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King Charles III's coronation explained
Season 1
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The history of ‘crowning’ royalty from the Egyptian era through to Roman times. Why are we holding Mediaeval ceremonies in 2023? How King Charles is ‘modernising’ the ceremony. Coronations expert George Gross from King’s College London explains the history of the ceremonies, and why certain traditions have continued for centuries. Plus Evening Standard reporter Emma Loffhagen discusses the running of the day, and who is and isn’t on the guest list. In this episode:
- The history of coronations explained
- How will this coronation be different to previous ceremonies?
- Fun facts on key coronation regalia
- Who is and isn’t on the coronation guest list?
- Controversial figures on the list
- How the public will celebrate the occasion
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'It speaks straight to the heart': The Royal's Opera's Netia Jones on a misunderstood art form
16:50||Season 1Is there anything better than a cultural escape as winter sets in?Today we're debunking one of the lesser-known art forms - opera - as the timelessly classical La Traviata show opens in the capital, which is the most performed opera in the world.We're joined by Netia Jones, the Associate Director of Opera at the Royal Opera, to discuss the origins of the art forum, how technology is changing it, tips for first-time opera attendees and much more.And if you’re keen to experience some new culture this year, then read more about some of our top cultural picks for the year ahead.
Labour hits new record low in London
11:01||Season 1Support for Labour in London has fallen to a new record low with the Tories pushed into fourth place behind the Greens and Reform UK, according to a new poll.Just 31 per cent of Londoners now say they would vote for Sir Keir Starmer’s party, according to a Savanta survey, down from 43 per cent at the 2024 General Election. The broader picture is of a fracturing of political allegiances in London in a blow to Sir Keir as he fights to stay Prime Minister amid unrest among Labour MPs.The Standard's Political Editor Nic Cecil is here with the latest.
How Venezuela’s deposed leader struck a bizarre ‘win-win’ deal with London
15:00||Season 1Overthrown Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is facing drug trafficking charges in New York after being seized by US forces in an early-morning raid on Caracas.But he was once instrumental in an extraordinary deal between London and the oil-rich South American nation that resulted in 250,000 low-income Londoners being able to claim half-price bus and tram fares for a year.As the world watches on, The Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall is here with the latest.
In need of a laugh? The best comedy shows to see in 2026
13:53||Season 1It’s a new year and officially the first Monday back to work after the festive break…if that feels a little bleak, and you’re looking to schedule some laughs in 2026, then stay tuned for today’s episode. The live comedy scene seems to expand exponentially every year; from award nominees to TV stars to online sensations and podcast heroes, stand-ups are all getting back to their stage roots. The Standard’s Comedy Critic Bruce Dessau is here with a bumper guide to the best of the bunch hitting the road in the coming months, from Josh Widdicombe and Michael Spicer, to Sam Nicoresti, Bridget Christie and plenty more.
From Wuthering Heights to The Bride: Films we’re most excited for in 2026
13:04||Season 1It’s a new year, and 2026 is set to be full of blockbuster and arthouse film releases to entice viewers to the cinema. Although we’re only just entering Oscars season, a brand new slate of films will be hitting the big screen very soon. The Standard’s Head of Culture, Martin Robinson, is here to discuss some of the most anticipated movies of 2026, including Wuthering Heights, Hamnet, Supergirl, The Odyssey, Avengers: Doomsday, The Moment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, The Bride, The Testament of Ann Lee and The Drama. You can find the full list of 2026 releases here.
Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOOP, on Brave New World (Preview)
15:07||Season 1A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, featuring a new episode from its latest series.Host Evgeny Lebedev is joined by Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOOP, to explore recovery, sleep, and why “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Will shares how overtraining as a Harvard athlete led him to build a wearable focused not on steps, but on the missing piece of performance: how ready your body actually is.Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast here.
Has Netflix’s megahit Stranger Things lost its way?
14:17||Season 1Back in 2016, Netflix released a little show called Stranger Things, which went on to become the defining megahit for the streamer. But now, ahead of the finale on New Year’s Day, the sheen appears to be wearing thin…Fans and critics alike have complained about overstuffed plots and too many characters - and more than 280,000 people have signed a petition, demanding to see alleged unseen footage from the latest volume. It’s never simple to wrap up a hugely popular TV series, so we're joined by The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer, Vicky Jessop, with the latest on the end of The Stranger Things era.
The best video games of 2025: from Wanderstop to Clair Obscur
12:36||Season 1As another year draws to a close, we’re taking a look back at the past twelve months and what it’s meant for the world of video games. It’s been a stellar year for indie games, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 raking in heaps of plaudits (and a fair few award nominations) for its take on the JRPG genre — while smaller titles like Wanderstop and Blue Prince have proved that you can do an awful lot without the massive budgets that AAA studios command.The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop is here to discuss the highlights of the year, plus what to look forward to in 2026.
The best TV of 2025: from Adolescence to Hacks
17:20||Season 1As we settle into the festive season, it’s time for a round-up of all the best TV from 2025.It’s been a jam-packed one, as ever, serving up lashings of humour, tragedy and a whole lot of sequels. Severance has returned for the first time in years, as has Stranger Things, and the Alien franchise has gotten its own TV spinoff for the first time ever.The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop is here to discuss the highlights - and lowlights - of the year, plus what to look forward to in 2026.