Péter Magyar wins the Hungarian election by a landslide

Summary

Global News Podcast – Péter Magyar Wins the Hungarian Election by a Landslide

BBC World Service
Date: April 13, 2026
Host: Ankur Desai

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on the historic landslide victory of Péter Magyar and his Tisa party in Hungary, ending Viktor Orban's remarkable 16-year run as Prime Minister. The podcast explores the immediate reactions within Hungary and across Europe, the implications for EU-Russia relations, and shifts in the global political landscape. Additionally, it covers vital developments in Iran and the Middle East following new escalations in US-Iran tensions, persistent electoral issues in Peru, the crisis of maternal sepsis in Zambia due to poor healthcare sanitation, a discussion on a new film adaptation of Albert Camus’ "L’Étranger," and Rory McIlroy’s back-to-back Masters golf victories.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Péter Magyar’s Historic Victory & End of Orban Era

(Start – 07:23)

• Sweeping Change in Hungary:
  Péter Magyar and the Tisa party achieve a "huge, enormous victory" in Hungary, unseating longtime PM Viktor Orban.
  • Magyar quote, addressing a jubilant Budapest crowd:

    “Together we brought down the Orban regime. Together we liberated Hungary. We took back our homeland.” (03:20)

• Significance:
  • Marks the end of 16 years under Orban’s often divisive rule.
  • Signals a return to a more “European” political alignment in Hungary, with many citizens emphasizing a western orientation and closer EU ties.
  • EU leaders, including British PM Keir Starmer, call it a “historic moment for European democracy.” (02:40)
• Public Reaction:
  • Celebrations erupt in Budapest. Young people express disbelief that change was possible.
  • Voter on the streets:

    “I've been waiting against the Fides parliament for forever.” (04:52)
    “We are getting closer to Europe … more democracy, just more freedom for people.” (05:07)

• Transition and Challenges:
  • Orban concedes gracefully, acknowledging the outcome.
  • Major constitutional reforms expected; requires a 2/3 majority.
  • PEter Magyar calls for justice against misuse of public wealth but extends an olive branch for national unity.

    "All those who've stolen the national wealth … will have to face justice." (07:03)

2. Impact on Russia & Hungary–Russia Relations

(07:23 – 09:30)

• Loss for Putin:
  • Analyst Steve Rosenberg frames the outcome as "very bad news for Vladimir Putin", as Orban was a strategic asset in the EU and NATO against support for Ukraine.
  • Steve Rosenberg

    “For years, Viktor Orban was a super strong card in Vladimir Putin's hand—a trump card, if you like…” (07:45)

• Ongoing Vulnerabilities:
  • Hungary remains heavily dependent on Russian energy, meaning Moscow retains some leverage.
  • The shift could unblock EU aid to Ukraine previously vetoed by Orban.

3. Escalation in the Middle East: US-Iran Standoff

(09:30 – 13:55)

• US Blockade of Iranian Ports:
  • President Trump announces US Navy will block all maritime traffic to/from Iran in the vital Strait of Hormuz.
  • Iran responds defiantly—ceasefire in place but under severe strain.
• Risks of Military Confrontation:
  • Lyse Doucet (Islamabad):

    “Now that there are effectively two blockades...this increases the risk that one side or the other will open fire accidentally or deliberately, which could then spark a dangerous spiral.” (10:36)

  • Both sides signal readiness to talk, but “very big red lines” remain, especially regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
• Iran’s Leverage:
  • Threatening to disrupt global oil supplies through the Strait; already, gas prices are spiking.
  • Kashaya Janadi (BBC Persian):

    “Iran is hoping that by adding up the confrontation...without entering a military confrontation, it will increase the pressure economically on the Americans.” (13:05)
    “Soon you'll be nostalgic for four to five dollar gas prices and already gas prices have again exceeded $100 a barrel.” (13:49)

• Short-term Outlook:
  • High chance of confrontation before the ceasefire ends; situation remains tense with global economic implications.

4. Peru’s Disrupted Election

(16:31 – 19:02)

• Polling Problems:
  • Tens of thousands unable to vote; logistical failures as materials didn’t reach some stations, especially in Lima.
• Political Instability:
  • Nine presidents in 10 years. Voters continuously search for “outsiders” but with little actual change, and weak parties lead to gridlock.
  • Luis Fajardo (BBC Monitoring):

    “Extreme skepticism that people have towards the system…continuous search for outsiders that have promised change and have not really delivered.” (18:14)

5. Zambia: Maternal Health and Sanitation Crisis

(19:02 – 22:34)

• Maternal Sepsis Epidemic:
  • Sub-Saharan African mothers 150 times more likely to die of sepsis than those in developed countries.
  • 98.8% of Zambian healthcare facilities lack basic sanitation.
• Personal Stories:
  • Isabel (23), lost her newborn to sepsis after he contracted an infection in an unsanitary clinic.

    “After I gave birth I was still bleeding. I needed a bath but was forced to collect water, which was dirty. I used it to bathe and drank it. It wasn’t good for my body.” (14:03, 21:13)

• Solutions:
  • Yanko Mattia (WaterAid):

    “Investing in water, sanitation and hygiene is a cost-efficient way … as little as $1 per capita can translate into the change that we want to see.” (21:42)

6. Culture: New Film Adaptation of Camus’ “L’Étranger”

(22:34 – 25:18)

• Director’s Intentions:
  • Francois Ozon explains giving the previously unnamed Arab character a name to highlight colonial invisibility and explore divided communities in France and Algeria.

    “It was a political choice, because today the invisibilization can be misunderstood by the audience…” (24:01)
    “I think the film is full of the questions which are in the book too. With all the wars … how do we react in front of that?” (24:48)

• Broader Message:
  • The film aims to provoke reflection, not give answers, inviting the audience into Camus’ existential questions.

7. Sports: Rory McIlroy’s Back-to-Back Masters Triumph

(25:18 – 29:32)

• Historic Achievement:
  • McIlroy becomes only the fourth player to win consecutive Masters, joining legends like Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo.

    “I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win the Masters and the Grand Slam. And then this year I realized it's just really difficult to win the Masters.” — Rory McIlroy (25:47)

  • He also ties Faldo’s six major career wins.
• Notable Moments:
  • Candid about nerves, McIlroy describes this year as the first time he enjoyed playing at Augusta. (26:07)
  • Special menu for the champion’s dinner blends Georgia and Irish heritage—bacon-wrapped dates, elk sliders, rock shrimp tempura, peach & ricotta flatbread (28:18)
  • Celebrations extend to his hometown in Northern Ireland.

    “He's just added another little slice of something … to that slice of golfing terrain up there in Northern Ireland. Fantastic.” — James Gregg (29:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Hungary is European. Hungary is part of the West and not the East.” — Hungarian voter (05:16)
• “Orban was a super strong card in Vladimir Putin's hand...a trump card...” — Steve Rosenberg (07:45)
• “Soon you'll be nostalgic for four to five dollar gas prices… already gas prices have again exceeded $100 a barrel.” — Kashaya Janadi (13:49)
• “Investing in water, sanitation and hygiene...can translate into as much as a 50% reduction in illness and death that's related to maternal sepsis.” — Yanko Mattia (21:42)
• “It was a political choice, because today the invisibilization can be misunderstood by the audience of today…” — Francois Ozon (24:01)
• “I thought it was so difficult to win last year … then this year I realized it's just really difficult to win the Masters.” — Rory McIlroy (25:47)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Hungary’s Election & Magyar’s Victory: 01:15 – 07:23
• Impact on Russia & Putin: 07:23 – 09:30
• US–Iran Tensions / Strait of Hormuz Blockade: 09:30 – 13:55
• Peru’s Election Woes: 16:31 – 19:02
• Zambia’s Maternal Sepsis Crisis: 19:02 – 22:34
• Camus’ “L’Étranger” New Film Adaptation: 22:34 – 25:18
• Rory McIlroy at the Masters: 25:18 – 29:32

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Summary

This episode offers rich, on-the-ground reporting and analysis on the political earthquake in Hungary, outlining its European ramifications and significant setback for Russia. It sharply details the risks of escalation in the Middle East amidst US-Iran tensions, exposes ongoing democratic difficulties in Peru and the health crisis in Zambia, and invites broader reflection on Western society through both new film adaptations and notable sporting triumphs.
Listeners are left with a tapestry of global issues—political, humanitarian, cultural, and sporting—each with powerful testimony and expert context.

Transcript

[Sports Commentator]

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[BBC Correspondent]

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[Ankur Desai]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. Hello, I'm Ankar Desai and in the early hours of Monday 13th April, these are our main stories. Peter Meijer wins a landslide election victory in Hungary, unseating Prime Minister viktor Orban after 16 years in power. Iran reacts defiantly to President Trump's announcement that the US military will blockade all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, and Peru says it will reopen some polls after tens of thousands of people were unable to vote in the country's presidential election. Also in this podcast I thought it

[Rory McIlroy]

was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win the Masters and the Grand Slam, and then this year I realized it's just really difficult to win the Masters.

[Ankur Desai]

Roy McElroy makes golfing history at the Masters, becoming only the fourth player ever to win golf's biggest tournament twice in a row. The European Union's longest serving leader has conceded power and there is now a new prime minister in charge of Hungary. Peter Modja has been greeted like a rock star in the Hungarian capital after the party of the opposition leader won a landslide election victory. It heralds sweeping change In Hungary after 16 years under Viktor Orban, with ramifications across Europe. The outgoing PM is a friend of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump and had often been a thorn in the side of Brussels, repeatedly blocking funding for Ukraine, which he accused of trying to force his country into war with Russia. But now Mr. Magyar, a former Orban ally who became his fiercest critic, has started a new era with his Tisa party. He told a huge crowd in Budapest that the country had been liberated from the Orban regime. We did it. The Tisa and Hungary have won this election, not by a little, but by a lot. In fact, by an awful lot. Together we brought down the Orban regime. Together we liberated Hungary. We took back our homeland. Thank you. Thank you. All the congratulations from other EU leaders have been effusive. Britain's Prime Minister, Keir Starmer has called it a historic moment for European democracy. Our correspondent Nick Thorpe sent this report from Budapest.

[Nick Thorpe]

As the news broke that the Orban era was over, the Hungarian capital erupted in a sea of celebrations. People laughed and shouted and sang and danced in the streets. To the surprise of many here. Viktor Orban conceded swiftly, almost graceful. The result of the election is painful for us, but unambiguous, he told his shocked supporters. The possibility and responsibility of governing was not granted to us. I have congratulated the winning party. Reaction in the huge crowd crowds lining the shores of the Danube opposite the parliament was instantaneous. Young people who were toddlers 16 years ago could hardly believe that Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party could be defeated.

[Ankur Desai]

I've been waiting against the Fides parliament for forever.

[Nick Thorpe]

So I'm really happy that there is finally one person who is strong enough to actually challenge him for this.

[Luis Fajardo]

Well, and I hope it means like, we are getting closer to Europe and I don't know, it means more democracy, just more freedom for people.

[Francois Ozon]

Hungary is European. Hungary is part of the west and not the East. And we believe that those are the countries we should make and establish and nourish our alliances with.

[Nick Thorpe]

Peter Modyar fielded phone calls from some prominent European leaders, among them President Macron of France, Keir Starmer from the UK and Oersteder von der Leyen on behalf of the European Union. Then he came on stage, The Tisa party and Hungary won this election. He told the cheering crowd. Not a small victory, a huge, enormous victory. Together we toppled the Orban regime. Together we liberated Hungary. We took back our homeland. Before the election, I asked Andras Boca, former president of the Supreme Court, what a tis a victory would mean for Hungary and how difficult the task facing a government led by Peter Modya would be. Hungary definitely needs a new constitution and

[Ankur Desai]

it takes time to formulate, but it's not impossible.

[Nick Thorpe]

I think it's but requires 2 3rd majority requires a serious judicial work and taking into account the law of the

[Luis Fajardo]

European Union, which is obligatory to Hungary too.

[Nick Thorpe]

So we have to change the system. And changing the system is exactly what the Hungarian people gave Peter Modyar a mandate to do by electing him with a 2/3 majority on Sunday. After the celebrations, an immense task faces PETA Malia as prime minister on Sunday night. He held out an olive branch to Fides voters, inviting them to work together to rebuild the country. All those who've stolen the national wealth, however, he warned, will have to face justice.

[Ankur Desai]

Nick Thorne with that report from from Budapest. So how will the election result affect Hungary's relations with the Russian president Vladimir Putin, a close ally of Viktor Orban? Here's our Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg.

[BBC Correspondent]

This is clearly very bad news for Vladimir Putin. To explain why, let me use the kind of language that Donald Trump uses about cards. Who's got the cards? Who doesn't have the cards? For years Viktor Orban was a super strong card in Vladimir Putin's hand. Sort of a trump card if you like this pro Moscow, pro Putin, leader of an EU country of a NATO member state who opposed further sanctions against Russia, who opposed the idea of further assistance for Ukraine, who opposed the idea of Ukraine's accession to the European Union. This is why he was so useful for Russia. And I think the Kremlin saw him as a destabilizing force inside the European Union. Having said that, I'm sure we'll see attempts by the Kremlin to try to reach out to the new administration in Budapest. Also, I think the Kremlin probably reckons it has a few other cards to play regarding Hungary. The country over the last few years has become heavily dependent on on Russian energy. That isn't going to change overnight. Neither will the Russian authorities attempts to destabilize the situation I think inside the European Union. Although from what Russian commentators have been predicting in recent weeks, if the economic situation in Europe gets worse, if the energy situation in Europe gets worse, then destabilization could be unavoidable. I've already read some comments on pro Kremlin website suggesting that Ukraine will get more assistance from the eu. Hungary under Viktor Orban had been opposing tens of billions of dollars of additional aid for Ukraine. So that might now go through. And as I say, these pro Kremlin commentators were suggesting that the war will continue.

[Ankur Desai]

Steve Rosenberg in Moscow Next to the Middle East, Iran has reacted defiantly to President Trump's announcement that The US Military will blockade all maritime traffic to and from IR Iranian ports in the vital shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Parliamentary Speaker, Mohamed Bagir Ghalibaf has said Tehran will not submit to any threat. This comes after US And Iranian officials met in Pakistan for high level talks at the weekend, but were unable to reach any agreement. The US Military says the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will begin on Monday afternoon. Our chief international correspondent Lee Doucet filed this report from Islamabad.

[Lee Doucet]

After these Islamabad talks, the big question is what next? And most urgently, what next for this 12 day ceasefire now entering its seventh day and it still doesn't include Lebanon, even though the Iranians had insisted they wouldn't enter into talks until it did. And now that effectively there are two blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian and the American, this increases the risk that one side or the other will open fire accidentally or deliberately, which could then spark a dangerous spiral. Is there any prospect of a return to talks? Well, both President Trump and Iranian officials are saying they would be ready to return to the negotiating table. And we still really don't have all the details about what happened in that marathon session behind closed doors. But what seems to have happened is that there was some progress. But what is really clear now is that both sides have very big red lines when it comes to Iran's nuclear program. And that neither side will be able or willing to move quickly, easily or at all. Which means that for the moment, it may be escalation rather than negotiation.

[Ankur Desai]

Least you said with that report from Islamabad. Well, Iran has said that any attempt by a military vessel to approach the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the two week ceasefire and dealt with severely. But what does that actually mean? That's a question for our correspondent Kashaya Janadi from BBC Persian.

[Kashaya Janadi]

This means that as Lis just mentioned, accidentally or deliberately, there's a high chance of military confrontation again before the ceasefire ends between Iran and the U.S. the U.S. is actually using this blockade as a pressure tactic and Iran knows this. And Iran is also gesturing, warning the Americans that it will confront any US Military vessel trying to pass the Strait of Hormuz. Of course, the Americans have battered Iran's military presence at the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, both in the sea and on the land. So it will become difficult for the Iranians to try to confront this. But let's not forget Iran is talking about mines that it have lost. It has lost in the Strait of Hormuz area. And this warning of course was for merchant vessels, but this kind of warning could also be serious for American naval vessels. So there is a high chance of confrontation before the ceasefire ends.

[Ankur Desai]

Okay, just just briefly then, what other moves could there be up Iran's sleeve? Does it have the leverage against the US to do anything else? And who holds the cards at the moment?

[Kashaya Janadi]

Well, actually, you know, so far Iran's biggest weapon against the Americans has been the Strait of Hormuz. And Iran is hoping that by adding up the confrontation at this straight to Hormuz without entering a military confrontation, it will increase the pressure economically on the Americans. Mohammad Bakr Ghalibaf, Iran's Parliament speaker who was heading the Iranian delegation to Pakistan, just put on the Twitter on X the social media talking towards the American people saying enjoy the current pump figures. With the so called blockade, soon you'll be nostalgic for four to five dollar gas prices and already gas prices have again exceeded $100 a battle.

[Ankur Desai]

Kashar Janaidi from BBC Persian still to come in this podcast After I gave

[Local Resident / Midwife]

birth, I was still bleeding. I needed a bath but was forced to collect water which was dirty. I used it to bathe and drank it. It wasn't good for my body.

[Ankur Desai]

The fight to improve basic sanitation and save mothers lives in Zambia.

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[Ankur Desai]

This is the global news podcast Peru's election authority says it will be reopening some polls after tens of thousands of people were unable to vote in Sunday's presidential election action. Widespread distrust in the country's institutions has put issues like corruption, political instability and rising crime front and center in the campaign. I asked BBC Monitoring's Luis Fajardo why so many Peruvians were unable to cast their ballots.

[Luis Fajardo]

The Peruvian media are having a lot of reports on this, on how apparently many polling booths did not open on time on Sunday morning, apparently because of logistical issues. In many cases, election material did not arrive to many voting places, particularly in Lima in the capital, and authorities are acknowledging that tens of thousands of people may have had problems with voting. That is why they initially said that voting was going to be extended for an hour on Sunday. There was an additional hour of voting on Sunday, and now they have said that some voting pools will also be open on Monday for this purpose.

[Ankur Desai]

And are we getting any indication about the early exit polls and telling us about who's likely to win? There are plenty of candidates to choose from, after all.

[Luis Fajardo]

There are 35 candidates, to be precise, and exit polls are showing what people had predicted that no candidate was likely to obtain the majority that they needed to win the election outright. So it is going to be very, very likely. A second vote, a runoff vote to be held in June.

[Ankur Desai]

Pru's had nine presidents over the last 10 years. Why have there been so many changes in leadership? I mean, earlier we were talking in the program about Hungary. Someone was ruling there for 16 years. So why has it been so different in a country like Peru, for example,

[Luis Fajardo]

there's many explanations that have been offered for this. Part of it has to do with the extreme skepticism that people have towards the system, the political system and the continuous search for outsiders, people looking for complete outsiders from very, very different sectors of society that have promised change and have not really delivered. In many cases there's also weak political parties in which many cases presidents are elected but have very little representation in Congress. Therefore the governance of the country becomes very difficult. This in the context of a lot of political instability in Peru. People were expecting a change this time. At this moment there's still a lot of uncertainty over the result of the election and the impact this can have on political aspects in Peru.

[Ankur Desai]

BBC Monitoring's Luis Fajardo Mothers in Sub Saharan Africa are around 150 times more likely to die from maternal sepsis than those in Europe or North America. That's according to the charity WaterAid. Many of the causes for these deaths are linked to a lack of proper sanitation in health care facilities. Zambia has one of the highest number of births without basic sanitation in the world, which affects both mothers and newborns, as the BBC's Anita Nkonge has been finding out.

[M]

Isabel is just 23 years old. She's sitting hunched over on a stool outside the house she shares with her grandmother, her face gaunt and grief stricken. She's living through a mother's worst nightmare. Her first baby survived less than 48 hours.

[Local Resident / Midwife]

I just saw the condition of the child change it.

[M]

He developed a high temperature, he stopped breastfeeding. We took him to health facility but he later died. Isabel's newborn was showing signs of sepsis, a life threatening reaction to an infection that causes the body to attack its own organs. The doctors told her that his death was caused by exposure from a local clinic that lacked basic sanitation. Here in Zambia, according to WaterAid, 98.8% of local healthcare facilities lack basic sanitation facilities to be used on patients before and after childbirth. Here in Mazabuka, a local Kinneka Min, the showers and the toilets don't work. In fact, the shower is being used as storage. Clean, safe water is vital in pregnancy and childbirth. As Rachel Modenda, a midwife, explains, the

[Local Resident / Midwife]

mother has to wash hands. The mother has to bath after delivery. If that is not done properly, it means that infection was set in. According to government policy, we are supposed to Observe mothers for 48 hours after delivery because we have inadequate running water. So we observe them for six hours and we discharge them.

[M]

In the town of Mmonse, an hour's drive away, mothers here said they would draw water from a dirty dam when they didn't have access to clean water. As 32 year old precious Jemima tells us.

[Local Resident / Midwife]

After I gave birth I was still bleeding. I needed a bath but was forced to collect water which was dirty. I used it to bathe and drank it. It wasn't good for my body.

[M]

In its recent report, WaterAid said Sub Saharan Africa has the highest number of cases, with one in nine women experiencing maternal sepsis. According to the report, the solutions are clear, affordable and proven. Yanko Mattia, WaterAid's country director in Zambia, explained.

[Local Resident / Midwife]

More Our recent report confirms that investing in water, sanitation and hygiene is a cost efficient way of tackling the issue of sepsis and that in itself can translate into as much as 50% reduction in illness and death that's related to maternal sepsis. We can see from our study that as little as $1 per capita can translate into the change that we want to see and that $1 is three times much more cheaper than actually treating the sepsis.

[M]

The BBC reached out to Zambia's Ministry of Health, but they have yet to respond. It did recently say on social media that it was launching a nationwide initiative to expand access to water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities, aiming to tackle associated infections. But those words will be little comfort to Isabel, who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her baby.

[Ankur Desai]

Anita Ngonge Reporting From Zambia, the 20th century Nobel Prize winning French writer and philosopher Albert Camus was known for books described as existentialist. They explored what meaning there might be in human existence in a world without guiding religious or political principles. His 1942 novel L', Etranger, often translated as the Outsider or the Stranger, was no exception. The book centres on an emotionally detached man named Meursault, a French settler in Algeria who kills a man who Camus simply calls the Arab. Meursault then goes on trial for the murder. With the book following this legal process and dissecting Meursault's thoughts throughout his detention, Julian Warwicker asked the film's director, Francois Ozon, why he felt the need to make a new film version of the book.

[Francois Ozon]

I was quite shocked when I read the book to realize how the Arab community was invisibilized and it was quite shocking for readers of today. So that's why I needed to understand the context of the writing of the book and to understand better the history between France and Algeria, because it's still a kind of taboo in France today.

[BBC Correspondent]

I'm interested that you mentioned that aspect of it because in the original book there is a character known simply as the Arab and you have given that character a name.

[Francois Ozon]

It was a political choice, because today the invisibilization can be misunderstood by the audience of today. And of course, Camus was not racist, but he was at a period of colonialism. And I needed to show that two communities lived in parallel, the Arab on one side and the French on the other side. And it was a kind of apartheid. So if you don't know this context, you can't understand really the sense of the book and the folks of Camus.

[BBC Correspondent]

A word about the reception from the audience. We are living now in quite troubled, divisive times. What do you want people who see this film to take away from it?

[Francois Ozon]

I don't have a goal, you know, I want you to leave a kind of experience during the film and I don't have all the answers. I think the film is full of the questions which are in the book too. With all the wars in Russia, in Ukraine, in America, all these elements are so disturbing and how do we react in front of that? It's interesting to plunge in the folks of Camus to try to understand better how to be a human today.

[Ankur Desai]

French film director Francois Ozon let's finish off from the beautiful greens of the Augusta national golf course where Rory McIlroy won the prestigious Masters tournament for a second consecutive year in Georgia. In the United States, he waited for many years to get his hands on the famous green jacket. And a year later the Northern Irishman has gone back to back to become only the fourth player to successfully defend the Masters title. Here he is speaking at the champions press conference.

[Rory McIlroy]

I thought it was so difficult to win last year because of trying to win the Masters and the Grand Slam. And then this year I realized it's just really difficult to win the Masters.

[Ankur Desai]

A sports correspondent, James Gregg, was right there on the 17th green nearby watching all the drama and history unfold at Augusta.

[Sports Commentator]

Incredible anchor coming into the week. There was all the talk about how free McIlroy might well be after winning it last year. And he's been incredibly candid about the fact that it was a huge weight off the shoulders and he could go out there and enjoy playing in the Masters for the very first time. He said for the first 16 Masters tournaments he played in, he was incredibly nervous walking towards the first tee. But this year it was a different entity. And look, he started the week brilliantly around of 67 to share the lead after round one, a 65 to open up that six shot lead. Let's not forget at the halfway stage. Obviously fell back yesterday, but really, really imperious performance on the back nine. Just to close things out. And he is the master for a reason. And it is so difficult to go back to back. He's only the fourth player to do that.

[Ankur Desai]

And last year here he joined the greats by completing the career Grand Slam and this time he's made even more history, as you mentioned as well, joining Nick Faldo, the great Tiger woods and the legendary Jack Nicklaus as well to successfully defend back to back. Awesome achievement.

[Sports Commentator]

Yes, it is. And really nice moment just a few moments ago as you Talked to me, McIlroy was walking out of the Butler cabin, the wood paneled room that they present the green jacket in before they then walk out the Masters champion to give a more kind of open speech to some of the patrons and some of the other Augusta members, etc, sort of in the, in the sunshine. It's just three people. Nick Faldo then welcomed him out of the Butler cabin and really genuinely, warmly congratulated him. And of course with that as well, going back to back and joining Sir Nick Faldo in doing that. He also joins Faldo on six major championships. So McElroy definitely has moved his career into a different stratosphere.

[Ankur Desai]

He revealed that his menu for being the defending Masters champion will be a bit of local Georgia cuisine mixed in by some of his Irish heritage, Northern Irish heritage. I wonder what he's going to do next year now. He's got to get his thinking cap on.

[Sports Commentator]

He probably does. Does he? And we talked about that earlier on in the week saying, you know, he started the week with an incredible meal. If you've not seen the menu for that, definitely give it a Google.

[Ankur Desai]

I'll give you a quick rundown. Bacon wrapped dates, grilled elk sliders, rock shrimp tempura and peach and ricotta flatbread. That's just the starters.

[Sports Commentator]

My mouth is watering. It's incredible. Look, he's gonna have to think about that. And these are all the privileges that come with being a Masters champion. You know, he will be at that champions dinner with all the greats and just this brilliant privilege that comes with it. And that was already secured for life anyway with what he achieved last year. But I think he just probably holds a little bit more weight in the room now. He's a multiple Masters champion also back

[Ankur Desai]

home in Northern Ireland as well in Hollywood where he grew up and lovely pictures of the golf club there where he began his career as a, as a young boy and all the support he still has there. And those celebrations will continue long into the night too.

[Sports Commentator]

Oh, absolutely. Look, his father Jerry, who is a real character, you know, I know him loosely just from watching McElroy down the years. He gave everything to McIlroy, you know, along with his mother, Rosie. And, you know, he was a bartender, was Jerry McElroy at Hollywood Golf Club in Northern Ireland. I'm sure that all the members there have their own tales of Rory. And he's just added another little slice of something, hasn't he, to that slice of golfing terrain up there in Northern Ireland. Fantastic.

[Ankur Desai]

James Gregg in Augusta. And for more on the Masters, there's a special all about podcast on BBC Sounds, or wherever you get your podcast from. And that's all from us for now. If you want to get in touch, you can email [e-mail]. you can also find us on X@BBC World Service. Use the hashtag globalnewspod. And don't forget our sister podcast, the Global Story, which goes in depth and beyond the headlines on one big story. This edition of the Global News Podcast was mixed by Darcio Breen and produced by Helena Burke. The editor is Karen Martin and I'm Ankur Desai. Until next time. Goodbye.

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