The Column

In this column Martin discusses the subject of dog ownership. He says when you take a sideways look at canines they are strange but entertaining creatures.

In this episode of The Column, Martin apologises if he's been a little down at heel in recent weeks and promises to transform himself into a new upbeat old hack out in the sticks... Brexit? Looney politicians? Forget 'em - and enjoy the summer, is what he says...

In this episode of The Column, Martin discusses how he and many others felt when Brexit Party members of the EU decided to turn their backs on a youth orchestra in the European Parliament. He argues that the UK ought to be on its very best behaviour during these uncertain times, not showing the world how childish and puerile some of its citizens can be.

In this column Martin discusses the idea of feeling guilty. Guilty about everything and anything, that is. Is it an age thing? Or do we live in a guilt-making age? You can email Martin your thoughts on column@martinhesp.co.uk - some readers and listeners already have.

In his column this week Martin Hesp ponders the idea of getting old and out of date when it comes to having a knowledge of all the latest, new, things in the world. He wrote the column just before he went on a press trip to Vienna with a group of young journalists - so did the experience allow him to shed the mantle of being old?

In this podcast episode of his award-winning newspaper column Martin Hesp talks ab out the recent European elections and walking down his Exmoor valley to vote.

In this column Martin Hesp talks about the disappearing voice of rural Britain - something he often reflects upon while he's abroad on press trips to exotic places...

At sometime or other many of us will go back to the place where we were born and bred - although there may be a few, of course, who never left it. But in his column this week Martin Hesp goes on a job to interview an author and realises that she is living in the very cottage where he spent the first 5 years of his life more than half-a-century ago.

Both the big things in life and the small things are all grist to the mill for newspaper columnists. And this week a relatively tiny thing happened in Martin Hesp's world - but it was an episode that loomed very large indeed as far as his young lurcher Finn was concerned. We are talking about the removal of two things which Finn held most dear...

Everyone's getting so worried about Brexit that some people are beginning to stock up on food and essentials. In his weekly newspaper column, Martin recalls the Fuel Protests of the year 2000 - which was the last time he considered filling his pantry, loft and garden shed with food.

Not many people who write newspaper columns have nearly died thanks to bat poo - but it almost finished Martin Hesp off a few years ago. In this podcast taken from Martin’s weekly award-winning newspaper column he discusses this almost laughable demise and talks about what it’s like to be a number in an NHS waiting room. 

Sometimes Martin Hesp’s award-winning newspaper column is “written” - or at least, inspired - by his lurcher dog, Monty. In this podcast Martin discusses how this came about and reads what he fears may be one of the old dog’s final newspaper columns.

In the first of this news series of podcasts, award-winning newspaper columnist Martin Hesp discusses how momentous events on the national and international stage can look very different when viewed from a remote corner of the countryside. In doing so Martin talks about his weekly newspaper column and takes a sideways look at Brexit.