Strong Message Here Listeners' Strong Messages (with Stewart Lee)
8 snips
Jan 1, 2026 Stewart Lee, a witty stand-up comedian and writer, joins Armando to dive deep into listener mail with a humorous twist. They critique the misuse of phrases like 'bad apples' and 'at pace', offering comedic replacements. Stewart shares a hilarious anecdote from Parliament involving a flipchart prank, while both dissect the empty rhetoric of terms like 'fighting-age males'. Their unexpected film reviews of 'Who Dares Wins' and the notorious 'Cats' provide a comedic highlight, blending sharp commentary with light-hearted fun.
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Specify What 'At Pace' Means
- The phrase "at pace" is vacuous because pace requires a reference point to convey speed.
- Armando Iannucci and Stewart Lee suggest specifying a comparative pace (e.g., trot, canter) to make claims meaningful.
Vague Metaphors Inflate Action
- Political language often uses metaphors as vague boosters rather than precise claims.
- Words like "at pace" let politicians imply action without committing to measurable speed.
Flip Chart Prank In Parliament
- Stewart Lee recounts drawing a large cartoon on a flip chart left in a Westminster meeting room years earlier.
- He describes it as a juvenile prank he chose not to repeat on this visit to Portcullis House.
