Is British politics too strange for satire? | Ian Hislop and Nick Newman interview

Private Eye editor and star of Have I Got News For You Ian Hislop has written a new play with Nick Newman about Spike Milligan. Mariella Frostrup speaks to them about their week in politics.
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[@fishernz]

A great interview. Frostrup doesn't try to talk over her guests and make herself the subject of the interview. I really enjoyed this.

[@mickeythompson9537]

Quite!

[@tonyjenkins7156]

It's refreshing.

[@borismuller86]

She’s an extremely accomplished broadcaster and it shows.

[@theinqov]

That's a brilliant point, thank you for that. The sign of a great drummer in a band is one you don't notice (apparently). I hadn't noticed her until reading your comment, it's a great observation. Yes.

[@davestalker]

That’s because she’s a total pro

[@chrischarlescook]

I always appreciate an interview with Hislop. Many thanks.

[@laurieharper1526]

Nail on the head, Nick - "People thought it would be a bit of a laugh to have Boris". Sadly, too many people think that the government should be put in the hands of the sort of person who makes them laugh down at the pub. What we actually need is Captain Mainwaring in charge. Dull, rule-bound and a bit pompous, but conscientious and very unlikely to help himself to money from the till.

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

Exactly, I'd settle for another Major over Boris. :S

[@quiltygal6981]

That old saying " be careful what you wish for" applies to him, people wanted a laugh, well not many are laughing now.

[@Relugus]

Leaders should be serious and sticklers for rules and protocol. That may sound dull, but it also means they are more likely to make sound decisions.

[@paulhough5941]

Absolutely correct, Laurie. The present trend by many of selecting those who run this country based along the lines of how they’d fair on “I’m a Celebrity..” just makes me feel the large majority of the general public aren’t really up to making wise decisions, a fact which saddens me immensely.

[@michellebrown4903]

It was a similar dichotomy which led to the installation of a certain orange buffoon across the pond. I never thought that we had that level of vacuosness here.

[@sigmatoo]

The point is that Frostrup has actually done her research prior to the interviews, so she can manage the interviews very easily.

[@undercrackers56]

I find it both amusing and depressing how the voting majority of the British public allow their attention to be focussed by popular media on political trivia. We should demanding more information about fighting corruption, resisting negative foreign influence over our sovereignty, figuring out how future demand of electricity will be met, promoting and mentoring small business, striving for equality and fairness. Instead we are spoon-fed a soap opera of political back-biting and we respond with crazed gratitude. It is the UK citizens who are shaping the future of this country and it is high time we realised it.

[@thedukeofnuts]

I very much doubt it's better in other countries. Think of the Bell curve and how it might apply in this setting....

[@cmcc3721]

It's all that matters to them. Orchestrated campaigns to oust democratically elected leaders if they don't agree with election outcomes. It was only a matter of time before they came for the pro Brexit leader. The electorates wishes are no longer a consideration. Heading for dangerous waters.

[@SennaStar]

Spoon fed the soap opera of political back biting goes over the head of most of the electorate sadly

[@jpjapers]

Armando Iannucci ended 'The Thick of It' because he believed politics has become self-satirising

[@gemmag.2988]

I so agree! The blanket contempt that this govt has for its' employer - the public - and the smugness with which the PM delivers yet another big whopper that can be easily checked beggars belief and all satire........

[@graemem111]

‘Disingenuous’ is a disingenuous word. Another belter.

[@Russ_Paul]

It grates me that the PPE scandals didn't gain traction, I would prefer the focus was on that over party-gate.

[@highpath4776]

I doubt anyone knows what PPE actually is, what is appropriate, required and how to dispose, obtain or store them

[@-DC-]

5 million a day on boat invaders and no one bats an eyelid, Britain deserves its future.

[@highpath4776]

@@-DC- On the other hand hotel operators and food suppliers are getting £4.7m a day for accomodation Being £1.2 for Afghan Persons on the agreed resettlement program for people that helped British Policy and Defence forces in Afghanistan (so that is the result of making ealier political decisions) £3.7 for Refugees, presumably they have a legitimate claim to flee from specific persecution - again a number due to wars influenced by the western powers - and some of whom could be useful to the british economy, liars from Iraq who claim to be from syria can be idenfitied, but when they are we have not sent them back. Total number of persons is 37,000 It works out £127 per day, which seems high as Premier Inn decent rate would be closer to £90 for two people sharing so someone in govt is overpaying again.

[@ronniesimpson9141]

Russ Paul so would i.and see the perpetrators charged with fraud and misappropriation of taxpayers money.

[@annewalden3795]

Russ there is to be an enquiry into the handling of the Pandemic and that will be the time for a full investigation into PPE scandals .

[@frglee]

Given it's source, a radio station run by a right-wing Conservative Party supporting news organisation run by Rupert Murdoch and his News International CEO, Rebekah Brooks, I was pleasantly surprised by how decent this interview was, and how critical of Boris Johnson. Kudos to Frostrup for this.

[@-DC-]

The current Conservative in name only Party is far from right wing, WEF salesmen with a mafia like corruption problem.

[@helveticaification]

Presumably because Murdoch wants rid of bodger too - it doesn't take a genius to work that he's a liability even to long-term right-wing interests.

[@atomiccritter6492]

The trouble is that just like the last days of Trump in power in USA suddenly out come the media to actually shoot him down and hold him to account, something they should have done PRIOR to the lection...dittio for GB

[@oliverbouchard1499]

@@-DC- idk that sounds pretty right wing to me

[@MegaAndrich]

Although many years later, I served in the Battery where Spike met Harry. Their signatures were in our Sergeants Mess visitors book. Have you seen my gun roll passed here? What colour?

[@harveysmith100]

Thanks for reminding me of that. Such clever comedy.

[@reveivl]

Great interview, thank you.

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

I met Spike when I was a child, he opened our adventure playground and the Camden newspaper took a photo of me his arms. He used to go to our local Indian restaurant too in Euston.

[@DaveATKIN]

Those Euston restaurants are (were? - I don't live there any more) the best. ❤️

[@eliakimjosephsophia4542]

@@DaveATKIN I don't live in Camden anymore either. In recent years I made friends with a guy that lived in Kentish Town has a child. We went to the same places but didn't meet. ~Sadly, due to Boris and his lockdowns, the NHS stopped his cancer treatments in March 2020. He mentioned Spike to me, he said, "If I die, it will be Spike Milligans fault". I think that was code that they injected him with the Spike Proteins.

[@gerardjlaw]

@@DaveATKIN I'm sure they were brilliant but I remember being rather unkind about them. They clearly came from a different culinary tradition from the Glasgow curry houses (India is a BIG place!) and we couldn't get any of our favourite dishes - especially pakora. (A curry without pakora? We were getting withdrawal symptoms!)

[@johnholkham2420]

My God Boris must be a gift that keeps on giving to Private Eye, perhaps PE could produce a Bumper Boris Christmas Annual. I for one would buy a copy.

[@johnholkham2420]

And invite Boris to a party to launch it.

[@laurieharper1526]

Good idea. A bit like the Beano publishing a Dennis the Menace annual.

[@quiltygal6981]

@@johnholkham2420 sad thing is he'd probably do it.

[@felicitygee381]

I would think that caricaturing Boris for any length of time becomes too easy, no art or skill involved.

[@tonyjenkins7156]

Boris the Movie. By Pixar.

[@allisterwhitehead]

Johnson was sold as seen. There's no controversy, no hypocrisy. He was never going to be held accountable or abide by the rules. Genuine satire would have to include attacking the public themselves and the media itself and no comedian on a longterm contract is brave enough to do it and as such, they all sound false, patronising and dull. Mainstream satire is dead and the established media have lost the public's interest.

[@spaceinyourface]

I agree 👍

[@trailofdeadpeople]

Good to see Ian laughing along with me about Spike slipping in the pink oboe line

[@pit_stop77]

I remember the golden Richard (Richard the third = turd) line and Hugh Hampton in the shows 🤣

[@krystsource8473]

Spike fans will always remember him and pass it on to their children.

[@borismuller86]

I was lent a Goon Show tape when I was in hospital some 20 years ago when I was a teenager and I thought it was incredible. I’d never heard anything like it before, and I really haven’t heard anything like it since.

[@harveysmith100]

I feel very vindicated after watching this. I have been telling people since the Tory party leadership race and through Boris's tenure, that he couldn't run a panel show let alone a country and that they should go back and watch HIGNFY episodes of him attempting to do so. He was hopeless, comically, sadly, hopeless. Now you could suggest that he isn't trained in such matters but dozens of people have hosted the show brilliantly. I remember Paul Merton saying on camera that Boris was an idiot. He wasn't saying it for laughs, he genuinely couldn't understand how this fool had managed to become an MP.

[@mariacarter6954]

Totally agree

[@Timelessclassix]

Me too

[@harveysmith100]

@@mariacarter6954 tq

[@harveysmith100]

@@Timelessclassix tq

[@fiddlecastro1453]

''couldn't run a panel show'', that explains why Paul Merton & Ian Hislop loved having him on the show & has a record for being host of the show! Keith Starmer couldn't run a bath let alone a country so thank god Labour are slipping the polls. People are waking up to the 2 party dictatorship of out of touch metropolitans.

[@graemem111]

Oh my giddy aunt! How wonderful to hear of Spike’s ‘pink oboe’ being ‘slipped in’. I belly laughed harder and longer than since I last listened to ‘Tails of mens’ shirts. A story of down under’.

[@MadRC]

Fantastic interview

[@stephenkane1074]

I would happily listen to Mariella narrating legal minutes of excise and duties conciliation cases

[@richardcory5024]

Johnson's value to the public is that he keeps the flow of entertainment at a consistently high level. Most people can only understand politics as a branch of entertainment, an inevitable result of around 70 years of television as the major medium of communication. Televisual communication means that everything is ultimately presented as entertainment. The implications of this are that even the most poverty stricken and disadvantaged will consider it their duty to vote for someone like Johnson as the most entertaining politician they know, just as they vote for the most entertaining character on Strictly Come Dancing or Love Island.

[@felicitygee381]

I was thinking the same

[@richardcory5024]

@@felicitygee381 Thanks. It is reassuring to know one is not alone!

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

It’s a case of ‘rational ignorance’. Your individual vote means so little there’s no point in reading up on the back story, so you might as well vote for the candidate with the nicest hair. It’s been a thing for decades…vote Blair anyone?

[@richardcory5024]

@@bob_the_bomb4508 I think it is more that people are just too lazy a) to find out what the issues are and b) think about them and if they bother to vote may do so in such a way that devalues their single vote to a point where it is worthless to everyone.

[@roberta9833]

So true! 😟

[@RoySimmons]

That was great. I always loved Spike. I have a suggestion for control of the cameras, when the interviewer asks a question of another person, that person could make a short acknowlegment 'yes' perhaps, and then the camera switches to them, Otherwise the video shows the person who is not going to answer the question. Only a small point, love what you are doing.

[@tomsharpe9988]

To take politics in the Uk seriously these days just isn't good for ones health. Taking Spike seriously is far better. He was/is far more honest, far more realistic and far more beneficial.

[@gordonriddell9082]

Unfortunately UK society had become so used to voting tactics on TV game shows like X Factor etc and that combined with opposition that was even less electable, meant the UK became lumbered with someone unfit to govern the country. Charisma alone is just not enough to run in such an important position. His time is up.

[@atomiccritter6492]

I dont agree with opposition being less electable - if that were the case the Tories would have never smeared Corbyn as much as they did....and you are overlooking the fact that in England at least we have 3 main parties ina fptp system - multiple parties do NOT help and allow minority govts to slip in...just like this one has

[@johannafreeburn3061]

great chat you three... a gold star to each of you,,, three brains in dialogue engaging with a BIG BIG issue, hope all three are donating some of your intellect on this subject to the fight for justice for julian assange. love and goodwill to all

[@martinhughes9769]

Spike was a absulute genius,

[@oliveradams4042]

There's a lot going on at the moment that's too strange for satire.

[@philippedefague3835]

It's a comedy gold mine right now, just not for intellectually bankrupt former BBC "comedians"

[@jeanettesteed3326]

Nothing is too strange for satire

[@holydigital]

Fab! Thanks 🙏

[@jayt9882]

I think a lot of us are shell-shocked rather than apathetic.

[@elaineedgar2913]

Jay T - I am neither just wondering what on earth is happening to the British?

[@brian5154]

With regard to Peter Sellers, never forget that his performances in Doctor Strangelove were, imo, the greatest ever performances in cinema history........

[@richardcory5024]

I agree. Absolutely surgical portrayals of the three most influential mind sets of the 20th century.

[@frederickmiles327]

Kubrick's real topic was war and peace. Dr Strangelove could be documented as as an almost realistic study of the USAF and Strategic command in the early 1960s and the Cuban missile crisis. The novel ' Old Man and Zoo' is a reflection of MacMillans government during the Cuban missile crisis. The Tate painting and London Zoo were being prepared to move to Wales. The British public were completely unaware 8 Victor and Vulcan squadrons were fueled and armed crew on the cockpits on 5 minute warning for 48hrs on the most critical days of the 62 Crisis and argument was raging between the PM, CAS and CDS whether the Vulcans and Victor's should be dispersed from about 8 Victor and Vulcan bases to around 30 other RAF bases and the Glasgow civilian airfield as well to provide more targets the Soviets would have to hit with missiles and bombers. During the Cuban missile crisis and 1962 the chief of Strategic air command Curtis Le May was either, over eager or acted with ruthless sense, removing the CAS General Power and several ICBM silo commanders for their dangerous irresponsibility and preparedness to launch. Kubrick's films all reflect on the sex war relationship , but Barry Lyndon could possibly be seen as a working study of the impossibility of deglamourising war and the Napoleon attraction. Kubric therefore exaggerates the beauty of the military uniforms, 18C warfare and the corruption and decadence of the life of the 18C courts, aristocrats and the Prussian and British officers of time.

[@robcord5982]

You can’t forget something you never remembered in the first place due to its tedium.

[@thewisestman1]

What responsibility does HIGNFY bear for the creation of the charchter (and it is a created character - Johnson is not even known as 'Boris' to his family/friends), history will judge. Johnson appeared on 11 shows (I believe), during which time he honed the 'eccentric rogue' persona that he would so successfully present to the public. He isn't that man in reality; in truth he's a very smart and ambitious man who played the public like a fiddle. We as a country are now paying the piper for our gullibility in accepting this mountebank as our leader. And the cost is mounting as we speak.

[@davidrees7978]

Perhaps less responsibility than anyone who ever voted for him; HIGNFY is an entertainment and BJ is entertaining. I hope BBC producers never become predictive in who they choose to exclude from our screens. Voters have less excuse for believing what he says, which the HIGNFY panel never did.

[@thewisestman1]

@@davidrees7978 Fair play. I reserve the right to pass judgement on the BBC's never becoming "predictive in deciding who they choose to exclude from our screens", but wholly agree that the voters must bear much responsibility for electing the man to high office. Truly was it said that the people get the Government they deserve - final proof of the fallacy of 'the wisdom of crowds' if it was ever needed.

[@davidrees7978]

Happy to agree! Mine was a hope, not a prediction and like you I will continue to watch carefully.

[@EdwardLindon]

None or virtually none.

[@gerardjlaw]

I'm unconvinced about him being particularly smart. He's made some spectacularly foolish statements in his time. (Cf the speech in Greenwich about the "nonsense" of covid precautions.) I think his success has been a product of being high-born and then being inculcated with the traditional public school sense of entitlement. Bear in mind that, just like analyzing the successes of the likes of Richard Branson, Donald Trump, etc, we're only looking at the successful candidates. There are untold thousands of would-be amoral and self-centred Prime Ministers from the wealthy stratum of society; and given our class-ridden system, it's simply a question of which one will succeed. (Look at his predecessors. Was David Cameron an intellectual giant? Or Teresa May? Is that why John Major stands out, having been born into nothing and having achieved everything by his own ability and efforts?)

[@judithhume9047]

Brilliant....loved it. And I love Spike.. still.

[@bernardgooch4308]

Fascinating interview, can I recommend a look at the interview with Sonia Purnell .

[@no-oneman.4140]

I'd love Ian Hislop to be Prime Minister, the problem is the 'system' does not appeal to him and others like him. If only there was some way for the turkeys to vote for Christmas.

[@theotherandrew5540]

That's just too cruel. Hislop would make us all laugh AND do a good job for the country, and hate it. It would drive him insane.

[@charlotteobable]

Bravo!

[@ThePurityControl]

People might well be waking up to what's going on. The defining feature of a scam though is that it doesn't matter if you realise after it's too late to do anything about it.

[@davidripley2916]

-That's all good and well; however, we can run with the theme and produce our own 3-word slogan. TAKE BACK PLENTY❕

[@Jeannelawes]

Must confess, as a 70yr old I had to giggle 'Pink Oboe'

[@helenswan705]

Great interview. I'd love to see the play, but I can't afford West End prices! Oops, Frostrup mistakenly saying that PE is weekly. Hislop very kindly walked around that one.

[@alexwood3251]

It’s a bit rich of Hislop criticising the electorate for electing Johnson when he gave his electoral chances the airtime he needed.

[@archvaldor]

I don't think he personally chooses the guests. I take your point that he was complicit in Johnson's rise.

[@neilwoodcock2158]

I know this is a year old but it was still very good, Made me repeat my wish that Private Eye on line in a similar manner to The Times.

[@sugarfree1894]

Calling him 'Boris', no matter whether you like him or not, is just what he wanted. It's an insidious grooming technique and the whole country has fallen for it.

[@atomiccritter6492]

he should be called LIAR

[@jamesmoore5899]

I haven't for me he's a tory twit

[@raymondgill9796]

Boris has made us a banana republic, without sun or bananas.

[@ColinBarrett001]

Or a republic.

[@kevinmcarthur2389]

Ian H needs to get himself an IT person in and teach him how to close down his emails whilst he is being interviewed.

[@borismuller86]

He said in an interview with Rob Brydon recently that he’s never shut down his email program. He just closes the laptop lid when he’s done, I think.

[@zakmartin]

I was going to say I wonder what Spike would say, but on reflection, I don't. I have a pretty good idea what he'd say.

[@robertthompson6346]

The new Government strategy - "Keep the scandals coming" Brilliant

[@diddybopper2052]

‘Boris is in real trouble’. The wish being the father of the thought.

[@Bluejohn]

I used to think that Boris was a very intelligent man who falsely presented himself as a bit of a clown. How depressing to find out it is in fact the other way round.

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

Quite , Trumpf also...

[@06alepea1]

I still have my CD's of the Goon Show. One of the all-time great comedy shows.

[@alexmarshall4331]

I have cassettes ⚠️👉🇬🇧👈

[@06alepea1]

@@alexmarshall4331 Unreal. Cherish them.

[@tonyjenkins7156]

Gervais said that jokes are like poetry, crafted, edited until perfect. I would love to see Spike perform today, it would be gold.

[@Kris.G]

"Have you heard of Ian Hislop?" "Yes" "Is he a quare?"

[@johndejure9849]

well he talks like a quare ! looks like a quare! and sounds like a quare ! so Kris, yes he probally is a quare;

[@Kris.G]

@@johndejure9849 well, I shall put him down as a probable quare then. Yes. Excellent.

[@helveticaification]

Who cares? Get real.

[@Kris.G]

@@helveticaification oh dear...

[@kerryburns6041]

I think Ian would enlighten us that quare is an adjective, not a noun. Edited, apologies and thanks.

[@indricotherium4802]

The only humour I want to see associated with this government front bench is cruel, vindictive & nasty humour. It's all they deserve. it's all they've put me in the spirit to give them. Satire is too humanising for ghouls like them.

[@laurieharper1526]

I'd like to agree because they are horrible, but ridicule is the more powerful weapon in the end. If people are too nasty to them, there is a danger some will feel sympathy for them or be able to complain about "unfairness", etc..

[@indricotherium4802]

@@laurieharper1526: there are different ways of looking at it. Personally I think it's difficult to convincingly ridicule a hard right cabal that has had so much success since mid 2019 and continues, on the back of a destructive, double down mentality that gets them the results they want, to dominate and shift a rapidly moving agenda to the point where 95% of the time, the entire political focus is on Tory Party psychodramas. I also think their opposition has been absurdly nice' to them all along, including the Remainers who gave themselves a conscience about honouring the result of the referendum and chuntering about what a good bloke Johnson would be to go to the pub for a drink with. Even Corbyn gave Johnson an easy time. I'm surprised he didn't go the whole hog and welcome him with a hug and a box of chocolates when Johnson was first legged up to leadership and then he held the door wide open to him for the election that following December. I think it's taken Starmer the best part of two years to reach any sort of understanding that there is little integrity or morality or decency to appeal to on the government benches and absolute zero on the front bench. He spent the first year cosying up to everything the charlatans were doing. He barely raised a squeak on behalf of frontline health and key workers during the first year of the pandemic who Johnson threw without a care into the life and death lottery of his hard right Covid management ideology. But I'm still not convinced Starmer can quite bring himself to believe the Johnson street gang won't play by the good old rules of English cricket. If it's not obvious to everyone by now that they are a bunch of crass chancers out to undermine parliamentary democracy in the UK, I don't know what to say but, as I said, there are different ways of looking at it. As long as they are looking square on to the reality of the tide of events and it all adds up for them.

[@laurieharper1526]

@@indricotherium4802 I agree with much of what you say, especially about Starmer, who, despite his background (ex DPP, etc) is far too naive and invested in propping up the status quo (from which he has benefitted massively) to mount any serious challenge to figures of authority. However, I do think it more powerful and effective to make people a laughing stock than it is to attempt to make them hated. That's why dictators ban satire and cartoonists. All the best.

[@indricotherium4802]

@@laurieharper1526 : I don't know how many times I posted a comment saying that Starmer is a man for the Establishment. This was after about nine months when it became obvious that all the flags, banners and straplines he erected around his persona & tentative proto-mission fitted with that. He might have gone a different way and reassured me that the 'Sir K' bit was purely incidental. Sadly, not possible on the evidence. You are about the first person Ive known ever to reflect or engage in the significance of status quo and/or, I would say, Establishment. It's as if most people who purport to be on the left feel that can all remain unchallenged, despite the fact that the status quo in England especially is overtly right-leaning. Still, the left join in in happily fencing it off in a conservation area not to be trampled over by minstream politics (except piecemeal and reactively when the gate has to be briefly opened in response to some uncomfortably intruding passing event or scandal). Or do they want to believe that the influence of Establishment is a mere trivial factor in the UK political landscape and not a hugely influential controlling agency of the state of the lives they find themselves in? Or do they actually want to believe in it as a functioning, below-the-radar benign force for societal good or, at least, an obstacle to things getting worse. If so, it's been asleep on that job for the last five years. Cheers.

[@georgielancaster1356]

The Tories need several thousands of those middle aged, heavy, angry women, (in heavy coats, and scarf over their perms), beating them around the head, with their umbrellas, a la Monty Python

[@simonbanfield1]

Boris Johnson is remarkable and has achieved something I previously thought impossible. He has turned me into a socialist.

[@spinynorman8217]

Boris has acted like a socialist why would l go to Labour?, he's driven me to the Reform party:-)

[@stevekelly5166]

Got ticketes for Spike next weekend.

[@bernadettecrawford3656]

Boris got to go public demand it

[@susanhepburn6040]

Thank you very much for this. I'm almost 70 and have never known such a disgraceful and shambolic government in my lifetime. As for 'Boris' - aaarrrgggghhhh! Don't even get me started...

[@EnglishTMTB]

And then we ask ourselves how we wound up here and remember how much worse the alternative almost certainly would've been... The real outrage, in my eyes, was that both parties would offer such awful options for us to vote on.

[@markspurgeon7162]

Nice to see Private Godfrey with Nick Newman. Maurice Onions.. Scaffolders Knee wrencher

[@jethrodykes4853]

SPIKE MILLIGAN IS A GENIUS

[@mashah1085]

It's basically "Yes, Prime Minister"...if the PM were the Silly Party's Jethro Q. Walrustitty

[@FossilisedFatherofFour]

The Goons, Singapore, no TV I remember it well. Wonderful priceless memories 😆

[@tomburroughes9834]

I remember reading Spike Milligan's war memoirs. Surrealist genius.

[@pauldockree9915]

Mariella FROSTRUP? Wow!

[@christinavuyk7875]

Apathy settling in!?! It’s been embedded into the foundation for decades now 😳

[@ColinBarrett001]

The silver lining is that this Tory s*itshow means people are finally waking up from their apathy.

[@alynjones3389]

my favourite person in real and the surreal world

[@owenfitzgerald3219]

Slip in the Pink Oboe HAHAHA!

[@jessehopper8996]

Ian was spot on, they would have to draw Liz Truss, luckily they didnt have to draw her for long.

[@janesmith8831]

Why Boris got elected? Because the alternative was Corbin…..Hobson Choice.

[@leostreat3573]

The thinking man's totty's dulcit husky tones .

[@martinmcdonald4207]

I asked this questions years ago. How do you top mad reality?

[@peterturner8766]

I thought Cad Bounder and Rotter were a firm of solicitors.

[@pingpong5000]

Watching PM Boffo burble, bumble and stumble through political daily life in his Mr Bean way on TV is the closest thing to good TV there is left. In UK politics now if you accept that all politicians are liars, thieves and perverts and nothing has or will ever change, then thanks Boffo for letting all the muck get out on show, Yes Priminister style. I am a P E reader, I love satire, Spike was a comedy God, I saw the Wippers Times on TV and loved it and if the play for it and for Spke ever comes to Blackpool count me in. Keep Swinging Ian and Nick, great chat.

[@TesterAnimal1]

I don't accept that they're all liars and thieves. I assume you haven't seen Lisa Nandy tear the tories new arseholes in parliament: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH_KmIZ6m7yYj7s

[@kenmay1572]

I subscribe to PI but some of the cartoons go over my head and as for the crossword gimme a break. Other than that it's a great mag

[@zakmartin]

What is PI? A trade magazine for gumshoes?

[@fiddlecastro1453]

It's actually a pretty good Magazine, back in 2003 when the Iraq war started, I opened it up expecting to see reports of Dr. David Kellys admission that there are no WMDs in Iraq and that the leftwing Blair government were lying, wanna know what I saw instead saw? ''the tories the tories the toriessssssssss, the tories? the tories! the tories.'' Brilliant magazine full of leftwing wit. Or at least half of it.

[@kenmay1572]

@@zakmartin I recon you knew it was PE

[@pureboxofscartcables]

SFX: Stampede ANNOUNCER: That was the sound of the human race. Resignation forms are available from the Post office.

[@derekrushe]

It was HIGNFY that normalised Boris.

[@elaineedgar2913]

I would love to go and see the show but it is London and I am too ancient. Loved the Goons and met Spike Milligan at a book signing in the 1980 s I think.

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

Hope for the best, expect the worst.

[@tridentmusic5570]

"Spike" We need this, Outside the "Cess Pit" Bring it into the country Guys.....Some of us are sentient, you know.......

[@nledaig]

We have the MPs we voted for. Many are at least as able as I His

[@euroman3726]

Johnson is universally seen as a Clown but this in itself works for him if people associate him with circus fun . His type of Clown is not funny at all but rather nauseating and frightening. An enduring nightmare .

[@TheDaveStream]

I still re-watch "yes minister" and "yes prime minister" (addressing the tittle)

[@splinterbyrd]

BoJo is not in trouble with anyone who really matters. The voters are not interested in parties at no10

[@christinavuyk7875]

Tbf even the Goons couldn’t do modern politics justice... 😬

[@theotherandrew5540]

The Goon were absolutely brilliant! They kept us alive then.

[@DoubleOSeven007]

A Brexit voter ignores all this fluff until election year. It’s too high brow. So Boris will be fine. He’s still popular amongst the masses, you’ll see. Kier doesn’t stand a chance but Ed Davey has a good opportunity to gain a few seats, if he raises his profile.

[@ajw9533]

Once ousted, Johnson will serve his constituents as a conscientious back bencher for decades. Or minutes.

[@malcolmspeakman9699]

It is not too strange, it is too corrupt.

[@antonyware9887]

Oh dear ! The champagne went all over his notes.

[@marcokite]

poor poor Ian, tiresome for him

[@bryangallagher4690]

Who was in control of sound level? It is almost inaudible! BG

[@keithashley6298]

Very good, thanks for this.

[@malahammer]

And yet the UK will not get rid of him. FFS UK....what is wrong with you?

[@sarahsue42]

FPTP voting system and feudal class system ( I'm a Brit too)

[@antonyware9887]

“ plus ça change”, dear God !

[@treadstone1970]

Boris the clown may be in trouble, but the Tories really have nothing to worry about with the most useless, hopeless, pointless and unelectable opposition in living memory.

[@gerardjlaw]

Not quite the most unelectable opposition in history; that was the previous version, when Corbyn was in charge!

[@tmcb2000]

James Thurber was half blind and could hardly draw but that clearly didn't hold him back.

[@nickmoeken8876]

Such brilliant people … so supercolious. Both are too self indulged that they forget to moderate. What Brits don’t understand, while looking inwards,is that somebody so special as Johnson makes British politics unique and alive. I’d even go as far as to murmor … inspirational. Ian and Nick, although both invaluable minds, sound like any grumpy old men. More hypocritical then Johnson ..lt’s a shame.

[@rossrennie182]

Rishy £50 million for his pals

[@williamgeorgefraser]

Spike must be turning in his grave at the way Britain is heading. Fortunately, the Goons were active at a time where there was strict policing at the BBC and the really biting satire is so deep it will mean nothing to today's woke generation. They are, therefore, likely to be acceptable for some years to come. The most insane and funny part of the show is when Bluebottle and Eccles are discussing the piece of paper with the time written on it. Pure genius.

[@atomiccritter6492]

today's woke generation - what do you mena by woke?

[@zapfanzapfan]

Well, at least Boris isn't boring...

[@marcokite]

unlike Ian

[@RB-yw9xv]

Hi my name is Jeffery from Blackpool England and I invested quite a substantial amount of money to set up a political party called the people's help party and its asham the people took and took and took and took and took and took then I realised that was politics it's a shame we should plant seeds all over England to grow and let them grow it's time to help not take

[@adamgrimsley2900]

Why isn't this called interview about Spike Milligan?

[@TheSuzberry]

Huge Hislop fan from Annapolis, MD.