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Comedy in Dark Times, with Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis

Politics &
Economics

Can comedy help us cope emotionally with world events such as war and conflict? Does satire still have the power to hold politicians to account?

Armando Iannucci is one of Britain’s best-loved comedy writers. The creator of hit shows such as The Thick Of It, Veep and Alan Partridge, Iannucci is renowned for his sharp political satire and parodies of the rich and powerful. His latest project, a West End stage production of Stanley Kubrick’s Oscar-nominated black comedy Dr. Strangelove, focuses on a rogue US general who triggers a nuclear crisis.

In March 2024 Iannucci came to the Intelligence Squared stage where, in conversation with author and journalist Helen Lewis, he discussed the role of satire and comedy in dark times. Can comedy help us cope emotionally with world events such as war and conflict? Does satire still have the power to hold politicians to account? Should we really be laughing at our increasingly unstable and risky world?

Speakers for the motion

  • Armando Iannucci

    Writer, satirist and broadcaster

Chair

  • Helen Lewis

    Journalist, author and broadcaster

Speakers

Speaker

Armando Iannucci

Writer, satirist and broadcaster

Writer, satirist and broadcaster who has written, directed and produced numerous critically acclaimed films, television and radio comedy shows. His screenplay for the film 'In The Loop' was nominated for an Oscar at the Academy Awards. His BBC series – 'The Thick of It' – was nominated for 13 BAFTA Awards, winning five during its four-series run. He is also the writer of 'Veep' and co-creator of the popular Steve Coogan character Alan Partridge.  Iannucci is currently working on a stage production of Dr. Strangelove featuring Steve Coogan and coming to the West End in Autumn 2024.     
Chair

Helen Lewis

Journalist, author and broadcaster

Cambridge professor and columnist for the New Statesman. Her current research concentrates on the political economy of energy and the long history of the democratic, economic, and geopolitical disruptions of the twenty-first century. She is a regular panellist on Talking Politics and co-hosts the These Times podcast for Unherd, which seeks to provide a deeper, historical understanding of the news.