• Election Night Coverage
• Podcasting and Audience Engagement
• AI and Deepfakes in Politics
• Social Media and Disinformation
• BBC News Strategy
• Times Radio Election Coverage
• Political Podcasts Popularity
• Listener Connection

In this special election-night episode, host Matt Deegan takes the podcast on the road to the BBC and The Times to explore how they covered the 2024 UK general election. He speaks with Newscast's editor Sam Bonham and presenter Adam Fleming about their live all-nighter at the BBC Radio Theatre, and with the BBC's misinformation correspondent Mariana Spring about the role of AI, deepfakes, and social media in the election. He also visits Times Radio's 'How to Win an Election' live event, chatting with listeners and guests including Peter Mandelson, Danny Finkelstein, and Polly Mackenzie, and with News Broadcasting's Jimmy Buckland about Times Radio's election coverage.

Key takeaways

• The BBC's Newscast hosted a live all-nighter at the BBC Radio Theatre with 150 fans watching election results.
• Mariana Spring's undercover voters project found that deepfakes were less prevalent than expected, but coordinated groups of political activists spread doctored clips.
• Times Radio live-streamed its election coverage for the first time and hosted a live 'How to Win an Election' podcast event.
• Matt Chorley is leaving Times Radio for BBC Radio 5 Live, with the Times' blessing.
• Political podcasts are popular because they offer depth and a lighter tone compared to traditional news coverage.

In this episode

• Listener vox pops at King's Cross0:00 · Matt asks members of the public about their election night viewing plans.
• BBC Newscast live event2:00 · Matt visits the BBC Radio Theatre during Newscast's election all-nighter, interviews fans and Mariana Spring.
• Interview with Adam Fleming and Sam Bonham15:00 · Discussion about the Newscast live event and BBC election coverage strategy.
• Times Radio live event25:00 · Matt visits the Times building, interviews listeners and Jimmy Buckland about Times Radio's election coverage.
• Interview with Peter Mandelson, Danny Finkelstein and Polly Mackenzie35:00 · Discussion about the 'How to Win an Election' podcast and political podcasts in general.

Notable quotes

“It's like watching the regular election coverage with a laugh track.”

Matt Deegan · 0:00

“I think it's not AI, it's us.”

Mariana Spring · 0:00

“We're like the town square for the night.”

Adam Fleming · 0:00

“I think there are very few podcasts that have that lightness because you know one of the problems with politicians is they tend to take themselves too seriously and these guys don't.”

Polly Mackenzie · 0:00

Discussed

BBC · Times Radio

Also mentioned: Matt Chorley · Keir Starmer · Wes Streeting · Nigel Farage · David Lammy · Samir Shah · Tim Davie · John Curtice · James Corden · Adele · Rishi Sunak · News UK · The Times · BBC News · BBC Radio 4 · BBC Radio 5 Live · Channel 4 · Sky News · TikTok · Instagram · YouTube · Reform UK · Labour Party · Conservative Party

Mentioned or recommended

• Newscast · podcast · BBC
• How to Win an Election · podcast · Times Radio
• Americast · podcast · BBC
• Why Do You Hate Me USA · podcast · BBC
• The Rest Is Politics · podcast · Goalhanger
• Electoral Dysfunction · podcast · Sky News
• The News Agents · podcast · Global
• Rolling in the Deep · song · Adele
• Carpool Karaoke · tv show · James Corden