Red Lines

Mark Carruthers discusses the recent comments on Irish unity by US President Donald Trump with David Young, Ben Lowry and Diarmaid Ferriter.

Mark Carruthers chats to Line of Duty's Adrian Dunbar about growing up in Northern Ireland and his political influences.

Mark Carruthers speaks to Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl about her political influences.

Mark Carruthers asks former Sinn Féin MEP and IRA member Martina Anderson about her political life and experiences.

Mark Carruthers sits down with the deputy First Minister to talk about her political inspirations & influences.

Mark Carruthers is joined by Gareth Gordon, Suzanne Breen and Tim Cairns to discuss the disgraced former DUP Leader.

Will Andy Burnham make it to Downing Street? And what impact might he have on NI? Mark chats to Adam Payne, John Rentoul, Cat Neilan & David McCann

Mark Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Breen, David McCann and Jayne McCormick to look ahead to the Assembly election next year.

What impact might three nationalist first ministers have on UK politics? Mark Carruthers talks to Tom Kelly, Prof Jon Tonge and Prof Ailsa Henderson.

Mark Carruthers is joined by Gareth Gordon, Suzanne Breen and Tim Cairns to reflect on the resignation of DUP Leader Arlene Foster five years ago and the party chaos it caused.

Mark Carruthers is joined by British writers Iain Dale and James Hawe to discuss their views and appreciation for Ireland.

Mark Carruthers is joined by Paul Johnston, former British Ambassador to Ireland; Mark Hennessey, The Irish Times; and Brigid Laffan from the European University Institute.

Mark Carruthers reflects on an eventful St Patrick's Day in Washington with Enda McClafferty, Caitriona Perry, Louise Burne and Liam Kennedy.

Former UUP deputy leader John Taylor says Irish unification is inevitable. Mark Carruthers discusses his comments with Alex Kane, Linzi McLaren & Wallace Thompson

Mark Carruthers discusses Stormont's financial challenges and the £400 million advance with John Campbell, Jodie Carson and Andrew Webb.

Mark Carruthers asks Paul Colgan, Shane Greer and Mark Devenport who they think will travel to Washington this year and just how important the St Patrick's Day access really is.

Mark Carruthers asks the former First Minister of Scotland about how devolution works best, the independence debate and culture wars.

Will Nigel Farage's Reform UK contest elections in Northern Ireland? Mark Carruthers chats to Suzanne Breen, Ben Lowry, David McCann & Anna Gross

Mark Carruthers weighs up the options for the UUP leadership with Gareth Gordon, David McCann, John McCallister and Linzi McLaren.

Mark is joined by Gareth Gordon, Suzanne Breen, Tim Cairns & Tim McGarry to look back on the political events of 2025.

Mark chats to Jayne McCormack, David Sterling & Jodie Carson about Stormont's plan for a multi-year budget. What are relations like in the Executive and within the parties?

Mark and guests digest the Chancellor's budget and the implications for Northern Ireland. With Secretary of State Hilary Benn, Prof Jodie Carson, Caroline Keenan & Andrew Webb.

Mark Carruthers asks Dr Sean Haughey, Professor Duncan Morrow, Chris Donnelly and Tim Cairns if Stormont must reform to survive.

Mark Carruthers discusses the state of the Alliance Party with David Ford, Jayne McCormack, David McCann and Jon Tonge.

Mark Carruthers speaks to Fintan O'Toole and Sam McBride about their new book debating for and against a united Ireland.

Mark Carruthers assesses the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool with Nick Watt, Jon Tonge, Tina McKenzie, Tom Kelly and Enda McClafferty.

Mark Carruthers discusses the Prime Minister's woes and asks if the IMF could be called in with Enda McClafferty, Andrew Webb, Anna Gross and John Rentoul.

The former Alliance leader speaks to Mark Carruthers about his political influences.

Mark Carruthers asks NI Secretary of State Hilary Benn about his political life.

The former SDLP leader chats to Mark Carruthers about his political influences & inspirations.

Mark Carruthers talks to Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood about her political life.

The Sinn Féin MP chats about growing up during the Troubles, leading a nurses strike, and entering politics.

Mark Carruthers discusses her political journey with Baroness Smith of Basildon.

Mark Carruthers speaks to former NI Secretary of State, Sir Julian Smith, about his political life and influences.

Mark Carruthers sits down with Senator George Mitchell at Queen's University to discuss his career and crucial role in helping bring peace to Northern Ireland.

Mark Carruthers speaks to former UUP Leader Doug Beattie about his political life.

Mark chats to Suzanne Breen, Deirdre Heenan, David McCann & Tim Cairns about the past 12 months in local politics.

Mark Carruthers discusses Irish unity with Leo Varadkar and how the former Taoiseach hopes to plan, persuade and pay for it.

Mark Carruthers discusses the government's Spending Review and Casement Park with John Campbell, Andrew Webb, Jodie Carson and Stephen McGeehan from the GAA.

Mark Carruthers visits the courthouse & jail on Belfast's Crumlin road. He talks about their contrasting fortunes with Michael Liggett, John Kelly, Johann Muldoon & Rita Harkin

Marks Carruthers speaks to the Agriculture and Environment Minister, the First and deputy First Ministers and other political figures at the Balmoral Show.

Mark Carruthers is joined by Diarmaid Ferriter, Mary Regan and Gavan Reilly to reflect on the outgoing Irish President and who might succeed him.

Mark chats about Donald Trump's tariffs tactics and what it means for us. With Jodie Carson, Martina Lawless and Will Haworth

Mark Carruthers assesses the implications of the Spring Statement with John Campbell, Caroline Keenan, Andrew Webb and Enda McClafferty.

All you need to know ahead of the St Patrick's Day events in Washington. Mark chats to Caitríona Perry, Enda McClafferty & Shane Greer.

Mark Carruthers is joined by Sam McBride, Mark Hennessy, Mary Kenny and Colum Eastwood to assess how global politics are influencing the Irish question.

St Patrick's Day in Washington -under Trump 2.0

Mark Carruthers talks Trump, trade and tariffs with David McWilliams, Paul Colgan, Allie Renison and John Campbell.

Mark Carruthers and MLAs from Stormont's five largest parties assess the performance of the Executive so far and look ahead to 2025.

Mark Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Breen, Newton Emerson, Deirdre Heenan, Tim McGarry and Gareth Gordon to look back on 2024.

Mark Carruthers is joined by Lucinda Creighton, Gary Murphy, Elaine Loughlin and Gráinne Ní Aodha in Dublin to preview the Republic's election later this month.

Mark Carruthers is joined by John Campbell, economists Richard Ramsey and Andrew Webb, tax expert Caroline Keenan and Tina McKenzie from the FSB to discuss the Budget.

Mark Carruthers is joined by Gareth Gordon, John Campbell, Mark Devenport and David McCann to look back on an eventful five years and 200 episodes of Red Lines.

Mark Carruthers is joined by Phillip Brett, Connie Egan, Steve Aiken, Matthew O'Toole, Claire Sugden and Mark Devenport to discuss Stormont's new Programme for Government.

Mark Carruthers chats to Denis Bradley about his political influences & inspirations.

Mark Carruthers chats to Sinn Féin's Máirtín Ó Muilleoir about his political influences & inspirations.

Mark Carruthers chats to Edwin Poots about his political influences & inspirations. This conversation was recorded before the recent trouble in south Belfast.

Mark Carruthers chats to SDLP MP Claire Hanna about her political influences & inspirations.

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Suzanne Breen and Jayne McCormack to look back at what caused the big surprises in the general election.

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Enda McClafferty and David Young to assess another three Westminster constituencies.

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Brendan Hughes and Suzanne Breen to look at the race for Westminster in four more constituencies.

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Jayne McCormack and Stephen Walker to look at the Westminster race in three more constituencies.

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Suzanne Breen and Gareth Gordon to assess the candidates running for Westminster in Lagan Valley, Upper Bann and Newry & Armagh.

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Enda McClafferty & Freya McClements to assess the candidates running for Westminster in Foyle & East Londonderry.

Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Jayne McCormack and Stephen Walker to assess the candidates running for Westminster in North Down, South Down and Strangford.

Will Rishi Sunak's Rwanda policy impact the local elections in the Republic?

DUP founding member Wallace Thompson tells Mark Caruthers about his changing political views and how other unionists have told him they agree a united Ireland is "inevitable".

Mark Carruthers is joined by Deirdre Hargey, Jonathan Buckley, Eóin Tennyson, John Stewart, Matthew O'Toole and Gerry Carroll to discuss the perilous state of Stormont finances.

Mark Carruthers asks Gareth Gordon, Suzanne Breen and David McCann for their General Election predictions.

Mark Carruthers is joined by Jayne McCormack, David McCann and MLAs Sorcha Eastwood, Mike Nesbitt and Colin McGrath to discuss Casement Park, Assembly tensions and Dublin money.

Mark is joined by Gareth Gordon & a few MLAs as Stormont gets back up and running.

First broadcast in August 2022: Mark Carruthers talks to Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill about her life in politics.

Who is actually running Northern Ireland?

Mark Carruthers reviews the year with the stars of 'The Long And The Short Of It', Tim McGarry and Dr David Hume, and Prof Deirdre Heenan, Newton Emerson and Gareth Gordon.

What would unionism look like if it realigned into two new parties? A traditional one and the other more socially liberal. Darran Marshall asks the experts.

Ahead of the party's ard fheis, the panel discuss what's next for Sinn Féin? Mark is joined by Elaine Loughlin, Brian Feeney & Newton Emerson.

Mark Carruthers asks Enda McClafferty, Suzanne Breen and Chris Donnelly if the DUP Leader has actually played a difficult political game very skilfully.

Former PSNI Chief Constable Sir George Hamilton speaks exclusively to Mark Carruthers about the crisis in policing. With analysis from Allison Morris & Dr Jonny Byrne

Mark Carruthers talks to Eamonn McCann about his influences & inspirations.

Mark Carruthers talks to actor Ciarán Hinds about his influences & inspirations.

Mark Carruthers talks to Baroness Hoey about her influences & inspirations.

Mark Carruthers talks to Joe Brolly about his influences & inspirations.

Mark Carruthers asks Suzanne Breen, Brendan Hughes and Jayne McCormack to predict the political future in Belfast, London and Dublin.

Mark and guests chat about how museums tell the stories of The Troubles.

Does Ireland's long-standing policy of neutrality remain fit for purpose in an ever-changing global landscape? Mark Carruthers is joined by John O'Brennan, Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University, Dr Karen Devine a lecturer in International Relations at Dublin City University, and Daniel McConnell, the Editor of the Business Post.

Mark and guests assess the political landscape in Scotland.

Assessing the state of the economies in Northern Ireland & the Republic.

Mark Carruthers speaks to academic and author Aaron Edwards and former BBC NI Political Editor Mark Devenport about how unionists face up to the debate on constitutional change.

Mark Carruthers speaks to newly-returned Derry City and Strabane Councillors Ryan McCready, Lilian Seenoi-Barr and Shaun Harkin.

What impact could the local election results have on the battle for Westminster seats?

Mark Carruthers is joined by Jon Tonge, Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool, freelance writer and broadcaster, Amanda Ferguson and BBC NI Political correspondent,Gareth Gordon

After looking at the challenges facing both nationalism and unionism in the run up to the local council election, Mark is joined by David McCann, Deputy Editor of Slugger O'Toole, Suzanne Breen, the Belfast Telegraph's Political Editor and BBC NI's Political Editor, Enda McClafferty to discuss the issues confronting the 'other' parties as they prepare to contest 462 seats across 11 council areas.

Mark Carruthers profiles the issues within nationalism with Dr David McCann, Jayne McCormack & Brendan Hughes ahead of the local government election.

Mark Caruthers profiles the issues within unionism with Dr David McCann, Sam McBride and Gareth Gordon ahead of the local government election.

World leaders past and present were at Queen's University this week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mark Carruthers is joined by former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern,Tony Blair's former Chief of Staff, Jonathan Powell, Professor Monica McWilliams,and Ireland Professor of Poetry, Paul, Muldoon, to discuss how the currently stalled process might get back on track.

Mark and guests chat about US presidential visits to Northern Ireland

There was a lot of heavy-lifting done by a lot of people to make the Good Friday Agreement happen, but some key individuals shouldered more of the burden than others. Mark Carruthers is joined by David Kerr, the former Director of Communications with the UUP, his opposite number in the SDLP, Conall McDevitt, Kate Fearon who was the Women's Coalitions's Chief of Staff and Mark Simpson, who covered the negotiations for BBC NI .

Recorded in front of a live audience as guests of the Imagine! Belfast Festival, Mark Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Breen, Political Editor of the Belfast Telegraph, Mark Devenport, former Political Editor of BBC NI and Gareth Gordon, Political Correspondent with BBC NI, to discuss the challenges of political journalism over the last 25 years.

Mark Carruthers talks to writer Owen McCafferty, director Charlie Westenra and stars Dan Gordon and Andrea Irvine.