Tracking and tracing the rise of Dido Harding

Tracking and tracing the rise of Dido Harding

Author: The Times August 25, 2020 Duration: 26:14

Last week Dido Harding, the former amateur jockey and TalkTalk boss who since May has been the head of the ramshackle NHS Test and Trace programme, was put in charge of England’s new pandemic response agency. Sunday Times business reporter Sabah Meddings traces Harding’s rise to the top of one of the most important organisations in the country.


Host: Manveen Rana.


Guest: Sabah Meddings, pharma, consumer and leisure correspondent for The Sunday Times.


Clips: BBC News, Talkradio, Sky News, BBC Radio 4, UWE Bristol, The King’s Fund, OECD.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


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


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
Keir Starmer: Up close and personal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:06
Critics say the Labour leader is robotic, boring and hard to read, but is that all there is to the man in the running to become the next prime minister? The Sunday Times has spent three months on the campaign trail in se…
Planet Hope: Rewilding the Earth with Kris Tompkins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:41
This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.The Southern Cone of South America is home to some of…
The wipe out scenario haunting the Conservatives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:49
In 1993 the Canadian Conservative party went into the election in power but lost all but two of its seats. A party called Reform came to dominate right wing politics, and went on to merge with the Conservatives. Could th…
The TikTok election wars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:45
It’s being described as the UK’s first TikTok election - so can a flying pig, Cilla Black, and Nigel Farage have the power to change the result on the night?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of reader…
The Green vote: every colour of the rainbow? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:39
Who’s voting Green in this election? There’s the fruit bowl analogy - mangos, melons and figs (we’ll explain) - and, more unkindly, the carpark. With sky-high levels of disenchantment driving support, could this be their…
The new science of ageing and the quest to live forever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:59
The super-rich are trialling innumerable whacky theories to radically extend their lives, from not eating after 11pm to taking hundreds of supplements a day and even blood transfusions from their children. But what does…
Could the 'blue wall' fall? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:54
Surrey has always been a bastion of support for the Conservatives but this election the Liberal Democrats believe they stand a chance of taking some of the truest of blue seats. So, what’s changed? We visit Guildford to…
Planet Hope: Solving hidden hunger with Felix Brooks-Church [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:10
This is Planet Hope, a podcast from The Times in partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, hosted by The Story as a bonus weekly series each Sunday.Amidst a population of 8 billion, a staggering quarter…
The UK economy’s broken. Can Labour fix it? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
As Election Day looms, the one thing everyone can agree on is that the British economy is in a pretty parlous state. So, what's Labour offereing to get Britain out of its stagflation doom-loop, and will it work?This podc…
Football’s civil war: Man City vs Premier League [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:21
Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City, England's top club, has launched unprecedented legal action against the Premier League - the league it plays in. With such vast sums at stake, what does it mean for the future of British…