Chris and Garvan Walshe catch up on how they handled lockdown, what to expect next, and what has changed since they last recorded the podcast together, in November 2018. Just as it did two years ago, the Northern Ireland backstop features heavily in Lie of the Week. Also, will the Conservative Party have the good sense to ditch its current leader?

The backstop is dead, long live a new solution for the island of Ireland. Tony Connelly, Sean Whelan and Colm Ó Mongáin will bring you through how the deal was done, and depending on when you're listening to this, what are the chances of, to quote Boris Johnson, Getting Brexit Done and getting it through the House of Commons.

UK PM Boris Johnson went to Manchester to address his party conference for the first time as leader proposing a new UK alternative to the backstop - the Northern Ireland/Ireland protocol.

Brexit Republic is back, this week the House of Commons was suspended under the British government's deeply controversial prorogation, but that did not mean a quiet week for Boris Johnson. / They are joined by Sam McBride of the Belfast Newsletter, who discusses the DUP's position on the backstop.

Let’s parlez Brexit! The Prime Minister went to Paris and Berlin and all he got us was this lousy imaginary Backstop fix. What was the purpose of Johnson’s Euro drive-by and what’s going to happen when it turns out that you can’t fix in 30 days what hasn’t been fixed in three years? Plus rock’n’roll Remainiac and national treasure GUY GARVEY of Elbow ...

What do defections to the Independent Group for Theresa May's Brexit negotiations? Will Middle Eastern leaders help their European counterparts find peace in Sharm El Sheikh at this weekend's summit?

Last Thursday, lawyers for former Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble (now Tory peer Lord Trimble), initiated a legal case against the UK government contending that the Withdrawal Agreement with the backstop is in breach of the Good Friday Agreement, the Act of Union and the Vienna Convention. Author and legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg gave Brexit Republic his view of the case.

Brexit gets biblical: Donald Tusk's special place in hell for Brexiteers who had no plan, Theresa May on pilgrimages to Belfast, Brussels and then Dublin to break bread with Leo Varadkar. / Also Brexit Republic Guest: FoodDrink Europe's DG Mella Frewen on the impact of 'no deal' on the food and drink sector.

We are thrilled to have the great MARK GATISS – writer, star of ‘The League Of Gentlemen‘, 'Sherlock' and 'Doctor Who', and five-star unyielding Remainer – as this week’s special guest on Remainiacs. / Why “alternative arrangements” means yet more blind man’s Brexit. Why Labour really fears the Backstop. More on the shameless liar Daniel Kawcynzski MP.

Could a new House of Commons amendment put pressure back on Ireland over the backstop? What does no deal mean for a hard border? (Multiple choice). And how has Davos been tackling Brexit questions?

Lisa Chambers believes the Irish govt oversold the Joint EU-UK December Brexit report & why 'megaphone diplomacy' has strengthened the Brexiteers' hand in the UK Conservative Party. / Helen McEntee responds to opposition criticism of the Government's approach, says she's confident that the backstop guarantee is still 'cast iron' & that's why a hard North-South border is not being planned for.

What's the latest on the backstop post-Salzburg? What type of custom checks are the European Commission proposing? Take us to the (Irish) Whiskey Bar post-Brexit? From geographical indicators to being grouped in with pornography and the arms trade, William Lavelle, head of the Irish Whiskey Association, outlines the challenges ahead for the industry.

This week: Did Chancellor Merkel wobble on the backstop? A longer transition period possible; Dominic Raab's dash to Brussels, and work continues in the Brexit 'tunnel'.

Chris is hosting solo this week and joined by special guest Garvan Walshe (yes we know he was already on Remainiacs grrr) for a chat about the so-called Irish backstop, Jeremy Hunt's brass-necked cakeism, and whether Anna Soubry is a Leninist. Plus: would Remaining really be a good thing? No I mean really?? Also: Thucydides!