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 language from people on the inside who are both baffled and beguiled by it. They'll walk you through the various verbal fiascos of the modern political lexicon so that by the end you'll be oven-ready for an appearance on Newsnight.
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.
Listen to Strong Message Here on Thursdays on Radio 4 at 9.45am, and an extended version is available on BBC Sounds.
Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4.
Episode library (59)
AI Hallucinations (with Stewart Lee and Sarah Wynn-Williams)
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...
Spooking the Markets (with Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee)
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...
Moral Failure and Deadly Negligence (with Sara Pascoe and Matt Winning)
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...
The Buck Stops Here (with Ria Lina and Sophy Ridge)
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...
Be Vigilant (with Phil Wang)
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...
Deep Disillusionment in This Country (with Stewart Lee)
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...
In Hindsight (with Ria Lina and Tim Shipman)
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...
The End of the Age of Terror and Death (with Stewart Lee)
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...
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition (with Natalie Haynes)
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...
The Battle for the Soul of the Country
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...
Hurty Words
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...
Phase 2
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...
Strong Recommend: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
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...
Strong Recommend: Tehran (Apple TV+)
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...
Strong Recommend: Elden Ring
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...
Strong Recommend: The Contestant
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...
Strong Recommend: Shamanism, The Timeless Religion by Dr Manvir Singh
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...
Strong Recommend: The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald
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...
Strong Recommend: Evita at London Palladium
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...
Strong Recommend: Shakespeare's Richard II
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...
Strong Recommend: Every Living Thing by Jason Roberts
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...
Strong Recommend: The Ballad of Wallis Island
To start off this mini-series, Armando picks a film he's enjoyed recently. Tim Key and Tom Basden's hit film The Ballad of Wallis Island started life as a short film, and has won plaudits for its...
We Haven't Always Told Our Story as Well as We Should
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...
The New Brexit
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...
Delivering for Ordinary People (with Marina Hyde)
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci decodes the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Helen Lewis is still away, so Journalist Marina Hyde steps in to join Armando. They discuss what an...
I Regret Some of My Posts (with Sara Pascoe)
This week, Helen Lewis is still away, so comedian Sara Pascoe steps in to join Armando. They reminisce over their first meeting on the set of a classic episode of The Thick of It - which was also in a...
Weird Turkish Barber Shops (with Stewart Lee)
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci decodes the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Helen Lewis is away, so comedian and writer Stewart Lee joins Armando to look at Robert Jenrick's...
An Announcement President (with Jon Stewart)
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,...
The Island of Strangers and the Manacled Gimp of Brussels
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, we're looking at inflammatory language. From Immigration to EU deals, we've...
Yes or No?
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Helen and Armando take a step back and look at whether we're seeing the...
I Want My Country Back (with Phil Wang)
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, following Reform's announcement they will remove all flags from all council...
The Official Language of the United States
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, a look over the pond at Trump's first 100 days. How have his administration...
How Much is a Pint of Milk? (with Rob Burley)
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci are joined by the BBC's former Live Political Editor...
Liberation Day (with Soumaya Keynes)
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Helen and Armando are joined by economist and journalist for the Financial...
Three Word Slogans (with Cleo Watson)
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Helen and Armando are joined by author, broadcaster and former adviser to...
Fist Emoji, Flag Emoji, Fire Emoji (with Ava Santina Evans)
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.Following the remarkable security breach dubbed 'Signalgate', Helen and Armando are...
Seizing the Narrative (with Stephen Bush)
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.Are Labour telling a good enough story? Who is the best storyteller in politics? How...
Britain Isn't Working
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, the Government announced their plans for welfare reform, so we take a look...
Be Quiet, Small Man
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Musk has been threatening a former astronaut (no, not the one he threatened...
In the Public Interest?
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.Hot mics, leaks, tell-all books. We find out a lot about how politicians talk in...
Everybody's Miserable
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.Farage says everybody is miserable, Trump says everything is a 'disaster', and Liz...
The Threat from Within
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, JD Vance sent European leaders into a tailspin with an inflammatory speech...
Build, Baby, Build!
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Starmer has suggested that Britain adopt a 'Build, Baby, Build' strategy....
Flying a Kite and Rolling the Pitch (with Rob Hutton)
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.Why do we know what's going to be in a political speech before it happens? What is...
Trump Derangement Syndrome
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Trump has truly settled back into the White House, but is it different this...
Free Speech Is Back!
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Helen and Armando take a deep dive into Mark Zuckerberg's statement which...
A Lawyer, Not a Leader
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, after a well-earned week off, Helen and Armando are back to break down how...
Listeners' Strong Messages
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Helen and Armando are delving into the email inbox to find out which...
Words of the Year
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-focused' on their 'mission' to skewer the use and abuse...
The Tepid Bath of Managed Decline
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Helen and Armando are having a splash around in the tepid bath of managed...
Reset, NOT Relaunch
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, following Keir Starmer's 'Plan for Change', Helen and Armando look at what...
Becoming a Distraction
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.Following Louise Haigh's resignation and Matt Gaetz's withdrawal from his Attorney...
I Make No Apology For...
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, we get into the world of political apologies. Why does Starmer keep...
The Deep State
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Helen and Armando spend some time trying to understand the 'deep state',...
In Listening Mode
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, as the Democrats lick their wounds, and Kemi Badenoch looks to rebuild her...
MAGA - Trump trumps Harris
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, Trump has made his way back to the White House, but will he Make America...
Tough Decisions
Comedy writer Armando Iannucci and journalist Helen Lewis decode the utterly baffling world of political language.This week, as Rachel Reeves delivers the first Labour budget in 15 years, we’re...
Kemi-Kaze and political nicknames
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...
Introducing Strong Message Here
Helen Lewis and Armando Iannucci investigate which political buzzwords are strong and stable and which are a crock of covfefe.New episodes are available weekly on Thursdays on BBC Sounds from 24...
About this Podcast
Copyright
(C) BBC 2025
Language
en
Categories
Comedy