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Three Old Hacks

Three Old Hacks

By: Mihir Bose David Smith Nigel Dudley
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About this listen

Mihir Bose – former BBC Sports Editor, David Smith – Economics Editor of the Sunday Times and political commentator Nigel Dudley have been friends since they first met while working at Financial Weekly in 1980s. They have kept in touch regularly, setting the world to rights over various lunches and dinners. With coronavirus making that impossible, what do journalists do, deprived of long convivial lunches over a bottle of red wine or several? Why, podcast of course.Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!© 2026 Three Old Hacks Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Simply the Best!
    Jan 27 2026

    The Three Old Hacks is the Best Podcast, produced by the Best Team Ever!

    Donald Trump’s enthusiasm for his own brilliance is infectious. Once they have finished praising each other, the Three Old Hacks settle to a discussion of Trump’s latest exploits and, in the week that Robert Jenrick swaps parties, they ponder the price of party loyalty in politics.

    “Backstabbing is never a good look”, says David Smith, adding that Jenrick’s political journey from ‘Robert Generic’ to Reform is “not that credible”.

    They then move to the serious issue of how football managers should behave during a match. Thomas Frank has been accused of chewing gum ‘aggressively’. And should they wear their expensive suit in the pouring rain, or a track suit?

    Join former BBC Sports Editor Mihir Bose, political analyst Nigel Dudley and Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith for the latest edition of the Three Old Hacks.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

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    45 mins
  • Year-ender - still talking about Trump!
    Dec 23 2025

    The Three Old Hacks wind up the year with the topics du jour - immigration, Trump and Fake News.

    "We need to be saying much more that immigration is a good thing", argues political analyst Nigel Dudley.

    "If Joe Biden had done some of the things Trump is doing now, they would have questioned his mental faculties", says Economics Editor of the Sunday Times David Smith.

    "Does the rise of AI mean that journalists will soon be replaced?" asks former Editor of BBC Sport Mihir Bose.

    Probably not the last time these subjects will be debated, but the last time by the Three Old Hacks this year.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

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    47 mins
  • The vanity of Donald Trump
    Sep 19 2025

    The Three Old Hacks discuss the visit of Donald Trump and whether our Prime Minister's apparent fawning over him is the only way to treat someone so vain.

    "Flattery pays off with Trump", says David Smith, Economics editor of the Sunday Times. "You don't want to make an enemy of him".

    They note that Rupert Murdoch was on the guest list for dinner with the President of the United States, but Nigel Farage wasn't.

    "Farage is not as close to Trump as he makes out", says David.

    Also on their minds this week - political analyst Nigel Dudley, former sports editor of the BBC Mihir Bose, and economics editor of the Sunday Times David Smith discuss the vulnerability of Keir Starmer's leadership of the Labour Party, Tommy Robinson's march in London and the role of the Office for Budget Responsibility.

    Get in contact with the podcast by emailing threeoldhacks@outlook.com, we’d love to hear from you!

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    1 hr
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