Strong Message Here

Afleveringen

1. In a Surprise Announcement (with Beth Rigby)

   28 oktober 2026 · 38 min

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   Armando is joined by Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby to pore over the language surrounding the budget. Lees meer

   Can you pre-trail a 'surprise announcement'? What does good growth mean? And do people care about PuFins?

   Elsewhere, we look at politicians telling jokes, vibes politicians, and hear what happened when Beth shouted at Angela Merkel.

   Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

   Sound editing: Jerry Peal
   Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter
   Executive Producer: Pete Strauss
   Recorded at The Sound Company

   Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

2. Don't Insult My Intelligence (with Chloe Petts and Marianna Spring)

   21 oktober 2026 · 35 min

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   Armando is joined by comedian Chloe Petts to look at whether we're getting more stupid, and whether we get the politicians we deserve. Lees meer

   To get into the weeds of that, they are also joined by BBC's Social Media Investigations Correspondent, Marianna Spring.

   With Trump telling an audience 'i could say the stupidest things and you'd clap', we look at how social media and AI are changing our interactions with politicians from both directions, and with Celebrity Traitors as an example, are we suspicious of anyone who displays intelligence?

   Elsewhere, we find out what's under Armando's kilt, hear a long goodbye from an AI agent, and invent a very British solution to rioting.

   AI interview clip from @grahamdotzip's video "I Sent an AI to My Job Interview. So Did the Company" on YouTube
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0fECnj5sas

   Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

   Sound editing: Chris Mac
   Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter
   Executive Producer: James Robinson
   Recorded at The Sound Company

   Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

3. Handcuffed to a Zombie (with Tom Peck)

   14 oktober 2026 · 38 min

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   Armando is joined by sketchwriter for the Times, Tom Peck, to look at the language of the schism on the British right Lees meer

   Following on from party conference season, we discuss the escalating war of words between Badenoch and Jenrick, as well as 'the worst speech of all time' from Andrew Griffith.

   We also look at the language of the Green Party's 'zionism is racism' motion, and the wider reaction to it.

   Elsewhere, Armando recalls the moment he died inside, Tom pitches a new BBC property show, and they speculate on the late Queen's final diary entry.

   Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

   Sound editing: Chris Maclean
   Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter
   Executive Producer: Pete Strauss
   Recorded at The Sound Company

   Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

4. Super Intelligence (with Stewart Lee and Carole Cadwalladr)

   7 oktober 2026 · 33 min

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   Armando is joined by Stewart Lee to look at the newly rebranded 'Super Intelligence'. Lees meer

   To get into the linguistic weeds, they are also joined by founding member of The Nerve, Carole Cadwalladr.

   The tech bros are coming up with new terminology all over the shop, so we take a whistle stop tour through phrases that grind our gears. Rogue agents, warfighters and bootloaders all come under scrutiny.

   Elsewhere, we discuss Armando's visit to Jeffrey Archer's house, Burnham's short honeymoon and why Superman is a rubbish superhero.

   Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

   Sound editing: Chris Maclean
   Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter
   Executive Producer: Pete Strauss
   Recorded at The Sound Company

   Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

5. Political Capital (with Pierre Novellie)

   30 september 2026 · 33 min

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   Armando is joined by comedian Pierre Novellie this week, and they’re going to have an honest conversation about political capital. Lees meer

   Looking at some of the phrases and language being used around Burnham’s decision to spend his political capital, we look at some of the announcements trailed in the speech, and whether the politics of ‘saying’ now trumps the politics of ‘doing’.

   Elsewhere, Armando and Pierre work out the difference between a ‘legitimate concern’ and an ‘understandable concern’, examine Peter Thiel’s defense of evil, and find the most unfortunately named politician in the world.

   Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

   Sound editing: Rich Evans

   Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter

   Executive Producer: Pete Strauss

   Recorded at The Sound Company

   Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC studios production for Radio 4

6. We Care, We Fight! (with Stewart Lee)

   23 september 2026 · 36 min

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   Stewart Lee returns to the show after a summer judging dog shows with Charlotte Church. Lees meer

   He and Armando look at the Lib Dem conference, and why the 'word cloud' is not Ed Davey's friend. They also have some helpful and serious suggestions for how Ed can improve his messaging, which I'm sure he'll take on board.

   Elsewhere, we look at how Trump's media ban might play out, and if the Democrats in the US have finally landed on a decent attack line on 'The Trump Crime Family'.

   Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

   Sound editing: Rich Evans
   Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter
   Executive Producer: Pete Strauss
   Recorded at the Sound Company

   Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

7. I Wasn't Even Listening (with Natalie Haynes)

   16 september 2026 · 33 min

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   Armando is back from a summer break to look at the use and abuse of political language. Lees meer

   Joined by friend of the show, Natalie Haynes, they mournfully fell the Keir Starmer Metaphor tree, and find a suitable replacement for the Andy Burnham era.

   Elsewhere, they discuss the undercover operation on Reform, and the language of the fallout, 'perv glasses' and a corbyn-eqsue 'Strong Message Here' for the modern era.

   Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

   Sound editing: Chris Maclean
   Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter
   Executive Producer: Pete Strauss
   Recorded at the Sound Company

   Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

8. Doing Politics Differently (with Phil Wang and Pierre Novellie)

   1 juli 2026 · 38 min

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   This week, Phil Wang steps in for Armando, and is joined by comedian Pierre Novellie to discuss 'doing politics differently'. Lees meer

   Digging into the language of Burnham's speech, we examine what he means by 'place', and whether we will see an end to 'punch and judy politics'.

   Elsewhere, we look at Badenoch's attack mode, America's 250th celebrations and why politicians struggle to p-p-p-pick a favourite biscuit.

   Stay tuned to the end to hear from Armando, and find out what they 'Putin' the chicken over in Georgia.

   Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

   Sound editing: Chris Maclean
   Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter
   Executive Producer: James Robinson

   Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

9. A Swift Transition (with Matt Forde and Ria Lina)

   24 juni 2026 · 34 min

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   Armando is under the weather this week, so in true World Cup style, we have called up a super sub. Lees meer

   Matt Forde steps in to host, and Ria Lina joins him to discuss the big news of the week.

   Is it a bit rich of the Labour Party to claim they don't want to 'exaggerate small differences'? How does Starmer sell his achievements, and is there anything we can learn about how Burnham uses language?

   In the longer version, we also look back at some of Starmer's best bits, and whether Manchesterism is an ideology, or just good branding

   Armando will be back next week, but in the meantime, if you have got a strong message for the show, email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

   Sound editing: Chris Maclean
   Production Coordinator: Katie Baum & Asha Osborne-Grinter
   Executive Producer: Pete Strauss
   Recorded at The Sound Company

   Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

10. It's All Signed (with Stewart Lee)

    17 juni 2026 · 38 min

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    Stewart Lee joins Armando to look at the detail, or lack thereof in the US and Iran deal. Lees meer

    What is a memorandum of understanding? Does the language of UFC apply to this deal? And are Shoreditch hipsters running Iran's social media campaign?

    It's by-election day, and while broadcast rules prevent us from discussing the events in Makerfield, there's no rule to stop us discussing the broadcasting rules themselves. Outgoing Ofcom chair Michael Grade has been vocal about the state of broadcast journalism in the UK, so we take a close look at his recent language.

    Elsewhere, we talk Ghibli Grandads, soiled underpants, and 'the Islington of the Mind'.

    Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

    Sound editing: Chris Maclean
    Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter
    Executive Producer: Richard Morris
    Recorded at The Sound Company

    Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

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