The Daily T

On this week’s Weekend T, Michael Deacon and Tim Stanley discuss the latest developments in the Russell Brand and David Walliams stories, and question how the BBC and streaming services are handling the allegations. They also look at the Tories edging ahead of Reform in the polls, Prince George’s artistic talents and whether Gordon Ramsay should be taking his shirt off at 60. Plus, how many of the new I’m a Celebrity line-up can Tim name, why 3,000 tarantulas were smuggled through an airport in socks, and what they make of this year’s Christmas adverts.

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Studio Operator: Meghan Searle
Producer: Juliet Bacon
Video & Social Producer: Nada Aggour
Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman

Highlights:
Tim and Michael discuss the Russell Brand conviction.
The allegations against David Walliams.
Gordon Ramsay posing topless at 60.
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On Friday’s episode of The Daily T, Camilla and Tim are joined by broadcasting titan Lord Grade after a week in which Russell Brand was jailed for rape and the entertainment industry was rocked by sexual misconduct allegations against David Walliams. With senior roles at the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and Ofcom, Lord Grade offers his perspective on the TV industry’s “predator” crisis. He argues that a fearful freelance workforce, watertight talent contracts and a “lads’ culture” allowed abuse to go unchecked, from Jimmy Savile and Huw Edwards to Gregg Wallace and Russell Brand.
Lord Grade also criticises the modern BBC as “not led properly”, saying he would not have tolerated Gary Lineker’s breaches of impartiality. He also explains why the corporation should nurture young talent rather than poach it from elsewhere and reveals his best and worst TV commissioning decisions.

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Producer: David Levene
Senior Producer: Emma Williams
Studio Operator: Meghan Searle
Video & Social Producer: Nada Aggour
Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman
Editor: Camilla Tominey

Highlights:
Former BBC controller Lord Michael Grade discusses the TV industry's problem with controlling its talent and bad behaviour
Lord Michael Grade reveals his best and worst TV commissioning decisions
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of The Daily T, Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley discuss the expected welfare overhaul which will happen when Alan Milburn, the former health secretary, finally delivers his long-awaited report.
They suggest that the plan is misfocused and should instead deal with the need to limit who can get certain kinds of sickness benefits with Tim saying “unless you do that, there is absolutely no point to this reform”. They also discuss whether these plans will be any different from the previous governments’ reforms – including Sir Keir Starmer’s.
Tim and Camilla speak with Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, asking her to defend her party’s proposals to cut £36bn from Britain’s spiralling welfare bill.
Addressing contentious plans to reject up to 70 per cent of child benefit claims for conditions like autism and ADHD, Mrs Badenoch argues that the current system is financially unsustainable and that struggling families often need practical support rather than cash handouts.

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Producer: David Levene
Senior Producer: Emma Williams
Studio Operator: Meghan Searle
Video & Social Producer: Nada Aggour
Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman
Editor: Camilla Tominey

Highlights:
Camilla and Tim discuss the prospective reforms and if they'll will make any difference.
Camilla and Tim speak with Kemi Badenoch who defends her suggested welfare spending cuts
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday’s episode of The Daily T, Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley examine Andy Burnham’s performance at Prime Minister’s Questions, arguing that his fumbling delivery reflects a broader lack of direction from the Labour government.

The pair scrutinise Mr Burnham’s reliance on outside management consultants - specifically the Boston Consulting Group and James Purnell, a former New Labour minister - to draft his 10-year plan for the nation, and question the capability of his front-bench ministers.

Elsewhere, Camilla and Tim discuss the aftermath of Russell Brand’s conviction and the emerging sexual misconduct allegations against David Walliams, and how both cases have caused the entertainment industry to look inwards on how it handles reports of alleged abuse. Tim specifically argues that shifting societal standards have eroded the stature of committed relationships, and that was reflected in the society and cultural products of the nineties and noughties.

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Producer: David Levene
Senior Producer: Emma Williams
Studio Operator: Meghan Searle
Video & Social Producer: Nada Aggour
Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman
Editor: Camilla Tominey

Highlights:
Tim and Camilla dissect Andy Burnham's performance at PMQs
Tim and Camilla discuss the aftermath of Russell Brand's conviction and the emerging allegations against David Walliams and how it has affected the entertainment industry
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday’s episode of The Daily T, Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley discuss the accusations facing David Walliams, the actor and author, exploring how the exposé was finally published and the star’s response.
With Walliams’s attempts to silence the media with an injunction having failed, Tim and Camilla discuss the futility of court order prevention orders.
And, as the Metropolitan Police says “several people” contacted them about possible criminal allegations against Russell Brand during his trial, Tim and Camilla look at the role of celebrity in enabling bad behaviour.

The Telegraph is the Publisher Podcast Awards' Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026

They can't harm you, if they can't find you! Use code DAILYT at the link below and get 60% off annual plans: https://incogni.com/dailyt

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► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

Producer: David Levene
Senior Producer: Emma Williams
Studio Operator: Meghan Searle
Video & Social Producer: Nada Aggour
Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman
Editor: Camilla Tominey

Highlights:
Camilla and Tim discuss the accusations facing David Walliams.
They discuss the role of celebrity and fame in enabling this behaviour.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.