The Bunker – News without the nonsense

So much for Veganuary. It’s Red Meat Week, apparently, as the Government throws the BBC, migrants and their own staff under a hard right bus in order to save Boris Johnson’s flea-bitten skin. Can you pull a workable plan to slash the BBC’s funding out of Nadine Dorries’ ear and expect it to work? Will Red Wall and Blue Shires alike see through Johnson’s desperate pandering? Alex Andreou sets up the week ahead. “Once the Emperor is naked, it’s very hard to clothe him again.” “The Conservative Party has already decided that Johnson can't go to the next elections. The only debates are who replaces him, and when?” “I’ve never seen legislation give such a wide remit to the police. It effectively gives them carte blanche to break up any protest, of any size, anywhere.” “If we have a system that puts our politicians up for sale, then we can’t get picky about who buys influence.” Presented by Andrew Harrison. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Robots make our cars, deliver our food, and soon they’ll be commonplace in our homes and at work, but what will this future look like? How will the robot-human dynamic play out? MIT researcher, expert on robot ethics and author of The New Breed Dr Kate Darling talks to Andrew Harrison about the emotional connection between human beings and life-life machines, if we’re going to face a robot rebellion, and why robots will need rights, just like animals… “People tend to treat robots as if they’re alive, even though we know they aren’t.” “Robots pull on our heart-strings because we project ourselves and our emotions onto them.” “Sci-fi loves to create robots that look and act just like humans, but we are not at the stage that yet.” “We’re gradually starting to see robots come into our workplace and homes which is really exciting.” “I see lots of problems with integrating robots into our society, but they don’t come from robots rising up against us.” “There are videos online of robots being treated badly, and quite a strong backlash came from that.” “R2D2 is this glorified trashcan on wheels and yet they are the most loved robot ever.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/309/309409/the-new-breed/9780241352991.html Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear all the music on our rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Guitar hero, super-producer and long-suffering Arsenal fan Bernard Butler tells us about updating his People Move On album and the secret of producing bands. And TV’s Katie Puckrik joins us to talk over the BBC’s marathon Andy Warhol documentary, Years And Years’ bid for the big pop moment, and internet shaming in the remarkable Indonesian movie Photocopier. “Football managers’ fashion sense has gone rapidly downhill…” — Bernard Butler “Andy Warhol predicted people as brands and influencers… He invented reality TV.” — Katie Puckrik “Warhol used to call his tape recorder his wife.” — Katie Puckrik “Night Call is a pop music panini: bland, smushed together and probably not that good for you.” — Katie Puckrik Written and presented by Siân Pattenden and Andrew Harrison. Producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Politicians don’t always give us what we want. So why do they get their decision-making so wrong? Polly Mackenzie is the Chief Executive of Demos and former Director of Policy to Deputy PM Nick Clegg. She talks to Ros Taylor about her report, The Humble Policy Maker, why we always think we’re right, how citizens can participate without dull consultations…and how a mouldy orange reveals what’s wrong with the technocracy today. “If you tell people not to act in their self-interest, you'll end up with a whole load more policy problems on your hands.” “The police is not the most important thing in keeping crime down, but our relationships with each other in society.” “Being a citizen is a big, hard job. It's only by participating that we can build up the democratic skillset that enables us to compromise.” “It's so easy to spend your life with people who are just like you.” Presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rare, endangered animals are under attack from rich, powerful people who operate above the law. But this isn’t a story about illegal poaching in Africa, nor animals being hunted for Chinese medicines. This is happening in the UK. Arthur Snell talks to environmental activist Mark Avery, former RSPB conservation director, co-founder of Wild Justice, and author of Inglorious, about grouse shooting, who really owns our moorland, and ending the persecution of raptors. “These grouse moors are wildlife crime hotspots.” “Grouse shooting is seen as a posh, sexy sport. But it's only a sport if the grouses have guns too.” “So many birds are being poisoned, shot, or disappeared on grouse moors that it's impossible to ignore anymore.” “If you ever see someone killing a bird of prey, know that that is illegal.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Arthur Snell. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production https://markavery.info/books/inglorious-conflict-uplands-published-30-july/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why is the NHS struggling so badly if Omicron is less severe than previous COVID wave? And how come the Government wants to tear up COVID testing and mass vaccination when hospitals are on the verge of being overwhelmed? Health commentator Roy Lilley joins us for a situation report on the pandemic. Plus, can Suella Braverman successfully turn the acquittal of the Colston Four into Culture War fuel? What are we giving up for January? And Michael Gove stars in Die Hard In A Lift. “The NHS is running up the down escalator… It has no workforce plan, because it doesn’t even get to write its own plan.” – Roy Lilley “It’s interesting to see who’s raging at Djokovic being kept in the same ‘unacceptable’ conditions that actual refugees are kept in as a matter of course…” – Ahir Shah “There are more NHS staff sick right now than there are soldiers in the UK army.” – Roy Lilley “Colston SHOULD set a precedent – that the State should listen to local communities when they want to get rid of these statues.” – Ayesha Hazarika https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou with Ayesha Hazarika and Ahir Shah. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Government toys with pulling free lateral flow tests and mass vaccination. Are they giving in to the hard right CRG without a fight? Plus Liz Truss gets her first threat to trigger Article 16 in early, the horrific costs of Zero COVID in Xi’an in China, and auf wiedersehen to trial by jury. Naomi Smith and Justin Quirk set up the week ahead. “Johnson being a liar and rule-breaker is completely baked in with voters.” “The simple fact is, Boris Johnson has lost his power over Cabinet.” “The story on Johnson is moving from ‘One rule for them, one for us’ to ‘They ain’t levelling us up.’” “If Liz Truss was your friend at school, you'd be telling her to play a bit harder to get.” “Who had tennis meets obnoxious populism on their report card for 2022?” Presented by Justin Quirk and Naomi Smith. Producers Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Warning! Major spoilers! DO NOT listen unless you’ve already finished Sweet Bobby. How well do you know the person you love? The huge hit podcast Sweet Bobby charts a barely believable story of catfishing and psychological manipulation, in which a British woman called Kirat Assi discovers that her online romance is not what she thought. In a treat for all Bobby-heads, journalist and presenter Alexi Mostrous talks to Naomi Smith about uncovering this astonishing story. How did THAT PERSON do THAT THING and get away with it? And what did the experience do to the woman who lived it? “This story read like a novel that would have been rejected for being too unrealistic.” “It's easy to set up a fake Facebook profile. It's harder to set up 35 different phone numbers.” “Kirat's community wasn't just close, it was closed off.” https://www.tortoisemedia.com/listen/sweet-bobby/ Written and presented by Naomi Smith. Producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear all the music on our rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Comedian and actor Omid Djalili joins us to talk about the joy of returning to touring (tickets available now!), taking Iranian visitors to see Chelsea FC when he was only six, and life as TV’s go-to Middle Eastern everyman. Screenwriter Kevin Sampson gives us the story behind his devastating Hillsborough drama Anne, about a mother’s fight for justice for her son. Plus the lost Bowie album Toy, The Tourist on BBC1 and much more. “When I first saw Bowie, it was like an alien had come down the chimney.” – Kevin Sampson “When you watch something in a live setting, it has a physiologically different effect on you.” – Omid Djalili “What TV can do is personalise the experience of human pain.” – Kevin Sampson “I always thought the ME in BAME must stand for Middle East…” – Omid Djalili Produced and presented by Siân Pattenden and Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How would you behave as the dictator of Turkmenistan? Are bad people the only ones who get power - or does power make people worse? Host of the Power Corrupts podcast – and friend of ours! – Professor Brian Klaas talks to Alex Andreou about their latest book, Corruptible, learning from ski lessons with the likes of Paul Bremer…and what’s wrong with police recruitment videos. “Serial killers are not successful psychopaths, because they couldn't hide it. They're the ones in the boardroom and the office.” “Flat societies are not the answer. Western hierarchical societies are some of the safest places for humans to live.” “Good governance costs, but it’s a price well worth paying.” “Power corrupts gradually. The longer someone is in office, the worse they will become.” Presented by Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production https://brianpklaas.com/corruptible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the UK the country’s falling out of love with Johnson, the economy’s in crisis and the Conservative government is falling apart. Around the world there are crunch elections in France, Brazil and Hungary… the threat of a nuclear Iran… and in the USA, a battle for the very existence of democracy. Arthur Snell, Justin Quirk and special guest Antonia Jennings from the Centre for Local Economic Strategies join Andrew Harrison to open the Pandora’s Box that is 2022. Hear our new series DOOMSDAY WATCH here: https://kite.link/doomsday “It’s been a stockpilers’ pandemic, and the LFT shortage proves they’re still ahead of the crowd.” – Arthur Snell “It’s time for Government to invest and stop worrying about the debt level.” – Antonia Jennings "The only thing left for the Democrats after the mid-terms is to save democracy.” – Arthur Snell “If Brazil runs a fair election, Bolsonaro’s out.” – Arthur Snell https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Arthur Snell and Justin Quirk. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic . Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does 2022 have in store? It’s crunch year for three massive British institutions that have defined our lives: the BBC, the NHS and the Monarchy. Putin seems determined to exploit the West’s disarray to invade Ukraine. And if Donald Trump makes a comeback, could American democracy itself fall? Ros Taylor and Gavin Esler look ahead to a nerve-wracking year. • “The challenge for BBC News is, how do you balance people who simply won’t tell the truth?” • “Russia and Ukraine could mean a ground war in Europe for the first time since 1945.” • “We’ve underestimated the way that Putinism and the lies have infected our own democracies… Trump and Trumpism are still here.” Presented by Ros Taylor and Gavin Esler. Assistant producers Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From 1970s Westminster, to the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? scandal, James Graham is one of the UK’s most successful playwrights today. As Best of Enemies opens at the Young Vic, he talks to Dorian Lynskey about dramatising the brutal Buckley vs. Vidal debates of the 1968 US presidential elections, how art engages audiences and tackles polarization, composing playlists in the pub after rehearsals …and why COVID-threatened theatres have to work even harder to “drag people” away from TV, Netflix and Disney Plus. “I feel a personal responsibility to the story to make it as meaningful and impactful as possible.” “I don't know what it's like to be in 1960s America, but I do know what it's like to get into an argument on live TV.” “Queer and Nazi weren't slurs politician had used before on US television.” “The most radical thing a playwright can do is celebrate the idea of empathy towards different points of view.” “I was surprised by the resistance from the progressive left to showing Dominic Cummings on TV.” “Democracy depends on theatre. The Greeks made sense of difficult things by putting people in a theatre and telling stories.” Presented by Dorian Lynskey. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anyone for cheese and whine? The noble Lord Frost scuttles away from his Brexit mess as it emerges that real hardworking meetings require a chilled Chablis and an agreeable Comte in an exclusive garden. Plus, as 2021 staggers to its ignominious end, we pinpoint the lasting images and a few rays of hope in a year of misgovernance – and highlight what to look out for in 2022. Marie le Conte, Ahir Shah and Gavin Esler are your panel. Have a fantastic Christmas and thanks for your support. We’ll be back in the first week of January. Until then, have a safe and a happy one. Hear our new series DOOMSDAY WATCH here: https://kite.link/doomsday “There’s nothing funnier in the Nadine Dorries story than Steve Baker sending his Bitmoji as he kicked her out.” – Marie le Conte “The big surprise of the yer was rediscovering that most of us, most of the time, just want to get on with our neighbours.” – Gavin Esler “Boris Johnson is a person who loves actions, but not their consequences.” – Marie le Conte “The French presidential elections are currently a bin on fire - but Frenchly.” – Marie le Conte Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Marie le Conte, Ahir Shah and Gavin Esler. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s going to be a cold Christmas at No 10, as Lord Frost resigns as Brexit Minister, Simon Case recuses himself over Christmas party investigations - and Nadine Dorries gets booted out of WhatsApp chats. Is jetsetter Liz Truss ready to take up her new position? And what will all this mean for popular compliance with new COVID rules? Naomi Smith and Alex Andreou look at the week ahead, in the last SYW of 2021. “Is this what purgatory feels like?” - Naomi Smith “The bookies still have Sunak as favourite to replace Johnson. The bookies don't know their history.” - Naomi Smith, Alex Andreou “Frost's resignation has strong Steve Baker energy.” - Naomi Smith “Truss is trying to style herself as a modern day Margaret Thatcher.” - Naomi Smith “2022 might give you a nasty populist treat in the US midterms.” - Naomi Smith Presented by Alex Andreou and Naomi Smith. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A festive homage to the fromage… Nothing says Christmas like cheese, so in a sequel to Ros’s insect-eating special she goes for something a little more festive. Cheesemonger Ned Palmer of the Cheese Tasting Company joins her in the studio to chew over Britain’s long history of dairy production, what constituted the “metropolitan elite” cheeses of the 18th century, why a little blue mould goes a long way… plus a live tasting from his festive dinner table. “We've been making cheese for 6,000 years. We've got lots to be proud of.” “Philadelphia is the most authentic cheese in the world.” “Eating this cheddar is like licking the cool stone of an old country church.” “This cheese is even older than COVID…” “We were at war with the French when Stilton and Port became trendy.” The cheeses that Ned and Ros tried were: Edmund Tew. Made by Dave Holton and his team in Kent. Unpasteurised cow’s milk, animal rennet. Baron Bigod. Made by Jonny Crickmore and his team in Norfolk, England. Unpasteurised cow’s milk, animal rennet. Westcombe Cheddar. Made by Tom Calver and his team in Somerset, England. Unpasteurised cow’s milk, animal rennet. Stichelton. Made by Joe Schneider and his team in Nottinghamshire, England. Unpasteurised cow’s milk, animal rennet. Support your local cheesemongers by buying these cheeses here: England: Neal’s Yard Dairy, The Courtyard Dairy and The Fine Cheese Co Wales: The Welsh Cheese Company Scotland: I.J. Mellis Northern Ireland: Indie Füde Ireland: Sheridan’s Cheesemongers Written and presented by Ros Taylor. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leebrun. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear all the music on our rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk We round off 2021 with more picks of the best of the year. Entertainment journalists Laura Barton of The Guardian and Ted Kessler of indispensable music newsletter The New Cue join Siân and Andrew to choose the best albums, TV, films, tracks and ones that got away. Produced and presented by Siân Pattenden and Andrew Harrison. Assistant producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We treat TV as the most disposable art form – but for decades it has shaped our world more than we know. From Big Brother to Shameless to Little Britain and Benefit Street, television chose the winners and losers of consumer capitalism, made it OK to sneer at the underclass, and then allowed that underclass a token comeback or two. Author Phil Harrison explores television’s innate cruelty, class dynamics and political subtext in The Age Of Static: How TV Explains Modern Britain. Has TV made our politics worse? And should it just give up on live political interviews altogether? “A show called Britain’s Hardest Worker pitted benefit claimants against one another. You wouldn’t have written that in a dystopian fantasy.” “Maybe the BBC needs to be in that permanent state of conflict or it’s not doing its job of challenging what we think.” “When Mentorn took over Question Time they promised ‘adrenaline-fuelled Thursday nights’. Is that the purpose of a serious news show?” “Nadine Dorries as a kamikaze Culture Secretary scares the hell out of me.” Written and presented by Justin Quirk. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve all heard of the placebo effect, but what about the Expectation Effect? What we think will happen can change what does happen. David Robson, science journalist and author of The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World, talks to Alex Andreou about how our way of thinking shapes our everyday lives. Does believing stress is beneficial make you more creative under pressure? And can associating ageing with wisdom really add seven years to your life? “There’s a lot of pseudoscience that says positivity can solve your problems. This is not that at all.” “The expectation of becoming ill can actually increase your chances of becoming ill.” “People who have a positive view of ageing are more likely to live longer than those who have a negative view.” “Our expectations can shape our perceptions of food.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees and Robin Leeburn. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the leaks about illicit parties and quizzes pile up, and the Tory right wing fly into a rage about COVID passports, is Boris Johnson finally running out of road? And is the Torysphere getting bored with their boy? Plus we talk to Jolyon Maugham of the Good Law Project about the many deep-running scandals behind the day-to-day headlines. And what’s worse, the pressure to be happy all the time – or performative negativity from professional cynics? Hear our new series DOOMSDAY WATCH here: https://kite.link/doomsday • “The Government wants to do with the judiciary what it’s done with the BBC. It wants to keep them frit – and remind them of where they are in the hierarchy.” – Jolyon Maugham • “You can never tell if Johnson’s close to physical collapse or if he’s just spent ten minutes backstage mussing up the outfit.” – Justin Quirk • “Social media is a negative space. You don't exist on there until you say something.” - Alex Andreou • “The Met’s refusal to investigate has nothing to do with evidence, and everything to do with avoiding an embarrassing confrontation with Number 10.” – Jolyon Maugham https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Alex Andreou with Marie le Conte and Justin “Buff Nuff” Quirk. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Group editor: Andrew Harrison. The Bunker is a Podmasters production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Crunch Week (again) for Boris Johnson as he tries to get Plan B Corona restrictions past a mob of increasingly rebellious and COVID-sceptic Tory MPs. Meanwhile the party-that-wasn’t and the world’s most unwise Christmas quiz continue to dog our unfortunate PM. Oh, and there’s the North Shropshire by-election on Thursday too. New PM by Christmas? Ros Taylor alerts you to what’s coming in the week ahead. • “Johnson can’t bring himself to cancel Christmas – even though for lots of people, Christmas is cancelled already.” • “If you see a pack of LFTs around, I would grab it now.” • “Johnson isn't in immediate trouble but honestly, who would want to take over at this point?” Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our world is no longer governed by international coordination, with superpowers instead promoting ‘Enduring Disorder’. Jason Pack, non-resident fellow at the Middle East Institute and author of Libya and the Global Enduring Disorder, talks to Arthur Snell about why the West has stopped collaborating internationally, and why Libya’s Civil War constitutes the ideal microcosm in which to view today’s geopolitics. “I see the 21st century world order as characterised by disorder.” “Were there not the implosion of Syria and Libya, there would be no Brexit.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/libya-and-the-global-enduring-disorder/ Presented by Arthur Snell. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear all the music on our podcasts in full on our rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk The holidays are almost upon us, and we’ve got a gift of a guest – doyenne of the dinner party, Navratilova of the pavlova, NIGELLA LAWSON. As we wait for the final episode of Succession Series 3, we discuss Nigella’s favourite music, books, TV and culture of 2021 – plus what we should be giving each other for Christmas. “It's A Sin was one of the most wonderful series of the year.” - Nigella Lawson “Alex, you only love me for my jug of silicon spatulas.” - Nigella Lawson “My dad being a butcher is like Sadiq Khan's dad being a bus driver.” - Andrew Harrison Presented by Andrew Harrison, Siân Pattenden and Alex Andreou. Assistant producer Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. Theme music: ‘Bunker Theme (Juntos Mix)’ by Kenny Dickinson. The Culture Bunker is a Podmasters production. Rolling playlist: https://bit.ly/CultBunk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nearly a quarter of the world’s population is Muslim, so if we are to fully understand the modern world, we need to know about Islam. Dr Fitzroy Morrissey, Examination Fellow at All Souls College, University of Oxford, talks to Alex Andreou about his book A Short History of Islamic Thought, which traces through fourteen centuries of Islamic history to discuss questions of interpretation, legacy, the lives of Muslims and how they relate to others. https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast https://headofzeus.com/books/9781789545654 Presented by Alex Andreou. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week far-right TV pundit Eric Zemmour announced he was running in next year’s French Presidential election, but who is he? And what does his candidacy mean for Macron and Marine Le Pen? Normandy-based journalist John Lichfield gives Ros Taylor the lowdown on France’s new far-right contender, as well as Valérie Pécresse of the centre-right, the woman who could take down Macron. “Zemmour is a convicted racist and he rewrites French history to suit his own agenda.” “Zemmour argued that France fought on the wrong side of the First World War, as they would’ve done better under a German-led Europe.” “There would be a very aggressive policy of forced assimilation if Zemmour were to win.” “A lot of the policies that Zemmour wants to implement would destroy the EU.” “The core of Marine Le Pen’s voters are working class and disaffected, Zemmour’s supporters are more bourgeois.” “The default position in France is to get rid of who is in power, but I think Macron is more likely to get back in than not.” https://www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor. Produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Audio production by Alex Rees. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices