The Royals: Time to Go?

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Season 1

Summary

Should the UK put the royal family out to grass? As the monarchy reels from scandal and questions over its finances, journalist John Humphrys argues it’s time to think the unthinkable.

Episode 1: The Royals: Time to Go?

Summary

Should the UK bring an end to centuries of power and privilege and put the royal family out to grass? With the monarchy still reeling from revelations about the King's brother Andrew and increasing questions about royal finances, veteran broadcaster John Humphrys thinks so. He speaks to both critics and supporters of the monarchy, and argues that the House of Windsor has become irrelevant and has lost the respect of its subjects, making the case for electing a president as head of state

Review

Gabriel Tate

No stranger to a good soundbite and now long enough in the tooth not to care if it puts a few backs up, John Humphrys tonight goes all guns blazing and suggests, if not “off with their heads”, then “out on their ears” for the House of Windsor – and the election, instead, of a president as head of state.

A republican since his working- class Cardiff childhood, the reliably grumpy former Today presenter capitalises on mounting concerns about the finances of the monarchy and Andrew’s public disgrace (it’s also hard to imagine Humphrys broadcasting such a polemic when Elizabeth II was alive), drawing on polls that suggest growing support for his position, especially from younger generations.

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming provider below.

Streaming

Channel 4

Details

Released on

2026-10-15

Languages

English

Formats

Colour

Credits

Crew

rolenamePresenterJohn HumphrysProducerColin MurrayDirectorColin MurrayExecutive producerMark HedgecoeExecutive producerSandy Smith

All episodes

Episode 1

The Royals: Time to Go?

Summary

Should the UK bring an end to centuries of power and privilege and put the royal family out to grass? With the monarchy still reeling from revelations about the King's brother Andrew and increasing questions about royal finances, veteran broadcaster John Humphrys thinks so. He speaks to both critics and supporters of the monarchy, and argues that the House of Windsor has become irrelevant and has lost the respect of its subjects, making the case for electing a president as head of state

Review

Gabriel Tate

No stranger to a good soundbite and now long enough in the tooth not to care if it puts a few backs up, John Humphrys tonight goes all guns blazing and suggests, if not “off with their heads”, then “out on their ears” for the House of Windsor – and the election, instead, of a president as head of state.

A republican since his working- class Cardiff childhood, the reliably grumpy former Today presenter capitalises on mounting concerns about the finances of the monarchy and Andrew’s public disgrace (it’s also hard to imagine Humphrys broadcasting such a polemic when Elizabeth II was alive), drawing on polls that suggest growing support for his position, especially from younger generations.

How to watch

Next showing

There are no live broadcasts scheduled for this show. But it is available via the streaming provider below.

Streaming
- Channel 4
Details

Released on

2026-10-15

Languages

English

Formats

Colour

Credits

Crew

rolenamePresenterJohn HumphrysProducerColin MurrayDirectorColin MurrayExecutive producerMark HedgecoeExecutive producerSandy Smith

Show more