Borderland – UK or United Ireland? Podcast
This podcast will ask key questions about the shape and timing of any potential referendum on Irish unity and what all of this could mean for politics and society.
Borderland – UK or United Ireland ?’ podcast will ask key questions about the shape and timing of any potential referendum on Irish unity and what all of this could mean for politics and society – both locally and across these islands.
The BBC’s Chris Buckler is the podcast’s lead presenter and the series will be co-hosted by two high-profile former politicians, Ian Paisley and Michelle Gildernew who will act as advocates for different views of the future and help facilitate discussion about them.
The podcast will include multiple views and voices, including those with no settled view on what Northern Ireland’s constitutional future should be. The series will explore and discuss the practicalities of any referendum and why it’s worth hearing and talking about.
Episodes to download
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Episode 8 - Come Together—Series 1
Sun 23 Nov 2025
The team are in Belfast and Dublin to find out if and how a united Ireland would work.
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Episode 7 – Stirring Up Troubles—Series 1
Sun 16 Nov 2025
Chris Buckler explores issues around the constitutional future of Northern Ireland.
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Episode 6 – The Campaign—Series 1
Sun 9 Nov 2025
Chris Buckler explores issues around the constitutional future of Northern Ireland.
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Episode 5 – English Nationalism and the NHS—Series 1
Sun 2 Nov 2025
Chris Buckler explores issues around the constitutional future of Northern Ireland.
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Episode 4 – The Price of Unity—Series 1
Sun 26 Oct 2025
Chris Buckler hears from people in the Republic about a potential Border Poll.
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Episode 3 – The Middle Ground—Series 1
Sun 19 Oct 2025
Chris Bucker speaks to a ‘panel of persuadables’ – key in any potential Border Poll.
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Episode 2 – The Importance of Being British—Series 1
Wed 8 Oct 2025
Ian sets out his argument against a border poll and hears from Loyalist bandsmen.
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Episode 1 – The Importance of Being Irish—Series 1
Wed 8 Oct 2025
Michelle sets out her argument for a border poll and we meet the Irish speaking community
