Rephonic
Artwork for Red Lines
Northern Ireland
Sinn Féin
Brexit
DUP
Donald Trump
Stormont
Good Friday Agreement
Ulster Unionist Party
Alliance Party
United Ireland
Public Services
SDLP
Rwanda Policy
UK Economy
U.s.-Ireland Relations
Northern Ireland Assembly
Tariffs
Ireland
Democratic Unionist Party
European Union

The back-stop’s here? Bad puns with top political coverage from Northern Ireland. Red Lines brings you essential analysis and commentary by BBC NI’s politics team.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes251Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Red Lines

Latest Episodes

Mark Carruthers chats to Line of Duty's Adrian Dunbar about growing up in Northern Ireland and his political influences.

Mark Carruthers speaks to Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl about her political influences.

Mark Carruthers asks former Sinn Féin MEP and IRA member Martina Anderson about her political life and experiences.

Mark Carruthers sits down with the deputy First Minister to talk about her political inspirations & influences.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kate Nicholl
Politician, Alliance MLA
Alliance Party (MLA)
Episode: The Kate Nicholl Interview
Martina Anderson
Former Sinn Féin MLA and MEP, author
Sinn Féin
Episode: The Martina Anderson Interview
Cat Neilan
Whitehall editor
The Observer
Episode: Makerfield Matters?
John Rentoul
Chief political commentator
The Independent
Episode: Makerfield Matters?
Adam Payne
Editor
Politics Home
Episode: Makerfield Matters?
David McCann
Dr David McCann, commentator, podcaster and politics lecturer
Independent commentator; BBC NI contributor
Episode: Talking ballots
Suzanne Breen
Suzanne Breen, political editor
Belfast Telegraph
Episode: Talking ballots
Jayne McCormick
Jayne McCormick, political correspondent
BBC Northern Ireland
Episode: Talking ballots
Tom Kelly
Former Downing Street insider, Tony Blair's official spokesman (2001-2007)
Public Affairs / UK politics
Episode: Celtic fringe benefits?

Host

Mark Carruthers
Host of Red Lines

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 149 ratings
  • Essential, but skewed

    Fascinating pod both for what it covers and the revealing things it leaves out. Want establishment gossip about the sf and dup? You got it. Fun from the fringe? They’ll always find a way to talk about the tuv. But as alliance has crept up over the years that is always kept to the margins as not fitting the sectarian mindset of the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    softandfruity
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • George Mitchell interview

    This was fantastic. Mark you did a great job bringing out the best in George Mitchell with your questions, your respect and your ability to touch on what could be awkward topics without trying to score points. It was refreshing and genuinely moving. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    anniehs1
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Constituency Profiles ? Irregular Episodes

    With only 8 days to the 2024 UK general election you have only covered 8 of the 18 constituencies. There also seems to be very long time gaps between podcast episodes lately. Is the show being wound down? Will all 18 constituencies be reviewed before polling day in 8 days time?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Patmartin
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • A “progressive” unionist party?

    At times this podcast could be accused of naval gazing, especially regarding seemingly endless discussions about unionist identity and strategy. That hit new highs this week with an attempt to sort current unionist politicians into two hypothetical, realigned new “progressive” and “traditional” unionist parties. To my mind, this completely missed the rationale behind the idea, which would be to make way for new genuinely progressive unionist politicians by sweeping aside many of the overwhelming... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    mhooton
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Eamon McCann interview

    A real trick missed here, half the I/v devoted to Bloody Sunday…there’s far more to the man and his life than that disaster…which has been comprehensively covered elsewhere…poor..

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    pokey marley
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests consistently provide nuanced, insider perspectives on NI politics that go beyond surface-level headlines.
Some episodes spark debate about balance and perceived establishment bias; audience discussions suggest room for broader viewpoints.
Listeners praise the host for fair, rigorous questioning and calm demeanor.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#10
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#237
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#134
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#180
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#199
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#2
Ireland/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Kate Nicholl Interview
Q: You were born in Zimbabwe to a South African mother and a Northern Irish father. Would you describe them as political?
Her family background was deeply political, with anti-apartheid activism, journalism, and involvement in reform movements shaping her worldview more than any single party affiliation.
The Martina Anderson Interview
Q: Do you honestly believe in your heart of hearts that you will see a united Ireland in your lifetime?
She expresses personal belief in the possibility, driven by a mood shift and ongoing work towards constitutional change, while acknowledging that it depends on future developments and political will.
Come on Arlene
Q: Suzanne, Tim, looking back, was Geoffrey Donaldson the right choice at the time after the Foster years and the Putsch period?
Tim Cairns and Suzanne Breen discuss that Donaldson was the only feasible option to broker the post-Foster landscape, but emphasize that his leadership faced serious test in rebuilding trust and delivering policy traction.
Unionists for Unity?
Q: Do you think this is John Taylor's last interview?
The interviewer suggests it may be, given Taylor's age and the weight of what he said, while the guest commentator notes it may be his final in-depth discussion with this interviewer but hopes for more in the future.
The Nicola Sturgeon Interview
Q: What advice would you have for those on both sides of that conversation in this place?
You either have to decide whether you are a supporter of minority rights and dignity for people, or not.

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 Red Lines

What is Red Lines about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A politics-focused analysis show centered on Northern Ireland, offering in-depth discussions of constitutional questions, cross-border relations, party dynamics, and current governance challenges. Episodes frequently feature insider perspectives from UK and NI politicians, journalists, and academics, with a steady emphasis on the peace process, unionist and nationalist strategies, and the evolving UK–Ireland relationship. Noteworthy are its rigorous, policy-oriented conversations and a reputation for calling out misinformation while inviting strong, sometimes provocative viewpoints from guests and guests' teams. Potential listeners include policy professionals, journalists, students of political science, and anyone seeking nuanced NI covera... more

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How many subscribers and views does Red Lines have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Red Lines?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Red Lines:

1. The BelTel
2. Best of Nolan
3. Stormont Sources
4. The State of Us
5. Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

How many episodes of Red Lines are there?

Red Lines launched 7 years ago and published 251 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 Red Lines?

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What guests have appeared on Red Lines?

Recent guests on Red Lines include:

1. Kate Nicholl
2. Martina Anderson
3. Cat Neilan
4. John Rentoul
5. Adam Payne
6. David McCann
7. Suzanne Breen
8. Jayne McCormick

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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