
What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel
From Donald Trump's tariffs to Elon Musk's Teslas; from the rise of Reform to 'Woke Marxist Popes' and the axing of Winter Fuel Payments, award winning comedian Mark Steel and some very special guests attempt to answer the most taxing intellectual question of our time... What The F*** Is Going On?! Get video versions and instant access to the full interviews on Patreon.
Latest episodes

May 31, 2025 • 52min
Ep 158 with Caitlin Moran (Part 1)
Mark is joined by journalist, broadcaster & author Caitlin Moran In a full-length, incredibly interesting interview, Mark and Caitlin discuss feminism, the differences between men and women when it comes to health, life growing up within the working class – and secret Midlanders.
You can hear the second part of the interview in next week's episode – but if you can't wait, why not join us on Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen to the whole interview straight away – and you'll also be able to watch it! https://www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
Follow Caitlin Moran @mscaitlinmoran
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May 24, 2025 • 57min
Ep 157 with John Mcdonnell MP (Part 2)
This week Mark continues his conversation with John McDonnell, ex-Shadow Chancellor and Jeremy Corbyn ally. If you haven't heard the first part then do go back and listen now but for the rest of you here is the rest of the interview.
Want to get access to the full video interview before anyone else? why not join us on Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen to the whole interview straight away – and you'll also be able to watch it! https://www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
Follow John McDonnell @johnmcdonnellMP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 17, 2025 • 1h 2min
Ep 157 with John McDonnell MP (Part 1)
We're back! Mark is joined by John McDonnell, ex-Shadow Chancellor and Jeremy Corbyn ally. In a full-length, outspoken, no-holds barred interview, Mark quizzes John about his political passions, the Jeremy Corbyn years, life in the Labour Party under Keir Starmer – and how we go forward from here.
You can hear the second part of the interview in next week's episode – but if you can't wait, why not join us on Patreon? For £4 a month you can listen to the whole interview straight away – and you'll also be able to watch it! https://www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod
For media, press & guest enquiries please email mikey@carouselstudios.co.uk
Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod
Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
Follow John McDonnell @johnmcdonnellMP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 14, 2025 • 1min
Brand New Series Coming This Saturday!
We have a very exciting announcement, We are returning for an all new and improved series of What The F*** Is Going On? starting this Saturday!!
We have some incredible guests lined up such as John McDonnell, Caitlin Moran, Michael Rosen, Alexei Sayle, Matthew Norman, Jeff Innocent and many more so make sure to tune in this weekend as we to try to figure out, once again .. What The F*** Is Going On? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 3, 2025 • 54min
Classic: Ep 108 with Scott Bennett
We'll be back in just a couple of weeks with some brand new episodes, But for now, here's another classic from the archives, in which Mark was joined by comedian Scott Bennett for a special extended interview, as he tried to make sense of his ongoing cancer treatment.
Mark somehow manages to see the funny side of coughing fits, industrial scale mucus production – and an assortment of drugs and paraphernalia that would put Walter White to shame!
Get ad-free extended episodes, early access and exclusive content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod
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@wtfisgoingonpod Follow Scott Bennett @scottbcomedyuk and the 'Brew With The Bennetts' podcast @BWTBpod https://scottbennettcomedy.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 19, 2025 • 1h 2min
Classic: Ep 126 with Ramita Navai
Good news! We'll be back with some brand new episodes starting next month. But in the meantime, here's another classic episode from the archives. Mark is joined by award-winning journalist Ramita Navai for a special extended interview about the Middle East. From Israel's war crimes in Gaza, to life under the Taliban, and the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement in Iran. Informed, entertaining and shocking, subjects range from the Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, whose death sentence was thankfully overturned by the regime after worldwide condemnation – to the hackers who filmed a pro-Iranian regime journalist masturbating to porn in his office. As a British-Iranian journalist, Ramita has won an Emmy and other awards for documentaries such as Afghanistan Undercover, ISIS and the Battle for Iraq, Undercover Syria, and Breaking Into Israel. If you want to understand What The F*** Is Going On in the Middle East, this is the episode for you. Follow Ramita Navai @ramitanavai Follow What The F*** Is Going On? With Mark Steel @wtfisgoingonpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 5, 2025 • 1h 11min
Classic: EP 118 with Robin Ince
We're on a break from the podcast while Mark starts his new tour 'The Leopard In My House' (details here: https://marksteelinfo.com/) But in the meantime, here's another classic episode from the archives. Mark is joined by Robin Ince - comedian, writer and broadcaster - for a special extended interview, as he tries to make sense of the rise of conspiracy theories and the challenges faced by rational thought. It's a hilarious and wide-ranging conversation that covers everything from Naomi Klein and Donald Trump to Robin Askwith, star of Confessions of a Window Cleaner! Mark and Robin discuss whether it's worth arguing with anti-vaxxers and flat-Earthers, and reveal some of the tricks that psychics use to con their audiences. But the most heated argument of all revolves around a Trotskyist interpretation of the 70s American detective series Columbo! Follow Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social Follow What The F*** Is Going On? With Mark Steel @wtfisgoingonpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 22, 2025 • 1h 1min
Classic: EP 79 with Miles Jupp
We're on a break from the podcast while Mark starts his new tour 'The Leopard In My House' (details here: https://marksteelinfo.com/) But in the meantime, here's another classic episode from the archives. Mark is joined by the comedian and actor Miles Jupp for a special Coronation edition of the podcast. In an extended interview, Mark and Miles discuss the big ideas of monarchy, religion – and whether David Attenborough secretly likes to go fly-tipping. Plus, there's Mark's take on what the Coronation ceremony itself will involve, including the Wolverhampton Dragoon Guards of the Prussian battalions of the Noble Emissaries of Mansfield. Oh – and masturbating hedgehogs. Follow What The F*** Is Going On? With Mark Steel @wtfisgoingonpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 15, 2025 • 1h 10min
Classic: Ep 124 with Dr Phil Hammond
We're on a break from the podcast while Mark starts his new tour 'The Leopard In My House' (details here: https://marksteelinfo.com/) But in the meantime, here's another classic episode from the archives. In this extended interview, Mark talks about his 'cancer journey' – as they would no doubt call it on Britain's Got Talent - to Dr Phil Hammond. As a comedian, author and retired doctor, no one is better placed than Phil to give some informed and highly entertaining expert opinion on Mark's experiences, advances in medical science, and the state of the NHS. The conversation covers everything from King Charles to East Grinstead – and whether arsenic is really used as a cancer treatment. It's a frank, no-holds barred discussion that contains graphic sexual references and other grown up stuff that needs to be talked about more! Follow @drphilhammond Follow What The F*** Is Going On? With Mark Steel @wtfisgoingonpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 8, 2025 • 1h 5min
Classic: Dr Phil Hammond
We're on a break from the podcast while Mark starts his new tour 'The Leopard In My House' (details here: https://marksteelinfo.com/) But in the meantime, here's another classic episode from the archives. In this special extended interview, Mark talks to Dr Phil Hammond about the state of the NHS. As a comedian, journalist, whistle-blower and newly retired NHS doctor, no one is better equipped to try to answer the questions that people are asking about healthcare today. The conversation is fascinating, informed – and darkly funny! Follow @drphilhammond Follow What The F*** Is Going On? With Mark Steel @wtfisgoingonpodGo to proton.me/wtfisgoingon to receive a 38% discount on Proton Mail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices