This Is Why

The Artemis II crew are on their way back to Earth after a record-breaking mission to the far side of the moon. They reached a distance of 252,756 miles from our home planet - the furthest in history.

The ultimate aim of NASA's Artemis programme is to get crewed missions to Mars.

So what did US space experts learn from this mission and how will it help the next stage of the programme, which could see a rocket landing on the moon and ultimately a base being built on the lunar south pole?

Gareth Barlow speaks to space journalist Kate Arkless Gray about how successful the project was and what happens next.

Matt Brittin, a former Google boss and ex-Olympic rower, will become the new director-general of the BBC in May.

He wouldn't have expected a quiet life in the highly-scrutinised role. After all, the broadcaster is facing a multibillion-dollar lawsuit from Donald Trump.

But the aftermath of the sacking of Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills will be one of the first big issues Mr Brittin will have to deal with, on top of the US president's lawsuit and the BBC's charter renewal.

Niall is joined by Deadline's media correspondent Jake Kanter to discuss what the new BBC boss brings to the role, and how he can shape the corporation’s future.

Donald Trump has kept the world guessing over whether he will launch a ground invasion in Iran.

However, the arrival of thousands of US paratroopers in the region might be the clearest indication yet of the disrupter-in-chief’s thinking.

A month of airstrikes is one thing but the deployment of troops is quite another - so how would it work? Has Trump learned nothing from Iraq and Afghanistan?

Niall is joined by the former head of the UK armed forces General Sir Nick Carter.

Have you got a question for the podcast? Email us: why@sky.uk

"Go get your own oil!" Donald Trump has served notice on his allies, telling them the US won't necessarily help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

And oil is important... for everything. The global economy needs 100 million barrels a day to function. The war in Iran means we're only producing 80 million.

Those missing barrels are having a huge impact on diesel and petrol prices – but that's just the start. Inflation, interest rates, food and utility bills are all set to rise.

What, if anything, can the UK government do to avoid the inevitable economic earthquake?

Niall asks Sky's economics and data editor Ed Conway why he's so worried about the financial effects of the crisis in the Middle East.

Do you have a question for the podcast? Email us: why@sky.uk

The cost of your weekly shop is about to go up – as the war in Iran squeezes the supply of synthetic fertiliser.

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz had already caused a spike in energy prices - and is now expected to hit kitchen cupboards in time for summer.

It also presents a fresh challenge for a farming industry growing used to having to dig deep for profits. So, what foods will be impacted and what can be done to bring prices back down?

Niall is joined by Sky’s business correspondent Paul Kelso.