Matt Chorley's Urgent Questions Did Dara Ó Briain find Deputy PMQs funny?
Jan 28, 2026
Dara Ó Briain, Irish stand-up and TV presenter, chats about PMQs and the craft of topical gags. Kim Darroch, veteran US envoy, reflects on posting beyond capitals. Lee Turner, ex-ambassador to Ukraine and Austria, shares stories of influence and security. Francis Guy, former envoy to Yemen and Lebanon, recounts evacuations, diplomacy in crises and the art of hosting.
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Get Out Of The Capital
- Don't just stay in the capital; get out and meet people across the country.
- Lord Kim Darroch advises ambassadors to visit regions beyond central government to understand true local views.
Have One Clear Priority
- Know the single hardest issue in the relationship and form a clear view on it.
- Lee Turner says ambassadors must be the fulcrum of the relationship with an informed position.
Meet Beyond The Elite
- Meet all parts of society, not just elites, and listen to your own staff often.
- Francis Guy stresses humility and relying on your embassy team for effective diplomacy.
