
What's the Big Idea? Finally, Sarah Vine (once memorably described as being ‘like and loathed in equal measure, divisive, but never indecisive’) and Peter Hitchens (a man whose writing a critic was called to compare to a Guardsman’s boot: ‘as highly polished and potentially lethal’) meet once a week to look at the world and mutter, alas… Acclaimed columnist and journalist Sarah Vine and best-selli... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 59 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | News | |||

On this week’s episode, Peter will be asking why the King and Queen have decided to go visit Donald Trump at the White House after his series of insults aimed at our country. And Sarah is asking do we really need a visibility day? And why are there s... more
On this week’s episode, Peter would like to know why we suddenly think it’s okay to assassinate people again and Sarah is asking why would anyone want to clasp the poisoned chalice that is DG of the BBC?
And the pair pore over our latest mailbag to... more
On this week’s episode, Peter’s getting behind Ed Davey’s call for an independent British nuclear bomb. And Sarah wants to know why some university students don’t want to share accommodation with their Jewish counterparts.
And the pair pore over ou... more
On this week’s episode, Sarah wonders if Labour’s plans to change the definition of Islamophobia is actually a threat to free speech? And, in light of Ian Huntley’s death, Peter would like to ask whether the death penalty might be better than unoffic... more
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Peter Hitchens tells all and sundry that he was once a Trotskyist. That ideological bent, combined with Thought & Word Police Vigilance, remains with Hitchens to this day and notwithstanding his renunciation of Peter the Younger’s Belief Systems. This makes for a despondent listen as incontestably evidenced by the Vine & Hitchens ‘War on Iran’ debate-cum-Hitchens-Purity-Gotcha-and-Gotcha- and-Gotcha. No nuance, no insight, no geopolitics, no Real Politic, just the avowed and incontestable Peter ... more
But could someone tell Sarah Vine that the BBC can’t just sell iPlayer round the world like Netflix due to significant complexities around rights restrictions. People at the BBC aren’t so stupid that they’ve just never thought of that….
Peter Hitchens legend. Doesn’t give a fig, wish there were more like him. Keep saying what is right Peter!
Funny, intelligent and insightful. A wonderful podcast which I hope continues for a long time.
Funny, intelligent and insightful. A wonderful podcast which I hope continues for a long time.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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Apple Podcasts | #187 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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A weekly dialogue pairing a long-time columnist with a renowned author and commentator to dissect one big idea from current events. Topics span technology policy, health and public discourse, culture, and politics, with a signature blend of sharp wit, contrarian takes, and thorough analysis. Episodes typically unfold as a lively back-and-forth that challenges conventional wisdom, often weighing societal norms, media influence, and government policy against personal experience and historical context. Notable strengths include the duo's strong personalities, candid banter, and willingness to push back on mainstream narratives, which can yield provocative perspectives for listeners who enjoy rigorous, opinionated discussion.
Expect thoughtful... more
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Alas Vine & Hitchens launched 2 years ago and published 59 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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Recent guests on Alas Vine & Hitchens include:
1. Nadine Dorries
2. Angela Rayner
3. Keir Starmer
4. Jacob Rees-Mogg
5. John Lee
6. Kelly Seaton
7. Peter Hitchens
8. Katie Hind
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