The Daily T

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
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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
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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
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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

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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 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.

On Monday’s episode of The Daily T, Tim Stanley and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg react to the sentencing of Russell Brand, who received 10 years and six months in prison after being found guilty of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The pair discuss the impact statements read out during the culmination of the disgraced comedian’s trial, and question how Brand managed to “hide in plain sight” as a sex offender working across comedy, media and politics. They look at how Brand’s shifting religious and political beliefs were used to reframe his image after allegations were first made against him. Tim and Jacob also discuss the institutional failures across the BBC, Channel 4 and other media organisations that profited off of Brand’s fame and tolerated his immoral behaviour. Tim and Jacob are also joined by Celia Walden, a Telegraph columnist, who shares her experiences meeting Brand. She describes Brand’s spiritual conversion as “a complete sham” and calls him a “chameleon-like figure” who adjusted his persona to “find a new shtick that would fit in”.

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:
Tim Stanley and Jacob Rees-Mogg react to Russell Brand's custodial sentence of 10 years and six months for rape and sexual assault
Celia Walden joins Tim and Jacob to reflect on Russell Brand's religious re-brand in recent years, and how she believes he's always "put on an act" in the public eye
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