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Artwork for What The F Is Going On?

What The F Is Going On? with Mark Steel

WTF Productions
Labour Party
Comedy
Mental Health
Boris Johnson
Donald Trump
Brexit
Green Party
Jeremy Corbyn
UK Politics
NHS
Cancer
Immigration
Racism
John Mcdonnell
Rishi Sunak
ADHD
Covid-19
Keir Starmer
Israel
Conservative Party

The world’s a mess, politics is ridiculous, and nobody seems to know what’s going on. Join Mark Steel as he sets out to make sense of the chaos — and maybe even figure out how we can fix it. Each week, Mark sits down with brilliant guests from comedy, politics and culture for funny, honest and occasionally furious conversations about modern life. Featuring guests including Miles Jupp, Jeremy Corby... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes250Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ComedySociety & Culture

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Artwork for What The F Is Going On?

Latest Episodes

The conversation continues with Isy Suttie sharing the brutal story of her worst Edinburgh Fringe gig—a 2005 set where an audience member successfully paid her a £20 note passed through the crowd to stop performing. Mark recounts a disastrously misun... more

Comedian and actor Isy Suttie joins Mark Steel to figure out what the f*** is going on, promising to solve the world's problems in a single sentence. The duo explore the pride of local South London history, the nuances of the Matlock accent, and how ... more

Last week we had some technical difficulties in the studio so we apologise for the lack of episodes over these couple of weeks.

To help bridge the gap between episodes please enjoy this conversation between Mark and Zack Polanski that was recorded j... more

In the second half of our conversation with Paul Holden, we dive into Keir Starmer's downfall, his unprecedented acceptance of freebies, and the dark money that funded his rise to Prime Minister. Paul brings his 20 years of experience investigating g... more

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Recent Guests

Isy Suttie
Comedian and actor known for Peep Show and Taskmaster
Episode: Ep 194 with Isy Suttie Pt 1: My Airbnb asked for my CV !!
Zack Polanski
Member of the Green Party, candidate for Green Party leadership
Green Party
Episode: Classic episode with Zack Polanski
Paul Holden
Author of The Fraud, investigative journalist
Author, The Fraud
Episode: Ep 193 with Paul Holden Pt 2: Keir Starmer, Dark Money and Russian Spy Smears
Russell Warfield
Author and commentator on green politics
Author of The Green Socialist
Episode: Ep 192 with Russell Warfield Pt 2: The future of the Green Party is this..
Adam Rutherford
Scientist and author
University College London / Author of Control
Episode: Classic Episode with Adam Rutherford
Rosie Jones
Special guest discussing comedy, disability, and culture
Comedian, author
Episode: Ep 190 with Rosie Jones Pt 2: I’m Underestimated Every Day
Sophie Willan
Actor, writer, and creator of Alma's Not Normal
Episode: Ep 189 with Sophie Willan (Live in London)
Andy Parsons
Comedian and guest on the episode
Episode: Ep 188 with Andy Parsons Pt 2: Mock The Week Changed Comedy
Gary Younge
Marvellous writer and journalist discussing race, memory, and politics
Episode: Ep 187 with Gary Younge Pt 2: History Isn’t What You Think

Host

Mark Steel
Host of the show

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Very good

    In a world of soundbites it is refreshing to listen to these longer, in depth, insightful conversations to better understand WTFIGO?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Greghartlepool7
    United Kingdom18 days ago
  • Funny & informative

    Insightful discussions peppered with humour by Elliot Steel’s dad.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Iambobby
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Wtf

    Wtaf insightful good guests better than expected

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wonnay
    Irelanda month ago
  • Comedy

    Come to this one late as heard him plug it on 2026 podcast and working through from the start. Very good and I know someone who is head of marketing for Pringles in the Reigate area. Not!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    frontrowreject
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Brilliant

    Everything Mark does is brilliant

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GBowling3
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's wit and warmth, and appreciate how guests combine humor with insightful analysis.
Overall, audiences describe it as a valuable, entertaining source for left-leaning political satire and analysis.
Guests are consistently engaging and bring fresh perspectives on politics, culture, and media.
Some critics wish for broader or different types of guests and note moments of strong ideological viewpoints.
The show is valued for its candor and thought-provoking discussions, with strong producer quality and entertaining banter.
Format shifts to longer interviews are noted as positive by many, though a few prefer the older episodic style.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#68
United Kingdom/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#182
Italy/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#112
New Zealand/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#192
Ireland/Comedy

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 194 with Isy Suttie Pt 1: My Airbnb asked for my CV !!
Q: Do you think that's different now? So do you think if you were a 26 year old woman from a working class town now, would there be less sense of like, “oh my God, I'm going to be left behind”?
Suttie thinks attitudes may have changed, but says she experienced similar pressure while living in London and cannot be sure how much younger generations feel it.
Ep 194 with Isy Suttie Pt 1: My Airbnb asked for my CV !!
Q: Would I think of Crystal Palace with the same nostalgia and joy if I moved away?
Suttie says people can feel romantic attachment to city surroundings just as they do to countryside, and that the feeling is not dependent on being surrounded by trees.
Ep 193 with Paul Holden Pt 2: Keir Starmer, Dark Money and Russian Spy Smears
Q: What reforms does Holden advocate for to address money in politics?
Holden advocates capping political donations (around 10,000 pounds) and implementing electoral reform to promote proportional representation, arguing these changes would reduce the influence of mega-donors and reflect the will of the people more accurately.
Ep 193 with Paul Holden Pt 2: Keir Starmer, Dark Money and Russian Spy Smears
Q: What happened with the APCO dossier and how did it affect Holden?
Holden explains that APCO Worldwide prepared a dossier for Labour Together alleging he was linked to the Russian state, including serious defaming claims; the controversy led to resignations in Labour circles and fear of legal repercussions.
Classic Episode with Adam Rutherford
Q: Why did eugenics appeal to so many in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and how did it evolve into policy?
It gained traction because it offered a seemingly rigorous framework to justify existing hierarchies and expansionist agendas; it evolved into policy through funding, racial ideologies, and the belief that biology could justify social control, which culminated in horrific outcomes in the Nazi regime and in various sterilization programs elsewhere.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About What The F Is Going On?

What is What The F Is Going On? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A politically infused, comedy-driven interview show where a veteran host chats with a rotating slate of guests from politics, journalism, and culture. Episodes blend sharp analysis with accessible humor, often pairing long-form conversations with timely reflections on current events, media, and public life. Guests range from comedians and writers to Green Party politicians and prominent journalists, offering personal stories, behind-the-scenes industry insights, and provocative takes on society, policy, and identity. The format occasionally leans into two-part deep dives, with entertaining asides and memorable character bits that keep complex topics engaging and approachable for a broad audience.

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1. Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
2. Strong Message Here
3. Comedy of the Week
4. Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast
5. The Bugle

How many episodes of What The F Is Going On? are there?

What The F Is Going On? launched 5 years ago and published 250 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on What The F Is Going On??

Recent guests on What The F Is Going On? include:

1. Isy Suttie
2. Zack Polanski
3. Paul Holden
4. Russell Warfield
5. Adam Rutherford
6. Rosie Jones
7. Sophie Willan
8. Andy Parsons

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