Best of Today

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 Chloe'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 support 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. (Image: Huntingdon Academy/BBC)

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.

Hundreds of people gathered in Southport on Tuesday evening to remember one of the three little girls who died in the Southport knife attack. John Hayes was working in the same building as the summer dance class and was stabbed while attempting to defend others. He tells Today's Emma Barnett it will take 'a while' to process and recover from what he saw at the scene.

After a week of violent riots around the country, what has it been like for some of those on the receiving end of the disorder? Over the weekend, an angry mob terrorised Middlesbrough. Businesses were forced to board up their shops as cars were set alight and missiles chucked at the police - 35 arrests were made in what the police called staggering levels of violence. Today's Emma Barnett speaks to Aneeqa and Kashif, who have both been targeted by the rioters, and Anne, who is concerned about the future for her grandchildren. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.

Radio 4 is marking Friday 12th as “Just One Thing Day” in celebration of Dr Michael Mosley’s life and legacy. Throughout the week, we’ve asked his friends and colleagues to tell us what change they might have made that was down to him. Speaking to Today’s Justin Webb, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley shares touching tributes, and reflects on his work, influence, and legacy. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.

Former aid worker Simon Boas, whose essays about his feelings towards life and death went viral, has died aged 47. He was told he had terminal throat cancer in 2023 and began writing about his experiences in his local newspaper, the Jersey Evening Post. This inspired readers across the country. His book, A Beginner's Guide to Dying, will be posthumously published in September. If one of his final interviews before his death, Simon spoke to Emma Barnett on Radio 4's Today programme in June 2024 ahead of being moved to a hospice. Listen to the Today programme on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds: 6-9am Monday-Friday; and 7-9am on Saturdays.

The Today Debate is about taking a subject and pulling it apart with more time than we have in the morning. Amid a significant backlog in crown courts in England and Wales and related problems in the system in Scotland and Northern Ireland, Today presenter Mishal Husain asks if justice delayed is justice denied? Joining Mishal on the Today debate panel are Claire Waxman, the Independent Victims' Commissioner for London; Charlie Taylor; His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales; Joanna Hardy-Susskind, a barrister at Red Lion Chambers; Lord Falconer, Labour Peer and former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and Sir Max Hill, who was the director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales until October last year.

When Theresa May was diagnosed with type 1 in her 50s, she told the consultant: "I'm too old. I can't be”. Lady May says she would also eat Jelly Babies when her blood sugar dropped during meetings. The former Prime Minister has now chaired a parliamentary inquiry into the life-threatening consequences of having both type 1 diabetes and an eating disorder. She speaks to Today's Justin Webb why a joined-up approach by the NHS is needed so that healthcare professionals are aware of the 'conflicting pressures' on people with type 1 and an eating disorder. She also discusses her experience while in government of managing her blood sugar levels.

The last of our Christmas guest editors is the CEO of the global biopharma company GSK, Dame Emma Walmsley. She wanted her programme to look to the year ahead with optimism. In these highlights from her programme hear Dame Emma in conversation with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who urges politicians not to treat their opponents as enemies but as fellow human beings. Dame Emma also speaks to the Health Minister for Singapore; visits Kew Gardens and she asks former guest editor and Nobel Laureate Sir Paul Nurse to discuss with a group of students, the scientific and technological advances they are most excited for in 2024. Simon Jack interviews Dame Emma to end her programme and she chooses a special piece of music.

Professor Jason Arday is our latest Christmas guest editor. This year he was appointed as one of Cambridge’s youngest ever professors. A significant accolade by any measure but even more so when you consider that Professor Arday was diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay aged just three and didn't learn to speak until he was eleven or read and write until he was eighteen. He uses his programme to look at improving adult literacy and he speaks to the head of Universal Music UK about championing neurodiversity in the workplace. Professor Arday also indulges his passion for 90s music with a discussion including Blur drummer Dave Rowntree and as a fan of a sharp suit, he champions the tailoring industry.

Andrew Malkinson is Today's latest Christmas guest editor. He spent 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit before being cleared in July. He uses his programme to look at justice and how one can cope with being locked up unjustly. He speaks to John McCarthy, who was held hostage for more than five years in the 1980s. While in prison, the world of astronomy and space offered Andrew a sense of release and sanctuary from the immediate confines of his daily experience and a way to expand his world. So as part of his guest edit, he visits Jodrell Bank observatory. And he tells Today's Justin Webb about the months since his conviction was overturned and how he still feels anger.

The singer and UN environment ambassador Ellie Goulding is the latest Today programme Christmas guest editor. Ellie uses her programme to explore her twin passions of music and nature, including looking at rewilding projects She tells Today's Martha Kearney that nature has helped her through difficult times in her life, including postnatal depression. Ellie interviews fellow musicians Brian Eno and Chris Martin about the music industry's environmental impact. And she goes back to her sixth form college in Hereford and answers students questions, including about whether the music industry has changed for the better since the Me Too movement began.