Sky News Daily

Can you put a price on freedom of speech? Comedy royalty including Dave Chapelle and Jimmy Carr, famous for defending their right to say whatever they want, have been paid big money by the Saudi government to appear at the inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival. 

But there's a catch.... they're not allowed to say anything that could cause "embarrassment" to Saudi Arabia, its royal family or any religion. The outcry has given you a new phrase to learn - "comedy washing". 

What is comedy washing and what evidence is there Saudi Arabia is trying to carry it out? Why have comedians agreed to perform at the festival and how can they defend their decision? 

Niall is joined by stand-up comedian and host of the Pod Save The UK podcast Nish Kumar. 

Producers: Tom Gillespie, Soila Apparicio 
Editor: Mike Bovill 

Donald Trump has claimed the credit for ending seven wars and with the developments in Gaza it could soon be eight - surely then he's a dead cert for this year's Nobel Peace Prize?

Unsurprisingly, with this bombastic US president, it's not quite that simple... no matter how much he insists that he deserves it.

As the world prepares to find out who has won this year's prize, the self-styled peacemaker-in-chief is likely to be among those paying the closest attention.

What is the Nobel Peace Prize and why does Trump want to win it so much? How is the winner decided, who else is nominated and what are the US president's chances?

Niall is joined by Jay Nordlinger, author of Peace, They Say: A History of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Most Famous and Controversial Prize in the World.

Producer: Soila Apparicio
Editor: Mike Bovill

The prime minister’s been asked to ‘explain himself’ after the UK’s top prosecutor blamed the collapse of a China spy trial on the government - for not labelling China a risk to national security. 
 
But Sir Keir Starmer blames the previous Tory government. 
 
A parliamentary researcher and his associate were accused of passing on “politically sensitive” information to a member of China’s ruling politburo – so why won’t it go to court?   
 
Niall is joined by political correspondent Mhari Aurora and the former head of MI6 Richard Dearlove.   
 
Producers: Tom Gillespie & Emily Hulme 
Editor: Mike Bovill 

 
In September, former England rugby captain Lewis Moody received a devastating diagnosis that changed his life forever. 
 
The 47-year-old Rugby World Cup winner is the latest retired professional player to be told he has the fatal muscle-wasting condition motor neurone disease. 
 
What do we know about the possible causes of MND? Is there a link between extreme exercise and developing the disease? And are we any closer to a cure? 
 
Niall is joined by Moody’s World Cup-winning team-mate Will Greenwood and Dr Mike Rogers, director of research and innovation at the MND Association. 
 
Producer: Tom Gillespie and Emily Hulme 
 
Editor: Mike Bovill   

It's the morning of Monday 6 October 2025 and Russia has launched a missile strike against the UK. That was the scenario of The Wargame - a gripping five-part Sky News podcast that brought together former government ministers, military chiefs, and top defence experts to explore how the UK might respond to a modern-day crisis. 
 
On the real 6 October, we speak to some of the makers of the series to get a sense of whether our leaders are taking the threat of Russia seriously enough. Would the United States come to the UK's aid if bombings began on British soil? And what do we need to do to improve our defence capabilities?  
 
Niall Paterson is joined by The Wargame's co-creators - Sky’s security and defence editor Deborah Haynes, and Rob Johnson, head of Oxford University's Changing Character of War Centre - as well as Keir Giles, a leading expert on the Russian military who portrays the Russian president in the simulation. 
 
You can listen to The Wargame here: 
https://open.spotify.com/show/4lHtW6x1D6R0E1QmGLkBK1 
 
Producers: Tom Gillespie & Emily Hulme 
Editor: Mike Bovill