The News Agents, the much-trumpeted daily news podcast from LBC’s owners Global, landed (slightly late) on to Global Player on Tuesday after a couple of sort-of episodes. These consisted of teasers plus a full recording of Emily Maitlis’s much-reported MacTaggart lecture, complete with breathless introduction from Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall. All three co-host The News Agents, though it’s clear from the start who the stars are. The show’s opening sting – its theme tune – boasts 60s spy-type music, a clip from Maitlis’s interview with Prince Andrew, a couple of others from Sopel’s questioning of Trump and nothing at all for Goodall. Still, Maitlis has decided to call him Luigi, so perhaps that’s some comfort.
In fact, she gives nicknames to everyone who turns up on The News Agents. I’m not sure why, though I imagine it’s an indicator as to how casual and free both she and Sopel (“Sopes”) are feeling now that they’re independent podcasters, as opposed to BBC presenters. We’ve known about their discomfort with BBC balance restrictions for many months, of course, and the headlines around Maitlis’s MacTaggart lecture merely emphasise this. But, you know… haven’t they moved on? Stop dissing the ex, what about the new show?
