The Standard

Lucy Tobin investigates the challenges facing Thames Water as the company comes under increasing scrutiny from customers, politicians and campaigners. From flooding and compensation disputes to rising bills, debt and sewage pollution, she examines why public trust has been eroded and puts tough questions directly to one of Thames Water's most senior executives about the future of the company and the river it serves.

We hope you enjoy this new series from The Standard. To listen to more episodes now, check out Thames Unfiltered.

In the fourth episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin investigates the Tideway Tunnel — the vast engineering project built beneath the River Thames to tackle London's sewage pollution problem.

Following decades of sewage spills into the river, the £4.6 billion "super sewer" was designed to capture millions of...

We hope you enjoy this new series from The Standard. To listen to more episodes now, check out Thames Unfiltered.

In the third episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin explores the engineering marvel that is London’s sewer network.

After the Great Stink of 1858 and cholera outbreaks that forced politicians to act, the Victorian system was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette in the mid-20th century.

That same Victorian system...

We hope you enjoy this new series from The Standard. To listen to more episodes now, check out Thames Unfiltered.

In the second episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin asks the question:

What does clean really mean?

The River Thames is healthier than it was decades ago, with wildlife returning to parts of the river once declared biologically dead. 

But beneath the surface, the picture is far more complicated.

In this episode...

We hope you enjoy this new series from The Standard. To listen to more episodes now, check out Thames Unfiltered.

In the first episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin asks the question:

How healthy is the Thames today?

Since being declared biologically dead in the mid-20th century, we explore the state of the Thames today, and who and what will impact its future.

We examine the role of Thames Water, the impact of climate change ...

The government is considering dropping juries for certain criminal cases in an attempt to reduce court backlogs. Will this move undermine British justice?

In this bumper episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to a vocal opponent to the plans, Geoffrey Robertson KC, former judge and founder of Doughty Street Chambers, where Keir Starmer, David Lammy and Attorney General Richard Herman have all practised. She also hears from crimi...

Londoners will head to the polls next week to choose their local councillors. Since 2021, Labour has held the majority across the capital, but new polling suggests that even Sir Keir Starmer’s local borough of Camden may fall to the Greens.

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Tony Travers, a professor in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics about the results of the latest London coun...

This week, many Londoners will gain new powers as the Renters' Rights Act comes into force. So what do tenants and landlords need to know?

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to The Standard’s Homes & Property editor, Prudence Ivey, about the upcoming changes to rental agreements. The two discuss what renters should look out for in the small print, whether the new bill might inadvertently cause a housing sho...

It’s wisteria season — and flower-filled streets in Notting Hill and Kensington have become littered with visitors keen to take a picture in front of pastel coloured houses, with the viral flowers in shot. 

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Standard journalist Niva Yadav, to discuss whether it is fair to take pictures of people’s homes, and whether security measures will be taken to curb th...

The repeated attacks on Jewish infrastructure over the past few weeks has led to the opening of a Met police counter terrorism investigation into whether the events are linked. 

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Jonathan Hall KC, the senior barrister responsible for reviewing the UK government’s terrorism and state threats legislation. The two discuss how the law distinguishes hate crimes from terroris...

Small and medium-sized enterprises accounted for 99.9% of the UK’s 5.7 million new companies last year. So what does it really take to build a business from scratch today, and how easy is it to secure funding?

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick sits down with Raphael Sofoluke, the founder of the UK Black Business Show and UK Black Business Week, and Izzy Obeng, the founder and CEO of Foundervine. Both guests are on th...

London is about to be brought to a standstill as a result of planned tube strikes. So why have TFL and the RMT not reached a deal, and will the disruption change how Londoners vote in upcoming council elections?

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Standard journalist, Megan Howe, for a detailed breakdown of all how the strikes will affect Londoners, as well as the deal that sparked the tube strikes. Plus, Tamara al...

A new social media phenomenon, Londonmaxxing, is growing in popularity. This 2026 viral trend is about experiencing the essence of the city, and packing in the best activities London has to offer. 

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to the senior social features editor at the London Standard, Katrina Mirpuri, for a breakdown of this trend, plus her methods for exploring London like a curious local.

Photograph...

This Saturday, the Victoria and Albert museum will open its latest outpost, V&A East. So, what can London expect from its new museum?

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Dr Madeleine Haddon, the senior curator of V&A East, for a sneak peek of the new museum. Together they discuss the opening exhibitions, the museum's connection to its home in East London, as well as the museum's inspired cafe offering.

I...

A group of Londoners are coming together in Soho this Saturday to call on the government to introduce rent controls. But, with the renters rights act about to come into force, would freezing rents send the private rental market into chaos?

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Joe Beswick, a member of the London Renter’s Union, about the upcoming protest. Tamara asks Joe about the feasibility of rent controls, ...

Currently, more than a third of children leave primary school overweight or obese. The government is about to start a consultation on reforming school meals. Will having salad bars in schools make a difference?

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Nika Pajda, Head of Policy and Research at Bite Back. Together they discuss whether banning deep fried foods from school canteens will have a significant impact on childre...

After 16 years in power, Viktor Orbán’s leadership of Hungary has come to an end. But will a comfortable majority be enough for opposition leader Péter Magyar to bring inflation — and corruption — under control?

In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Miklós Hajnal, a sitting Member of Parliament for the Momentum party and an opposition figure in Hungary’s National Assembly. Together, they discu...

Sickfluencers are everywhere right now — but what are they actually doing, and why has it turned into such a political flashpoint?

In this episode, Martha Tipper digs into the row over social media creators who post tips on claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — from step-by-step guides to broader advice on navigating a system many people say is notoriously hard to “crack”.

A new report from ce...

For Episode Nine, Evgeny is joined by Michael Pollan, journalist, author, and one of the leading voices exploring the human mind. Drawing on his new book A World Appears, Pollan makes an impassioned case for consciousness as something precious, private, and increasingly under threat. Together, they explore how social media and AI are not just competing for our attention, but beginning to shape attachment, emotion, and even our sens...