why this government hates independent schools so much.And the pair pore over our latest mailbag to reflect once again on the madness of King Donald and his presidential predecessor, ponder whether the Germans could have ever really won the last world war. The best and worst nationalities to try and befriend, and Sarah and Peter give their guide to Italy’s lesser-known gems.On our reading and watch list this week: · The Uses of Literacy – Richard Hoggart· The Wages of Destruction – Adam Tooze· The Second World War – James Holland· The Winds of War – Herman Wouk· War and Remembrance - Herman WoukPlease do get in touch, email: Alas@dailymail.co.uk you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas’. Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular