News Distillery: Recent Episodes
Ben Henderson
Can't be bothered to watch the news every day? Don't worry, BBC & talkSPORT journalist, Ben Henderson, has done it for you. Ben and his brother, Cameron, discuss the latest news, sport, TV and movies - in 15 minutes. Giving you all the smalltalk you need to sound vaguely interesting for the next seven days.
In entertainment, ‘Can’t get you out of my head’ is the documentary that’s inverted the way we think about the world, or maybe it’s a load of bollocks. In sport, it’s over – Messi and Ronaldo are finished – long live Mbappe and Haaland. And in the News, the government forces universities to accept diversity of opinion, or is to accept the government’s opinion…
In entertainment, Cam casts his cultured gaze over Ma Rainey’s black bottom – Chadwick Boseman’s final film. In sport, we’ve got the best title race in years. And in the news, finally the Brexit deal means we Brits can fulfil our natural inclination to world domination, but is that what we all want?
On TV, a new BBC drama lifts the lid on the racism faced by black people in the 60s in Britain; in sport – has Jose Mourinho got his mojo back; and in the news, should coronavirus vaccines be shared worldwide? Or is it each man for himself?
On TV, Spitting Image returns after four decades – but is it still funny?; in sport – England are crowned the best team in the world; and in the news, what do Trump and Biden actually stand for?
On TV, Grayson Perry gives the US culture wars a transvestite garnish, in sport – are the handball laws the final nail in the coffin for the beautiful game, and in the new - is this the end of our civil liberties...
This episode, we’ll give the final word on whether Christopher Nolan’s new Film Tenet is supremely intellectual or just a load of bollocks. In sport, we’ll discuss the antics of two men clearly thinking too much about their bollocks – Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden. And in the news, are we under despotic rule or are we just the toddler resistant to its parent’s medicine – we’ll take a look at the morality of the government’s new coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
On TV, we look at a thought-provoking drama on a life cut short by a racist murder. In sport, Raphael Varane hands Manchester City a place in the Champions League quarter finals. And in the news, is cancel culture drowning out independent thought in our universities?
Hello and welcome to the News Distillery, BBC and talkSPORT journalist Ben Henderson is joined by another titan of the broadcasting world - Cameron Henderson.
This week’s top stories: in entertainment, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are caught up in a shitstorm; in sport: Chelsea and Manchester United scrape into the Champions League places; and in the news: Boris muzzles the nation now that Donald Trump has said masks are for patriots...
In entertainment, Netflix releases an expose on the greatest abuse scandal in sports history; in sport, Liverpool are champions for the first time in thirty years; and in the news, Britons celebrate lockdown lifting with a orgy of booze fuelled decadence across the nation.
It’s Sunday the 21st of June, I’m BBC and talkSPORT journalist Ben Henderson and here’s the week’s top stories: in entertainment, a B-list Polish shagathon has gripped the world; in sport, David Luiz puts in one of the worst performances you'll ever see; and in the news, a terrorist attack leaves three people dead in Reading.
It's Sunday 14th June. In entertainment, film Director Spike Lee shows exemplary timing, releasing a film on the internal conflict of black Americans; in sport, an Irish crime boss makes Anthony Joshua an offer to fight Tyson Fury that he couldn’t refuse; and in the News, Britons decide the way to address racial inequality today is to argue over statues built centuries ago of people they’ve never heard of.
In entertainment, Reni Eddo-Lodge’s podcast on race has shot up the charts as middle class white people scramble to get woke. In sport, we work out what exactly it is that first attracted Timo Werner to join Chelsea for 200 grand a week. And in the news, anti-racism protests are taking place across the UK and America, but will they lead to a second spike?
Lady Gaga has teamed up with Ariana Grande for a new single which is inevitably top of the charts; and on TV Prince Andrew is caught on Jeffrey Epstein’s Caribbean island in the pool with a topless girl. In sport, the Premier League is given the go ahead to re-start in June. In Uk news, the PM eases lockdown restrictions and the Dominic Cummings saga rumbles on, and in America people are honouring the memory of a murdered black man by stealing themselves a new TV.
In entertainment DaBaby takes a break from grievous bodily harm to produce a number 1 record; and Michael Jordan is lauded as a god in a documentary he was heavily involved in making. In sport, Premier League clubs are back in training but black players in particular are worried about their safety. In current affairs, the Prime Minister’s right hand man Dominic Cummings has got himself in a sticky situation; the smartest man in Britain says we should never have had lockdown in the first place; and the tabloids brand those worried about schools returning to normal as militant softies.
Drake’s whingiest mixtape yet is top of the charts and Normal People is the biggest show on TV – but is it anything more than a high-brow shagathon? In sport, the Premier League looks set to get up and running soon but it’s being held back by six miserable clubs at the bottom of the table. In current affairs, the man who predicted that socialising would lead to mass death has put all that on the line to give his married mistress a good blasting; the UK death toll is now officially the worst in Europe; and the lockdown could potentially be relaxed in Boris Johnson’s announcement tonight.
The Coronavirus appears to be peaking in the UK but we’ve still got at least three weeks of lockdown to go. We’ll start the show on a note of defiance though - by looking at Captain Tom Moore’s rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone in support of the NHS. Also in entertainment we’ll cover Joel Corry’s latest dance track, Sky’s new show ‘Gangs of London’, and the National Theatre’s production of Twelfth Night. In sport, Newcastle has become embroiled in a battle for Middle Eastern supremacy between Saudi Arabia and Qatar; and Liverpool look set to be awarded the Premier League title even if this season never finishes. In current affairs, a shocking new report reveals the true UK death toll from the Coronavirus; a new army of tracers will be recruited to monitor who you’ve come into contact with; and pressure mounts on the government to end the lockdown – surely only Boris’ return on Monday can save us now...
In the charts we’ll cover new releases from Dua Lipa and Drake, whilst there’s a splurge of addictive new TV shows in the pipeline including (you guessed it) Tiger King. In sport, we’ll discuss the latest developments around players’ wages, and a huge corruption scandal at football’s highest level. Then in current affairs, we’ll take a look at the Coronavirus’ spread, Western governments’ attempts to control it and the Prime Minister being forced into intensive care. It’s been a busy week…Enjoy!
This week we'll cover Saint Jhn's single, 'Roses', and AJ Tracey's partnership with Aitch on their new track, 'Rain'. In TV, Westworld's third season and Belgravia have just come out. In sport, the Olympics are postponed whilst football and rugby have been thrown into chaos. Meanwhile in current affairs Coronavirus has led to a global meltdown. Enjoy the show!
This week we'll cover:
Entertainment
- Noughts & Crosses
- The Trip: to Greece
- Greed
- That Peter Crouch Podcast
- Evil Genius
Sport
- Liverpool's recent struggles
- England defeat Wales in the Six Nations
- Eric Dier's rampage into the stands
Current Affairs
- Corona Virus
- Priti Patel's bullying accusations
- Joe Biden storms to victory on 'Super Tuesday'