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Reality Check

The Spectator
Housing Market
Inflation
Nicola Sturgeon
London
Brexit
Economics
Scottish National Party
Rachel Reeves
Mortgage Market
United Kingdom
Economic Policy
Taxation
Bank Of England
UK Budget
First-Time Buyers
Special Educational Needs
NHS
Income Tax
Labour Party
Welfare Spending

Reality Check cuts through the spin and explains the numbers behind the noise. In each episode, The Spectator’s economics editor Michael Simmons and in-the-know guests will make a data-driven case on a story hogging the headlines.

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Artwork for Reality Check

Latest Episodes

Britain is in the grip of another hot, dry summer, with hosepipe bans in force and fears growing about the country’s water supply. But are we really running out of water?

Michael Simmons is joined by Reality Check reporter John Power to explain what... more

Britain wants to become an AI superpower – but does it have the electricity to power one? Data centres underpin everything from online banking and streaming to artificial intelligence, and demand for them is exploding. The government has designated t... more

YouTube

Oliver Shah is a former journalist at The Sunday Times and now runs Newcome Advisory. On this week's Reality Check Oliver and Michael discuss why Labour can't build trust with the businesses, how the National Insurance tax hike was the poison pill fo... more

YouTube

Andy Burnham has launched a major push to overhaul adult social care in England, seeking cross-party consensus for a new National Care Service. He has refused to rule out tax rises to fund the reforms. Michael Simmons speaks to the author and journal... more

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Recent Guests

Oliver Shah
Former business editor and associate editor at The Sunday Times; now founder of his own advisory forum
The Sunday Times (former); advisory forum (current)
Episode: Labour doesn’t understand business and it shows – with Oliver Shah
David Goodhart
Journalist and author of The Care Dilemma, discussing social care reform
Episode: Social care reform: what the sector needs & what it doesn't – with David Goodhart
Pia Sinha
CEO of the Prison Reform Trust
Prison Reform Trust
Episode: Could women be the solution to Britain's prison problem?
Rick Henderson
Chief Executive at Homelessness Link
Homelessness Link
Episode: The real problem behind Britain's homelessness & why Burnham won't fix it
Tom Scotston
Sun journalist
The Sun
Episode: The real problem behind Britain's homelessness & why Burnham won't fix it
John O'Neil
Reality Check and The Spectator's Director of Research
The Spectator / Reality Check
Episode: Fact check: Rupert Lowe on Joe Rogan
Joanna Marchong
Senior Analyst at The Think Tank Onward and freelance journalist
The Think Tank Onward
Episode: The white working class ceiling, private schools & why Britain's failing – with Joanna Marchong
Ed Shackle
Director in Public First's research team
Public First
Episode: Burnham's bid to bridge the North-South divide
Alice Wright
Money reporter for The Times and Sunday Times
The Times / Sunday Times
Episode: Can you trust your spouse with your finances? Plus Britain's longest divorce. With Alice Wright

Host

Michael Simmons
Host and The Spectator's economics editor; leads data-driven discussions on economics and public policy.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 58 ratings
  • Well informed

    Episode on leasehold was fascinating. Very revealing. Michael cuts to the chase and has no agendas or metropolitan bias, which is a rare thing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tom Walton Temmy
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Utter lies when discussing PIP

    I have disabled family and friends, one has an autistic son that repeats the same words over and over. She was denied pip for him. This is one story of many lived experiences I know and your comment it’s easy to get is so far from the truth.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Wbt1981
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Rory Sutherland episode - priceless

    And I’m 60 and retired (albeit is volunteering my socks off…), quite the Reality Check ! Keep up the good work, thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NatsPoddie
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Disappointing episode

    Rory Sutherland podcast very disappointing, just another person airing their peeves. Let’s get back to the content in the initial two podcasts

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Yachtsman
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Excellent!

    Splendid spin-off and valuable insights at this pivotal moment in Scottish (and more broadly U.K. / European) politics. Still not sure if Fraser Nelson’s really Scottish though 😉

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JasN4
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful, data-driven and clear, with businesslike delivery.
Feedback ranges from high praise for rigor to pushback on controversial claims.
Discussions on economics and policy are seen as pivotal and timely.
Listeners praise the balance of numbers and policy context.
Some episodes spark strong disagreements and critiques, signaling bold takes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Could women be the solution to Britain's prison problem?
Q: Could you explain the practicalities of removing women from women's prisons and moving them into the male estate?
It's a complex option that could free up women's facilities but would require ensuring community and gender-specific support, distance and family contact considerations, and robust non-custodial services to avoid displacing risk rather than reducing it.
Could women be the solution to Britain's prison problem?
Q: What exactly is proposed in terms of early release and how is it determined who gets released?
The Sentencing Act aims to regularise release points, with standard determinate prisoners eligible for release at a third point (or halfway for longer/violent crimes) if they meet conditions, plus a monitored community phase to manage risk.
Could women be the solution to Britain's prison problem?
Q: So, first question, really. How have we reached a breaking point where the government is even having to contemplate or has had to contemplate the early release of prisoners?
The capacity crisis has built up over decades due to rising arrests, longer sentences, changes in release points, remand increases, and post-COVID backlogs, creating a bottleneck where the system cannot move inmates through quickly enough.
How to revive industrial Britain: SDP leader on British steel, the entitlement state & a Farage pact
Q: How would you address the entitlement state and pensions while pursuing industrial policy?
Taper entitlement spending gradually over a decade, reform the triple lock, and reallocate resources to productive investment, with pensions kept affordable through targeted reforms rather than abrupt cuts.
How to revive industrial Britain: SDP leader on British steel, the entitlement state & a Farage pact
Q: What would be the most important policy for Britain on day one if you led the government?
Secure the border to halt asylum influx, restore national sovereignty, and set the groundwork for a credible, growth-oriented plan including reindustrialization and smarter public investment.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Reality Check

What is Reality Check about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A data-driven current events show that dissects headlines with statistics, maps numbers to policy impacts, and invites policy-focused guests to unpack complex issues. Episodes often cover economics, public policy, and social topics through rigorous analysis, with a willingness to challenge rhetoric and test assumptions. A notable strength is the clean, numbers-first framing that helps listeners understand trade-offs in politics and public spending, making it a reliable resource for professionals evaluating policy angles, investment implications, or sponsorship alignments. The format tends to combine expert commentary with practical implications, and sponsored segments are integrated into the conversation rather than dominating it.

Where can I find podcast stats for Reality Check?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Reality Check. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Reality Check and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Reality Check get?

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What are the audience demographics for Reality Check?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Reality Check, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Reality Check have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Reality Check has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Reality Check?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Reality Check:

1. Quite right!
2. Coffee House Shots
3. The Edition
4. Americano
5. Best of the Spectator

How many episodes of Reality Check are there?

Reality Check launched 3 years ago and published 49 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Reality Check?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Reality Check?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Reality Check from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Reality Check?

Recent guests on Reality Check include:

1. Oliver Shah
2. David Goodhart
3. Pia Sinha
4. Rick Henderson
5. Tom Scotston
6. John O'Neil
7. Joanna Marchong
8. Ed Shackle

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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