My Predictions for 2020 (And How My 2019 Predictions Turned Out)
- 28 Dec 2019
So how did my predictions for 2019 pan out? Well, not too badly. I scored 7 out of 10. Theresa May loses the Meaningful vote on 14 January. CORRECT (although admittedly it was postponed) West Ham midfielder Declan Rice chooses England over the Republic of Ireland....
My Political Awards of 2019
- 27 Dec 2019
If you've listened to this week's episode of the 'For the Many' podcast, this won't be new to you. But here goes, anyway... Politician of the Year – Boris Johnson Minister of the Year – Michael Gove Shadow Minister – Andy McDonald Worst Minister – Jesse Norman...
How Did My Ten Tips for Stardom Fare in 2019?
- 26 Dec 2019
I do like to do a bit of talent spotting, so this time last year I compiled a list of ten people who I tipped for a bit of stardom in 2019. I reckon I didn't do a bad job... My tips for 2020 will appear over the next couple of days... Grace Blakeley Research Fellow, I...
Watch: Iain's Best LBC Moments from 2019 (40 mins)
- 24 Dec 2019
Thanks to Olly McGrath at LBC for putting together this 40 minute long video of my most memorable interviews and calls of 2013 LibDem MEP Lucy Porritt doesn't seem to know anything about the subject of the interview. (October) Emily Thornberry incur...
My Top Ten Songs of 2019
- 24 Dec 2019
My musical tastes are, shall we say, not to everyone's. I like pop, pure and simple. I like misery ballads. I also like electro-pop. You'll find lots of examples here in my list of ten favourite songs of 2019. Ridicule all you like. #wateroffaducksback Anyway, here goes... ...
My Top Tweeters of 2019
- 23 Dec 2019
This is a list of 250 Tweeters I have most enjoyed during 2019. This is the sixth year I have compiled this list. I follow about 3600 people on Twitter. Anyway, these are the ones who have entertained, informed, educated, annoyed and, most of all, made me laugh most this y...
Telegraph Column: The BBC is trapped in a Remainer London bubble of its own making
- 20 Dec 2019
This is an extended version of an article which first appeared in the Daily Telegraph "Adapt or die” is a maxim the BBC would do well to adopt if it is to survive the coming years. Following its questionable coverage of the general election, it is going through one of its o...
My Ten Christmas Book Recommendations
- 20 Dec 2019
We all know how difficult it is to buy the right Christmas present for a family member or friend. You can't go wrong with a book. I spent twenty years in bookselling and publishing and although I am no longer involved, my love of books has not diminished. Nor, it seems, has an...
It Shouldn't Happen to a Radio Presenter 71: Coughing Through a General Election Show
- 13 Dec 2019
Watch the full 8 hour show by clicking above Back in March 2010 I had only ever presented one show on LBC. Quite how I had the temerity to suggest that I should present their election night show, I have no idea. Looking back I had quite a cheek. I had presented a E...
World's Big Sleepout: Trolled for Trying to be Charitable
- 13 Dec 2019
This article appeared in the Daily Mail on 12 December 2019. Click HERE. Last weekend I found myself sleeping rough in Trafalgar Square after Dame Helen Mirren had read me a bedtime story. That's not a sentence I ever imagined I'd be writing, but let me explain. ...
Polling Day Seen Through The Eyes of A Losing Candidate - Me (And How to Lose Gracefully)
- 12 Dec 2019
Fourteen years ago I stood as a candidate in the 2005 general election. It seems a very long time ago. It was one of those days which could have changed my life forever, and in some ways did. Ten years ago I wrote a blogpost about polling day and the election count. It got suc...
Hodder to Publish my New Book on Our 55 Prime Ministers
- 9 Dec 2019
I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that Hodder & Stoughton will publish my new book THE PRIME MINISTERS 1721-2020 in November next year. Here's their press release, which explains all. Hodder & Stoughton have acquired a major new book conceived by political j...
Iain Dale & Shelagh Fogarty to Anchor LBC's Election Night Coverage
- 6 Dec 2019
LBC is to broadcast its most extensive election night programme to date next Thursday, when the station simulcasts a fully-integrated results show on air on both radio on FM, DAB and global player, and in HD video on global player and LBC’s digital and social media channels. ...
Iain Dale All Talk, Book Tour & Public Event Dates
- 3 Dec 2019
Following the success of my 'Iain Dale All Talk' shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, we're taking it on the road in 2020. It will kick off with a four show run at the Lowry Theatre, Salford. We hope to do a lot more throughout the rest of the year. I'm also hosting some free luncht...
It Shouldn't Happen to a Radio Presenter 70: Telling Your Producer to 'Shut The F**k Up'
- 29 Nov 2019
Earlier today Nick Ferrari hosted an hour long phone-in with Boris Johnson. Nowadays all these interviews are not only filmed, but streamed live. We have a whole host of cameras in the studio, and unlike certain other broadcasters if we are going to stream something we are inc...
It Shouldn't Happen to a Radio Presenter 69: When Political Parties Won't Provide Guests
- 27 Nov 2019
Three weeks ago I provisionally booked Emily Thornberry to do one of our 8pm hour long interviews. It was supposed to take place at 8pm yesterday evening. On Sunday afternoon I was told that Emily wouldn't be coming. Reading between the lines it seemed apparent that she had be...
Thirty Things to Note About Germany and the Germans
- 22 Nov 2019
Back in the 1980s I did my gap year in Germany, in a spa town called Bad Wildungen, and then spent another year teaching English in a school not far from Stuttgart. I love Germany and would love to be able to spend more time there, but given my life at the moment, that's unlik...
Why I Find It Difficult to Speak to School Audiences
- 21 Nov 2019
I don't do a lot of speaking in schools and I feel guilty about it. I do get quite a few invitations, but if I am honest, I turn most of them down. Why? Because I am never sure I strike the right tone. As a 57 year old is it ever really possible to relate to a group of 11-18 y...