Sleaze, statistics and a sing-song

It’s the 75th voyage to Planet Normal, but our co-pilots Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan aren't popping corks just yet. On this week's episode, they have strong words for the head of NHS England Amanda Pritchard, whose recent error on Covid admissions statistics had them putting their heads in their hands. Luckily Planet Normal's resident hospital bed occupancy expert (AKA Ms Pearson) is on hand to set the record straight. Plus, our co-hosts disagree entirely respectfully on the NHS "jab for jobs" announcement.

Joining us on the rocket of right-thinking is Oxford emeritus fellow Professor Lawrence Goldman, who doesn't hold back on the problems in UK university fundraising in the wake of the Mosley money row. But it's not just Oxford accepting money from dubious sources. He tells Allison and Liam why he believes the problem is 'systemic', with institutions throwing 'academic principles and common sense out of the window'.

And brace yourselves, co-pilot Halligan treats listeners to a special musical performance...

Allison will be replying to comments beneath this article on Thursday 11th of November 11am-12pm: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2021/11/11/planet-normal-money-common-sense-uk-universities/ |

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