Huw Edwards sabotaged my show: Broadcasting legend Simon McCoy on what really happened at the BBC

Huw Edwards sabotaged my show: Broadcasting legend Simon McCoy on what really happened at the BBC

Author: Avalon August 3, 2026 Duration: 1:07:52

Simon McCoy is the man who made BBC News funny.


He is also an absolute news obsessive. 


In this fascinating and entertaining interview, he tells us what it was like moving from the BBC to GB News, what frustrated him about covering the Brexit referendum, and the intervention that Huw Edwards made about Simon's afternoon slot on News 24. 


Packed full of behind-the-scenes insight, this is an absolute cracker with one of our most gifted broadcasters. 


 

GET TICKETS for Matt's brand new stand-up show Project Holy Moly at the Edinburgh Festival and touring nationwide in 2027:

www.mattforde.com


MARCH

19 FAVERSHAM The Alex

20 DORKING Halls


APRIL

7 STOURBRIDGE Town Hall

8 GLOUCESTER Guildhall

9 LEICESTER Y Theatre

12 SALFORD Lowry

16 NORTHAMPTON Royal & Derngate

21 EXETER Northcott Theatre

24 LONDON Bloomsbury Theatre

28 ALNWICK Playhouse

29 BARNARD CASTLE Witham

30 HULL Asylum


MAY

6 BIRMINGHAM The Glee Club

12 COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre

13 WORCESTER Huntingdon Hall

14 CHORLEY Theatre

18 STAMFORD Corn Exchange

19 SHEFFIELD Steamworks

20 SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn

21 NOTTINGHAM Theatre Royal

23 LEEDS City Varieties Music Hall

26 NORWICH Playhouse

27 NORWICH Playhouse


JUNE

2 SCUNTHORPE Plowright

4 CANTERBURY Gulbenkian Theatre

5 READING Concert Hall

8 CARDIFF The Glee Club

9 BATH Komedia

10 MONMOUTH Savoy Theatre

11 CHIPPING NORTON The Theatre

15 BURY ST EDMUNDS Theatre Royal

16 MILTON KEYNES The Stables

18 TUNBRIDGE WELLS Trinity Theatre

30 LIVERPOOL Everyman Playhouse


JULY

1 CARLISLE Old Fire Station

2 GLASGOW The Glee Club

4 EDINBURGH Lyceum Theatre



See the Political Party Live on Stage:

9 August: Anas Sarwar (Edinburgh)

15 August: Stephen Flynn (Edinburgh)

18 August: TBC (Edinburgh)

20 August: Malcolm Offord (Edinburgh)

9 November: Liz Kendall (London)

21 December: Wes Streeting (London)


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


There’s a unique space where politics and comedy meet, and that’s where you’ll find Matt Forde's Political Party. As a comedian and broadcaster who once worked as a political adviser, Matt brings a rare perspective to every conversation. This isn’t a standard news analysis show; it’s where serious discussion sheds its usual stiffness. The podcast features renowned politicians and policy experts, but the atmosphere is more like a candid backroom chat than a formal interview. Guests tend to open up in ways they might not elsewhere, leading to honest, revealing, and frequently hilarious exchanges. You’ll hear the inner workings of political life, the human stories behind the headlines, and the kind of frank opinions that are usually reserved for off-mic moments. Produced by Avalon, each episode leverages Matt’s insider knowledge and comedic timing to explore the personalities and ideas shaping current events. The result is a consistently engaging listen that demystifies the political world while never taking itself too seriously. Tune in for a refreshingly direct and entertaining take on the news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Matt Forde's Political Party
Podcast Episodes
Andy Burnham - Replay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:11
Let's go back in time five years and see what, if anything, has really changed...In 2021 Andy was Mayor of Manchester but was clearly developing his thinking on where power in the UK lies. This is a great mix of thoughtf…
Johann Lamont [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:31
This. Is. Superb. The former leader of Scottish Labour gives an impassioned and engrossing analysis of everything happening in Scottish and UK politics: · SNP corruption· Triple by-election reaction· Scottish media pig p…
Beeban Kidron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:02
From Hollywood film director to campaigner against the evils of Big Tech, via the House of Lords. Beeban Kidron is a force of nature and her new book 'Users' charts the rise of Big Tech and crucially tells us how we can…
Jeremy Hunt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:30
Prepare yourself for a big fat dose of political optimism. Jeremy Hunt is asking a big question: can we be rich again? His latest book seeks to answer this and before he gets into what needs to change, he also believes t…
Show 405. Lucy Powell - LIVE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:07
This is a cracking briefing from Labour's Deputy Leader. On Makerfield and what happens next for the party. Lucy takes us inside the heart of the Labour Party... do Labour MPs and members actually want a leadership elect…
Show 404. Kieran Andrews [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:19
This is an absolute scorcher with ITV Borders' Political Editor. Kieran gives an entertaining and comprehensive analysis of the Holyrood election results and what they mean for the future of Scottish and UK politics. Fro…
Samantha Niblett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:59
Samantha was only elected in 2024 but she's already making waves, especially with her 'Yes, Sex Please, We're British' campaign. It's certainly ruffled feathers and we talk about what she wants to achieve with it, what t…
Show 402. Lewis Goodall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:52
WOAH. Recorded the night Labour MPs began calling on Keir Starmer to resign, this is an adrenaline-fuelled up-to-the-minute analysis of what has gone wrong and what happens next. PLUS great stuff about Lewis's life growi…
Show 401. Steve Baker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:12
Strap on in for an adrenaline-fuelled hour with former Conservative minister Steve Baker. This is packed full of honest reflections on the faith, life, mental health... and so much more. Steve is a deep thinker and has c…
Show 400. Andrew Marr - Replay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:56
This is a classic from the back catalogue. You are about to be thoroughly entertained by one of the best raconteurs in the history of the show. Andrew Marr is one of the most gifted broadcasters that Britain has ever pro…