Send us Fan Mail

This week on Stop the Press!, Nick, Rob and Bill round up the biggest stories dominating the UK headlines. They unpack the political fallout from the Makerfield by-election and what it signals for British politics, before debating the growing momentum behind Andy Burnham as the leading contender to become the next Labour leader.

The team also reflects on the end of an era in English cricket as Ben Stokes announces his retirement from England captaincy, discussing his legacy, the impact on the Test side, and who could be next to lead England into a new chapter.

From Westminster to the wicket, it's another lively discussion covering the stories shaping Britain's political and sporting landscape.

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode of Stop The Press!, Nick Copson, Rob Chadwick and Bill Martin are joined by one of the South West's most respected sports journalists, Chris Errington, for a fascinating look behind the scenes of modern sports reporting.

With decades of experience covering football and major sporting events, Chris shares how sports journalism has evolved from the days of local newspaper deadlines and match reports to today's 24/7 digital news cycle, live blogs, podcasts, social media and instant fan reaction.

The conversation explores what really goes into covering professional football clubs, from building relationships with managers and players to preparing for match days, handling transfer rumours, conducting interviews and finding stories that supporters actually care about.

Chris reflects on some of the biggest changes he has witnessed throughout his career, including the decline of traditional print media, the rise of digital platforms, and the increasing demand for journalists to become content creators, broadcasters and social media personalities all at once.

The discussion also looks ahead to the future of sports journalism. Will AI change the way matches are reported? Can local sports journalism survive in an era of shrinking newsrooms? And what role will trusted reporters play when fans can get information directly from clubs, players and influencers?

For anyone interested in football, media, journalism or the changing nature of reporting in the digital age, this is an insightful and entertaining conversation with a journalist who has lived through one of the most transformative periods in sports media history.

Send us Fan Mail

The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is on.

On this special football edition of Stop the Press!, Nick Copson, Rob Chadwick and Bill Martin are joined by respected Devon sports journalist Chris Errington to preview what could be one of the most intriguing World Cups in modern history.

With the tournament heading to North America and England once again carrying the hopes, expectations and inevitable emotional baggage of a football-mad nation, the team asks the big question:

Can England finally bring football home?

We discuss:

⚽ England's chances of ending nearly 60 years of hurt
⚽ Whether this is the strongest England squad in a generation
⚽ The impact of a new manager and tactical approach
⚽ The key players who could define the tournament
⚽ Which nations pose the biggest threat to England's ambitions
⚽ The pressure, expectation and psychology of tournament football
⚽ Our predictions for the winners, surprise packages and potential disappointments

Chris brings decades of experience covering football at every level, offering expert insight into the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities facing England and the home nations as they prepare for football's biggest stage.

Will 2026 finally be England's year?

Or are we all setting ourselves up for another summer of glorious heartbreak?

Join us for a lively, passionate and occasionally optimistic look ahead to the biggest sporting event on the planet.

Send us Fan Mail

On the latest episode of Stop the Press!, Nick Copson, Rob Chadwick and Bill Martin sit down with media veteran, blogger and digital media lecturer, Adam Tinworth, for a brutally honest conversation about the future of journalism in the age of TikTok, YouTubers, creators and collapsing public trust.

We explore whether traditional journalism still matters when millions now get their “news” from influencers, viral clips and personalised social feeds - often without ever visiting a news website or watching a bulletin.

We discuss:
Why trust in mainstream media has fallen so dramatically.
Whether social media has democratised journalism… or destroyed it.
The rise of creators, streamers and YouTubers as the new media class.
How shrinking attention spans are changing storytelling forever.
Whether journalism schools are preparing students for a dead industry… or a transformed one.

Adam brings a rare mix of news experience, digital strategy expertise and academic insight to one of the biggest questions facing modern society:

If everyone is now a publisher… who, if anyone, is still doing journalism?

A fascinating, challenging and surprisingly hopeful discussion.

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Stop The Press!, Rob, Nick and Bill are joined by Tessa Tucker, former Conservative Party candidate for Exeter, to ask a question that increasingly feels unavoidable:

Is Britain becoming ungovernable?

As Westminster descends further into personality politics, support or not support a by-election, and the potential for not only a leadership challenge but a general election, the country faces mounting pressure on almost every front. Stagnant growth, overstretched public services, collapsing trust in institutions, rising immigration tensions, and a public that appears angrier and more fragmented than ever.

Is this simply the latest chapter in Britain’s long political decline, or evidence of a deeper governance crisis affecting the entire system?

The team and Tessa explore:

• Whether modern Britain has become too divided to govern effectively
• Why public trust in politicians and institutions has collapsed
• The rise of performative politics over serious leadership
• Whether the media fuels instability or merely reflects it
• How social media, outrage culture and 24-hour news cycles have changed politics forever
• Why both Labour and the Conservatives appear trapped in short-term thinking
• Whether Britain’s political culture itself is now part of the problem

A frank conversation about leadership, media, culture and whether the UK is entering a period of permanent political dysfunction.

Send us Fan Mail

A landmark ruling in Los Angeles has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley, with tech giants like Meta and Google found liable for contributing to the worsening mental health of a young woman who argued their platforms were deliberately designed to be addictive.

In this episode of Stop The Press!, the boys unpack what this case really means. Is this the beginning of meaningful accountability for Big Tech, or a legal overreach that could fundamentally reshape the internet?

They explore whether this ruling could become a bellwether moment, opening the floodgates for similar lawsuits across the US. If platforms are held responsible for user harm, does that force a redesign of the attention economy itself?

The conversation also turns to the growing global backlash against social media, including Australia’s increasingly aggressive regulatory stance and proposed bans for younger users. Are governments finally catching up, or are they stepping too far into personal freedom?

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Stop The Press!, the team sit down with Falklands War veteran and former Western Morning News and Plymouth Herald photographer Pete Holdgate for a powerful conversation about the craft and courage behind photojournalism. From his early days in the Marines to capturing defining moments in the newsroom, Pete shares what it really takes to tell stories through a single frame. The discussion explores what makes a truly great news photograph, the instinct and timing behind the shot, and why photography remains one of the most important tools in shaping how we understand the world.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Stop The Press!, Nick, Bill, and Rob discuss the recent Channel 4 documentary series The Blair Years and revisit the political era shaped by former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair. From the landslide victory of 1997 to three consecutive terms in office, Blair’s premiership transformed the political centre ground and redefined Labour’s place in British politics.

The team examine the achievements and controversies that continue to define Blair’s legacy - economic growth, public service reform, and the shadow of the Iraq War - while asking whether history is becoming kinder or harsher in its judgement. With the UK facing political uncertainty today, they also debate a provocative question: does Britain need a leader with Blair’s authority and electoral dominance again, or has the political landscape changed too much for that style of leadership to return?

A reflective discussion about power, legacy, and how the media revisits political figures once the dust of history begins to settle.