Best of Today

• Updated:
  Daily
• Average duration:
  6 minutes

Show all episodes (91)

Recent episodes (10)

• 'Like a war town'

  Sat, 21 Nov 09

  Duration:
  8 mins

  Severe flooding in parts of the UK has destroyed homes and livelihoods. Reporter Nicola Stanbridge visited the hardest hit town, Cockermouth, to see how people are coping.

  Download 4MB (right click & "save target as")

• Budget shops 'opportunistic'

  Sat, 21 Nov 09

  Duration:
  7 mins

  Discount store Poundland is to open its 250th store today. The bargain chain has flourished while many of its competitors, such as Woolworths, have faced financial ruin. Today presenter Evan Davis reports on the bargain chain's appeal, and Robert Clarke, retail analyst at Retail Knowledge Bank, comments on the company's success.

  Download 4MB (right click & "save target as")

• Vintage Agatha Christie story released

  Fri, 20 Nov 09

  Duration:
  4 mins

  A newly-discovered story by crime writer Agatha Christie is to be released in the United States. The short piece, The Incident of the Dog's Ball, was found in the crime author's papers when she died. Crime writer Harry Keating, and managing editor of Strand Magazine, Andrew Gulli, discuss the work.

  Download 2MB (right click & "save target as")

• Ashton appointment 'not a fudge'

  Fri, 20 Nov 09

  Duration:
  9 mins

  Belgian Prime Minister Herman Von Rompoy and Lady Cathy Ashton have been elected for the new top positions to represent the European Union on the world stage. The appointments have been seen in Brussels as an end to the accretion of power to the EU, with stronger candidates for the roles being overlooked. Lady Ashton discusses her new role.

  Download 5MB (right click & "save target as")

• Cameron: Queen's Speech 'unravelling'

  Thu, 19 Nov 09

  Duration:
  6 mins

  The Conservative party have criticised the Queens speech, accusing the government of using it as a "Labour press release on Palace parchment". The party condemned the government for failing to include legislation to tackle MPs' expenses and NHS reform, and Tory peer Lord Strathclyde has threatened to block the proposed bills. David Cameron, leader of the Conservative party, discusses his response to the Queen's speech.

  Download 3MB (right click & "save target as")

• Yes Minister in the Ukraine

  Thu, 19 Nov 09

  Duration:
  6 mins

  The classic BBC comedy, Yes Minister, is to be reworked for audiences in the Ukraine. The satirical sitcom, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, has become an international phenomenon and is enjoyed in Turkey, India and Holland. Sir Antony Jay, co-writer of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, and Andrey Kurkov, a Ukrainian writer and satirist, reflect on the programme's popularity.

  Download 3MB (right click & "save target as")

• 'It will be for the public to judge'

  Wed, 18 Nov 09

  Duration:
  15 mins

  The Labour party is set to deliver proposals for its election manifesto in the Queens Speech, the last before the general election. Among the bills being considered are the provision of free personal care for thousands in England, and the limiting of banker bonuses. Political editor Nick Robinson comments on the upcoming speech, and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson discusses his party's policies.

  Download 7MB (right click & "save target as")

• Osama Bin Laden's son 'normal'

  Wed, 18 Nov 09

  Duration:
  5 mins

  What is it like to have Osama Bin Laden as your father? New book Growing Up Osama describes the upbringing of Omer and his mother, who fled from his father during the Afghan war. Author Jean Sasson discusses the book.

  Download 3MB (right click & "save target as")

• 'China is not a global superpower'

  Tue, 17 Nov 09

  Duration:
  9 mins

  President Obama has been meeting China's leaders in attempts to seek closer co-operation and trust. China's growing political, economic and military powers are raising concerns in the West. Jonathan Fenby, China director at the Research Service Trusted Sources, and China expert Dr Stephen Tsang, examine the US's relationship with China.

  Download 5MB (right click & "save target as")

• Tory candidate 'dictators'

  Tue, 17 Nov 09

  Duration:
  6 mins

  A Tory parliamentary candidate has fought off a de-selection vote, over revelations of an affair. Liz Truss kept her Norfolk constituency association seat by a comfortable margin. The association were not informed of the affair, despite Westminster knowing of it, exposing tensions between the 'Turnip Taliban' and the 'Notting Hill set' within the Tory party. John Strafford, chairman of the Campaign for Conservative Democracy, and Eric Pickles, chairman of the Conservative Party, discuss the implications for the reputation of the Conservative party.

  Download 3MB (right click & "save target as")

Play recent episodes