The Alexei Sayle Podcast

Alexei and Talal get into it with bestselling author Ben Macintyre (Operation Mincemeat, SAS Rogue Heroes, Colditz) about his new book The Siege. It's all about the 1980 Iranian embassy siege where 6 terrorists took over the London embassy for 6 days holding dozens of people hostage... including Talal's dad! Bombs! SAS! Heroes! Villains! Thatcher! Buy tickets to ALL NEW SANDWICH BAR SHOWS!! https:...

It's only bloody LENNY HENRY! Alexei's old pal Sir Lenny Henry finally joins the podcast family! Topics include the working men's club circuit, Tiswas and OTT, Lenny's brief stint in Hollywood and diversity in entertainment.  And Wilf's cat acupuncturist swings by... obviously. Stick around till the end for some depressing conversation about world news! Hooray! Become a Patron here to support the...

Author and columnist Andy Beckett joins Alexei to discuss his new book The Searchers: Five Rebels, Their Dream of a Different Britain, and Their Many Enemies. The book covers 5 rebel Labour MPs and their journeys through the growing and changing Britain around them. Featuring top-tier interruptions by Wilf the cat. Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Ale...

The Mack is back! Part 2 of Alexei's conversation with Lee Mack dives deeper into Lee's TV career and his journey to becoming a household name. Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to alexeisaylepodcast@gmail.com Please consider leaving us a review on...

Alexei sits down with Lee Mack to explore his early life and career. Fruit picker, bingo caller, Pontins Bluecoat, world-famous stand-up comedian and actor... He's done it all! Tune in next time for part 2! Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to alexe...

Alexei and Talal hang their feet up and reflect on 50 episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast! Thank you all so much for tuning in for some or all of our episodes. We make this show with love and hope you stick around for many more wonderful adventures! Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send y...

Alexei is joined by comedian Paul Currie who - for the first time - shares his side of a story that made headlines back in February 2024. His run at Soho Theatre came to a bitter end thanks to the slander and false accusations made by the CAA, Soho Theatre and gullible journalists - despite all the eye-witness reports and blatant absurdity of the claims. Here, for the first time, we will hear what...

The A-Z of Leftist Politics is back! This time Alexei sits with Fred Weston to discuss his organisation (Revolutionary Communist International) and the history and future of communism in general. Visit their website marxist.com to find out more. We have a new bike ride out - Cycling to Gaza with Alexei Sayle. Watch it here ! Help those in Gaza by visiting map.org.uk Become a Patron here to support...

This week we are joined by archaeologist-turned-comedian Khalid Winter from the podcast Comedians Talking History . After learning a bit about him, Khalid tells Alexei and Talal all about the Kronstadt rebellion in 1921. Khalid's podcast features a different comedian each week and they cover topics chosen by the guest. Check it out  wherever you get your podcasts, it's great! Help those in Gaza by...

Doctor Edmund Griffiths joins Alexei to discuss a realistic and pragmatic approach for the left to have an effective role in British politics moving forward.  Enough messing around... Let's Get Organised!  Help those in Gaza by visiting map.org.uk Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your...

Let's talk cinema!  We were very lucky to have Ellen E. Jones on the show to discuss film & TV through the lens of race and representation - and we don't hold back when it comes to Alexei's oeuvre! Enjoy! Get Ellen's brilliant new book "Screen Deep:  How film and TV can solve racism and save the world" here - https://linktr.ee/screen_deep Help those in need in Gaza by visiting map.org.uk Becom...

After hearing about Peter Capaldi's early years, we're back with the second half of our epic chat with Doctor Malcolm Tucker himself! Alexei, Peter, Talal and Wilf talk Doctor Who, The Thick of It, winning an Oscar and the highs and lows of fame and success. Help those in need in Gaza by visiting map.org.uk Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayl...

Happy New Year dear listeners! We come to you with a special episode featuring the brilliant author and professor of humanities at Birkbeck University, Jacqueline Rose as she applies her great psychoanalytic mind to the current situation in Gaza and, specifically, what makes a zionist tick. Please enjoy and keep talking about Palestine! Help those in need in Gaza by visiting map.org.uk Send your f...

As our Christmas gift to you, dear listener, uncle Alexei has brought you two stockings full of Peter Capaldi goodness. But you mustn't be greedy, little one! You can have them one at a time. This first stocking is full of Peter's early life up in Glasgow. How he went from art student to punk band to movie star. In a few days time, if you're very, very good, you will receive your second serving of...

Adam Broomberg returns! The South African, Jewish artist updates us on his journey as a Palestine activist living in Germany, we discuss the censorship of anti-zionism in Germany and we also check in with ourselves and explore how this is impacting us all emotionally. Support Palestine Action by visiting palestineaction.org Help those in need in Gaza by visiting map.org.uk Send your fan art, thoug...

Co-chair of Jewish Voice for Labour Jenny Manson joins Alexei to discuss Palestine, her visits to Israel, what it costs to be an pro-Palestinian Jew, anti-semitism and her pretty impressive life story. Support Palestine Action by visiting palestineaction.org Help those in need in Gaza by visiting map.org.uk Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to alexeisaylepodcast@gmail.com Please consider l...

Free Palestine!   This episode we welcome AJ from Palestine Action to discuss the direct methods they use to interrupt the manufacturing and distribution of arms to Israel, the current situation in Palestine and, of course, Chinese philosophy... Support Palestine Action by visiting palestineaction.org Help those in need in Gaza by visiting map.org.uk Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to al...

Alexei and Talal welcome anarchist lawyer Richard Parry to the podcast to discuss his excellent book The Bonnot Gang: The Story of the French Illegalists - a true story about French anarchists in the early 20th Century. Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to alexeisaylepodcast@gmail.com Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Become a Patron here to support the show...

Maxine Peake joins the Alexei for some luvvie talk, a brief overview of her varied and of course their shared passion for politics. They also spend about 10 minutes talking about Diane Morgan... Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to alexeisaylepodcast@gmail.com Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live e...

This isn't actually the podcast! This episode of The Alexei Sayle Podcast is a video special over on our YouTube channel starring the one and only Ogmios (School of Zen Motoring on YouTube and BBC3)!! Head over there to watch as Ogmios picks Alexei and Talal up and takes them for a drive around London as they talk philosophy, driving etiquette, road rage, socialism and more. Watch the video here -...

Hello dahhhhhlings! This episode we whisk you to the world of theatre! As Talal is about to tour with a production of Tales of 1001 Nights he asks Alexei his advice and memories of theatre and comedy touring. This leads them to many meandering topics before they read out some listener emails and Patreon messages. Find out if Tales of 1001 Nights is coming to a theatre near you here ! Send your fan...

Alexei welcomes Bassem Youssef onto the show to explore the true purpose of satire, the perhaps unfair expectations of comedians as activists and his upcoming shows in the UK. Bassem will be playing the Southbank Centre in London on 9th March 2023, The Rep in Birmingham on 10th March and The O2 Ritz in Manchester on 11th March... and our very own Talal Karkouti will be supporting him! If you didn'...

Alexei continues his detour into Palestine as he and Talal welcome visual artist and activist Adam Broomberg to the show. Adam tells us about his life growing up in apartheid South Africa as a child of Jewish Holocaust survivors, the divides in his family, his numerous trips to Palestine and more. Now living in Germany, he also speaks on a particularly tough time he's currently having with state-l...

Alexei and Talal are joined by fantastic comedian and Palestine advocate Imran Yusuf. They discuss his trips to Palestine, the late Jeremy Hardy and Imran's climb to comedy stardom. Alexei also tries his best to balance out the beamingly positive conversation.  Stick around until the end for some extra nonsense... Check out Imran's BBC Radio4 pilot here and his YouTube channel here . Send your fan...

Alexei and Talal hunker down by the fire and answer a sack-full of listener questions as a little Christmas treat to you all. They discuss betraying fans, shooting guns, getting back on stage, ethnic casting and what a Communist Christmas looks like. Also some exciting updates about our Patreon content! Enjoy! Thanks so much to all our listeners and see you next year... x  Send your fan art, thoug...