Al Jazeera announces the return of ‘Head to Head’ with Mehdi Hasan

New seasons of Al Jazeera’s mould-breaking show ‘Head to Head’ will be airing through August and November 2024. Helmed and hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan, the show will bring his distinctive style of interviewing global thinkers, public intellectuals and national leaders. Filmed in London in front of a live audience, the interviews will seek to explore, interrogate and drill deep into some of the most pressing issues facing the world.
 
With the return of ‘Head to Head’, Al Jazeera re-affirms its commitment to incisive and compelling programming that peels back the layers on matters of public concern worldwide. “Events of the past year or so have confronted us all with a mask off moment,” said Salah Khadr, Head of Talk Shows for Al Jazeera English. “This is the time for us to be challenging the resilience of universal standards and international institutions, asking blunt questions directly to those who wield power and influence policy. Mehdi Hasan is one of the toughest interviewers in the world and is a journalist for these times. His ability to cut to the heart of any issue is in keeping with Al Jazeera’s journalistic clarity and editorial mission.”
 
“Being able to debate, respectfully but robustly, is at the core of my journalism and Al Jazeera has always provided a space and home for this kind of work,” said Mehdi Hasan. “I’m looking forward to being back in the ‘Head to Head’ interviewer chair after four years away, on a network that has always allowed me to ask the tough questions.”
 
The first ‘Head to Head’ interviews will be recorded in July in London. Members of the public are invited to be a part of the audience. Registration links:
Israeli historian Benny Morris and Mehdi Hasan - Monday 8 July
China insider Victor Gao and Mehdi Hasan - Tuesday 9 July
 
Over the years that it’s been on Al Jazeera’s air, the ‘Head to Head’ series has featured a range of voices:
•⁠ Former Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga
•⁠ Senior member of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Ram Madhav
•⁠ Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator and advisor to Presidents Arafat and Abbas
•⁠ Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar
•⁠ Columnist and author, Thomas L Friedman
•⁠ Former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon