Explores the dark comedy horror that is British politics, ahead of the next election.
“Possibly the best political comedy show on the Fringe”
★★★★★ Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph
“our foremost satirical stand-up…Whatever your politics, you’ll find excellence here”
★★★★ Stephen Armstrong, The Sunday Times
“tremendous performance, encapsulating the politics of modern day Britain”
★★★★★ Lewis McKenzie, The Herald
It was announced today, 6th July, that the UK’s leading political comedian Matt Forde (Spitting Image, HIGNFY, British Scandal, The Last Leg, The Royal Variety Performance) returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with his brand-new show Inside No. 10. Matt will explore the dark comedy horror that is British politics, ahead of the next election, from 2nd – 27th August at 8pm at Pleasance Beyond.
Following interviewing one of the most significant figures in British politics, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Anas Sarwar and SNP MP Joanna Cherry last year at the festival, Matt also returns with three live Political Party podcast specials.
On the 8th August at 2.30pm, Matt interviews the sixth First Minister of Scotland and new leader of the Scottish National Party, Humza Yousaf. With the SNP facing a baptism of fire, including Yousaf’s predecessor Nicola Sturgeon being arrested and several of the party’s key policies subsequently ditched in the face of controversy, this promises to be a candid conversation at the Gilded Balloon Debating Hall.
On the 21st August at 1pm, Matt is joined by former finance secretary and SNP leadership runner-up, Kate Forbes. Within days of announcing her candidacy, Forbes found herself at the centre of a political storm about her religious and anti-abortion views. Following the “the backlash to the backlash”, Forbes narrowly missed out on the leadership. Since then, the SNP establishment has lurched from crisis to crisis. Come and hear from the candidate who tried to change the SNP at the Gilded Balloon Debating Hall.
On the 18th August at 1.30pm, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner returns to talk to Matt following her sensational appearance on the podcast last year, leading to explosive press coverage for her hardline stance on terrorists (and the rumour she distracted Boris Johnson in Parliament by crossing and uncrossing her legs). Currently holding the government to account for their record on housing, the NHS and just about everything else, this event at the McEwan Hall is set to be a frank, raucous and hilarious event not to be missed at the festival.
After 70 sold out Political Party shows at Westminster’s The Other Palace, Matt moved to the West End’s Duchess Theatre for a fortnightly residency in September 2021, with the run subsequently extended three times through December 2023. Upcoming guests include Mhairi Black on 17th July, Dan Jarvis on 18th September and Jason Williamson on 2nd October. Since 2013, Forde has interviewed political figures including Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon, Tony Blair, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Angela Rayner, Michael Heseltine, Anthony Scaramucci, Alastair Campbell, Gordon Brown and Gary Neville. The UK’s leading political podcast has over 9 million downloads, is regularly included in iTunes’ Top 10 comedy podcasts and was recently listed by The i newspaper as one of the 50 Greatest Podcasts.
The news arrives following Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical, written by a tour de force comedy team made up of Matt Forde, Al Murray and Sean Foley, transferring to the West End’s Phoenix Theatre and running until 26th August. Described by The Daily Telegraph as a five star ‘Lavish extravaganza’ and ‘dazzling … a stunning technical achievement’ by The Times, the musical introduced by Master of Ceremonies Sir Ian McKellen, features a stellar line-up of over 100 puppets of the great and the not so good.
Matt has voiced and written for two series of Spitting Image. Since returning in 2020 the show has delivered record subscribers for BritBox UK, the BBC and ITV created streaming platform, as well as picking up huge critical acclaim. Across official social media channels, series content has been hugely popular with over 200 million views globally, three No. 1 trending videos on YouTube and achieved praise across political the political divide.
Matt is currently co-hosting British Scandal with Alice Levine, a new audio series exploring the gripping stories, fascinating characters and critical questions arising on a journey through some of the biggest UK scandals and available on all major UK podcast platforms. The debut episode shot straight to the No 1 slot in the Apple podcast chart.
Matt’s first book Politically Homeless was listed by The Sunday Times as one the Best Political Books of 2020.
Matt has hosted four series of Unspun with Matt Forde on Dave, receiving several nominations at the Broadcast Digital Awards, and has numerous other broadcast credits including: Spitting Image (BritBox/ITV), Have I Got News For You (BBC One), The Royal Variety Performance (ITV), The Last Leg (Channel 4), Mock The Week (BBC Two), 8 out of 10 Cats (Channel 4), Hypothetical (Dave) Rory Bremner’s Coalition Report and Rory Bremner’s Election Report (BBC Two), Question Time (BBC One), This Week (BBC One), Newsnight (BBC Two) and Daily Politics (BBC Two). Matt currently presents Absolute Radio’s weekly Rock n Roll Football Show.
What the Press Have Said About Matt Forde’s Previous Shows
“Forde is as gratifyingly sane as comedians come… smart, funny ideas”
★★★★ Dominic Maxwell, The Times
“Is there a better political comic than Matt Forde currently working in the UK? I can’t think of another to touch him”
★★★★½ Jay Richardson, Chortle
“Matt Forde never fails with his state-of-the-nation address, a mix of bang-on-the-money political takedowns and spot-on impressions”
★★★★ Mark Wareham, Mail On Sunday
“Matt Forde is the consummate political comedian
★★★★ Tim Cornwell, The Scotsman
EDINBURGH FRINGE LISTINGS INFORMATION
Matt Forde – Inside No. 10
Venue: Pleasance, Beyond
Date & Time: 2nd – 27th August at 8pm
Duration: 60 min
Matt Forde – The Political Party
Venue: Underbelly Bristo Square, McEwan Hall
Date & Time: 18th August at 1.30pm
Duration: 60 min
Matt Forde – The Political Party
Venue: Gilded Balloon Teviot, Debating Hall
Date & Time: 8th August at 2.30pm and 21st August at 1pm
Duration: 60 min
Web: mattforde.com
