The case of Essex police vs Allison Pearson and the co-pilots victory

The case of Essex police vs Allison Pearson and the co-pilots victory

Author: The Telegraph July 30, 2026 Duration: 58:37

You can watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hjoyImW6a8s


This week’s journey in the rocket of right thinking opens with an exclusive announcement from co-pilot Pearson in her case against the Essex police and Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst.

Back in November 2024 Allison received a visit from Essex police regarding a year old post on the social media platform X. Mr Hirst later appeared on LBC and veered into making personal claims against Allison and the situation, for which he has now apologised.


Liam discusses Andy Burnham’s first 10 days and amongst the ‘maybe this’ or ‘maybe that’ promises of the new Prime Minister, wonders when he will start acting like a statesman and wear a shirt when meeting world leaders; as his meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy seemed a casual T-Shirt affair.


Joining your co-pilots is science writer and former member of the house of Lords, Matt Ridley, who tells your co-pilots why the claim that climate change is the only reason for wild fires, is only a fraction of the real story….

Highlights


  • Planet Normal: The case of the Essex police vs Allison Pearson and the co-pilots victory
  • Allison updates on her case against Essex police
  • Liam breaks down the Burnham bounce promises
  • Matt Ridley on the raging wildfires in Europe and across the globe


Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |

Read Allison ‘We want a properly dressed statesman in No 10, not a mate‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/28/britain-want-statesman-ino-10-not-mate/ |

Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | 

Read Liam: ‘Burnham is oblivious to the looming oil shock’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/26/burnham-is-oblivious-to-the-looming-oil-shock/ |

Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |

Read Liam’s Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |

Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |

Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |

For 30 days’ free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal |


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Every Thursday, Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan step outside the daily noise to offer a different perspective on the week’s events. Planet Normal, from The Telegraph, is a conversation that often challenges the prevailing narratives found in mainstream media and political circles. This podcast digs into the stories shaping society, culture, and the news, focusing on the viewpoints and concerns that feel increasingly sidelined. Pearson and Halligan, both seasoned columnists, bring a blend of sharp analysis and relatable frustration to topics ranging from family life and economic pressures to broader cultural shifts. Their discussions feel like a break from a scripted debate, offering listeners a space where common sense and direct commentary take precedence. Tuning in provides a weekly reset-a chance to hear arguments grounded in everyday experience rather than abstract theory. It’s for anyone who feels the conventional discourse doesn’t quite reflect the reality they see. You’ll find the tone is more like a candid chat between two well-informed friends than a formal news broadcast, making complex issues accessible and engaging. This is the appeal of the Planet Normal podcast: a consistent, thoughtful alternative that speaks plainly about the forces shaping our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Planet Normal
Podcast Episodes
Liar, liar, Reeves’ pants are on fire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:47
With reaction to the autumn Budget still on the lips of news outlets everywhere, your co-pilots are here to make sense of the chaos.Allison doesn’t hold back and thinks Reeves has ‘lied’ to the electorate and inflated he…
Reeves Budget snowstorm of discontent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:08
The rocket of right thinking is back for a crucial Budget Special as Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils her second major fiscal statement. Her new £30 billion tax rise means a staggering £70 billion increase in just two ye…
Reeves reverse ferret and Mahmood's immigration gamble [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:15
This week the Rocket welcomes former Prime Minister Liz Truss to discuss next week’s Budget as well as the co-pilots diving into the latest political issues. From the dramatic U-turn on immigration by the Home Secretary,…
March of the BBC’s ‘tinfoil hat’ brigade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:35
After a Telegraph bombshell, both the BBC Director-General and Head of BBC News are OUT as the corporation is exposed for its "FAR LEFT ideological capture".Our co-pilots take a look at the shocking truth behind the bill…
Home Office fails to secure its own ‘fit note’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:24
Following the speech from Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledging tax rises are coming round the mountain, your co-pilots are here to wade through the incoming madness.Assisting co-pilot Halligan this week is returning gu…
Labour’s asylum seeker 'Carry On' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:41
Our co-pilots, energised from their trip down to earth for the live show at the Battle of Ideas festival last week, are back on the Rocket to try and make sense of a week of madness!They address the growing discontent fo…
Planet Normal: Live Special at the Battle of Ideas 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:38
This episode was recorded live at the Battle of Ideas Festival in London on 19th October 2025In this very special episode of Planet Normal, the rocket beams in live from the Battle of Ideas Festival featuring not one, bu…
Trump’s peace plan and the China spy row unfurling in Westminster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:52
With co-pilot Halligan off the train and back in the rocket the team has returned to wade through the madness.As Donald Trump declares “peace in the Middle East” Liam and Allison take their hats off to him as they credit…
October 7th freed Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi speaks to Allison [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:35
In a special episode of Planet Normal co-pilot Pearson brings you a long interview with Eli Sharabi, who after the 7th of October spent 491 days as a captive of Hamas under the tunnels of Gaza.Eli has recently told his s…