Andy Zaltzman
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Andy has firmly established himself in the vanguard of British comedy with his unique brand of political satire.

In spring 2012, Andy performed a run of sold out shows in New York where he also recorded two sets on John Oliver’s New York Stand Up Show for Comedy Central. Andy has previously written for and performed on John Oliver’s one hour Comedy Central special Terrifying Times, later released on DVD.

Alongside John Oliver, Andy co-wrote and hosted the BBC Radio 4 show Political Animal, based on their satirical live stand-up show. Andy continues to host and curate Political Animal, with ongoing live performances, including a run at the Soho Theatre in 2012. Political animal is a topical comedy show which has featured a long list of guest appearances, notably Stewart Lee, Russell Brand, Frankie Boyle, Russell Howard and Richard Herring.

Together, John Oliver and Andy have co-written and presented The Bugle, an ongoing series of satirical news podcasts which produced over 178 episodes in association with The Times, before becoming independently run in January 2012. The Bugle’s success has grown significantly since its inception in 2007 and now averages 500,000 downloads a week.

Andy’s numerous TV appearances include 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4), stand-up on Russell Howard’s Good News (BBC Three), Newsnight (BBC Two), Sky News and Daily Politics (BBC Two), CNN, Late and Live Guide to Comedy, The Politics Show and BBC News.

Since 2006 he has been regularly working with Rory Bremner on a number of his television and radio projects. He has written for several series of Bremner, Bird & Fortune (Channel 4). Rory Bremner also appeared on Oliver and Zaltzman’s US election special for BBC Radio 4; Transatlantic. Andy went on to write and perform for Tonight with Rory Bremner in 2011.

Andy has written and hosted two series of Andy Zaltzman's History of the Third Millennium, Series 1 of 100 for BBC Radio 4 as well as the second series of Radio 4’s The Now Show, three series of the same station’s satirical show, The Department and regular appearances on topical panel quiz show The News Quiz.

An avid sports fan, Andy hosted Yes! It’s The Ashes for BBC Radio 5Live. He’s a regular on Radio 5’s 7 Day Sunday with Al Murray and has appeared on sporting punditry show Fighting Talk. Andy is a regular contributor to international sports channel ESPN’s online cricket blog Cricinfo, During the 2011 World Cup, he followed the tour with his blogging commentary whilst touring around India and Bangladesh performing his stand-up.


Since being nominated for the Perrier Best Newcomer Award in 2001, Andy has been a regular at the Edinburgh Festival. He took his most recent acclaimed solo show, Armchair Revolutionary to the Fringe in 2011. In 2007 Andy performed an award-winning Melbourne Festival debut, winning the Piece of Wood Award as the comedian’s comedian.


Andy’s first book, a satirical take on the ‘credit crunch’ entitled Does Anything Eat Bankers? was published in November 2008 by Old Street Publishing. Additionally, Andy writes a monthly column for Readers Digest Magazine.

"The best political comedian in the business, Zaltzman lets loose a veritable torrent of jokes, facts, observations, very short stories, silly remarks and inspired asides... Zaltzman is breathtakingly good."
Time Out

“Probably one of the finest satirical comedians this country’s ever produced”.
Tim Arthur

Blog Entries by Andy Zaltzman

What We Have Learned This Week: Hosni Mubarak is a Natural-Born Opinion-Splitter

(0) Comments | Posted 22 June 2012 | (00:00)

Hosni Mubarak is a natural-born opinion-splitter

Like a boxer's punch, the ability to inflame opinion is often the last remaining weapon in the fallen despot's arsenal. Hosni Mubarak, the former 29-time Egyptian President Of The Year, has this week had the world bickering over whether or not (and to what...

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What the World Has Learned This Week: The Jubilee Bank Holiday Bonanza

(5) Comments | Posted 7 June 2012 | (00:00)

It has been a strange elongated weekend to be a Briton with no emotional attachment to the monarchy. Being reigned on by a non-executive ceremonial sovereign in a fetching spangly-hat-and-cape combo is not one of my personal hobbies.

I have no objection to other people indulging in it, and...

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What the World Has Learned This Week: Kim Jong-Un Has Much to Learn

(2) Comments | Posted 19 April 2012 | (00:00)

1. Kim Jong-Un has much to learn.

The young North Korea boss and trainee despot has an unenviably difficult task stepping into the crazy shoes of his bonkers father, and attempting to waddle around in them with a similarly jaunty gait. The late Kim Jong-Il was a...

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What the World Has Learned This Week

(7) Comments | Posted 5 April 2012 | (00:00)

1. Panic buying could save the global economy.

David Cameron's government has received considerable criticism for its jauntily unorthodox fomenting of a non-existent crisis. The British public heroically responded to the absent threat by springing into inaction and doing what it has always done best - needlessly...

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