Talkback with Petrie Hosken

Chancellor John Healey unveiled his first Autumn Budget with a pledge to give British households and businesses “breathing space” amid mounting global cost pressures. Headline measures focus heavily on everyday expenses: gas standing charges to be phased out next year, import tariffs are scrapped on over 100 goods, fuel duty to remain frozen, and the national living wage to rise by 3.9%, among others.Head of Consumer Finance at Moneyfacts, Adam French, breaks down all of the announcements and takes your questions.

Tom Cruise's latest film Digger marks a major departure from his familiar action blockbusters. Playing a corrupt oil tycoon who triggers an environmental catastrophe, Cruise traded signature stunts for prosthetics and dark satire. However, reception has been brutal: despite praise for his daring artistic swing, it bombed at the box office, polarized critics and is tracking to be one of the costliest misfires in modern studio history. But is it really THAT bad?Filmmaker, Broadcaster and Talk Film Reporter, Jonnie Hurn, gives his review of Digger and talks about some of the worst movies ever, before asking you; what's the worst movie you've ever seen.

When Valdo Calocane was sent to a high-security hospital for the 2023 Nottingham attacks, the public expected a sentence behind locked doors. What few realized was that he remained eligible for taxpayer-funded benefits. Because the court detained him under the Mental Health Act rather than sending him to prison, welfare regulations classified him as an NHS patient, not an inmate. He may now be eligible for release in early 2027.Which raises an uncomfortable question: what other hidden anomalies and unintended pay-outs are quietly lurking across Britain’s benefits system? Should Calocane be allowed to walk free> Grassroots Development Manager at The Taxpayers Alliance, Benjamin Elks, lays out how we've gotten to this point in this story. You then get your chance to talk back.

Violent youth clashes have rocked Europe, with curfews imposed across France following widespread arrests, and Italy approving emergency anti-riot measures after unrest in Bologna and Milan. The disorder began with students protesting over school conditions, but have since escalated to take in a broader range of concerns.Petrie is asking you; do you think the youth of the UK are going to follow suit and protest in the near future? Engagement Coordinator for A Band Of Brothers, Jason Dean, outlines what we've seen across Europe so far, before you have your say.

Petrie picks up the final threads from the story of a man jumping into a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and asks you if holding animals like this in captivity is asking for trouble? It's also been announced that the tiger will not be euthanised, but do you agree with that decision? Former Director of Comms for The Conservative Party, Amy Fisher, gives her thoughts before you get to talk back.

Addicts claiming disability benefits are paid lump sums worth thousands of pounds that they immediately spend on alcohol and drugs, experts say. Almost 18,000 people are claiming Pip with substance or alcohol abuse as their main disabling condition, meaning it is the most debilitating of potentially a number of health issues. Last year, the government spent an estimated £128m on Pip payments for people it categorised as having “substance misuse problems”.Should restrictions be put in place on how people can spend benefits? If so, what would you restrict? Alcohol? Cigarettes? Petrie discusses this with Political Correspondent at The Sunday Times In Scotland, John Boothman, before getting your thoughts.

The U.S. Army has scheduled the execution by firing squad of former Army Maj. Nidal Hasan for the 3rd of December. US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, announced that the first public execution in the U.S. since 1936 will be live-streamed, although President Donald Trump told reporters he had personally approved the online feed, but had yet to “make a determination on whether to allow it”. Lawmakers across the political spectrum have condemned the proposal as "barbaric," "medieval," and reminiscent of execution videos produced by terrorist groups.Petrie wants to know if you would watch this live stream? Military Law Expert, Eugene Fidell goes over the case and what lead to the execution being broadcast before you let your feelings know on this unprecedented event.

In a case that has shocked the world, death row inmate Christa Pike is now conscious and speaking at a hospital after surviving Tennessee's failed execution attempt. Pike’s is the only person in modern U.S. history known to have survived a complete execution attempt after receiving two full doses of lethal injection drugs. Her legal team described her survival as "medically unprecedented". As she continues receiving critical care, her attorneys are actively renewing calls for Governor Bill Lee to commute her sentence to life imprisonment without parole.Professor at The Colleges of Law in Ventura an Santa Barbara, Justin Tuttle, goes over the full details of this case. Petrie then asks you, do you feel like the death penalty is ever justifiable?

Britain’s political landscape has seen sharp drama as the Conservative Party Conference convened in Birmingham, while the Green Party was plunged into crisis. At the Tory conference, leaders pitched "The Right Way" platform, with Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith pledging broad tax cuts and sweeping deregulation to drive economic growth. Meanwhile, Green Party Leader Zack Polanski faces intense fallout after conference delegates voted 1,022 to 813 to define Zionism as racism. Though Polanski missed the ballot while campaigning, the decision sparked global backlash, an entry ban from Israel, and a fierce rift among Green MPs.Petrie is asking, have the Tories convinced you that they've changed? Former Political Editor, Vincent Moss, goes over all the events of the day before you get your chance to talk back.