Iannucci on Alastair Campbell Twitter spat

With the second season of his political sitcom Veep ready to launch, Armando Iannucci talks to Paul Nolan about the American public’s frustration with their real-life government: “I think in America there’s this disillusion with government generally, in that it’s not getting anything done.”

Having successfully satirised the British Government with BBC series The Thick Of It, Iannucci is now turning his attention to politics across the pond. He notes how technology has changed how the political process operates, leading to a ‘bizarre’ 24 hours a day system, and is no stranger to the power of social media.

In 2012, Iannucci experienced its influence first-hand when he replied to a tweet sent to him by Alastair Campbell, criticising his receiving an OBE. “It was just me on a Saturday morning tweeting him back, and then going out for a walk, and not realising it had caused some kind of media meltdown.”

Despite the increasing availability of information and access to political goings-on, Iannucci realises why many young people are deciding not to participate in politics: “It looks so bizarre and so part of another world that it doesn’t seem to connect to day-to-day life. Why would you want to take part in it?”

For more from Iannnucci on politics, revisiting Alan Partridge and the new series of Veep, pick up the latest issue of Hot Press, in stores now.