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Matt Forde's Political Party
Show 368. Mark Pougatch
Mark Pougatch
One of our most gifted sports broadcasters is also a massive politics nerd. Mark's usually seen anchoring ITV's coverage of England games.
But should we keep politics out of sport? Is that even possible? In this hugely entertaining and insightful interview Mark indulges his twin passions: politics and sport and explains what they can learn from each other. This is great fun. SUBSCRIBE to Mark's brilliant podcast 'How It All Played Out'
THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE - 6 October: Bridget Philipson
SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK
January
28 Birmingham Glee Club
29 Dorking Halls
30 Northampton Royal/Derngate Theatre
February
5 Lancaster Grand Theatre
6 Brighton Corn Exchange
12 Tunbridge Wells Theatre
14 London Bloomsbury Theatre
18 Faversham The Alex
19 Maidstone Hazlitt Theatre
20 Milton Keynes The Stables
26 Canterbury The Gulbenkian
27 Bridport Electric Palace
March
1 Guildford Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
3 Buxton Opera House
4 Shrewsbury Theatre Severn
5 Isle of Wight Shanklin Theatre
6 Paignton Palace Theatre
19 Leicester Y Theatre
20 Durham Gala Theatre
25 Sunderland Fire Station
26 Alnwick Playhouse
27 Barnard Castle The Witham
April
9 Winchester Theatre Royal
15 Worcester Huntingdon Hall
16 Swansea Taliesin Arts Centre
17 Monmouth Savoy Theatre
18 London Bloomsbury Theatre
22 Cheltenham Town Hall
23 Bath Komedia
24 Swindon Arts Centre
26 Salford Lowry
28 Leeds City Varieties
29 Lincoln New Theatre Royal
30 Chorley Theatre
May
1 Chester Playhouse
7 Norwich Playhouse
8 Oxford Northwall Arts Centre
13 Plymouth Quad Theatre
14 Launceston Town Hall
15 Exeter Northcott
20 Stamford Corn Exchange
21 Chelmsford Theatre
22 Bury St Edmunds The Apex
27 Lowestoft Marina Theatre
29 Maidenhead Norden Farm
31 Nottingham Theatre Royal
June
4 Coventry Warwick Arts Centre
5 Cambridge Junction
6 Sheffield Steamworks
9 Liverpool Everyman Theatre
10 Chipping Norton Theatre
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Show 390. David Miliband - Live
01:28:50|Oh boy, are you in for a treat. Political colossus David Miliband is in the UK and is on blistering form. This is impassioned, urgent and absolutely electrifying. An absolute classic. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandy 20 April: Shabana Mahmoodhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series 'The Matt Forde Focus Group':https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows
*The Matt Forde Focus Group returns – Free tickets*
00:55|To get first access to FREE audience tickets to series two of The Matt Forde Focus Group sign-up to my mailing list at www.mattforde.com/focus-groupShow 389. Hilary Cass
01:16:29|Baroness Cass didn't expect to end up in the House of Lords.She began her career as a paediatrician, a career path that culminated in her publishing the Cass Review into Gender Identity Services. This is a thoughtful and empathetic analysis of the experiences of vulnerable young people. Hilary takes us inside the report and her findings.She also makes a compelling case for banning social media for under 16s... and tells us what it's like being a newbie in the Upper Chamber. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 388. Lola McEvoy
01:00:42|Lola is absolutely full of beans. Or is it Pease Pudding?Elected in the 2024 landslide, she has already made a name for herself and is climbing the ladder as PPS to Lisa Nandy.But it's her campaigning around online safety where she's really made an impact. Should the government ban social media for children? Should smart phones be banned in schools?Let's head up to Darlington, lick a Lemon Top and find out. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 387. Keir Starmer - Live
01:17:51|The Special VIP Guest is... The Prime Minister. This is a classic episode with plenty of light and shade.There's the personal, the political, the domestic, the international and, of course, some football. It's a mix of massive laughs and proper politics. What's Trump like behind the scenese?What could the government do better?Would he wear aviators indoors?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 386. George Finch
01:08:22|George became a national political sensation in 2025 when he became the leader of Warwickshire County Council at the age of 18.The Reform councillor is now 19 and shares his experience of leadership.This is a fascinating insight into Reform as a party, to the realignment on the right and about the impact of defections like Robert Jenrick's. But it's also about the values that underpin George's thinking and about how you get things done in politics.Who is really in charge? And who should be?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 385. James Frith
30:18|Do MPs dread going back to work like the rest of us do?Rising Labour star James Frith talks us through what it's like going back to the office as a politician.He's now PPS to David Lammy, but what exactly does that involve?And where does he buy and sell his old clothes?All this and more in this entertaining start to 2026. THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsAnas Sarwar - REPLAY
01:21:42|2026 may be the year that Anas Sarwar finally leads Labour back into power at Holyrood. In this revealing and hilarious interview from 2021, he outlines what Labour needs to do to win.Since then Labour have won a landslide at Westminster... can he replicate that?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/SIGN UP to Matt's mailing list to get free audience tickets to his Radio 4 series:https://www.mattforde.com/mailing-list SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsShow 384. Ryan Wain
58:29|This is class. Ryan is the Director of Policy and Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. What are the problems we'll face in the future?What are the answers?And what's Tony Blair like as a boss?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-showsRyan Wain This is class. Ryan is the Director of Policy and Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. What are the problems we'll face in the future?What are the answers?And what's Tony Blair like as a boss?THE POLITICAL PARTY LIVE26 January: Special VIP Guest16 February: David Miliband9 March: Zack Polanski30 March: Lisa Nandyhttps://nimaxtheatres.com/shows/the-political-party-with-matt-forde/ SEE Matt's brand new stand-up tour 'Defying Calamity' across the UK:https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows