Political comic Matt Forde is hitting the road with his biggest tour to date — and he’s bringing it home.
The satirist, best known for Spitting Image, Have I Got News For You and hit podcasts Political Party and British Scandal, will bring his new show Defying Calamity to the Theatre Royal Nottingham on Sunday May 31, 2026.
The nationwide theatre tour takes a sharp, funny — and surprisingly hopeful — look at finding positivity when politics is bleak and life throws its worst at you. Which, in Forde’s case, has included a major health battle alongside a chaotic political backdrop.
Since launching Matt Forde’s Political Party in 2013, the podcast has become one of the UK’s most popular political shows, pulling in over 11 million downloads and guests ranging from Keir Starmer and Tony Blair to Nicola Sturgeon, Jacob Rees‑Mogg and even Gary Neville.
After an 18‑month break following a bone cancer diagnosis, Forde has returned to the stage and studio, resuming his long‑running West End residency and rolling out new live shows across the UK.
Fans will also see him back behind the scenes — and the voices — of Spitting Image, with a new YouTube series titled Spitting Image: The Rest Is Bulls!t*, creatively led by Forde alongside fellow writer Al Murray. A teaser episode is already available online.
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The original Spitting Image ran for 18 series between 1984 and 1996, regularly pulling in audiences of over 15 million. Its 2020 revival — with Forde voicing characters including Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer and Donald Trump — racked up hundreds of millions of views online and delivered ITV’s highest Saturday night ratings in four years.
Away from TV, Forde has continued to dominate radio and podcasts, hosting shows on BBC Radio 4, Absolute Radio, and fronting series such as The Matt Forde Focus Group and Rock ’n’ Roll Football.
After learning to walk again following surgery during his cancer treatment, Forde returned to live comedy with The End of An Era Tour, which became the best‑reviewed show at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
Now, he’s back on the road — sharper, louder and more defiant than ever.
Tickets and full tour dates are available at mattforde.com.
