Broadcast timeline
Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow
Tuesday 22 September 2026 · 10:00 BST · 30m · 5 stories · 7 annotated moments · 21 of 30 min on news stories (71%)
Broadcast overview
An AI-generated overview based on this broadcast's transcript.
The broadcast led with the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, agreeing to give limited military assistance to Saudi Arabia, described as defensive air-to-air refuelling for Saudi jets, after ongoing missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. It reported concerns about the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, oil exports and possible oil price rises, with Burnham saying he was acting to secure Britain's and the wider region's interests. A minister, Luke Pollard, said the UK and Saudi Arabia had a close defence relationship, and analyst Michael Clarke discussed how RAF Typhoons might be used defensively and the Houthis' entrenched position. Burnham then arrived in New York for the UN General Assembly, where he was due to meet President Trump for the first time; the coverage also looked ahead to Trump's speech, a Trump-Zelensky meeting, European concerns about Russia and NATO, AI as a key agenda item, and Burnham's aims on Iran, AI safety and Ukraine.
The broadcast also reported that CNN, MS Now and Politico would begin legal action over President Trump's decision to ban their reporters from the White House for what he called fake news, with other US news organisations saying they would not cover his White House events. Trump criticised the outlets, the White House promoted its own online feed as 'Trump TV', and a news conference lacked audio because the press pool was not present. Other news included government borrowing rising in August to £18.3 billion, higher than expected and increasing pressure on Chancellor John Healey before the autumn budget; an urgent second-opinion scheme being extended to every A&E department in England after the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills; and four deaths in Japan as Typhoon Zhiyuan hit the Pacific coast, with six people missing after landslides.
Later, the broadcast covered publication day for Earl Spencer's book, with debate over its claims about Princess Diana and the royal family, a rare rebuke from the King, and Piers Morgan threatening legal action over allegations about him. It noted the book was written by Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, that Buckingham Palace had no further comment, and that Prince William and Prince Harry had not reacted, while Earl Spencer said Harry was fine with the contents. Finally, a Sky News investigation reported that the family court system was failing domestic abuse survivors, with women saying courts did not take their allegations seriously and sent children to stay with potentially dangerous parents; it said the law was changing to stop judges prioritising contact with both parents at all costs, but survivors feared women would still be silenced, and included accounts from women and a former family law barrister.
- 1:03
- 1:17
Claim UK sends RAF Voyager to refuel Saudi jets in defensive support
Saudi Arabia requested defensive support from several countries and the UK was reportedly first to agree, with the Prime Minister ordering the RAF to provide one Voyager aircraft for limited defensive air-to-air refuelling of Saudi jets rather than offensive operations in Yemen.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 22 September 2026, 1:17-1:22
- 1:48
Claim UK sends RAF Voyager to refuel Saudi jets in defensive support
Saudi Arabia has been using the Bab el Mandeb Strait amid Houthi activity, raising fears of higher oil prices.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 22 September 2026, 1:48-2:00
- 3:00
Claim UK sends RAF Voyager to refuel Saudi jets in defensive support
Saudi Arabia requested defensive support from several countries and the UK was reportedly first to agree, with the Prime Minister ordering the RAF to provide one Voyager aircraft for limited defensive air-to-air refuelling of Saudi jets rather than offensive operations in Yemen.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 22 September 2026, 3:00-3:08
- 4:53
- 12:16
- 13:40 ~3 min without annotations
- 16:59
- 17:39
Charged quote Earl Spencer book and comments renew royal tensions over Diana
Look, here it is, the book that has been making the headlines for days, ever since it's been serialised, written by Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, the man who delivered that poignant, powerful eulogy at her funeral. The book very much focused on that eulogy and the moments, obviously, in years leading up to that.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 22 September 2026, 17:39-17:46
- 17:54
Charged quote Earl Spencer book and comments renew royal tensions over Diana
written by Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, the man who delivered that poignant, powerful eulogy at her funeral. The book very much focused on that eulogy and the moments, obviously, in years leading up to that. It's perhaps no surprise then, the contents have been pretty incendiary, huge amounts of allegations within this book. What was more unusual was obviously that reaction from Buckingham Palace.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 22 September 2026, 17:54-17:59
- 18:08
Charged quote Earl Spencer book and comments renew royal tensions over Diana
What was more unusual was obviously that reaction from Buckingham Palace. Earl Spencer says it is a loving tribute to a sister. I think it's fair to say it is also a vengeful attack on his former brother-in-law. We've heard all the biggest extracts, haven't we, so far. There is no more comment from Buckingham Palace, but there has been this big outburst from Piers Morgan,
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 22 September 2026, 18:08-18:12
- 18:24
Charged quote Earl Spencer book and comments renew royal tensions over Diana
There is no more comment from Buckingham Palace, but there has been this big outburst from Piers Morgan, who is furious at a section of the book which features him. He's threatening to soothe the Earl over what he calls our factual, fabricated inaccuracies. Let's have a little listen to what he's had to say about this.
Sky News, Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow, 22 September 2026, 18:24-18:31
- 20:17 ~4 min without annotations
- 24:22
Source: Sky News, "Sky News Today with Gareth Barlow", Tuesday 22 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.