Political Animal. Image shows from L to R: John Oliver, Andy Zaltzman. Copyright: Avalon Television / BBC
Political Animal

Political Animal

  • Radio stand-up
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2005 - 2008
  • 11 episodes (2 series)

Radio show featuring political stand-up and sketches, hosted by John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman.

Press clippings

Political Animal's Andy Zaltzman looks back on 2011

Riots, revolution and financial meltdown should be a gift for comics but Berlusconi is beyond satire.

Andy Zaltzman, The Guardian, 10th December 2011

Frankie Boyle criticises 'cowardly' BBC for Israel joke

BBC apologised for joke in which comedian compared Palestine to a cake being 'punched to pieces by a very angry Jew'.

Sam Jones, The Guardian, 30th April 2010

BBC Trust apologises for Frankie Boyle 'angry Jew' joke

Standards committee of corporation's governing body upholds finding that remark offensive, but calls for no further action.

The Guardian, 28th April 2010

Politicians are making comedians lives hell

Politicians are turning democracy into a joke. And for comics, that's no laughing matter says Andy Zaltzman.

Andy Zaltzman, The Times, 30th May 2009

R4 tightens leash on Political Animal

BBC Radio 4 is tightening up its editorial control of indie Avalon's output after the BBC Trust upheld a complaint about satirical comedy Political Animal. In an episode of the show broadcast in June last year, a Palestinian woman was referred to as "being punched to pieces by a very angry Jew". The Trust's investigation into the item was prompted by a listener complaint that the word Jew was used in an offensive way.

Robin Parker, Broadcast, 6th January 2009

Another BBC clampdown

The BBC has promised to take tighter control of Radio 4 comedy Political Animal, following a complaint that a Frankie Boyle gag was anti-semitic. One listener complained that the programme used the word 'Jew' in an offensive way - and the BBC Trust agreed. Ironically, one of the show's hosts, stand-up John Oliver, is Jewish.

Chortle, 6th January 2009

The whinge of change

Andy Zaltzman, The Guardian, 7th June 2008

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