Best of Today 5b2u1t

Vogue has given unparalleled access to the Lightroom at Kings Cross for a brand-new exhibition examining the history of the runway and invited Today for an exclusive preview. Emma Barnett sits down with the exhibition curator David Sable, and British Vogue’s Chioma Nnadi, the first black woman to take up the mantle of Head of Editorial Content. Chioma discusses her concerns around weight loss drugs, women of colour breaking the glass ceiling, and whether the fashion industry is doing enough for sustainability. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays.

Buffer zones will come into force around abortion clinics in England and Wales from 31 October. It will make it illegal to hand out anti-abortion leaflets within 150m of a clinic or obstruct anyone using or working at an abortion clinic. It will also be illegal to stand and silently pray within the same zone. Emma Barnett reported for Today from an abortion clinic in South London. She spoke to protesters outside and staff at the clinic about the law change. She also spoke to the Labour MP Stella Creasy who has long campaigned for protection zones. The change in the law follows similar bans in Northern Ireland in 2023 and in Scotland in September earlier this year. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays.

A former colleague of the firearms officer who fatally shot Chris Kaba told Today that he should not have been put on trial for his murder. Metropolitan Police Officer Martyn Blake, shot and killed Mr Kaba – who was unarmed – during a vehicle stop in South London in September 2022. Mr Blake denied killing the 24 year old. The unnamed colleague, who was at the scene immediately after the shots were fired, said: "At no point was there any evidence that Martyn Blake had done anything wrong or at least deviated from his training or indeed the law." Mr Kaba’s family have said they are "devastated" by the outcome. "The acquittal of Martyn Blake isn't just a failure for our family but for all those affected by police violence," his cousin said. "Despite the verdict, we won't be silenced." Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays.

The former cabinet minister and new editor of The Spectator s Nick and Amol to assess the Tory leadership candidates and explain why he'd vote for Kamala Harris over Donald Trump. To listen to full interview search for The Today Podcast on BBC Sounds and his subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen any time on your smart speaker by saying “Smart Speaker, ask BBC Sounds to play The Today Podcast.”

After serving as foreign secretary in the Conservative government until July, Lord Cameron has a new role at the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre, which aims to find cures for rare, genetic conditions like the one his son Ivan was born with. In his first interview with Today since the election, Lord Cameron also urged the government to consider sanctioning two Israeli ministers as a way of "putting pressure" on the country to act within international law. He said the Foreign Office, when he was in charge, had been "working up" plans to put sanctions on Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The BBC has ed Smotrich and Ben-Gvir for a response. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays.

The government has started a major review of the curriculum and assessment in England's schools, chaired by education policy expert Becky Francis. But how could we rethink England's curriculum and assessment? Today hears from schools across the country trying new ways of doing things from using AI in classrooms to a more skills based approach and looking at why the 'exam season' might cease to exist. The series hears from: former Conservative Schools Minister Nick Gibb; Jill Duffy from the OCR exam board; Jason Arday, former guest editor of the Today Programme and professor of the sociology of education at Cambridge University; Sir Ian Livingstone, a giant of modern British business and the man behind the Livingstone Academy; and Claire Heald, CEO of the Cam Academy Trust. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays.

Miranda Hart, best known for her self-titled sitcom and her role as Chummy in Call the Midwife, has revealed her battle with chronic fatigue after being diagnosed with Lyme disease. In her new book, I Haven't Been Entirely Honest with You, the comedian discusses her symptoms, telling Today's Emma Barnett she was "basically bed-bound". She also reveals she married a man she met during the pandemic, calling her new husband her "best friend". Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday, and 7-9am on Saturdays.

After a year of turmoil in the Middle East, Mishal Husain is ed by a of guests to ask ‘What Is the Path to Peace?' ing Mishal are Jeremy Bowen, the BBC's International Editor; Lord Ricketts, who served as a British diplomat for many years including being on the Foreign office Middle East desk during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982; Afif Safieh, former Palestinian Head of Mission in London, Washington, D.C. and Moscow; Ehud Olmert, who was Israeli Prime Minister from 2006 to 2009; Ambassador David Satterfield, who until earlier this year was US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues and Dr. Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House.

The outcome of the US presidential election will have repercussions beyond America, says ex-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Rodham Clinton - who lost the 2016 election to Donald Trump - speaks to Today's Amol Rajan about Joe Biden's decision to step down as candidate. And Amol asks her whether she gives any credence to Trump's claims that he articulated sooner and better than some others the legitimate grievances of many Americans about globalisation. Rodham Clinton was speaking as she publishes her new book - Something Lost, Something Gained - reflections on life, love and liberty. (Photo: Hillary Rodham Clinton. Credit: Reuters)

All this week we've been hearing stories brought to us by Today listeners. Dr Lisa Wright and Dr Mark Walton are both clinical psychologists, who work on Merseyside in the only NHS unit of its kind - where they are trying to cut criminal offending rates using therapy. It's not an alternative to prison - the NHS Forensic Psychology centre in Liverpool works with people who have served custodial sentences who might be at risk of re-offending. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am.

Earlier this year, the Today programme gave our listeners the chance to look at an issue that matters to them. Anna and Chloe - along with Anna's 19 year-old daughter Pearl - wanted to ask "University: Is it worth it?" and interrogate the value of a university education in 2024. As part of our coverage, Today has exclusively seen a blueprint for the future of universities in England. Universities UK, which represents 142 universities, is calling for a rise in tuition fees linked to inflation and more government for students. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am.

All this week the Today programme is looking at stories that have been brought to us by our listeners. Vanessa and Toby are parent governors at a secondary school in South London. They have noticed far fewer children and families where they live, and primary schools closing down as a result. Exclusive research for Today has shown that primary school numbers have fallen by 5% in London in the last five years. And they are projected to continue falling at double the rate of the rest of England. Listen to the other stories explored by our listeners this week on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds between 6am-9am.

In Kate Winslet's new film, she plays Lee Miller, the famed model-turned-photographer who acted as Vogue's war correspondent in the 1940s. Speaking to Today's Emma Barnett about making the film, Kate said that the photographer "was born with her eyes wide open". "She can really step into the same world as that person to really immerse herself. Lee was Lee and she saw things and did things her own way." Kate also produced the film and worked closely with Miller's only son, Antony Penrose. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays. Photo credit: Kimberley French © Sky UK Ltd

A Beginner's Guide to Death, a book by aid worker Simon Boas whose essays about his feelings towards death went viral, is being published posthumously. In her first broadcast interview, his wife Aurelie says he knew he "wouldn't see the book" but that he knew he had "done his part". Speaking to Today's Emma Barnett, she said: "It's a bit unusual to grieve this way. "It's a great responsibility for me. But it's quite wonderful." Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays. Photo credit: David Ferguson

Garry Richardson has finished his last sports bulletin on Radio 4's Today programme - 50 years to the day since he started at the BBC. Garry is best known for his sporting interviews, but his career has ranged from climbing towers for Radio Oxford to singing with the great Buddy Greco. James Naughtie picks some of the highlights from Garry's half century.

Sir Ian McKellen talks to Amol Rajan after he took a break from acting following a fall off stage in London's West End. The 85 year-old, who suffered a broken wrist and chipped vertebrae, describes the emotional 'residue' of the accident. He’s back on screen playing a gay theatre critic in The Critic, set in the 1930s before homosexuality was legalised in the UK. The Today programme is on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds every weekday 6-9am and on Saturdays 7-9am.

This week a new report into the care of Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane identified 'errors, omissions and misjudgements' by Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust. The situation was all too familiar for Kathleen Barnard, whose son William, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed her father John McGrath in 2009. He too was under the care of the same trust. Speaking to Today's Emma Barnett, Kathleen says Calocane's situation "seems the same again" to what happened to her family, and that it's "more than disappointing". After being approached for comment, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said it accepted the CQC report into Valdo Calocane's treatment and has "significantly improved processes and standards" since the review. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.

James Coates's father, Ian Coates, was one of three people stabbed by Valdo Calocane, who was suffering from paranoid delusions last June. Yesterday a report published by the Care Quality Commission said it found a series of errors, omissions and misjudgements by mental health services in Nottingham when it came to Calocane's care. Speaking to Today's Emma Barnett, James said he is positive that a public inquiry will be held into what happened, and he's hopeful of changes to mental health care to improve public safeguarding. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.

Victims of historic miscarriages of justice have been told by the government they must have 'bed and board' costs for the time they spent in prison deducted from their compensation payments. Today's Mishal Husain speaks to Paul Blackburn, who was wrongly convicted and spent 25 years in prison. He says he's owed hundreds of thousands of pounds. Mishal also speaks to Lord Falconer, former Labour justice secretary who’s calling for the new government to change its position; and puts their criticism to Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Paymaster General. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.

BBC presenter Kirsty Young presented Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs for 12 years, before stepping down to receive treatment for fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Speaking to Today’s Emma Barnett, Kirsty Young says her chronic pain made her feel “incapable” and that she “lost her sense of self”. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.