Strong Message Here
BBC Radio 4
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 13, 2025 • 31min
Be Quiet, Small Man
Join Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis as they hilariously dissect the bizarre world of political language. They explore threats from Musk to astronauts and Trump's tariff talk, questioning if strength in speech truly resonates in politics. The duo delves into the art of writing living obituaries, unpacking how timing and tone shape public narrative. They also analyze the evolving Democratic Party strategies and the complex impacts of personal branding. Plus, a tantalizing tease for supernatural tales awaits in future discussions!
Mar 6, 2025 • 29min
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 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.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King
Production Coordinator - Katie Baum
Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4.
An EcoAudio Certified Production.
11 snips
Feb 27, 2025 • 30min
Everybody's Miserable
Dive into the world of political language as Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis unravel why politicians like Farage and Trump paint a picture of widespread misery. They explore the whimsical connections between historical narratives and modern political discourse, discussing the surprising role of AI in echoing human thought. The duo critiques the evolution of political campaigns in the social media era and tackles the challenges of British identity, highlighting contradictions that surface in today's rhetoric.
Feb 20, 2025 • 37min
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 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.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King
Production Coordinator - Katie Baum
Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4.
An EcoAudio Certified Production.
13 snips
Feb 13, 2025 • 39min
Build, Baby, Build!
Join Armando and Helen as they hilariously decode political phrases like 'Build, baby, build,' revealing why politicians mimic each other. They explore Ireland's literary legacy and how it contrasts with perceptions of cultural accessibility in London. The duo critiques the oversimplified rhetoric around energy and immigration while examining the Conservative Party's identity challenges. Adding humor, they tackle the absurdity of banning plastic straws and share quirky political anecdotes that keep the conversation lively.
Feb 6, 2025 • 36min
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 '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.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King
Production Coordinator - Katie Baum and Caroline Barlow
Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4.
An EcoAudio Certified Production.
Jan 30, 2025 • 37min
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 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.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King
Production Coordinator - Katie Baum
Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4.
An EcoAudio Certified Production.
Jan 23, 2025 • 30min
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 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.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King
Production Coordinator - Katie Baum
Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4.
An EcoAudio Certified Production.
11 snips
Jan 16, 2025 • 32min
A Lawyer, Not a Leader
Join Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis as they hilariously decode political language, particularly a memorable jab by Kemi Badenoch. Discover what makes political attacks effective or ineffective, while indulging in anecdotes from the post-Brexit landscape. They also dive into the frenzy of the news cycle and its impact on genuine political discourse. With witty critiques of corporate jargon and reflections on the absurdities of modern politics, this conversation is both insightful and entertaining.
Jan 2, 2025 • 24min
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 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.ukSound Editing by Charlie Brandon-King
Production Coordinator - Katie Baum
Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4.
An EcoAudio Certified Production.
