Talk Breakfast

Talk Breakfast host Mark Dolan opens a dramatic morning after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released under investigation, a development dominating front pages and reigniting the crisis around Andrew’s past links to Jeffrey Epstein. Dolan frames the central question for listeners: is Andrew’s return home a temporary reprieve, or the start of a legal process that could end in a prosecution with profound consequences for the royal family?In studio, former newspaper editor Neil Wallis describes the arrest as a rare, true “stop-the-presses” moment, while Talk’s royal correspondent Rupert Bell says the speed and intensity of the police action has shocked even those who felt it was “inevitable.” The discussion turns to the Palace response, King Charles’ message that “the law must take its course”, and whether the monarchy can contain the scandal to Andrew alone, or whether it risks contaminating the institution if the public senses anything less than full cooperation.Joining from the US, royal commentator Kinsey Schofield argues investigators may have moved fast to secure evidence, particularly with Andrew “moving from one place to another,” and suggests the focus, at this stage, is the alleged sharing of confidential information in a government capacity rather than wider historic claims. The panel then debates whether Andrew should be removed from the line of succession to “tidy it up,” and what further steps, if any, Charles should take while an active investigation is ongoing.Mark Dolan is later joined by Isabel Oakeshott to analyse the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with a focus on the legal and reputational consequences rather than the spectacle. Oakeshott warns the Crown Prosecution Service faces a “painstaking and very long winded process” to determine whether there is a realistic prospect of conviction, noting the offence is “notoriously difficult to prosecute” and any decision will be heavily scrutinised whichever way it falls.The discussion turns to Andrew’s long-standing issues of judgment, his associations with controversial figures, and whether the damage now extends beyond one individual to the institution itself. Oakeshott argues the scandal risks spreading to the wider royal brand, not because of direct wrongdoing by others, but because of questions over whether stronger intervention should have come earlier.Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor denies any wrongdoing.

Lord Daniel Hannan joins Mark Dolan in the lead up to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest. Retired Major Andrew Fox discusses the huge petition signed by all leading defence experts to double defence spending. First Minister of the Chagossian Government Misley Mandarin joins Mark again to discuss their forced eviction by the British government and Shadow National Security Minister Alicia Kearns MP weighs in on the controversial Chagossian fightback against Starmer.

LIVE from the Chagos Islands are the British Chagossians being threatened by the British government with immigration officials forcing them with deportation. The irony that Starmer can deport his own citizens is not lost on Mark Dolan. Plus the new Reform UK shadow cabinet is investigated by the New Culture Forum's Rafe Heydel-Mankoo and Dan Hodges pulls apart the dying days or Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.

Tory party chairman Matt Vickers and former Labour MP join Mark Dolan to discuss Starmer's 15th U-Turn allowing the local elections to go ahead in May risking electoral wipe out for the Labour Party. Fleet Street titan Leo McKinstry exposes Labour Together's campaign to smear journalists, whilst Andrew Lownie dishes out new dirt on the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Plus, British Chagossians raid the islands to take back the territory for the UK from China backed Mauritius in a middle-finger to Starmer.Wake up with Talk Breakfast in full on YouTube, DAB+ radio, Freeview 280, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus or the Talk App on your TV from 6am every morning.

Britain’s chief prosecutor insists “no one is above the law” as Mark Dolan takes on the growing storm around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, with legendary royal insider Dickie Arbiter warning the disgraced ex-duke’s “protestations of innocence” have been crumbling since the 2019 Newsnight interview and demanding he “step forward” and answer questions on both sides of the Atlantic. With police “assessing” and the Palace under pressure, the show asks the uncomfortable question: is Andrew now heading for a Congress grilling, a UK investigation, or both?The morning then turns to the Sun’s explosive “asylum farce” splash: £500,000 already paid in phone compensation to illegal migrants, with Mark summing up the mood as listeners rage that it’s become “make it make sense” Britain. Brendan O’Neill (Spiked) says taking phones is “a fundamental right” for a sovereign country, while former Tory leader Sir Ian Duncan-Smith brands the system “a complete mess”, backing tougher action on the ECHR and warning the bill could spiral into the millions.Away from Westminster and the courts, Mark also wades into the culture wars as Bond fans clash over what 007 should look like, with historian and broadcaster Rafe Heydel-Mankoo arguing “if you want diverse spies, create your own new characters” and warning against tampering with the “tried and true formula” as Amazon takes the wheel. From royals to borders to Bond, it’s a morning of hard questions, sharp takes, and a single theme running through it all: the public’s patience is wearing thin.Wake up with Talk Breakfast in full on YouTube, DAB+ radio, Freeview 280, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus or the Talk App on your TV from 6am every morning.

Wake up with Talk Breakfast in full on YouTube, DAB+ radio, Freeview 280, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus or the Talk App on your TV from 6am every morning.

Wake up with Talk Breakfast in full on YouTube, DAB+ radio, Freeview 280, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus or the Talk App on your TV from 6am every morning.