In this episode of Stop The Press!, Nick, Bill, and Rob discuss the recent Channel 4 documentary series The Blair Years and revisit the political era shaped by former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair. From the landslide victory of 1997 to three consecutive terms in office, Blair’s premiership transformed the political centre ground and redefined Labour’s place in British politics.

The team examine the achievements and controversies that continue to define Blair’s legacy - economic growth, public service reform, and the shadow of the Iraq War - while asking whether history is becoming kinder or harsher in its judgement. With the UK facing political uncertainty today, they also debate a provocative question: does Britain need a leader with Blair’s authority and electoral dominance again, or has the political landscape changed too much for that style of leadership to return?

A reflective discussion about power, legacy, and how the media revisits political figures once the dust of history begins to settle.

The Middle East is once again at war. Following the joint Israeli and American strikes on Iran, the geopolitical consequences are unfolding at speed - from retaliation across the region to rising tensions between allies and growing uncertainty about what comes next.

In this episode of Stop The Press!, Nick, Bill and Rob examine how the media has responded to the most significant military escalation in the region for years. They look at the cautious, sometimes conflicted reaction from the British government, and whether Sir Keir Starmer’s attempt to balance alliance politics with restraint has been fairly reported.

The conversation also turns to Donald Trump and the early media narrative around the conflict. How much latitude is the press giving the American president in the first days of war? And at what point does coverage move from rallying around the flag to asking harder questions?

As events continue to unfold, the episode reflects on a familiar but uneasy cycle: the rush to interpret war in real time — and the moment when the mood of the media, and the public, inevitably shifts.

In this episode of Stop The Press!, Nick, Bill and Rob unpack a week where media accountability, political influence and public broadcasting all collide.

First, the team examines the latest developments in the Hacked Off trial - what it means for press regulation, whether the ghosts of Leveson still haunt Fleet Street, and why this story refuses to die.

They then turn to the growing noise around the Labour Together investigation, asking hard questions about transparency, political operations behind the scenes, and what journalists — and the public — should be paying attention to.

Finally, it’s the BBC in the spotlight as the panel reviews the corporation’s recent Winter Olympics coverage. Did the broadcaster deliver the clarity and storytelling audiences expect, or is this another example of the BBC struggling to land big global moments?