The Louis Theroux Podcast
Weekly, all platforms
Theroux has the chops to attract a seriously varied line-up from the world of entertainment and the arts to his podcast, including, over the years, everyone from Ed Sheeran, Paul Mescal and Sharon Stone to Nick Cave and Tracey Emin. This latest series finds him with Florence Pugh, Steve Coogan and Malala Yousafzai among others, although today’s edition, featuring his broadcasting hero Michael Palin freshly returned from an eventful trip to Venezuela, promises to be one of the best.
Carbon Lifeforms
Radio 4/BBC Sounds, 6.30pm
Comedian Jon Long and environmental scientist Dr Tara Shine are back with their hybrid magazine show juggling comedy with the serious issues of climate change and global warming. Unlikely bedfellows, perhaps, but they make for a surprisingly entertaining mix, tonight exploring the staggeringly high carbon cost of tech, the internet and artificial intelligence with Chris McCausland and Mike Berners-Lee. Plus, new late-night comedy in Humanwatch (Radio 4, 11.15pm) where Marjolein Robertson and Gareth Waugh have fun applying the tropes and clichés of wildlife series such as Springwatch to behaviour much closer to home.
Thursday 16 October
Mercury Prize 2025
Radio 6 Music/BBC Sounds, 9pm
Having built up to the big moment with the Mercury Prize 2025 Pocket Guides (Mon-Wed, 11pm) showcasing the shortlisted albums, Matt Everitt, Deb Grant and Nathan Shepherd broadcast live from Newcastle as the winner is announced – and played in full from 11pm. Earlier, on Vernon Kay’s morning show (Radio 2, 9.30am), a new run of the ever-popular Piano Room sessions gets underway with veteran rocker Chrissie Hynde performing a live set with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
