What The F Is Going On? with Mark Steel

This week Mark is joined by comedian, actor, cricket obsessive and national treasure Alan Davies for a conversation that covers childhood trauma, football VAR, council bureaucracy, working-class warehouses, stand-up comedy in the 80s, Peter Snow in a BBC toilet, and why comedians instinctively know when someone is “not really a comic”.

Alan talks candidly about the deeply personal experiences behind his memoirs Just Ignore Him and White Male Stand-Up, including grief, abuse, anger and the strange way comedy became both an escape and a substitute family. Along the way there are stories about Barry Manilow on the motorway, being buried under coat hangers in a van, fights in comedy clubs, the glory days of the circuit, and why every workplace secretly survives because everyone is covering for each other.

We're currently sponsored by BT - behind brilliant things! 

Search 'Why BT' to find out more or click on the following link: https://www.bt.com/broadband/why-bt

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 or watch the whole interview straight away.

www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod

For media, press & guest enquiries please email [email protected]

Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Instagram @wtfisgoingonpod 

Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel  

Follow Alan @alandaviescomic
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This week Mark continues his conversation with Rachel Millward. If you haven't heard the first part then do go back and listen now but for the rest of you here is the second half 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 

We're currently sponsored by BT - behind brilliant things! 

Search 'Why BT' to find out more or click on the following link: https://www.bt.com/broadband/why-bt

For media, press & guest enquiries please email [email protected]

Follow What The F*** Is Going On? @wtfisgoingonpod 

Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel  

Follow Rachel @millward_rachel
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The morning after the local elections, Mark is joined by Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward to ask the only question anyone in British politics can answer right now: what the f**k is going on?

As Labour and the Conservatives collapse into third and fourth place, Rachel explains why the Greens believe they’re becoming the real opposition — and why the political establishment seems terrified of it. From housing developers and billionaire wealth to Reform, immigration, rent controls and whether Keir Starmer has completely lost the plot, this is a conversation about a country that feels like it’s breaking apart in real time.

We're currently sponsored by BT - behind brilliant things! 

Search 'Why BT' to find out more or click on the following link: https://www.bt.com/broadband/why-bt

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 or watch the whole interview straight away.

www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod

For media, press & guest enquiries please email [email protected]

Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Instagram @wtfisgoingonpod 

Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel  

Follow Rachel @millward_rachel

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark is joined by journalist and columnist Matthew Norman as they discuss the rise and influence of Peter Mandelson, New Labour’s ruthless relationship with the media, how political standards have collapsed over the past 30 years, Mandelson’s reputation for power, spin and survival, the blurred lines between journalism and politics, and why modern British politics now feels closer to oligarchy than democracy. They also get into the psychology of political operators, media manipulation, Reform’s growing influence, and why things may still get worse before they get better.

Also we are pleased to announce the return of George Galloway, Nigel Boulevard and the phone in woman. 

For Ad-free episodes, Extended cuts, Early access & bonus content go to:

⁠www.patreon.com/wtfisgoingonpod⁠

For media, press & guest enquiries please email ⁠[email protected]⁠

Follow What The F*** Is Going On? with Mark Steel on Twitter @wtfisgoingonpod 

Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel  
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This week Mark continues his conversation with Mothin Ali. If you haven't heard the first part then do go back and listen now but for the rest of you here is the second half 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 [email protected]

Follow What The F*** Is Going On? @wtfisgoingonpod 

Follow Mark Steel @mrmarksteel  

Follow Mothin @mothin.ali
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices