Settled in for your weekly dose of Westminster sparring on ITV? If you’re searching for Peston this Tuesday evening, you won’t find it. The political interview show airs Wednesday nights at 10:45 PM, not Tuesdays.
Tomorrow’s episode (Wednesday, 11 February) is already scheduled. Season 12, Episode 5 will stream live on X and YouTube at 9:00 PM before hitting ITV screens after News at Ten.
Table of Contents
The Wednesday Schedule
Robert Peston, ITV’s Political Editor, has presented his show every Wednesday evening since the programme moved from its original Sunday morning slot in 2018.
This week follows the same pattern:
- Live stream: 9:00 PM (X/YouTube)
- ITV broadcast: 10:45 PM
Co-host Pippa Crerar joined in September 2025, replacing Anushka Asthana. Between them, they pick apart the week’s political chaos with help from ‘Screeny’, the oversized touchscreen displaying social media reactions in real time.
Last Week’s Viral Moment
Episode 4 on Wednesday, 4 February made headlines for unexpected reasons. While interviewing Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch about the Mandelson scandal, a mouse scurried out from under her Westminster office desk.
The rodent stole the show. Social media erupted. Within hours, jokes about “rats leaving sinking ships” flooded X, referencing recent Conservative defections to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. One viewer noted the mouse was “off to Reform” too.
Badenoch didn’t notice. She carried on demanding full transparency over Lord Mandelson’s appointment files, completely unaware her political message had been upstaged by a four-legged Westminster resident.
The incident reignited discussions about Parliament’s rodent infestation. Despite employing official “chief mousers” and spending substantial sums on pest control, Westminster’s buildings remain home to thousands of mice and rats. The Foreign Office appointed Palmerston the cat back in 2016 specifically to tackle the problem.
The Mandelson Scandal Coverage
Political substance hasn’t taken a back seat. Peston has dedicated significant airtime to the fallout from Peter Mandelson’s resignation as US Ambassador.
The scandal centres on revelations about Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Files show the Labour peer stayed at Epstein’s properties after the paedophile’s 2008 conviction. Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially defended the appointment before performing a swift U-turn under Parliamentary pressure.
During last week’s interview, Badenoch pushed for the government to release all vetting documents within 48 hours. She questioned why Starmer hadn’t offered his own resignation if the appointment was serious enough to cost Mandelson his peerage.
The story continues to dominate Westminster. Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigned, followed 24 hours later by communications director Tim Allan. Both departures appear linked to the Mandelson crisis.
January’s Political Clashes
This year’s episodes have featured major political figures, often from opposing ends of the spectrum.
Episode 2 (21 January) put former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger in the same studio as Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and former Home Secretary James Cleverly rounded out an evening of sharp exchanges.
Episode 3 (28 January) brought Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander together with Reform UK’s Jake Berry. Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan and economist Professor Brian Bell provided analysis on government economic policy.
The Wednesday night format means politicians have had three days to watch the week unfold. Prepared talking points rarely survive contact with direct challenges from rivals sitting metres away.
Catching Up on Missed Episodes
ITVX carries the full archive if you’ve missed recent broadcasts. The streaming platform hosts every episode from this season.
Live streams on X and YouTube at 9:00 PM offer an earlier viewing option. Chat functions let viewers engage directly, with selected comments occasionally appearing on screen.
Peston joined ITV in 2015 after nearly a decade at the BBC, where his coverage of the 2008 financial crisis established his reputation. His distinctive speaking pattern, complete with unexpected pauses and emphatic hand gestures, has made him one of Britain’s most recognisable political journalists.
Tomorrow’s Broadcast
Episode 5 arrives as the Mandelson scandal continues to unfold. With Starmer’s government facing internal turmoil and various Westminster dramas playing out daily, material won’t be scarce.
The show remains essential viewing for anyone following British politics. Politicians face tougher questions than they get in Parliamentary debates. Social media sentiment meets Westminster power. The week’s political narrative gets challenged and reshaped.
Set a reminder for Wednesday, 11 February at 10:45 PM on ITV. Or catch the live stream at 9:00 PM.
