Unspun With Matt Forde. Matt Forde. Copyright: Avalon Television
Unspun With Matt Forde

Unspun With Matt Forde

  • TV comedy
  • Dave
  • 2016 - 2018
  • 27 episodes (4 series)

Comedy from Matt Forde featuring a mix of political guests, jokes and special features. Also features Andy Zaltzman, Phil Wang, Aparna Nancherla, Kevin Brennan, Ian Cawsey and more.

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 1

Unspun With Matt Forde. Image shows from L to R: Alan Johnson, Matt Forde. Copyright: Avalon Television
In the first episode of his brand new political comedy show, Matt Forde is joined by Alan Johnson, Labour MP for West Hull and Hessle. Johnson talks about Corbyn and how he handled the EU referendum, and explains his views on spanking.

Preview clips

Further details

Alan Johnson on Jeremy Corbyn: "Jeremy wasn't the most passionate campaigner in favour of the EU. I would say, at best, he was neutral, but he had people around him - John McDonnell, Seumas Milne - who were fiercely in favour of a NO vote."

When Matt asks if Alan has had any interaction with Corbyn since, he responds, "None. None from the referendum onwards."

Alan blames the former PM for the EU referendum vote: "...and, as I say, it's not why we lost it, we lost it for all kinds of reasons including a former PM who's now leaving Parliament, David Cameron, who just messed this up completely - disaster from start to last. He got 44% of Tory supporters - if he'd got 50% it would have been won."

Matt raises a YouGov sex survey poll that claimed to reveal the way you vote can indicate your sexual preferences, and that Labour voters are more likely to enjoy spanking and sex outdoors. As Matt closes out the interview, he cheekily asks "Spanking or the great outdoors, Alan?". Alan Johnson responds, "spanking is underrated", later explaining "it's the satisfying smack of skin on skin."

Notes

Owen Smith was billed to appear in this episode but pulled out late in the day.

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 14th September 2016
Time
10pm
Channel
Dave
Length
60 minutes
Recorded
  • Tuesday 13th September 2016, 18:30 at Elstree Film Studios

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Thursday 15th September 2016 1:00am Dave
Thursday 15th September 2016 11:00pm Dave
Thursday 20th October 2016 11:00pm Dave

Cast & crew

Cast
Matt Forde Host / Presenter
Andy Zaltzman Self
Phil Wang Self
Kevin Brennan (as Kevin Brennan MP) Musical Performer
Ian Cawsey Musical Performer
Greg Knight (as The Rt Hon Sir Greg Knight MP) Musical Performer
Pete Wishart (as Pete Wishart MP) Musical Performer
Guest cast
Alan Johnson Guest
Francesco De Carlo Self
Writing team
Matt Forde Writer
Paul McCaffrey Writer
Julian Deane Writer (Additional Material)
Tony Doole Writer (Additional Material)
Karl Minns Writer (Additional Material)
Production team
Peter Orton Director
Tom Vinnicombe Segment Director
Robyn O'Brien Series Producer
Dan Atkinson Producer
Jon Thoday Executive Producer
Richard Allen-Turner Executive Producer
Hilary Rosen Executive Producer
Richard Watsham Executive Producer
Tom Levinge Segment Producer
Perry Widdowson Editor
James Dillon Production Designer
Billy Kimberley Costume Designer
Kit Hall Make-up Designer
Dobs Vye Composer
Fliss Williams Production Manager

Videos

Political Parties Sexual Fantasies

Matt Forde looks at the sexual fantasies of the various political parties.

Featuring: Matt Forde.

Alan Johnson skin on skin

Alan Johnson says he thinks spanking is under-rated.

Featuring: Matt Forde & Alan Johnson.

Grammar Schools

Matt Forde looks at the grammar schools debate.

Featuring: Matt Forde.

Phil Wang on China

Phil Wang talks about the UK's relationship with China.

Featuring: Phil Wang.

Press

Review: Unspun With Matt Forde, Dave

Matt Forde's new political series nearly hit the buffers before it had even been recorded. Forde's first guest was scheduled to be Labour leadership contender Owen Smith, but he pulled out. Forde suggested on the show that Smith was concerned about appearing laddish. It was a shame, but his stand-in, former Home Secretary Alan Johnson was good value for money anyway.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 15th September 2016

Considering the tumultuous political landscape, now seems like a good time to launch a weekly satirical chatshow taking the mickey out of the mighty, and Unspun will be recorded a day before broadcast to ensure maximum topicality. Host Forde also feels like a good fit: with his dark suits, open-necked shirts and sensible haircut, the thoughtful, politics-obsessed standup could easily be mistaken for a roving BBC correspondent.

Graeme Virtue, The Guardian, 14th September 2016

Unspun with Matt Forde review

A bold commission from what was once the home of the repeat, an ultra-topical political show recorded the night before transmission.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 14th September 2016

Preview: Matt Forde gets political with Unspun on Dave

The show is recorded the day before transmission to give it that all-important topical edge.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 12th September 2016

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