More or Less
BBC Radio 4Tim Harford explains - and sometimes debunks - the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life.
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 1112 | Founded | 19 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | MathematicsNews CommentaryScienceNews | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
As the 2026 World Cup approaches its end, what is the biggest factor in who wins? Is it extraordinary moments of attacking magic? Gritty defensive organisation? Or is it all just a question of luck and random chance? We look at how mathematicians and... more
Recently a post did the rounds on Twitter, claiming that people who play tennis live on average 9.7 years longer than people who play other sports.
The figure comes from a recent analysis of people's exercise habits in Denmark.
But not everyone on... more
Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week:
(00:32) A government minister has informed the nation that average teacher pay in England is around £54,000. Radio 4 listeners are howling at the radio in disbelief. Surely someone... more
The Moon is one of the most captivating features of our night's sky, and apparently, one of the most suspicious.... For thousands of years, people have blamed the full moon for strange behavior. From ancient myths and the origins of the word lunacy t... more
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Reviews
- Delightful
This podcast has no business being so delightful, and yet, it is.
Apple Podcasts5Capybarbarian
United Statesa month ago - Propaganda with numbers
We all know by now that BBC is all about promoting their own ideological agenda. The only special feature of this program is that numbers are used for this purpose. Yet this doesn’t make it any more solid than any other BBC propagandist venture. Trapped in their own bubble, they are desperately trying to project some appearance of credibility, which is however gone with the wind. No one trusts this fraud any more other than their own bubble
Apple Podcasts1kritbjkbvzhiugf
Germany2 months ago - Just to biased to math
More or Less should bring the math but they twist it in analysis.
Recently they headlined “Debunking, the claim that migrants will get half of new homes”. Funny enough the expert you brought on said, the number’s not wrong on its face and certainly there is a link between increased migration and housing supply as they have to live somewhere. But then the non-math analysis was that the migrants would have to compete for the new homes so the conservatives are incorrect in their claim as stated ... more
Apple Podcasts1Future-is-brightUnited States2 months ago - Language needs work
In your episode about trans women in sport, you acknowledge at the start that you are looking at studies comparing transgender women and cisgender women, which is the appropriately specific language. However, you then cease to use cisgender to specify when you mean women who were assigned female at birth, and for the rest of the episode you repeatedly compare “trans women” with “women”, implying that they fall outside of this category. This is, at best, a failure of specificity and professionali... more
Apple Podcasts2brodycalypso
Australia2 months ago - This show makes you fall in love with numbers
Always interesting, surprisingly humorous, and consistently well done. The show makes you feel more intelligent and at ease in a world full of claims. Not just debunking, some stuff is surprisingly true (and therefore even more worth exploring)!
Apple Podcasts5frondofplants
Canada3 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #1 | United States/Science/Mathematics |
Apple Podcasts | #58 | United States/Science |
Spotify | #6 |  United Kingdom/Science |
Apple Podcasts | #128 | United Kingdom/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #1 | United Kingdom/Science/Mathematics |
Apple Podcasts | #1 | Canada/Science/Mathematics |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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Frequently Asked Questions About More or Less
What is More or Less about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A numbers-first show that consistently challenges headlines by unpacking the statistics behind current events and policy debates. Across episodes, it covers topics from public health, environmental science, and technology to risk language and social trends, often featuring academics, journalists, and policy experts who help translate data into actionable insights. Noteworthy traits include a preference for data-driven analysis, rigorous methodological critique, and a willingness to challenge common narratives even when it risks controversy. Listeners can expect clear explanations, nuanced discussions, and a habit of separating what is known from what is uncertain, making it valuable for decision-makers, researchers, and curious, analyticall... more
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Which podcasts are similar to More or Less?
These podcasts share a similar audience with More or Less:
1. BBC Inside Science
2. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
3. The Life Scientific
4. Sliced Bread
5. Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast
How many episodes of More or Less are there?
More or Less launched 19 years ago and published 1112 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 More or Less?
Recent guests on More or Less include:
1. Sue Grimmond
2. James Grime
3. Dimple Rana
4. Liam Sides
5. Paul Swinney
6. Kristen Lippincott
7. Elis James
8. Eduin Latimer
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