Inspirational Breakfast with Esther Higham

Prison sentences don’t pause for Christmas, and the season can be especially tough. Esther spoke to Peter Conroy from Junction 42, a prison ministry working across the North East, and to Martin Hill, an ex-offender who gave his life to Jesus while inside and, with Junction 42’s support, now wants to give back to those still there. Esther asked Martin if he'd ever done Christmas on the inside.

Is it getting hot in here? Premier's Jamie Pratt spoke to Andy Lester, part of Christian Conservation charity A Rocha Uk, about the 4 consecutive heatwaves the Uk experienced in 2025 and if this really will be our new normal. Jamie first asked what Andy remembered of that sweltering season.

In the rush and noise of the Christmas season, anything rarely makes us stop — especially in one of London’s busiest train stations. But earlier this month at Paddington Station, something unexpected cut through the announcements and the footsteps: a sound that caused travellers to pause and listen. Our producer, Jamie Pratt, was there to witness a unique moment of worship right in the heart of the city.

Luke Smallbone, one half of multi-Grammy Award–winning duo for KING & COUNTRY, sat down with Premier’s Max Avard to chat about running a small farm, what Christmas day looks like in the Smallbone household, and how the band carved out a unique identity with their sound and theatrics. He also shares the heart behind their latest single, “WORLD ON FIRE.”

Do you have single people in mind when planning your church Christmas service? Some will come looking for community, yet might feel accidentally excluded, even by something as innocent as the nativity story! Beth Chan from Single Friendly Church joined Esther to share some simple tips for creating a more single-friendly Christmas

Are street preachers really facing increased hostility from police, or are a few dramatic incidents skewing our perception? Pastor Curtis Browne and Sam Webster from the Christian Institute join Esther Higham to discuss best practice for street preaching in 2025—including the need to be “wise and winsome,” whether you should approach individuals directly, and how a new Charter aims to help both preachers and law enforcers.

A new report from in the US suggests that young women are finding it more challenging than their male peers to connect with the church. But is the same thing happening here in the UK? Esther spoke with UK church leaders Rhona Mpologoma Tackie and Rev Dr Kate Coleman to hear what’s happening in their own congregations, and what we can do to make church a home for younger women.

With the NHS warning of “unprecedented” flu levels this winter, questions around vaccination are back in the spotlight. Dr Shola Oladipo from Food For Purpose spoke to Esther Higham about where vaccine mistrust comes from, the truth behind the myths, and why faith should complement — not replace — medical care.

With Justice Secretary David Lammy proposing that jury trials be reserved only for the most serious cases, questions are being asked about what this means for fairness, and for justice itself. Media lawyer Jonathan Coad and barrister Imogen Hill joined Esther Higham to debate whether slimming down jury service is a practical reform or a step too far.

After a recent breakthrough enabled a woman to walk again despite being told she never would, Esther invited surgeons Leo Cheng and Caris Grimes to explore whether we should still be holding out for miracles and who should be getting the final credit.

Like Harry Potter before it, Stranger Things is sparking Christian debate about darkness in media and whether it's okay for our families to watch together. Rev. Cris Rogers joined Esther to explore whether the series has anything “honourable, lovely, or excellent” to offer — and how parents can support their children swept up in the excitement.

Rebekah Brettle from Houses of Light joins Esther to show you a simple, powerful way to share your faith with your entire neighbourhood this Christmas.

Critics are saying that the Bible Society's Quiet Revival report makes “giddy, unsubstantiated claims” that don’t match the latest attendance figures from the Church of England. So have we become excited about something that doesn’t really exist? Esther Higham spoke to Dr Rob Barwood-Symons, co-author of the study, to get a deeper look at how the research was conducted, what it’s really telling us, and why the critics may have muddled their maths.

When lockdown boredom set in, Rev David Sims casually launched a TikTok account — but it’s since exploded into a vital extension of his ministry. He told Esther Higham how that simple impulse has led to giving away thousands of Bibles and even hosting full Sunday services armed with nothing more than his phone, a guitar, and the Word.

A Texan megachurch has sparked debate after launching a programme to train Christians for public office, leading to the question of whether it is ok to develop leaders for the public sphere with such a clear potential bias. Esther brought this question to Philippa Taylor and Fiona Stewart, who are both involved in Christian leader development programmes in the UK.