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The Critic Show

Outpost Studios
The Critic Show
Latest episode

219 episodes

  • The Critic Show

    Whatever happened to net zero?

    19/10/2026 | 46 mins.
    On this week’s episode of The Critics Show, Chris Bayliss is joined by Harry Wilkinson, Head of Policy at the Global Warming Policy Foundation, to examine growing public scepticism towards net zero and the reasons behind it.
    Moving beyond the question of whether support for net zero is waning, Harry explores how the Government could communicate its policies more effectively and make them more relevant to the public.
    As more of Britain’s economy becomes electrified, the resilience of the electricity grid is increasingly critical. The discussion examines the often-overlooked costs of renewable energy generation and the infrastructure needed to support it.
    Ultimately, the question is not simply whether Britain should decarbonise, but how it should do so — and at what cost to the British taxpayer.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The Critic Show

    The government knows best.

    12/10/2026 | 37 mins.
    This week on The Critic, Tom and Chris are joined by economist Andrew Lilico to discuss government finance, free markets and the growing role of the state in the economy. Andrew challenges the idea that governments can finance projects more cheaply than private companies, arguing that this misunderstands the realities of government borrowing and creates misleading arguments about the benefits of state intervention.
    They discuss the history of price controls, particularly in the water and electricity sectors, and why water companies have become such an easy target in the public debate. Andrew also considers whether Ofwat has really lost control, the expansion of quangos under New Labour, and the political logic behind creating the appearance of independent expert oversight.
    Finally, they examine Labour’s short-term political incentives, the dangers of government bailouts and the distortions created when lenders believe the state will always step in.

    For the full episode make sure to subscribe at www.outpoststudios.net
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The Critic Show

    Inside the Asylum System

    05/10/2026 | 31 mins.
    This week, Tom welcomes The Critic editor Graham Stewart and guest Fred de Fossard to discuss the October issue of The Critic.
    Listeners are walked through a preview of a profile of Roger Hallam which features in the print issue, as well as discussing the cover piece which talks about the figure behind Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.
    Fred then explains asylum reform, tracing the system from the 1951 Refugee Convention’s postwar European focus through its 1967 expansion into a global framework. He reflects on decolonisation, international law, and refugee movements of the 1980s and 1990s.
    All that and much more, make sure to subscribe below, and share if you enjoyed this episode.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The Critic Show

    Reform’s polling problem

    28/09/2026 | 19 mins.
    Reform’s fortunes are changing, while the Conservatives face a difficult balancing act: keeping older voters onside while finding a compelling offer for younger generations.
    On this week’s Critics Show, Chris Bayliss is joined by Henry Hill and Scarlett Maguire to untangle the confusing web of where voters’ loyalties really lie in a political landscape defined by fragmentation on the right and disappointment on the left.

    They discuss Scarlett’s latest research, which suggests Reform has been in decline since earlier this year, while also examining the rise of younger right-wing parties such as Restore.
    Henry and Chris also talk to Scarlett about the Conservative–Liberal Democrat contest and what shifting voter loyalties could mean for the political landscape.
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • The Critic Show

    Starling on Sport

    14/09/2026 | 1h 13 mins.
    In this episode, host Boris Starling is joined by journalist, writer and film critic Jason Solomons for a wide-ranging conversation about football, management, culture and cinema.
    The episode begins with Arsène Wenger and the extraordinary impact he had on English football. Boris and Jason explore how Wenger helped change the way the modern game was managed, bringing new ideas around nutrition, fitness, preparation and player welfare to the Premier League. They discuss his belief in understanding players as individuals, not simply as footballers, and how his attention to their personalities, habits and development helped establish a very different model of management.
    From Wenger’s influence, the conversation opens out into a broader discussion about football, its culture and the way the game has evolved, both on and off the pitch. What can football managers learn from other worlds, and how much has the modern game changed as a result of the ideas Wenger introduced?
    Finally, the conversation moves from football to film, with Jason talking about his upcoming film projects, his work as a critic and what audiences can look forward to next.

    For the full episode, head to https://www.outpoststudios.net/
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About The Critic Show
Weekly podcast from the Critic, Britain’s most civilised magazine. For the full, premium episodes, subscribe at:https://www.outpoststudios.net/s/the-critic-show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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