The Story

The comedian and children’s author David Walliams has been accused of using his power and celebrity status to exploit young women for sex. An investigation from ITV and The Guardian alleges that Walliams sexually assaulted a 15 year old girl and contacted other teenagers who he went on to have sexual relationships with when they were older – allegations he denies. The revelations come after Walliams attempted to quash the reporting through a highly publicised injunction in the High Court, before a judge dismissed the claims last week. But what do these allegations tell us about the state of the UK entertainment industry? And has anything changed today?Our colleagues at Times Radio have the latest.Guests:Ollie Cole, Times Radio reporter.Hadley Freeman, columnist, The Sunday Times.Hosts: Jane Garvey and Fi Glover.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: David Walliams accused of preying on girls as young as 15Further listening: What the celebrity injunction means for press freedomPhoto: Getty Images.

Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to having an affair with a suspected Chinese spy. The potential breach at the world’s most valuable AI company has raised huge national security concerns and taken $200 billion off their value. But what does it mean for the relationship between China and America, fierce competitors in the AI race? And how serious is this for the world's stock markets – and all of our money?Guest: Chris Stokel-Walker, technology journalist, author and contributor, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducers: Robyn Simon and Olivia CaseWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Who is Alice Huang? The Nvidia scandal explainedFurther listening: How North Korea became a crypto-theft world leaderClips: BBC, CNBC, Alaska’s News Source, Channel News AsiaPhoto: Chu Yung-Chiang

Today's UN climate conference follows a year in which Britain suffered extreme heatwaves while fires, droughts and flooding devastated countries around the world.Ministers are talking about a new "electric century" - but have also just approved new fossil fuel projects. So, as delegates head to COP31 in Turkey, what will be Britain’s role on the world stage? And are the COP meetings really doing anything to help?Guest: Adam Vaughan, environment editor, The TimesHost: Luke JonesProducers: Robyn Simon, Harry StottWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Britain pushes for ‘electric century’ deal at Cop31 climate summitFurther listening: Cop30 - is climate diplomacy crackingClips: BBC, Channel 4, CBS, Sky News, The Independent, Vertex/ YoutubePhoto: Getty Images.

With her husband Donald left reeling after last week's US midterm elections, Melania Trump is quietly having a moment. She helped secure a ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky and now has her sights set on further peace in the war torn country - she’s just hosted a meeting at the White House between Russian and Ukrainian delegations. How - and why - did Melania get involved in this war, when she once seemed so keen to stay out of politics? And who’s really benefitting?Guest: Maxim Tucker, Ukraine correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comFurther listening: How North Korea became a crypto-theft world leaderClips: First Post, CBS, NBC, SKY, Forbes, MS Now, America’s Let’s Move, The Carter Centre, YouTube, StartUp Health, Fox5 Atlanta, CNN, ABC, Kyiv Independent, BBC, MS Now, MSNBC, Nine Network, Melania / Amazon MGM Studios, The National News Desk.Photo: Getty Images.

This week's conviction of Russell Brand on rape and sexual assault charges followed a joint investigation into the comedian and Hollywood actor by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches programme.Today we're re-publishing that original investigation, led by journalists Rosamund Urwin and Charlotte Wace, as it went out in The Story in September 2023.A warning: this episode does contain detailed allegations of rape and sexual assault.Rosamund and Charlotte have since been covering Brand's trial in our sister podcast, The Trial of Russell BrandBrand himself denies the allegations.Guests:Rosamund Urwin, chief news correspondent, The Sunday TimesCharlotte Wace, investigations correspondent, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducers: Will Roe and Edward DrummondRead more:Russell Brand accused of rape, sexual assaults and abuseRussell Brand told the world who he was for decadesClips: BBC, Channel 4, Universal Pictures UK, ITV News, ITV, Endemol, Russell Brand YouTube Channel, CBSPhoto: Getty imageHelplines:Rape Crisis England & WalesRape Crisis Scotland

Last week, it emerged that an unnamed celebrity had asked a court for anonymity, and an injunction to stop two news outlets airing allegations that he abused his fame to prey on young women. The request was partly made on mental health grounds - he said he’d kill himself ‘at the earliest opportunity’ if publication went ahead. It’s prompted a storm of speculation about who the man is, and sparked a debate on press freedom and responsibility. So will the claims be published and will the man - who denies the allegations - be revealed?This podcast contains discussions around suicide. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Pia Sarma, editorial legal director at Times Media and deputy general counsel, News UK.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Celebrity ‘suicide’ injunction could open floodgates, warns Ian HislopFurther listening: How the rich and powerful try to intimidate the pressClips: TalkTV, Times Radio, Sky, Channel 4, Al Jazeera.Photo: Getty Images.

The comedian and Hollywood actor Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court.The trial itself followed an investigation by The Times and The Sunday Times, along with Channel 4's Dispatches.In this episode of our sister podcast, The Trial of Russell Brand, the reporters who led that investigation join Luke Jones to describe being in court as the jury delivered its verdict.Watch or listen to The Trial of Russell Brand every weekday on Apple Podcasts, YouTube or listen on Spotify. Follow the show to never miss an episode.Send us your questions: investigates.podcasts@thetimes.com

The results of Tuesday’s US midterm elections are in – and the results are astounding. Democrats flipped some historic red states to gain control of Congress, in a bruising rebuke to Donald Trump. But what does this stunning victory mean for the Democrats? And who could run for president in 2028? We asked our reporters across the US after they watched the results come in.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:David Charter, assistant editor in the US, The Times.George Grylls, Washington correspondent, The Times.Susie Coen, US correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Shabnam Grewal.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Will Trump be impeached? What happens now Democrats have won the midtermsFurther listening: US midterms: Can the Democrats flip Texas?Clips: ABC, NBC, BBC, The Guardian, Fox News, James Talarico via Facebook, C-SPAN, CNN.Photo: Getty Images.

Last week, cryptocurrency exchange Binance was hacked, affecting a record £4.7bn of assets. While North Korea denies being behind the attack, investigators say clues point to the actions of the rogue state. How did the country develop into a hacking superpower, and as cyber crime escalates, how can we protect ourselves?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia editor, The Times and The Sunday Times.Ciaran Martin, Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations, University of Oxford, and founding Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ.Host: Manveen RanaProducers: Robyn Simon and Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Binance heist: investors pull out $4.5bn after hackers’ attackFurther listening: Unit 29155: The Russian cyberagency targeting BritainPhoto: Getty Images.