Broadcast timeline
Sky News Today with Sam Washington
Friday 18 September 2026 · 10:00 BST · 30m · 6 stories · 12 annotated moments · 25 of 30 min on news stories (85%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
Sky News reported on a special investigation into 'the con,' a sadistic online network that targets vulnerable young people, coercing them into self-harm and other harmful acts. The investigation found that the UK's National Crime Agency has received 1,476 referrals of suspected com activity since October 2025, with an average of 35 new cases a week, and that every police force in the UK is dealing with some element of it. The report included an interview with a British victim, a reconstruction of her experience, and comments from former safeguarding minister Jess Phillips about proposed legislation to force tech companies to prevent under-18s from taking or sending nude images. Separately, the broadcast covered fresh extracts from Earl Spencer's book accusing King Charles of sounding 'giddily elated' after Princess Diana's death, with Buckingham Palace declining further comment beyond a previous statement, and Prince Harry making his first public appearance at an Invictus charity awards ceremony without responding to questions about the book.
Sky News exclusively revealed a major leak from Downing Street consisting of a 50-page policy plan drawn up by Keir Starmer's senior advisors in late April, intended as a fight back to keep him in power. The leaked documents showed that several policies later announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, such as a national two-pound bus fare cap and measures against dodgy high street shops, had been planned by the Starmer team, raising questions about how much Burnham borrowed from his predecessor. Other ideas in the leak included fiscal devolution, North Sea oil and gas drilling, and social care reforms, some of which Burnham is expected to adopt. The broadcast also covered other news: a school shooting in the southern Philippines that killed three people including the suspected 16-year-old gunman; an emotional plea from the mother of a missing 13-year-old girl last seen in Manchester; the release on bail of Scottish Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal in India after a Delhi High Court ruling; and a parliamentary committee recommending that the government reject Thames Water's rescue deal by creditors and take the company into public control.
- 1:08
- 13:41
- 13:57
Contested quote Earl Spencer book and comments renew royal tensions over Diana
published next week. Now Buckingham Palace hasn't added any more to a previous statement, which has said that the king is mindful that fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory. Our royal correspondent Laura Bundock has more. The royal diary and duties continue, but so too do the accusations and allegations.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 13:57-14:06
- 16:24
- 21:57
Claim Mother appeals for missing 13-year-old Lilia at Trafford Centre
Lilia has been missing for a week.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 21:57-22:09
- 22:03
- 22:03
Claim Mother appeals for missing 13-year-old Lilia at Trafford Centre
Lilia's mother made an emotional appeal for her return, saying her heart is breaking.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 22:03-22:16
- 22:09
Claim Mother appeals for missing 13-year-old Lilia at Trafford Centre
Lilia was last seen on Saturday at the Trafford Centre in Manchester.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 22:09-22:16
- 22:09
Claim Mother appeals for missing 13-year-old Lilia at Trafford Centre
Lilia was last seen at Trafford Centre and boarded a 247 bus towards Altrincham.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 22:09-22:21
- 22:16
Claim Mother appeals for missing 13-year-old Lilia at Trafford Centre
Lilia boarded the 247 bus towards Altrincham, and her destination is unknown.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 22:16-22:27
- 22:21
Claim Mother appeals for missing 13-year-old Lilia at Trafford Centre
A chief superintendent made a direct appeal for Lilia to come home.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 22:21-22:34
- 23:02
- 23:10
Claim Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail by Delhi High Court but remains in India
Delhi High Court granted bail in all seven cases against Johal.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 23:10-23:35
- 23:10
Claim Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail by Delhi High Court but remains in India
Delhi High Court granted bail in all seven cases against Johal.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 23:10-23:35
- 23:27
Claim Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail by Delhi High Court but remains in India
Johal was arrested in India in 2017, days after his wedding.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 23:27-23:41
- 23:52
Claim Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail by Delhi High Court but remains in India
A UN panel recognised Johal's imprisonment as arbitrary detention in 2022.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 23:52-24:01
- 23:52
Claim Jagtar Singh Johal granted bail by Delhi High Court but remains in India
A UN panel recognised Johal's imprisonment as arbitrary detention in 2022.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Sam Washington, 18 September 2026, 23:52-24:01
- 24:15
Source: Sky News, "Sky News Today with Sam Washington", Friday 18 September 2026. Transcript excerpts and stills are shown only to support the analysis annotated alongside them. Search-result excerpts are distinct from the editorial annotations — see our copyright basis. The full broadcast is not reproduced.