Every January, campaigns like Dry January and Veganuary encourage restraint and self-denial at the coldest, darkest point of the year. But what if we’ve misunderstood both health and the seasons?

In this episode of The Standard, host Alan Leer is joined by journalist Melanie McDonagh as she makes the case for “Wet January” — arguing that winter is the worst possible time to give things up, and that our modern wellness habits have lost touch with how people have historically lived through the colder months.

We discuss seasonality, comfort, self-denial, and what our obsession with restraint says about modern life.

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Is there anything better than a cultural escape as winter sets in?

Today we're debunking one of the lesser-known art forms - opera - as the timelessly classical La Traviata show opens in the capital, which is the most performed opera in the world.

We're joined by Netia Jones, the Associate Director of Opera at the Royal Opera, to discuss the origins of the art forum, how technology is changing it, tips for first-time opera attendees and much more.

And if you’re keen to experience some new culture this year, then read more about some of our top cultural picks for the year ahead.

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Support for Labour in London has fallen to a new record low with the Tories pushed into fourth place behind the Greens and Reform UK, according to a new poll.

Just 31 per cent of Londoners now say they would vote for Sir Keir Starmer’s party, according to a Savanta survey, down from 43 per cent at the 2024 General Election.

The broader picture is of a fracturing of political allegiances in London in a blow to Sir Keir as he fights to stay Prime Minister amid unrest among Labour MPs.

The Standard's Political Editor Nic Cecil is here with the latest.

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Overthrown Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is facing drug trafficking charges in New York after being seized by US forces in an early-morning raid on Caracas.

But he was once instrumental in an extraordinary deal between London and the oil-rich South American nation that resulted in 250,000 low-income Londoners being able to claim half-price bus and tram fares for a year.

As the world watches on, The Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall is here with the latest.

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It’s a new year and officially the first Monday back to work after the festive break…if that feels a little bleak, and you’re looking to schedule some laughs in 2026, then stay tuned for today’s episode. 

The live comedy scene seems to expand exponentially every year; from award nominees to TV stars to online sensations and podcast heroes, stand-ups are all getting back to their stage roots. 

The Standard’s Comedy Critic Bruce Dessau is here with a bumper guide to the best of the bunch hitting the road in the coming months, from Josh Widdicombe and Michael Spicer, to Sam Nicoresti, Bridget Christie and plenty more. 

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It’s a new year, and 2026 is set to be full of blockbuster and arthouse film releases to entice viewers to the cinema. 

Although we’re only just entering Oscars season, a brand new slate of films will be hitting the big screen very soon.  

The Standard’s Head of Culture, Martin Robinson, is here to discuss some of the most anticipated movies of 2026, including Wuthering Heights, Hamnet, Supergirl, The Odyssey, Avengers: Doomsday, The Moment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, The Bride, The Testament of Ann Lee and The Drama. 

You can find the full list of 2026 releases here. 

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A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, featuring a new episode from its latest series.

Host Evgeny Lebedev is joined by Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of WHOOP, to explore recovery, sleep, and why “you can’t manage what you don’t measure.” Will shares how overtraining as a Harvard athlete led him to build a wearable focused not on steps, but on the missing piece of performance: how ready your body actually is.

Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast here.

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Back in 2016, Netflix released a little show called Stranger Things, which went on to become the defining megahit for the streamer. But now, ahead of the finale on New Year’s Day, the sheen appears to be wearing thin…

Fans and critics alike have complained about overstuffed plots and too many characters - and more than 280,000 people have signed a petition, demanding to see alleged unseen footage from the latest volume. 

It’s never simple to wrap up a hugely popular TV series, so we're joined by The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer, Vicky Jessop, with the latest on the end of The Stranger Things era.

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As another year draws to a close, we’re taking a look back at the past twelve months and what it’s meant for the world of video games. 

It’s been a stellar year for indie games, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 raking in heaps of plaudits (and a fair few award nominations) for its take on the JRPG genre — while smaller titles like Wanderstop and Blue Prince have proved that you can do an awful lot without the massive budgets that AAA studios command.

The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop is here to discuss the highlights of the year, plus what to look forward to in 2026.

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As we settle into the festive season, it’s time for a round-up of all the best TV from 2025.

It’s been a jam-packed one, as ever, serving up lashings of humour, tragedy and a whole lot of sequels. Severance has returned for the first time in years, as has Stranger Things, and the Alien franchise has gotten its own TV spinoff for the first time ever.

The Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop is here to discuss the highlights - and lowlights - of the year, plus what to look forward to in 2026.

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