Sputnik (TV programme) explained

Genre:	News and current affairs
Creator:	Associated Press
Presenter:	George Galloway, Gayatri Galloway
Location:	London
Network:	RT

Sputnik: Orbiting the world with George Galloway was a weekly television programme on RT UK presented by broadcaster George Galloway and his wife Gayatri. It was produced by Global Media Services, a subsidiary of the American news agency Associated Press.^[1] The series began its run on 16 November 2013, but was off-air because of the 2015 general election between 28 March 2015 (71) and 16 May 2015 (72).

In March 2021 the show was co-hosted by James Giles for six weeks.^[2] The programme covered world affairs with expert guests in conversation with the programme's hosts. It usually covered two separate stories; one in each half of the 30-minute slot.

Following the beginning of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ofcom revoked RT's UK broadcasting licence "with immediate effect" on 18 March 2022 after concluding the outlet was not "fit and proper" or a "responsible broadcaster"; thus, Galloway's program came to an end.^[3]

Notable guests

• Gilad Atzmon, Israeli-born musician and political activist.^[4]
• Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat politician.^[5]
• David Davis, British Conservative Party politician.^[6]
• Nigel Farage, then leader of the UK Independence Party.^[7]
• Rob Griffiths, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Britain.^[8]
• Lee Jasper, political activist.^[9]
• Steve Keen, economist and author.^[10]
• Seumas Milne, associate editor of The Guardian.^{[11] [12]}
• Peter Oborne, British journalist and writer.^[13]
• Jacob Rees-Mogg, Conservative MP.
• Jill Stein, presidential candidate for the Green Party of the United States.^[14]
• Andy Worthington, historian and investigative journalist.^[15]
• Arron Banks, businessman and Leave.EU donor.

Notes and References

1. News: Kennedy. Dominic. Parfitt. Tom. Kremlin television station has its British bank accounts closed. The Times. London. 17 October 2016. 17 October 2016.
2. Web site: James Giles to co-host Sputnik: Orbiting the World this April . 22 March 2021 .
3. Web site: Russia Today has UK broadcast licence revoked by Ofcom - but Kremlin calls decision 'madness' . 2022-05-24 . Sky News . en.
4. News: When George schmoozed Gilad. Community Security Trust. 6 January 2015. 21 August 2016.
5. News: Episode 091. 28 February 2016. Sputnik. RT International. 26 September 2015.
6. Web site: Rt Hon David Davis MP " David Davis talks on Sputnik with George Galloway over Iraq Inquiry. daviddavismp.com. 18 July 2015.
7. News: Sommers. Jack. Nigel Farage Interviewed By George Galloway, Who Agreed With Him on Everything They Discussed. HuffPost. 13 February 2016. 20 February 2016.
8. News: Episode 041. 28 February 2016. Sputnik. RT International. 6 September 2014.
9. Web site: Lee Jasper Official Blog. Lee Jasper. leejasper.blogspot.com.au. 10 February 2015 . 18 July 2015.
10. Web site: Speaking with George Galloway on Sputnik about HSBC . Steve Keen's Debtwatch. 28 February 2015 . 18 July 2015.
11. News: Episode 009. 28 February 2016. Sputnik. RT International. 11 January 2014.
12. News: Episode 072. 28 February 2016. Sputnik. RT International. 16 May 2015.
13. https://www.rt.com/shows/sputnik/344691-iraq-war-chilcot-report/ Sputnik: Episode 126, 28 May 2016
14. https://www.rt.com/shows/sputnik/333819-us-president-candidates-austerity/ Sputnik: Episode 113, 27 February 2016
15. Web site: Video: Andy Worthington Promotes We Stand With Shaker on George Galloway's Sputnik Show on RT. andyworthington.co.uk. 18 July 2015.