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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
Brexit
Donald Trump
Jeremy Corbyn
Green Party
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes247Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ComedySociety & Culture

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Artwork for What The F Is Going On?

Latest Episodes

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

This week, investigative journalist Paul Holden joins the show to discuss his explosive book, The Fraud, detailing the ruthless internal campaign to capture the Labour Party. Paul has spent 20 years investigating grand corruption worldwide, including... more

In the second half of our conversation with Russell Warfield, we look at the future of the Green Party as a mass political movement and what it actually takes to challenge entrenched wealth. Russell draws on his extensive background—having worked for... more

This week, communications strategist Russell Warfield joins the show to discuss the shifting landscape of UK politics and the dramatic rise of the Green Party. Russell worked for the Greens for five years, ran the comms for the London 2021 elections ... more

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Recent Guests

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
Comedian, author, and disability advocate
Episode: Ep 190 with Rosie Jones Pt 1: My Disability Is Not The Most interesting Thing About Me!
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
Author and commentator introduced as the guest with many books
Episode: Ep 187 with Gary Younge Pt 1: Immigration was never the problem!
Susie McCabe
Glaswegian comic who has done BBC shows about her experiences of being gay, born in Glasgow in 1980
BBC
Episode: Ep 186 with Susie Mccabe Pt 1: I am unapologetically Glaswegian!
Alan Davies
Guest, comedian and actor
Actor/Comedian
Episode: Ep 184 with Alan Davies Pt 2: I Spent Years Pretending I Was Fine

Host

Mark Steel
Host of the show

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.7k ratings
  • A dose of sanity

    I only discovered this podcast recently. Mark and his excellent guests have great discussions about a wide range of interesting topics that not only inform but also amuse and put things in a good perspective and context.

    Not to say that you’ll be much wiser by the end of the episode but you will at least be content in the knowledge that it isn’t just you that wonders ‘what the eff is going on?’

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Denise Person
    Norway3 months ago
  • Always A good listen

    Always make you think. You can agree or disagree with what is talked about. But the discussion always broadens your mind and knowledge.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WTFAllgoodNickNamesTaken
    Australia3 months ago
  • Susie McCabe

    Loved these episodes as usual but more so because a lot of it related to my home country (specifically Edinburgh) you referred to people like Jimmy Reid I always thought he was such a good communicator Susie so knowledgable on Scottish politics -funny with insight and knowledge what more do we need

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scot in England
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Excellent

    So inspiring to hear funny intelligent reflections on where we are right now, and particularly for me, to get new perspectives on how we got here. Whether you’re familiar with them or not every guest is fascinating.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Al Purcell
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • A master of comic kindness

    I listen all the time, usually at the end of the day when I could do with a chuckle, knowing that Mark is the one of the wittiest, at times also gentlest, political comedians out there

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AlsoJeremy
    United Kingdom4 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
#123
United Kingdom/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#183
Denmark/Comedy
Apple Podcasts
#199
Ireland/Comedy

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Classic Episode with Adam Rutherford
Q: So, what would you say does Eugenics mean?
Eugenics is the early attempt to improve a population scientifically by selective breeding, tying biological traits to desirability and social ranking, often justified by flawed data and biased power structures.
Ep 189 with Sophie Willan (Live in London)
Q: Has talked about using sad and dramatic incidents and turning them into humorous ones. When does she know she's ready to do this?
She explains that readiness comes from a combination of recognizing personal experiences as worth sharing, having the skill to translate them into a narrative, and understanding what the audience needs. It's a journey from early writings to more mature, staged material, aided by feedback and practice.

Audience Metrics

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

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

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What The F Is Going On? launched 5 years ago and published 247 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. Paul Holden
2. Russell Warfield
3. Adam Rutherford
4. Rosie Jones
5. Sophie Willan
6. Andy Parsons
7. Gary Younge
8. Susie McCabe

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