Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins choose their top five news stories of the year.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins look back on the year’s news and pick their biggest stories of 2025.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Two Doors Down will return for a Christmas special on 24 December, followed by a live show in 2026.

Ahead of its release, the show's co-creator Gregor Sharp talks to Laura and Martin about how he and the late Simon Carlyle went about making the hit show, and what it was like to return to writing after the death of his friend and colleague.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Laura Miller.

Get in touch: [email protected]

Two Doors Down is a BBC Studios Comedy Productions.

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘What STV cuts tell us about the mainstream media’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002kd3k

STV bosses felt the backlash from staff, politicians and the public when plans to axe a bespoke north of Scotland news programme were announced.

Martin and Laura ask chief executive Rufus Radcliffe why those plans have been watered down, and if holding an online meeting to tell staff their jobs were at risk was a mistake.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Do we need a grooming gangs inquiry too?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mz2z

Angela Constance (pictured) has survived a vote of no confidence after being accused of misleading parliament when quoting the views of grooming gangs expert Professor Alexis Jay.

The BBC’s Lynsey Bews explains why the justice secretary won the crucial backing of Scottish Green MSPs at Holyrood.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘What the Sandie Peggie ruling means’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002n9bk

JK Rowling has said errors in the NHS Fife employment tribunal judgement are “scandalous”.

The BBC's David Henderson explains the criticism of judge Sandy Kemp's ruling in the case involving nurse Sandie Peggie (pictured) and Dr Beth Upton.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Meet the new Scottish Green leaders’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002j5l7

Former Conservative government minister Lord Malcolm Offord is ditching his peerage with the hope of becoming a Reform UK First Minister.

Martin Geissler asks him why he has had enough of his former Tory colleagues, and why he thinks he now has more in common with Nigel Farage and his party, Reform UK.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Can weight-loss jabs save the NHS?’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028sqf

As a bill to make non-surgical aesthetic procedures safer makes its way through Holyrood, Dr Nestor Demosthenous (pictured) tells us all about working in the aesthetics industry.

And why the Tartan Army might want to check their social media history before applying for their visa for the World Cup.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Laura Miller and Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘Why I’m defending Sandie Peggie’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002mp56

An employment tribunal has ruled on the case involving nurse Sandie Peggie (pictured), her employer NHS Fife and transgender doctor Beth Upton.

The BBC’s Steven Godden and David Henderson explain the main findings of the 312-page ruling.

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler.

Get in touch: [email protected]

If you’re interested in this episode, you may also like ‘The 1,000 prisoners up for early release’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002ld8y

More inmates are leaving prison earlier than planned as an emergency measure to deal with record overcrowding in Scotland’s jails.

Natalie has been inside HMP Barlinnie to speak to one of the nearly 1,000 prisoners up for early release and staff including deputy governor Jim Beaton (pictured).

Scotcast is the BBC’s Scottish news podcast. This episode is hosted by Martin Geissler and Natalie Higgins.

Get in touch: [email protected]