Episodes

  • History Will Judge You (with Stewart Lee)
    Feb 26 2026

    Stewart Lee joins Armando again this week. With a by-election on, we look away from the present day and think about how history will judge politicians.

    Some of the language in the recent Tony Blair documentary piques Armando's interest, and we also look at how Boris Johnson and Gordon Brown use language (or lack thereof) to cement their own post-premiership legacies.

    We also look at the politic-speak creeping into Royal statements, Gerry Adams on a trampoline, and the furore over language at the BAFTAs

    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 Recorded at The Sound Company

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

    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • For the Sake of Transparency (with Natalie Haynes and Michael Gove)
    Feb 19 2026

    Armando is joined by Natalie Haynes and Michael Gove to discuss the true meaning of transparency.

    With his experience as both a politician and a journalist, Michael Gove gives his insight into how transparency can often mean the opposite. He also explains the perverse incentive for ministers to go out and defend tricky positions, and what it feels like to have your private communications laid bare in an inquiry.

    And with Natalie on the show, we look at historical examples of turbulent leadership, and find out who has the dubious honour of being 'the Liz Truss of ancient Rome'.

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Psychodrama (with Stewart Lee)
    Feb 12 2026

    Stewart Lee joins Armando to examine the language around political pyschodramas. We've discussed political language becoming maximalist, but it also gone into warp speed?

    Looking at whether 'stumbling' is in fact a good thing, we also manage to find new names for Wes Streeting, Peter Mandelson and Andrew (you know which one).

    We also find time to discuss the fake news that has been stinking up the White House, jellyfish anuses and slapstick.

    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.

    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • You've Let Your Country Down (with Emily Maitlis)
    Feb 5 2026

    Has a man once described as 'teflon' finally run out of spin? Peter Mandelson suggests he needs to run an investigation into himself, but to do an investigation into his language, Armando is joined by host of the News Agents, Emily Maitlis.

    We discuss revelations in the Epstein files, and why it brings to mind Dickens. Are we wiser to the language of political scandal than we used to be? And is it impossible to spin a story in the modern media environment.

    We also look at why it's so frustrating, if politically wise, how often political figures suffer bouts of selective amnesia.

    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 Recorded at The Sound Company

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

    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Are You a Stupid Person? (with Natalie Haynes)
    Jan 29 2026

    Was Andy Burnham blocked from running in the Gorton and Denton by-election because Labour need to save resources for elections they ‘must have’? Was the Tory briefing that referenced the defecting Suella Braverman’s mental health really a ‘first draft?’

    Armando and Natalie examine this and more, to find out if politicians in the UK are echoing Donald Trump’s words as they ask us to take these at face value - “Are you a stupid person?”. Are we not expected to read this 'subtext in block caps'?

    We also discuss how Trump's speeches are held together, and why Carney quoting Thucydides warmed Natalie's heart.

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

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

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

    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • U-Turns and Turncoats (with Stewart Lee)
    Jan 22 2026

    With the backdrop of tariffs and territorial land grabs, Stewart and Armando look at the political language of U-turns and turncoats.

    With politicians having to advocate for a position they used to be in direct opposition to, we ask if political language exists in a quantum state inside Robert Jenrick's head, or, failing that are we really expected to believe defectors like him have had a damascene conversion?

    Stewart gives an update to an tired political joke, Armando finds a nifty Peace Prize related fix for the Greenland dispute, and they both give a run-down the shifty, shifting responses from Government officials on their numerous U-turns.

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

    Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Caroline Barlow Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company

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

    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Elections Aren't Won on Twitter (with Phil Wang and Marianna Spring)
    Jan 15 2026

    Is Keir Starmer stuck in 2016? BBC's Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent Marianna Spring joins Phil Wang and Armando to look at the evolving language of social media.

    How do politicians navigate the new online world, both when trying to get their central message across, and in responding to crises? With the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, we examine how the normal playbook of a tragedy no longer applies.

    In the extended episode, we hear Phil take on the role of a lifetime, playing Nigel Farage, find out how Armando's nickname is causing him problems, and look at Grok's recent scandal.

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

    Sound editing: Rich Evans Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound Company

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

    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Regime Change (with Natalie Haynes)
    Jan 8 2026

    New Year, and Venezuela is under new management.

    The fallout from the "extraction" of Maduro has thrown up some interesting political language. Why aren't the US calling it 'regime change'? Why is Starmer damned if he does or doesn't say anything? and is Trump the first politician to use the word 'literally' correctly?

    In the extended version, we also look at Natalie's pedometer, Armando as the Elder of Taskmaster, and why a 'mild zombie apocalypse' has been described as 'encouraging'.

    Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound Company

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

    Show More Show Less
    30 mins