The Three Old Hacks have long memories. Former BBC Sports News editor Mihir Bose, Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith and political analyst Nigel Dudley have been covering the nation's major events for decades and are well placed to compare and contrast the pre-election antics of politicians.

Harold Wilson smoked a pipe in public, in an attempt to appear a 'man of the people', but smoked cigars in private, recalls Nigel. There was that excruciating video of Ed Milliband attempting to eat a bacon sandwich in public, and the video with Tony Blair eating cereal with his kids in his kitchen which put the 'corn' in 'cornflakes. So a prime minister attempting to cosy up to the public by telling us how he loads the dishwasher and turn down the bed ("all a bit clumsy" - David) is nothing new to them.

Other subjects on the agenda in this week's podcast are whether or not we can expect another Budget before the next election and how much the Government can expect to influence our votes with it, the absence of specific promises from Labour and the Princess of Wales - whether the papers were right to go big on the dodgy Mother's Day photograph in the light of what we now know, that she has cancer.

Mihir's Memoir
Mihir is publishing his memoir. From growing up in India to making a name for himself as a journalist in Britain, he recounts how he is ever grateful to Mr Crombie, the official who gave him 'indefinite leave to remain'.

Come and see Mihir talking about his memoir on Wednesday 29 May at George IV pub in Chiswick.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/qa-with-mihir-bose-author-of-thank-you-mr-crombie-tickets-866160929657

Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

The Three Old Hacks discuss the power of the people. Recorded the day after the chaotic Gaza vote in Parliament, they consider the safety of MPs, the leverage voters have to influence them, the impact of a powerful grassroots movement supported by social media and also the power of TV drama to galvanise public opinion, as evidenced by the TV drama Mr Bates and the Post Office.

They discuss the leadership of the Conservative Party. "It always used to be said that the great success of the Tory party was that the membership didn't really have a say on anything" says Nigel. "Now the membership has a voice through Conservative Home and they have a say in choosing the party leader. That's something you can't put back."

Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

The intrusions into the private lives of celebrities rehashed by the phone hacking case brought by Prince Harry against Mirror Group Newspapers represent a "dreadful low" in the history of British journalism, says Mihir Bose.

The High Court ruled that Harry was a victim of phone hacking on multiple occasions, as were his friends. Former BBC Sports News editor Mihir discusses the "cheap and tawdry" tactics of their fellow hacks with Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith and political analyst Nigel Dudley in this week's Three Old Hacks podcast.

Thank you to Bill Kay for writing in and you can view his full letter here: https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Bill-Kay-Letter-1.pdf

Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!