Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Kemi-kaze And Political Nicknames | 20241024 |  In this new series for Radio 4, comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language. This week, Helen's eye was caught by the Conservative leadership race, where Robert Jenrick has coined a new nickname for rival Kemi Badeoch. They dig into other examples of political nicknames and namecalling - the good, the bad and the ugly. And more to the point, is this sort of playground behaviour what we expect from our elected officials? A longer version, discussing more American Presidents, and why Donald Trump keeps talking about Arnold Palmer, is available on BBC Sounds. Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss In the first episode of the series, Armando and Helen examine political nicknames. Are they effective? And is it really becoming of our politicians to be name-calling? This week, Helen's eye was caught by the Conservative leadership race, where Robert Jenrick has coined a new nickname for rival Kemi Badenoch. Armando and Helen look at the art of political name-calling. |
| 02 | Tough Decisions | 20241031 | This week, as Rachel Reeves delivers the first Labour budget in 15 years, we're talking about ‘tough decisions'. What's a tough decision? Why is language around budgets so slippery? And why doesn't anyone drink at the dispatch box anymore? A longer version, where Armando recalls making The Thick of It during austerity, and discuss whether Ed Miliband was really 'toss enough' is available on BBC Sounds. Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio certified production. Armando and Helen make the tough decision to talk Tough Decisions. In budget week, Armando and Helen examine the idea of tough decisions. Are they really that tough? And who exactly are ‘working people'? |
| 03 | Maga - Trump Trumps Harris | 20241107 | This week, Trump has made his way back to the White House, but will he Make America Great Again? What does that phrase really mean? And how did it become the enduring political message of our times? Helen and Armando examine how political reporters struggle to get answers, and what the effect of this election campaign will have on political language for years to come. A longer version, where Helen theorises on wrestling's impact on the world of politics, and Armando confesses the role he played in securing Trump's victory, is available on BBC Sounds Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio certified production. Armando\u00a0Iannucci and Helen Lewis unpick the language that defined the 2024 US Election. In the wake of Trump's election win, Armando and Helen dig into why MAGA is so effective, and look at some of the 'garbage' that characterised the extraordinary election campaign. |
| 04 | In Listening Mode | 20241114 | This week, as the Democrats lick their wounds, and Kemi Badenoch looks to rebuild her party, we are talking about politicians in 'listening mode'. Who are they listening to? Why weren't they listening sooner? Is it a tick-box exercise, or do they make meaningful changes based off their listening? They also look at Wes Streeting's big public consultation on the NHS, and Elon's plans to 'crowdsource' policy from the US population. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio certified production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis are talking about how politicians listen to the public. In a post-election aftermath, Armando and Helen look at what politicians mean when they go into 'listening mode'. Who are they listening to? And why weren't they doing it sooner? |
| 05 | The Deep State | 20241121 | This week, Helen and Armando spend some time trying to understand the 'deep state', and why it's caught on as a political attack. What's the difference between The Movement and The Blob? And who is draining the swamp of what? And is it just a convenient thing to blame for your inability to get things done? Also, you'll find out what music they play in Stalin's bunker as you turn the key to initiate nuclear war. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio certified production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis take a deep dive into the deep state. This week, Armando and Helen delve into the swamp to examine the deep state. Does it really exist? And who are they if so? |
| 06 | I Make No Apology For | 20241128 | This week, we get into the world of political apologies. Why does Starmer keep insisting he makes no apologies for things that no one is actually asking him to apologise for? Is saying something is 'regrettable' really an apology? And why has Mark Zuckerberg decided to stop apologising for Facebook? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis make no apology for examining the art of saying sorry. This week, Helen and Armando look at political apologies. The sincere, the less sincere and the downright bizarre. Do we really like it when politicians take responsibility? |
| 07 | Becoming A Distraction | 20241205 |
Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. We have a listener mailbag special coming up, so if you have any correspondence for Helen and Armando, email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis get distracted by politicians who become distractions. On this episode, Helen and Armando look at politicians who have 'become a distraction', and the language around political resignations. |
| 08 | Reset, Not Relaunch | 20241212 |
Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis hit the big button marked 'reset'. Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci examine the language of resets in politics. Do they work? Are they more of a vibe-shift, or are our elected officials actually making big changes? |
| 09 | The Tepid Bath Of Managed Decline | 20241219 |
Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis take a dip in the tepid bath of managed decline. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis light a candle, put on some pan pipes, and climb into the tepid bath of managed decline. |
| 10 | Words Of The Year | 20241226 | In a year where Labour secured a 'loveless landslide' in the UK and Trump sealed his return to the White House, Helen and Armando will be 'laser-focussed' on their 'mission' to skewer the use and abuse of political language. From 'freebies' to 'fascism', weird' to 'working people', all of the strong messages that helped Make 2024 Great Again will be put under the microscope. A witty, illuminating exploration of the verbal tricks of the trade from two people both mesmerised and baffled by our political discourse. Helen and Armando will identify the worst political doublespeak, discover where it comes from, examine why it spreads - and look at what effect it has on the rest of us. Production Coordinator: Katie Baum Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis break down the political language of 2024. Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci present a journalist and a comedy writer's take on words and phrases that defined politics in 2024. |
| 11 | Listeners' Strong Messages | 20250102 |  This week, Helen and Armando are delving into the email inbox to find out which political phrases have been driving our listeners to distraction. Strong Message here will be back on the 16th January at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Helen and Armando read some 'strong messages' from the listeners. Helen and Armando delve into the email inbox to find out which political phrases have been driving our listeners to distraction. |
| 12 | A Lawyer, Not A Leader | 20250116 | This week, after a well-earned week off, Helen and Armando are back to break down how political attacks work. After Kemi Badenoch landed a blow on Keir Starmer calling him 'a lawyer, not a leader', we look at what makes a political attack potent, and crucially, what makes them flop. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Helen and Armando are back, and they're looking at what makes a good political attack. Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci return after a short break to reflect on Badenoch's latest PMQs, and look at what makes a good political attack, and why the bad ones don't work. |
| 13 | Free Speech Is Back! | 20250123 | This week, Helen and Armando take a deep dive into Mark Zuckerberg's statement which explains the new rules around fact checking and free speech on his Meta platforms. Is free speech really back? Or should we be worried that fact-checkers are a thing of the past? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you got a 'community note' for Helen and Armando? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Helen and Armando use their free speech to decode Meta's new fact-checking rules. Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci celebrate the return of free speech to social media, by getting under the hood of Meta's new fact-checking policy. Is free speech really back? |
| 14 | Trump Derangement Syndrome | 20250130 | This week, Trump has truly settled back into the White House, but is it different this time around? Helen and Armando take a look at how this unique politician uses language to get his way. We also look at Trump Derangement Syndrome - a favourite phrase of the new President to describe his detractors - and how other politicians have changed their tune about Trump since his last term. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis identify the symptoms of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci look into the symptoms of Trump Derangement Syndrome, and those who have been 'cured', including the Prime Minister and the Vice President. |
| 15 | Flying A Kite And Rolling The Pitch (with Rob Hutton) | 20250206 | Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis are joined by a guest, journalist Rob Hutton. Why do we know what's going to be in a political speech before it happens? What is 'kiteflying' and 'pitch rolling'? To find out, Helen and Armando are joined by sketch writer for The Critic, Rob Hutton, who has been at more political announcements than he's had hot dinners. What's the best speech he's heard? What's the worst? And who are all those people who turn up to watch the Prime Minister give a speech at a carpet factory in Darlington? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum and Caroline Barlow Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Helen and Armando are interested in the choreography of political announcements, so have invited Rob Hutton, sketch writer from The Critic, to explain how it all works. |
| 16 | Build, Baby, Build! | 20250213 | This week, Starmer has suggested that Britain adopt a 'Build, Baby, Build' strategy. Sound familiar? We thought so too, so Helen and Armando are looking at why politicians copy their opponents. Is it a sign of strength or weakness, and do the public think is sounds convincing? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum and Caroline Barlow Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis examine why politicians copy each other's language. Drill, baby, drill? Build, baby, build? Plug, baby, plug? Armando and Helen look into why politicians 'borrow' phrases from their opponents, and whether it's an effective strategy. This week, Starmer has suggested that Britain adopt a 'Build, Baby, Build' strategy. Sound familiar? We thought so too, so Helen and Armando are looking at why politicians copy their opponents. Is it a sign of strength or weakness, and do the public think it sounds convincing? |
| 17 | The Threat From Within | 20250220 | This week, JD Vance sent European leaders into a tailspin with an inflammatory speech at the Munich Security Conference, and Kemi Badenoch made an attention-grabbing speech at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. Looking at them side-by-side, what does it tell us about the language of the right on both sides of the Atlantic? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. A tale of two speeches this week, as Helen and Armando look at Vance and Badenoch's lines. Looking at two speeches, with the common theme of 'The Threat From Within', Helen and Armando dissect Vance's speech in Europe, and Badenoch's speech to the ARC. |
| 18 | Everybody's Miserable | 20250227 | Farage says everybody is miserable, Trump says everything is a 'disaster', and Liz Truss chimed in saying Britain is a 'failed state', so Helen and Armando are trying to find out why those who claim to be patriots are keen to talk the country down. And why Starmer and Reeves' downbeat language has had real-life consequences. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis find out why everyone in politics is so miserable. Trump says 'America is going to hell'. Truss says 'Britain is a failed state'. Armando and Helen ask, 'why the long faces? |
| 19 | In The Public Interest? | 20250306 | Hot mics, leaks, tell-all books. We find out a lot about how politicians talk in private. How does it differ from their public pronouncements? And are politicians less careful about how they come across in public these days? Helen and Armando survey the lay of the linguistic land. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. What happens when private communications become public? Helen and Armando find out. Is the line starting to blur between how politicians talk publicly and privately? Helen and Armando take a look. |
| 20 | Be Quiet, Small Man | 20250313 | This week, Musk has been threatening a former astronaut (no, not the one he threatened the other week - another one), Trump has been talking tariffs, and Rupert Lowe took on his party's 'Messiah', Nigel Farage. What does all this tough talk mean in politics? Does projecting strength always work? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Helen and Armando investigate how politicians convey strength through rhetoric. As politics is in its 'strong man' era, Helen and Armando find out what talking tough actually looks like - when it's effective, and when it makes you look weak. |
| 21 | Britain Isn't Working | 20250320 | This week, the Government announced their plans for welfare reform, so we take a look at the language around welfare, around benefit claimants, and how it's changed over the years. Gone are the 'strivers vs shirkers' of the 2010s or even Peter Lilley's infamous 'little list' of the early 90s. This government talks of 'supporting people into work' and 'right to try', but with the savings they are making, do their actions match their rhetoric? This episode has been edited to remove an inaccurate statement about the relative size of tax fraud compared to benefit fraud. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum and Caroline Barlow Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando and Helen look at how we talk about those on welfare, and how it's changed. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis look at the language around welfare. The Government have adopted a softer tone, but with their reforms, do their actions match the rhetoric? |
| 22 | Seizing The Narrative (with Stephen Bush) | 20250327 | Are Labour telling a good enough story? Who is the best storyteller in politics? How do you establish a narrative to take control of events, rather than let events define you? To answer these questions, Helen and Armando are joined by Associate Editor and Columnist for The Financial Times, Stephen Bush. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum and Caroline Barlow Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando and Helen are joined by Stephen Bush to see who's seizing the political narrative. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis are joined by Stephen Bush to discuss why it's important to have a story to tell in politics. Who's managed to seize the narrative in recent times? |
| 23 | Fist Emoji, Flag Emoji, Fire Emoji (with Ava Santina Evans) | 20250403 | Following the remarkable security breach dubbed 'Signalgate', Helen and Armando are joined by political editor of Politics Joe, Ava Santina Evans, to discuss how casualness has crept into political communication. Is it a threat? Is it just cringe? And why oh why do we still use the suffix 'gate' for a scandal, given its origins are over 50 years old? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando and Helen are joined by Ava Santina Evans to talk casualness in political speech. Helen and Armando are joined by Ava Santina Evans to dig into Signalgate, and the wider issue of casualness in political communication. Is it a threat, or is it just deeply cringe? |
| 24 | Three Word Slogans (with Cleo Watson) | 20250410 | This week, Helen and Armando are joined by author, broadcaster and former adviser to Theresa May and Boris Johnson, Cleo Watson. Taking a look back at the three word slogans that defined politics in recent years, especially those that relate to Cleo's time in number 10. Why are they so catchy? Hands Face Space... Take Back Control... Strong Message Here.... Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis are joined by Cleo Watson to discuss the power of three. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis are joined by Cleo Watson to discuss the power of three. Cleo worked at No. 10 during the peak of three word slogans, and shared her experiences. |
| 25 | Liberation Day (with Soumaya Keynes) | 20250417 | This week, Helen and Armando are joined by economist and journalist for the Financial Times, Soumaya Keynes. They take a look back on Liberation Day - what exactly was America being liberated from? What was the response in China to the tariffs? and Soumaya wades into the murky waters of Truth Social. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Richard Morris Produced by Pete Strauss. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis are joined by Soumaya Keynes to discuss how they celebrated Liberation Day. They talk tariffs, China and Trump's love of caps lock. |
| 26 | How Much Is A Pint Of Milk? (with Rob Burley) | 20250424 | 
They also discuss Paxman's beard, the best political interviews and how to get the most out of a politician who is bending over backwards to say absolutely nothing. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Richard Morris An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis talk gotchas, and political interviews with Rob Burley. |
| 27 | The Official Language Of The United States | 20250501 |
Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Katie Baum & Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Helen and Armando converse in the official language of the United States. In a week where Trump reached 100 days, Armando and Helen investigate how the administration is using language to further their agenda. |
| 28 | I Want My Country Back (with Phil Wang) | 20250508 |
Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Katie Baum & Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis are joined by Phil Wang to talk British identity. Helen and Armando welcome comedian Phil Wang to discuss British identity, how it differs from English identity, and the language used around race in Britain today. Stewart Lee joins Armando Iannucci to talk about the collision of comedy and politics. |
| 29 | Yes Or No? | 20250515 | This week, Helen and Armando take a step back and look at whether we're seeing the death of nuance in political debate. Is everything boiled down to 'yes or no' questions? What are the shibboleths of modern politics, and does the language you use, or decline to use, put you firmly on one side of a debate? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Kate Mac Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Helen and Armando ask, is there any nuance in politics? It's a simple yes or no question! Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis look at some of the biggest issues in politics today, and explore the language used by supporters and detractors. Is there still space for nuance? Stewart Lee joins Armando Iannucci to talk about the collision of comedy and politics. |
| 30 | The Island Of Strangers And The Manacled Gimp Of Brussels | 20250522 | This week, we're looking at inflammatory language. From Immigration to EU deals, we've heard talk of of 'betrayal' 'surrender' 'invasion' and of course 'an island of strangers'. When is this hyperbole appropriate and when is it egregious? And, can we ever forgive Boris Johnson for the mental image of the Prime Minister as the 'orange ball-chewing manacled gimp of Brussels'? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando and Helen voyage around the Island of Strangers, and other inflammatory phrases. Stewart Lee joins Armando Iannucci to talk about the collision of comedy and politics. Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis take a trip to the Island of Strangers, and try to unshackle the 'orange ball-chewing manacled gimp of Brussels'. Journalist Marina Hyde joins Armando Iannucci to talk about delivery in politics. |
| 31 | An Announcement President (with Jon Stewart) | 20250529 | This week, we have a very special guest, Jon Stewart! Jon joins Armando and Helen to discuss whether Trump is the political equivalent of Miles Davis, the quaintness of UK politics compared to the US, Jon does a flawless Margaret Thatcher impression and they answer the age old question... are escalators the most emasculating form of travel? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. The Daily Show host Jon Stewart joins Armando and Helen to talk Trump. Journalist Marina Hyde joins Armando Iannucci to talk about delivery in politics. This week, Armando and Helen are joined by The Daily Show host Jon Stewart to talk Trump. This week, we have a very special guest, Jon Stewart! Jon joins Armando and Helen to discuss whether Trump is the political equivalent of Miles Davis, the quaintness of UK politics compared to the US, Jon does a flawless Margaret Thatcher impression and they answer the age old question... are escalators the most emascualting form of travel? Stewart Lee joins Armando Iannucci to talk about the collision of comedy and politics. |
| 32 | Weird Turkish Barber Shops (with Stewart Lee) | 20250605 |
This week, Helen Lewis is away, so comedian and writer Stewart Lee joins Armando to look at Robert Jenrick's flashy video in which he takes aim at 'weird Turkish barber shops', among other things. They discuss how the way politicians, entertainers and journalists are changing and overlapping, and Armando recalls the time he read politician's jokes in a comedy club (spoiler alert, it was a disaster). Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando Iannucci is joined by comedian Stewart Lee to discuss 'weird Turkish barber shops Armando Iannucci is joined by comedian Stewart Lee to discuss 'weird Turkish barber shops', and where politics, journalism and entertainment all overlap. Stewart Lee joins Armando Iannucci to talk about the collision of comedy and politics. Journalist Marina Hyde joins Armando Iannucci to talk about delivery in politics. |
| 33 | I Regret Some Of My Posts (with Sara Pascoe) | 20250612 | 
And we examine more politicians' linguistic tricks to find out what a racism row in Scotland and the U-turn on winter fuel payments have in common. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Sasha Bobak & Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production. Bromances, breaking up, and making up. With Sara Pascoe. Armando Iannucci is joined by comedian Sara Pascoe to look at the messy break ups and quick make ups of men in politics, on both sides of the Atlantic. Journalist Marina Hyde joins Armando Iannucci to talk about delivery in politics. Stewart Lee joins Armando Iannucci to talk about the collision of comedy and politics. |
| 34 | Delivering For Ordinary People (with Marina Hyde) | 20250619 | 
This week, Helen Lewis is still away, so Journalist Marina Hyde steps in to join Armando. They discuss what an ordinary person might be, and examine if politicians use them as cover? Why is it always that things 'ordinary people' are saying 'on the doorstep' just so happen to be the exact things they wanted to do anyway? We also look at delivery in politics. Do we believe politicians when they say they'll deliver? And do we reward them fairly when they do? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Who are 'ordinary people'? And do politicians really know how to 'deliver' for them? Journalist Marina Hyde steps in this week, to find out who politicians mean by 'ordinary people', and why claims to 'deliver' make us think 'well, that's never going to happen'. Journalist Marina Hyde joins Armando Iannucci to talk about delivery in politics. Stewart Lee joins Armando Iannucci to talk about the collision of comedy and politics. |
| 35 | The New Brexit | 20250626 | This week, Helen Lewis is back! In the longer edition, you can hear what Helen has been up to in her absence, before Helen and Armando set their sights on the language around Net Zero. They ask, Why has it taken long for them to cover it on the show? Is it being framed in a relatable enough way? And, does it suffer from being part of an 'omnicause'? Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Sarah Nicholls and Becky Carewe-Jeffries Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. Helen returns as we discuss the topic described by Farage as 'The New Brexit'; Net Zero. This week, Helen Lewis is back, and they discuss why Farage thinks Net Zero is 'The New Brexit', portrayals of climate in the media, and ask why is it slipping down the agenda? Stewart Lee joins Armando Iannucci to talk about the collision of comedy and politics. Journalist Marina Hyde joins Armando Iannucci to talk about delivery in politics. |
| 36 | We Haven't Always Told Our Story As Well As We Should | 20250703 | This week, Helen and Armando look back at a year of the Labour government. What language has come out of if, and why is it struggling to define itself? Looking at phrases from the year, like 'The tepid bath of managed decline' and 'National Health Recovery Mission Champions', does their language connect, and are there opponents any better? Strong Message Here will be back on Radio 4 in September, but subscribe to BBC Sounds to hear Helen and Armando over the summer in Strong Message Here: Strong Recommend; a series of short episodes with their language-based cultural recommendations. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete Strauss An EcoAudio Certified Production. A look at the language of the first year of the Labour government. Can the government tell a convincing story? A look at the phrases that have defined their first year in office. Journalist Marina Hyde joins Armando Iannucci to talk about delivery in politics. |
| 37 | Phase 2 | 20250918 | 
The political summer is often called 'silly season', but with global conflict and rising tensions at home, Armando and Ria look at the language that defined recent months including Keir Starmer's 'Phase 2' and the word 'plastic'. Armando's erstwhile partner in de-baffling political lexicon, Helen Lewis is away working in the United States in the Autumn and so her seat will be kept warm by a rotating cast of co-hosts. Got a question for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4 at 9:45, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds. Recorded at The Sound Company Production Coordinator: Caroline Barlow Sound editing by Chris Maclean Executive Producer: Richard Morris Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4. Phase 2' and more language from a fraught political summer. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. The political summer is often called 'silly season', but with global conflict and rising tensions at home, Armando and Ria Lina look at the language that defined recent months. Armando returns to look at the use and abuse of political language. After a busy summer, Armando will be joined by guests throughout the autumn for another dose of political jargon-busting. With talks of bilats and trilats coming out of the White House, and protests at home, and a second 'unpresidented' state visit for a US president in the offing, Armando and his guests will dig into how those in power, and those who wish to be, are using language to fulfil their political aims. An EcoAudio certified production. Armando returns to dissect the language of a fraught political summer. The summer in politics is often called 'silly season', but with efforts to end wars, and rising tensions at home, we look at the language that defined a busy political summer. |
| 38 | Hurty Words (with Stewart Lee) | 20250925 | 
With Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, and in the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder, free speech is in the spotlight again. Those who railed against 'cancel culture' are now getting into 'consequence culture'. We also discuss how Marvel's superheroes might respond to the actions of their new owners, and whether you can pray in your own homes in this country anymore (spoiler alert, you can). Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4, Thursdays at 9:45, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds. Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4. Stewart Lee joins to look at the rebranding of cancel culture. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Why are 'free speech absolutists' so keen to silence dissenting voices? Is censorship back? And what is 'consequence culture'? With Kimmel's suspension, and in the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder, free speech is in the spotlight again. Those who railed against 'cancel culture' are getting into 'consequence culture' We also discuss what how Marvel's superheroes might respond to the actions of their new owners, and whether you can pray in your own homes in this country anymore (spoiler alert, you can). |
| 39 | The Battle For The Soul Of The Country (with Adam Fleming) | 20251002 | 
Has message discipline killed the party conference? Or does their own momentum still make them newsworthy? Looking at conferences past, we look at what makes them an interesting part of the political calendar, and how language comes to the fore. Listen to Strong Message Here on Radio 4 at 9:45 on Tuesdays, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds. Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4. Armando Iannucci is up in Liverpool to decode the language of party conferences. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Newscast's Adam Fleming joins Armando at the Labour Party conference. What do conferences achieve? What are the phrases to look out for, and what makes your conference a success? |
| 40 | Repetition, Repetition, Repetition (with Natalie Haynes) | 20251009 |
Armando is joined by Natalie Haynes to discuss the use of repetition. How it can be an effective rhetorical technique for the likes of Cicero and Tony Blair, but grates when coming from others? We also look at the language of the recent Tory Party conference, political chocolate bars, and have a debate about the 'debate' politicians often say we need. Have a strong message for Armando? Drop us a line on strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Executive producer - James Robinson Production Coordinator - Jodie Charman Sound editing - Chris Maclean Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Natalie Haynes joins Armando to repeatedly discuss repetition, repetitiously. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Is repetition used for emphasis, cut through or to bore us into submission? Could it even be all three? Armando is joined by Natalie Haynes to dissect this rhetorical device. |
| 41 | The End Of The Age Of Terror And Death (with Stewart Lee) | 20251016 | One one hand, the world is going to hell, on the other, the age of terror and death has ended, so which is it? Stewart Lee joins Armando to take a look at this maximal approach to political language. How do you do moderate politics with caps lock on? What's the smart way to diffuse complex arguments about politics? And given the details still to be worked out in the Isreal Gaza peace process, is this week's Peace Summit Trump's 'Mission Accomplished' moment? Have a message for Armando? Drop us a line on strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Listen to Strong Message Here at 09:45 on Thursday mornings on Radio 4, or the extended version on BBC Sounds. Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: James Robinson Sound Editing: Chris MacLean Recorded at The Sound Company Strong Message Here is produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies, and is a BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Armando Iannucci and Stewart Lee present the greatest episode of anything ever. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Maximalism. Everything these days is always the very best, or the absolute worst. This level of exaggeration is almost comic, so who better to join Armando than Stewart Lee? |
| 42 | In Hindsight (with Ria Lina And Tim Shipman) | 20251023 | Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. This week, Armando is joined again by comedian Ria Lina, and Political Editor of The Spectator, Tim Shipman. We're looking back at looking back. In a week where a scandal-hit Prince renounces his titles and the Chinese spy case continues to pose questions of language for the government, people's previous decisions are being put under the spotlight, we look at how public figures respond to the repercussions of their past. Of course, hindsight is 20:20. Speaking of 2020, there's also chat about the covid inquiry, and whether we're getting the results we need, or just lurid detail? Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Ria Lina and Tim Shipman join Armando to discuss political fallouts, and excuses. Inquiries, Royal Statements and collapsed espionage cases. Ria Lina and Tim Shipman join Armando to look at the language of political figures when their past catches up with them. |
| 43 | Deep Disillusionment In This Country (with Stewart Lee) | 20251030 |
This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to look at how political actors use language. Wes Streeting says there is a 'deep disillusionment in this country', and says there is a “growing sense of despair about whether anyone is capable of turning this country round'. Why is that? And does politicians speaking in that way confound our misery? We look at Sarah Pochin's comments about black and asian people in adverts, and the responses across parliament to that. We also look at how much news is just speculation, and how politicians use speculation to further their arguments. We also look at how we get our news - is it exhausting to have to keep fact checking things ourselves? Is it preferable to the alternative? Armando shares his confusion at Immersive experiences, and Stewart invents a new word, and we hear about Starmer's charm offensive. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Listen to Strong Message Here at 0945 on Radio 4, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds. Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coodinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Armando Iannucci and Stewart Lee find the sources of deep disillusionment in this country. Stewart Lee returns to join Armando to look at 'The deep disillusionment in this country' as identified by Wes Streeting. Does how we receive our news make us miserable? |
| 44 | Be Vigilant (with Phil Wang) | 20251106 |
This week, Armando is joined by Phil Wang to look at the use and abuse of political language. Defence Secretary John Healy says we need to 'be vigilant', and Reform councillor Laila Cunningham says 'Labour want us to shut up and die' - we look at how the public and the police respond to horrific events, and at our relationship with the police. We also discuss chocolate getting worse, Nigel Farage straddling the line between being a maverick and assuring the markets, and what other things Rachel Reeves is 'refusing to rule out'. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Listen to Strong Message Here at 0945 on Radio 4, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds. Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coodinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Armando Iannucci and Phil Wang look at language used after a violent event. With Defence Secretary John Healy asking us to 'be vigilant', Phil Wang joins Armando to look at how politicians communicate in the aftermath of extreme violence. |
| 45 | The Buck Stops Here (with Ria Lina And Sophy Ridge) | 20251113 |
This week, Armando is joined again by comedian Ria Lina, and Sky New's new breakfast host, Sophy Ridge. In the week with 2 big resignations at the BBC, news journalism and accuracy are under the spotlight. We discuss the pressures on live broadcasting, editing, and deciding what stories make it to air. When is something worthy of coverage? These decisions are made all the time, but how? We also discuss how comedians skills can be deployed by journalists with tricky interviewees, and why the Edinburgh Fringe is the nadir of 'selective editing'. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss and James Robinson Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Armando is joined by Ria Lina are joined by Sophy Ridge to chat editing and impartiality. In a week where journalism is in the headlines, Armando and Ria are joined by Sky News' Sophy Ridge to discuss the blending of news and opinion, and where the line is on editing. |
| 46 | Moral Failure And Deadly Negligence (with Sara Pascoe And Matt Winning) | 20251120 | Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. António Guterres has said that missing the 1.5 degree climate target is 'a moral failure and deadly negligence'. Is he right? Dr Matt Winning joins Sara Pascoe and Armando to discuss the language around climate change. Is it proportionately alarmist, or does it just scare us? Are we numb to the jaw-dropping headlines? Matt has some ideas of how to communicate these complex ideas more succinctly, and tell us of the days spend at COP agonising over whether 'urges' or 'suggests' makes it into an agreement. We also look at how language has been used to put the onus on us, rather than corporations, for waste and pollution, and a Swedish word that should make its way into Keir Starmer's vocabulary. Listen to Strong Message Here every Thursday at 9.45am on Radio 4 and then head straight to BBC Sounds for an extended episode. Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Armando to decode? Email them to us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound Editing by Chris Maclean Production Coordinator - Jodie Charman Executive Producer - Pete Strauss Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production. Armando and Sara Pascoe are joined by Dr Matt Winning to discuss the language around COP. How do we respond to dour climate headlines? Is it too big to comprehend? Can we stay in a state of panic for the next 35 years, and how can we communicate the crisis better? |
| 47 | Spooking The Markets (with Natalie Haynes And Stewart Lee) | 20251127 | Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language It's budget week, Armando is joined by two members of the Strong Message Here commune, Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee. How do markets get 'spooked'? Who has the broadest shoulders? And what does 'a Labour Budget with Labour values' actually mean? We discuss how taxes get their nicknames, why we know so much about the budget ahead of time these days, and whether Rachel Reeves could've taken inspiration from Taylor Swift to make the budget more exciting. In the longer edition, we also look at 'the banter defence', and decide a new name for 'the markets' that feels more apt for the way they behave. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Rich Evans Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Armando Iannucci, Stewart Lee and Natalie Haynes decode the world of political language. In budget week, we look at the language used around 'the markets'. Are we impressed by their complexity? And are we really 'in hock'? |
| 48 | Ai Hallucinations (with Stewart Lee And Sarah Wynn-williams) | 20251204 | Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to discuss the language around AI. They are also joined by public policy expert and author of Careless People, A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism Sarah Wynn-Williams. For legal reasons, Sarah is not allowed to say anything negative about Meta, so we discuss lots of other areas around tech and AI. We look at hallucinations - what are they, and are they solvable? Do we respond to the sycophancy of AI? Should there be rules around AI in weapons, and why is that even up for debate? We also take a retrospective look at the budget, headlice, and the Your Party members' decision to call Your Party 'Your Party'. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk and your email could be read out on our listener mailbag special episode over the festive period Sound editing: Rich Evans Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Sarah Wynn-Williams joins Armando and Stewart Lee to talk all things AI. Is Elon Musk funnier than Jerry Seinfeld? Is Stewart Lee dead? And is Greta Thunberg the antichrist? Sarah Wynn-Williams joins Armando and a hallucinated Stewart Lee to discuss. |
| 49 | Civilisational Erasure (with Stewart Lee) | 20251211 |
Is 'Civilisational Erasure' upon us? This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to look at this phrase, and others from the US' new National Security Strategy. Would this kind of language have been unthinkable even a few years ago? We also look at other elements of the strategy, and whether it's time to forget the idea that Trump is playing '3-dimensional chess' with his language. Outside civilisational erasure, we look at whether leaders need to communicate on social media, given Starmer's new TikTok account and Liz Truss' YouTube show both launched this week. If you want to know what Liz Truss has got against Gails, and why 70s sitcoms are back in the spotlight both sides of the Atlantic, then this programme is for you. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us on strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk to have your missive read out in our listener mailbag special. Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Armando and Stewart look the US' claims of civilisational erasure in Europe. Stewart Lee joins Armando and they look at a new US strategy that Stewart thinks could lead us to World War III. |
| 50 | Words Of The Year (with Natalie Haynes) | 20251218 |
Armando Iannucci and Natalie Haynes pick through some of the words of the year. As the year comes to a close, Natalie Haynes joins Armando to discuss and dissect the words of 2025. Looking at official lists, and conjuring up some of their own, they set about breaking down the language that defined another frenetic year. We find out what links all of the official words of the year, and why we can learn a lesson from Austria when choosing them. Armando also denies he writes Pete Hegseth's speeches, and Natalie denies she is in a parasocial relationship with Taylor Swift Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Armando Iannucci and Natalie pick through some of the words of the year. Ragebait, parasocial and Emil the Elk. Armando and Natalie Haynes look at some official, and some less official, words of the year. |
| 51 | Listeners' Strong Messages (with Stewart Lee) | 20260101 |
In a loose and end-of-term episode, with some adult humour, we talk about the misuse of the phrase 'bad apples', Stewart thanks Armando for his leadership, and are treated to unexpected, slightly fruity, film reviews of 'Who Dares Wins' and 'Cats'. We also hear about Armando's ambassador for 'pace', Stewart's artistic skills, and some alternatives to the phrase 'fighting age males'. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Stewart joins Armando as they dip into the listeners' mailbag. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. At pace', 'fighting age males' and 'robust'. We asked listeners for their most hated political phrases for Stewart and Armando to pick apart. |
| 52 | Regime Change (with Natalie Haynes) | 20260108 | New Year, and Venezuela is under new management. The fallout from the 'extraction' of Maduro has thrown up some interesting political language. Why aren't the US calling it 'regime change'? Why is Starmer damned if he does or doesn't say anything? and is Trump the first politician to use the word 'literally' correctly? In the extended version, we also look at Natalie's pedometer, Armando as the Elder of Taskmaster, and why a 'mild zombie apocalypse' has been described as 'encouraging'. Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. With Venezuela under new management, why won't the boss call it regime change? Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Natalie Haynes joins Armando to look at the language around events last week in Venezuela, from the confident Trump administration to the hemmed-in response from the UK government. |
| 53 | Elections Aren't Won On Twitter (with Phil Wang And Marianna Spring) | 20260115 | Is Keir Starmer stuck in 2016? BBC's Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent Marianna Spring joins Phil Wang and Armando to look at the evolving language of social media. How do politicians navigate the new online world, both when trying to get their central message across, and in responding to crises? With the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, we examine how the normal playbook of a tragedy no longer applies. In the extended episode, we hear Phil take on the role of a lifetime, playing Nigel Farage, find out how Armando's nickname is causing him problems, and look at Grok's recent scandal. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Rich Evans Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. If elections aren't 'won on Twitter', then what is happening on social media? Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Starmer recently claimed that 'elections aren't won on Twitter', so Marianna Spring joins to look at the language on social media, and why we interpret the same posts differently. |
| 54 | U-turns And Turncoats (with Stewart Lee) | 20260122 |
With the backdrop of tariffs and territorial land grabs, Stewart and Armando look at the political language of U-turns and turncoats. With politicians having to advocate for a position they used to be in direct opposition to, we ask if political language exists in a quantum state inside Robert Jenrick's head, or, failing that are we really expected to believe defectors like him have had a damascene conversion? Stewart gives an update to an tired political joke, Armando finds a nifty Peace Prize related fix for the Greenland dispute, and they both give a run-down the shifty, shifting responses from Government officials on their numerous U-turns. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Caroline Barlow Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies and Sasha Bobak. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Can politicians use language to convince us they have changed their minds? Stewart Lee joins Armando to look at jokes at the dispatch box, why we aren't shocked by U-turns, and look at the language of defections. Is this politics at its most theatrical? |
| 55 | Are You A Stupid Person? (with Natalie Haynes) | 20260129 |
Was Andy Burnham blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election because Labour need to save resources for elections they ‘must have'? Was the Tory briefing that referenced the defecting Suella Braverman's mental health really a ‘first draft? Armando and Natalie examine this and more, to find out if politicians in the UK are echoing Donald Trump's words as they ask us to take these at face value - “Are you a stupid person? ?. Are we not expected to read this 'subtext in block caps'? We also discuss how Trump's speeches are held together, and why Carney quoting Thucydides warmed Natalie's heart. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Blaring subtext, flimsy reasoning and hypocrisy - do politicians think we're stupid? Natalie Haynes joins Armando. Do politicians think we're idiots? From blocked by-election candidates to defectors ducking their own by-elections, do we believe what they say? |
| 56 | You've Let Your Country Down (with Emily Maitlis) | 20260205 |
Has a man once described as 'teflon' finally run out of spin? Peter Mandelson suggests he needs to run an investigation into himself, but to do an investigation into his language, Armando is joined by host of the News Agents, Emily Maitlis. We discuss revelations in the Epstein files, and why it brings to mind Dickens. Are we wiser to the language of political scandal than we used to be? And is it impossible to spin a story in the modern media environment. We also look at why it's so frustrating, if politically wise, how often political figures suffer bouts of selective amnesia. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies and Sasha Bobak. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Emily Maitlis joins Armando to pore through the language of the Epstein Files. Is spin dead? Emily Maitlis joins Armando to look at Peter Mandelson's language in response to allegations in the Epstein Files. |
| 57 | Psychodrama (with Stewart Lee) | 20260212 |
Stewart Lee joins Armando to examine the language around political pyschodramas. We've discussed political language becoming maximalist, but it also gone into warp speed? Looking at whether 'stumbling' is in fact a good thing, we also manage to find new names for Wes Streeting, Peter Mandelson and Andrew (you know which one). We also find time to discuss the fake news that has been stinking up the White House, jellyfish anuses and slapstick. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Is political language on fast forward? And are we addicted to the psychodrama? Why do politicians 'stumble' from one crisis to the next? Are we reading too much into a kiss in a text? Are we an ungovernable public, demanding too much from our leaders? |
| 58 | For The Sake Of Transparency (with Natalie Haynes And Michael Gove) | 20260219 | Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language Armando is joined by Natalie Haynes and Michael Gove to discuss the true meaning of transparency. With his experience as both a politician and a journalist, Michael Gove gives his insight into how transparency can often mean the opposite. He also explains the perverse incentive for ministers to go out and defend tricky positions, and what it feels like to have your private communications laid bare in an inquiry. And with Natalie on the show, we look at historical examples of turbulent leadership, and find out who has the dubious honour of being 'the Liz Truss of ancient Rome'. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Lifting the veil of opacity, Michael Gove joins Armando and Natalie Haynes. Michael Gove joins to look at what politicians really mean when they say they're being transparent. Are there tricks he used as a politician that now frustrate him as a journalist? |
| 59 | History Will Judge You (with Stewart Lee) | 20260226 |
Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Stewart Lee joins Armando again this week. With a by-election on, we look away from the present day and think about how history will judge politicians. Some of the language in the recent Tony Blair documentary piques Armando's interest, and we also look at how Boris Johnson and Gordon Brown use language (or lack thereof) to cement their own post-premiership legacies. We also look at the politic-speak creeping into Royal statements, Gerry Adams on a trampoline, and the furore over language at the BAFTAs Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Is history still written by the victors? How do people try and control their legacy? With the rise of AI, will they be writing history in the future? Stewart and Armando look at some recent ex-prime ministers, and how they try and shape their legacy. |
| 60 | Get Real (with Hugo Rifkind) | 20260305 |
Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Journalist and Times Radio presenter Hugo Rifkind joins Armando this week. In another breakneck week, we look at the language of reality in politics. Are plumbers more 'real' than economists? Can Trump really 'manipulate reality'? And has he been watching Shrek? We also look at the parallels between Marco Rubio and the general in Dr Strangelove, Tony Blair powering down when talking to Alan Partridge, and whether 'Epic Fury' really means what Pete Hegseth thinks it does. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Who is a 'real person' in politics? How do politicians use language to change reality? Hugo Rifkind joins Armando in a relaxing week of news. What happens when political rhetoric runs up against political reality? |
| 61 | I Understand The Anxiety (with Ria Lina And Coco Khan) | 20260312 | Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language
How do we engage with difficult headlines? Can we switch off an just read about the rugby? Is AI starting to feel as anxious as us? and are we more sympathetic because of the personal language it uses? We also discuss the origins of international women's day, the death of the public intellectual, and a workplace acronym to watch out for. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. How do we cope with increasingly scary news? Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Do we just want 'bread and peace'? Do we all know too much now? And what's happened to the public intellectual? |
| 62 | You Don't Have To Worry (with Marina Hyde) | 20260319 | Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language.
Pete Hegseth tells us not to worry about the Strait of Hormuz, Trump tells us the 'war' is 'already won' - is this inspired by The Power of Positive Thinking? Or by Noel Edmonds? Elsewhere we discuss guessing shoe sizes, tie-dye thinking, and whether we have the stomach for a culture war about badgers on bank notes. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Is the optimism and positive language of the US administration encouraging or worrying? Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Has 'the power of positive thinking' gone too far? Can we take solace in the upbeat language of Trump's cabinet, or should we, in fact, worry after all? |
| 63 | We're Here To Listen (with Stewart Lee In Laugharne) | 20260326 | Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language
Taking the audience's most loathed political soundbites, we discuss 'existential threats', 'let me be clear', and 'we're working very hard'. We also hear about Armando's train driver getting caught in an infinity loop, treating Nicky Wire with the greatest of respect, and whether feeling in your bones or gut indicates your political persuasion. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Recorded by Searle Whittney and Dyfan Rose Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at the Millennium Hall in Laugharne Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Getting outside the Westminster bubble to hear some refreshing phrases from real people. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Why do politicians simultaneously spend all their time in Westminster, then rail against it? Armando and Stewart head to Laugharne to hear what 'real people' have to say. |
| 64 | That's A Great Question (with Stewart Lee In Laugharne) | 20260402 |
Is AI too sycophantic? Should we worry about how military-grade AI is being sold in start-up jargon? Let's ask the best AI there is, Armando Iannucci. In another episode in front of an audience, Armando and Stewart treat us to a dramatic reading of a Chat GPT interaction. We also hear whether the Metaverse is an unwelcome template for AI companies, and why Stewart admires the boffins who make sex robots. Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Recorded by Searle Whittney and Dyfan Rose Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at the Millennium Hall in Laugharne Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Is AI's sycophantic language grating? That's a great question - let me check that for you. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Armando and Stewart take a serious look at the language of AI sycophancy, and the technification of language, with a short detour about sex robots. |
| 65 | Righteous Targets For Violence (with Hugo Rifkind) | 20260409 | 
After a quick detour round the far side of the moon, we find out Trump's favourite bible passage (sort of), why the Pope has rebuked Pete Hegseth, and if invoking a higher power can be used to dodge accountability. In the extended version, we also look at how parties in the UK trade in religious language, why how AI is getting hiring humans, and answer the age-old question - which Easter has been best, militarily? Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@BBC.co.uk Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter & Caroline Barlow Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4. Are politicians invoking the Almighty more regularly than before? Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Pentagon prayers, sweary Easter messages and Trump praising Allah - is politics becoming more religious? |
| 66 | 20260416 | Armando Iannucci and Amol Rajan decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. | |
| 67 | 20260423 | Armando Iannucci and Tim Shipman decode the utterly baffling world of political language. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. | |
| 68 | 20260430 | Armando Iannucci and Natalie Haynes decode the baffling world of political language. Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language. |
Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language.
Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language.
Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language.
Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language
Armando Iannucci and guests decode the utterly baffling world of political language.
Armando is joined by Ria Lina and host of Pod Save the UK, Coco Khan, to look at the political language around anxiety.