Helen Pidd

@helenpidd.bsky.social

Host of Today in Focus, the Guardian’s daily news podcast. Former North of England editor. Nominated for best host at the 2025 British Podcast Awards. Contact me in confidence helen.pidd@theguardian.com

Are you also feeling the pressure to mess with your face? I am! Today I had a great chat with @jessicadefino.skystack.xyz about all of my contradictory feelings about what she calls "aesthetic inflation" thttps://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/jul/31/the-pressure-to-change-your-face-podcast

The pressure to change your face - podcast

Guardian US beauty columnist Jessica DeFino explores the rise of ‘tweakments’ and cosmetic procedures – and the pressure it puts on everyone to get something done

theguardian.com

With producer @eleanorbiggs.bsky.social I spent a few months reporting from Crawley, the migrant hotel capital of Britain, to look at whether the disproportionate numbers of asylum seekers and refugees (mostly Afghans) put really do put pressure on services www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...

On the ground in the refugee and asylum capital of Britain - podcast

Helen Pidd heads to Crawley, West Sussex, the place in the UK with the highest number of asylum seekers and supported refugees relative to its population

theguardian.com

For today’s podcast I went to talk to protesters outside my local asylum hotel in Stockport, as well as marchers at Tommy Robinson’s march to try to understand if the far right is now a mass movement podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Today in Focus

Daily News Podcast · Updated daily · Hosted by Nosheen Iqbal and Helen Pidd, Today in Focus brings you closer to Guardian journalism. Combining storytelling with insightful analysis and personal testi...

podcasts.apple.com

I’m so thrilled that the Guardian’s @helenpidd.bsky.social made an excellent Today in Focus podcast about the seaside town of Morecambe for Seascape’s Against The Tide series. Please do take a listen, it’s extremely thorough and full of inspiring young people www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...

Sun, sea and struggle: growing up in England’s coastal towns – podcast

Helen Pidd grew up in Morecambe, and life in seaside towns has only got harder since she was a teenager. She went back to find out why

theguardian.com

On today’s podcast, @archiebland.bsky.social talks about the day his son, Max, stopped breathing, and learning to advocate for a disabled child. This episode brims with love as well as rage at an ableist world and it was an honour to be trusted with Max’s story www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...

My son Max, the boy who came back to life - podcast

Guardian journalist Archie Bland describes the day his seven-week-old son stopped breathing, and the life he has led in the two years since

theguardian.com

A Reform official in Runcorn tells @joshhalliday.bsky.social: “Those planning to vote Reform roughly fall into two groups: ‘those who set their alarm for work in the morning and are angry at those who don’t – and those who don’t.” How will they satisfy both? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‘Labour have done nothing but lie’: grievances fuel Runcorn byelection battle

‘Dogfight’ between Labour and Reform UK is turning ugly after Nigel Farage’s party put immigration centre stage

theguardian.com

For today's pod I went on the road in Runcorn. Despite an obvious Reform surge, there are still voters keeping the Labour faith (sometimes reluctantly and often just to keep Farage out). Lots of love for Mike Amesbury too, in spite of those drunken punches. www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2...

Labour v Reform UK: on the road in Runcorn – podcast

Helen Pidd heads to the industrial town before this week’s byelection. How will Labour fare in its first big electoral test since taking power? Kiran Stacey reports

theguardian.com