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PODCAST

Strong Message Here

Armando Iannucci hosts the programme that gives you a cast-iron guarantee to be laser-focused on decoding the baffling world of political language.Each week he"ll be joined by a guest to crack open the political phrasebook and attempt to demystify the doublespeak. Why does everything now have to be "turbo-charged"? What"s the difference between a "pledge" and a "mission"? Why has my local MP been "weaponised" and should I be worried?You"ll be treated to a crash course in the dark arts of political

comedy

All Episodes

32:35

Spooking the Markets (with Natalie Haynes and Stewart...

Strong Message Here ·

2025/11/27

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

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37:45

Moral Failure and Deadly Negligence (with Sara Pascoe...

Strong Message Here ·

2025/11/20

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

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34:24

The Buck Stops Here (with Ria Lina and Sophy Ridge)

Strong Message Here ·

2025/11/13

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

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29:56

Be Vigilant (with Phil Wang)

Strong Message Here ·

2025/11/06

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

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28:46

Deep Disillusionment in This Country (with Stewart Lee)

Strong Message Here ·

2025/10/30

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

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34:13

In Hindsight (with Ria Lina and Tim Shipman)

Strong Message Here ·

2025/10/23

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

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29:27

The End of the Age of Terror and Death (with Stewart...

Strong Message Here ·

2025/10/16

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

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30:22

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition (with Natalie Haynes)

Strong Message Here ·

2025/10/09

Did you know Keir Starmer's dad was a toolmaker? Of course you did, because he repeated it every time he was in front a microphone for years. 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

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33:36

The Battle for the Soul of the Country

Strong Message Here ·

2025/10/02

Armando is at the Labour Party conference (well, in a portakabin in a car park nearby - the glamour!), and is joined by Newscast's Adam Fleming to chat all things conference.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

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29:03

Hurty Words

Strong Message Here ·

2025/09/25

Stewart Lee returns to the show, to join Armando in discussing 'hurty words'. 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,

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29:15

Phase 2

Strong Message Here ·

2025/09/18

In the first episode of the new series, Armando Iannucci and guest co-host, Ria Lina look at the use and abuse of political language. 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

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6:54

Strong Recommend: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett

Strong Message Here ·

2025/09/11

In the last of our summer mini-series, Helen brings a book by Terry Pratchett. To Helen's surprise, this is a blind spot for Armando, who hasn't read any despite being told to do so many times. Where do you start with such an extensive back catalogue? What makes Pratchett's satire so timeless? and has Helen found a new Pratchett super-fan in Armando?Strong Message Here will return next week. If you have a strong message for Helen and Armando, please email strongmessagehere@bbc.co.ukProduction

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6:43

Strong Recommend: Tehran (Apple TV+)

Strong Message Here ·

2025/09/04

Armando has been watch Tehran on Apple TV. This multi-language show about spy agencies in Iran and Israel sheds gives you a glimpse in to life on the ground in these countries that you can't get from headlines alone. Like the Post Office scandal in the UK, why does it sometimes take a dramatisation to mobilise the public, and bring about change?Join Helen and Armando over the summer for more cultural recommendations, available weekly on BBC Sounds.Production Coordinator: Sarah NichollsExecutive

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10:36

Strong Recommend: Elden Ring

Strong Message Here ·

2025/08/28

If you're interested in fantasy, and fancy taking on a responsibility equivalent to a part-time job, Helen recommends Elden Ring. A wildly popular Japanese video game which allows you to live in a world created by George RR Martin. With place and character names reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, we ask why that is the accepted register of fantasy. Could it be the detail and care which Tolkien gave to his languages, and the sounds of words denoting a sense of place, building a rich landscape? And

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10:02

Strong Recommend: The Contestant

Strong Message Here ·

2025/08/21

In 1998, a Japanese man was filmed in solitary confinement for our entertainment. Naked as the day he was born, which led to his suggestive nickname, the Japanese people were gripped by Tomoaki Hamatsu's journey. Today, can we see how reality TV has infected our storytelling and our language? Whether it's someone in Big Brother proudly declaring they'll 'say it to your face' or an Apprentice-host-turned-President telling you 'you're fired' - are these reality shows replacing the art of

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8:57

Strong Recommend: Shamanism, The Timeless Religion by...

Strong Message Here ·

2025/08/14

What is xenising? And why do authority figures do it? Can we trace Farage back to the shamans of the past? Helen recommends Dr Manvir Singh's book Shamanism: The Timeless Religion, which helps inform a discussion around ritual and our desire for formality, and even otherness, from authority figures.Helen and Armando also debate whether ayahuasca retreats are ego trips, or enlightening experiences, and why they could never follow Thatcher's night time regimen.Join Helen and Armando over the summer

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5:39

Strong Recommend: The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald

Strong Message Here ·

2025/08/07

Fancy trying a new author, but don't know where to start? Armando recommends a short novel by Penelope Fitzgerald, and Helen shares a tip on how to try on a new author for size before committing.Join Helen and Armando over the summer for more cultural recommendations, available weekly on BBC Sounds.Production Coordinator: Sarah NichollsExecutive Producer: Pete Strauss Sound Editing: Chris Maclean Recorded at The Sound CompanyStrong Message Here: Strong Recommend is produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies and

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6:42

Strong Recommend: Evita at London Palladium

Strong Message Here ·

2025/07/31

Helen has been to the theatre recently, so you don't have to! Jamie Lloyd's production of Evita has a moment in it which can be enjoyed by anyone who happens to be near the venue at about 9pm most nights across the summer. You can enjoy the showstopper yourself, whilst also adding to the experience of those in the venue who are missing out.Join Helen and Armando over the summer for more cultural recommendations, available weekly on BBC Sounds.Production Coordinator: Sarah NichollsExecutive

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8:52

Strong Recommend: Shakespeare's Richard II

Strong Message Here ·

2025/07/24

This week, it's Armando's term to recommend something, and he makes the case for a little known up-and-coming writer, William Shakespeare. Richard II doesn't get its due among the other historical plays. Armando wonders why? It's full of drama and it's written in verse, what's not to love? Helen also discusses it in the context of the time, and what made it such a brave piece of writing.We also discuss which Shakespearean historical figure modern politicians might be.Join Helen and Armando over the

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8:21

Strong Recommend: Every Living Thing by Jason Roberts

Strong Message Here ·

2025/07/17

This week, Helen picks a book she's enjoyed recently. Jason Roberts' book from this year, Every Living Thing, details Carl Linnaeus and Du Buffon's attempts at taxonomy.The naming conventions of various parts of our world have informed so much of our lives. From what we call different animals and plants, to how relatively arbitrary classification of human races may have helped justify the slave trade.Join Helen and Armando over the summer for more cultural recommendations, available weekly on BBC

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