In The Room launches today, a weekly political podcast hosted by former Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Helen MacNamara, and former Deputy Chief of Staff to Boris Johnson, Cleo Watson. Every Friday Helen and Cleo will go behind the biggest headlines to explain the anatomy of politics and process, revealing the decisions behind the commotion and giving their expert insights on what should happen next. The podcast is part of The Independent Podcast Network and is produced in association with Next Chapter Studios.
Unique even in the crowded field of political podcasting, Helen and Cleo’s dynamic is born of having actually been in the room together behind the scenes of government and the state. As civil servant vs political adviser, in theory they sat on opposite sides of the table – one the deputy for the most senior role in the Civil Service, the other a rising star in the fray of political strategy in Downing Street. In practice, in the last years of Theresa May’s Government and in Boris Johnson’s morning meetings, Helen and Cleo were mostly working together trying to solve the same problems. They were there and part of all of the significant moments from 2018-21 (although you wouldn’t always know that from the memoirs…).
Helen brings decades at the helm of Whitehall, from bidding for the London 2012 Olympics, overseeing the Cabinet Secretariat to setting up and dealing with the fall out of the Leveson Inquiry, complementing Cleo’s close-up perspective working on the Vote Leave campaign, 2017 and 2019 general elections, and Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.
With the Labour government facing daily challenges ahead of the May elections and buffeted by turbulent relationships with key allies, In The Room will dispel some of the mystery of politics. How are huge decisions made? Why do they go wrong? And what would they be advising if they were in Downing Street today?
Helen and Cleo were in the room not so long ago, and will draw on this experience to reconstruct the internal power struggles and late nights which never make the headlines. In The Room is straight-talking, insider analysis with a dose of humour, every Friday.
Helen MacNamara, co-host of In The Room, says: “I’m thrilled to be working with Cleo again and with the Independent. Government is a lot talked about but little understood. We hope to go some way to fixing that without boring everyone to tears.
Cleo Watson, co-host of In The Room, adds: “I am beyond excited that Helen is making a podcast with me – and that the Independent are working with us. We’re hoping our experiences help explain what’s really going on. Although, you have been warned: ignorance, as they say, is bliss.”
Olivia Foster, Co-Executive Producer, Independent Studio, remarks: “In The Room is fresh, funny and insightful, steered by Helen and Cleo’s dynamic chemistry and years of experience at the heart of politics and power. For Independent Studio, this podcast represents our commitment to championing true talent, brilliant story-telling, and our ability to offer a wry take on the world of Westminster unlike anything else in the political podcasting sphere.”
Carrie Rose, Co-Executive Producer, Next Chapter Studios, says: “We are thrilled to have helped bring this vision to life, sharing the brilliantly insightful words (and razor sharp wit) of Cleo and Helen at a moment when we need them more than ever. Proud to be partnering with The Independent to realise Next Chapter Studio’s vision to make important and entertaining content.”
Geordie Greig, Editor-In-Chief, The Independent, adds, “I am so delighted for The Independent to have two of the best disrupters in Westminster with their signature wit, bite and razor-sharp insight. They have the most original minds in politics, fearless and of course they know where all the bodies are buried, having had a front row seat at the highest levels of decision-making. Politicians, beware.“
