Ian Hislop, who celebrates 40 years as editor of satirical magazine Private Eye, speaks to BBC Newsnight about his four decades at the publication, what he says he got right and wrong, journalism's role in the "assault on truth", why Britain "isn't" broken and what's led to seven Prime Ministers in 10 years. Interview by Paddy O'Connell.
45-minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCOdomjE0dw&feature=youtu.be
Hand-picked new music for 4th October, 2026. The playlists below feature a selected track from each release. 42 tracks, all chosen by me – 2 hours and 24 minutes of new music in no particular order! With more on the associated albums and EPs.
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/october-4th-2026-hand-picked-new-music-ian-robinson/pl.u-d2z2XTMyog
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3P5tkI5lO4SynFSkJj1cie
The new song from Gift is good. The first single from their forthcoming new album.
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/hand-to-the-flame/6801187961?i=6801188245
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3z4jCG8WB8anomnjDK4Q3p
The forthcoming James Blunt album is shaping up well. I like all three singles released from it so far.
It’s called Airplane Mode if you want to search for it.
I started watching Hirayasumi on Prime Video earlier. It’s about young people living in Tokyo. Each episode is only 15 minutes long. I think there are 20 episodes. Adapted from a comic book series, I think. I’m enjoying them.
New artist discovery. A Canadian female rock musician performing under the name Jimi. Her latest EP is fab: Bar Stars & Beauty Queens.
Discovered via the Apple Music New Music recommendation algorithm. Which is unusual. Artist Page links below.
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/jimi/1517521050
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2hKyRk37dnpcAPIqU0Fghj
The Ladyhawke rock song that’s the theme for the new Kill Jackie series on Amazon Prime is good. Ladyhawke is ace.
The Price You Pay - Ladyhawke
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-price-you-pay-theme-from-kill-jackie/6818412774?i=6818412775
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2oXHQjilIW0h8oxLJI58zg
Meek has a new single out with Purple Disco Machine. Like 👍🏻
Test My Luck - Purple Disco Machine & Meek
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/test-my-luck/6805550645?i=6805550649
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1NcMnjYjCpiiVKpLFvpFbc
The Leenalchi music is starting to appear on Apple Music and Spotify again, after most of their back catalogue was pulled when they moved to a new label (I think). An album titled Sugungga is back, and it includes the tracks "Tiger Is Coming" and "A Fish Map." They are so good 🥰
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/sugungga/6796676171
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5hvWNitA7uKBEkRvBbaEIJ
For UK peeps. Lawrence of Arabia is currently on iPlayer. But it exits in 8 days. It’s a masterpiece. I bought it on iTunes. If you haven’t seen it, you should. It’s 3.5 hours, but it has an intermission, so you could split it over two sessions. I assume the iPlayer version will have the intermission card.