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Moral Maze

BBC Radio 4
Democracy
Climate Change
Social Media
Mental Health
Public Opinion
Social Cohesion
Brexit
Donald Trump
United States
Assisted Dying
Immigration
Education
Media
Mass Tourism
Free Trade
Fatherhood
Truth
Environmental Impact Of Tourism
Philosophy
Journalism

Combative, provocative and engaging live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories. #moralmaze

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes270Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Moral Maze

Latest Episodes

Universities across the country are cutting back on humanities courses – philosophy, history, modern languages – subjects long seen as central to a well-rounded education. The reason is familiar: falling student numbers, financial pressure, and a gro... more

Today, humanity reaches towards the Moon once more. The first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years.

But as NASA’s Artemis 2 lifts off, some troubling moral questions follow in its wake.

Are the billions of pounds being spent a visionary inve... more

The Church of England marks a historic moment: the installation of its first female Archbishop of Canterbury. A symbol, many would say, of progress in an institution often accused of resisting it. And yet, even as she takes office, around 600 churche... more

Rising oil prices triggered by war have renewed fears of an economic shock. Governments are already under pressure to step in: to cap prices, cushion bills and shield households from the consequences. Yet crises were once understood differently. Duri... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Maxwell Marlow
Director of Public Affairs at the Adam Smith Institute
Adam Smith Institute
Episode: What is education for?
Julian Baggini
Philosopher and author
Episode: What is education for?
Jess Wade
Assistant Professor in functional materials at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Episode: What is education for?
Chris Bonnello
Former teacher focused on neurodiversity in education
Self/Independent
Episode: What is education for?
Simeon Barber
Lunar research scientist at the Open University
Open University
Episode: Artemis 2 and the ethics of human space flight
Stuart Parkinson
Executive Director
Scientists for Global Responsibility
Episode: Artemis 2 and the ethics of human space flight
Tony Milligan
Philosopher
University of Sheffield
Episode: Artemis 2 and the ethics of human space flight
Mary Jane Rubenstein
Philosopher of science and religion
Wesleyan University
Episode: Artemis 2 and the ethics of human space flight
Andrew Copson
Chief Executive of Humanist UK
Humanist UK
Episode: Is an Established Church Morally Defensible?

Hosts

Mona Siddiqui
Host of the panel discussion; introduces witnesses and guides the debate
Anne McElvoy
Host of Moral Maze; moderator and contributor
Panel
Panel members discussing moral issues; voices from various backgrounds

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 976 ratings
  • Losing its mojo

    Used to be essential listening, now they really need to get rid of the dead wood. Matthew Taylor and Mona Siddique need to be put out of their misery.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Donegal50
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Expected more from the Beeb

    I was expecting some intellectual debate but the speakers were relatively uninformed and their arguments mostly based on personal / anecdotal evidence rather than solid evidence. Was hoping for something more informative and thought provoking.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Tjgrainge
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Old people.

    If you want to listen to rich older people talk about subjects they understand little of, in an opinionated way, this is the show for you. Hearing them not even understand the difference between a smartphone messaging app and true social media is embarrassing in a discussing about banning children (anybody under the age of 18) from social media perfectly demonstrates that this show would be far better with a majority panel under the age of 40 years old. As it stands, it’s mostly rich people that... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    PatriciaMcK
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Interesting but elitist

    A great show, usually fairly well balanced and informed. Let down by the fact it rarely features diverse voices and those who may be considered diverse are still from the ‘right’ class. Therefore it remains slightly detached and distanced from every day society. Expand your guests and panel to really understand and represent society.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Budgie241989
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Who are you?

    Who are you as colonist to give opinions about Palestine right to exist ? Not once as uk apologised for its colonial past!! Zionist history was created by colonialism

    Now you talk about Isreal rights ?! It lost its relevance after genocide that it enjoys it play it’s right after mass starvation and killing of children It lost its rights after decades of oppression and destruction So many people so many slaughtered And all you can do is talk about its justice for 710 NO it is not Thos Israel is... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lovealways#
    United Kingdom8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Criticism often centers on perceived imbalance or over-reliance on established figures.
Listeners appreciate the rigorous, broad-ranging debate and the willingness to entertain opposing views.
Listeners value the format that surfaces moral questions behind current events, even when disagreements are sharp.
Some reviews call for greater diversity of voices and younger perspectives.
Guests frequently draw praise for bringing expertise across philosophy, law, and policy.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is it moral to attack Iran?
Q: Should the international community intervene given the regime's repression of its own people?
There is broad support for considering humanitarian arguments, but skepticism remains about unilateral action and the effectiveness of intervention without broad international consensus.
Is it moral to attack Iran?
Q: Is the moral case for attacking Iran urgent, or could it be avoided without catastrophic consequences?
The panelists debate whether urgency justifies war, with some arguing that regional stability and humanitarian concerns demand action, while others claim there is no clear justification and emphasize risks and illegality.
What Is Truth?
Q: So Hilary, you think the attack on objective truth... do you think that's been successful?
I think objective truth is gone, yeah, all of the evidence.
What Is Truth?
Q: Hilary Lawson, do you think it's possible to know the truth, to have a perfect understanding of the truth?
Maybe not to know, but I think to love the truth is possible.
What Is Truth?
Q: Professor Beckett, could you say briefly what you think is the difference between fact and truth?
Facts are more tangible, they're data; truth is in the eyes of the beholder.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Moral Maze

What is Moral Maze about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, argumentative forum probes big moral questions arising from current events, often weighing national interests against ethical principles. Episodes surface debates on foreign policy, just war, truth and media, democracy, digital culture, and refugee/Human Rights issues, featuring a rotating mix of journalists, academics, policymakers, and public intellectuals. The format tends to spark cross-disciplinary tensions—law, philosophy, religion, and politics—while inviting witnesses and witnesses' perspectives to challenge panelists. A notable strength is the willingness to entertain tough trade-offs and controversial viewpoints, making it appealing to listeners who want rigor, nuance, and a wide spectrum of ethical arguments, even when p... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Moral Maze?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Moral Maze:

1. The Briefing Room
2. More or Less
3. Any Questions? and Any Answers?
4. Political Thinking with Nick Robinson
5. Radical with Amol Rajan

How many episodes of Moral Maze are there?

Moral Maze launched 15 years ago and published 270 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Moral Maze?

Recent guests on Moral Maze include:

1. Maxwell Marlow
2. Julian Baggini
3. Jess Wade
4. Chris Bonnello
5. Simeon Barber
6. Stuart Parkinson
7. Tony Milligan
8. Mary Jane Rubenstein

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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