He has the powerful combination of a resonant voice, true compassion, humility and a clarity of thought. The News Agents intervened just about enough to let it shine through. Brilliant interview!
What a brilliant interview. This is what we need to see more of, these are the kinds of people that need more airtime. Not Kwasi Kwarteng and Nadhim Zahawi. They've had their chance at visibility and having a platform and we all know what they chose to do with it.
Therein lies (part of), the problem, though. The right-wing cranks generate outrage, drama & attention, which boosts viewership and brings in that sweet, sweet ad money. Given that equation, why on Earth would any corporate media executive, program director or booking agent ever choose the impassioned, considered & rational discussion of systemic transformation over the pyrotechnics & argle-bargle of mouth breathers, bullies & authoritarian carnival barkers? The inherent supremacy of capitalism is held as an incontrovertible fact in our society - to deny it is tantamount to sacrilege against an article of faith, let alone to go further & actually suggest & explore alternatives. I believe this is evidence of fragility, not strength, and is precisely why capitalist doctrine requires complete fealty; it cannot survive honest examination. This is also why the transformative aspirations of Jeremy Corbyn, Bernie Sanders, etc. on the left ,can never & will never come to fruition. Our political systems are as subsumed into capitalism's rapacious maw as everything else in society and therefore cannot accept radical change from within. Revolution must come from outside because every compromise or concession made by a candidate in order to get elected is, no matter their intentions, a form of grooming by the system. Every form of participation, right down to voting, is a tacit admission that the system is in some way functional, which is itself an act of submission. The most important component of political organizing on the left is and always will be education. It's our first defense against both ignorance & cynicism and our only source of hope for life beyond the all-consuming vampirism of capitalism. We must teach & practice resistance & revolution, not reform. It's what Audre Lorde was addressing when she said that we can't dismantle the master's house using the master's tools.
So great to hear someone with such clarity and humility expressing what millions are feeling.Bravo to the whole News Agents team for this wonderful interview.
This has to be one of the best episodes of The News Agents. Superb interview. Thank you Michael Sheen and all at The News agents for putting this together.
Loved this interview, such a talented actor, excellent interview from news agents team Michael's views on politics I so agree with, especially around needing radical change.
Certainly, so long as it's Michael Sheen's (and Aneurin Bevan's) version of radical change. Donald Trump offers his own version of radical change, as do many of these nascent far-right groups cropping up around the world, but theirs is an offering the world could do without!
@@philroberts7238then I wonder why millions of people agree with them and want the change they promote ? All over Europe and the US….? Wow, can they ALL be wrong ?
Kudos also to the two genuine journalists, talented and sincere, speaking to my Scottish heart. Scotland suffered the same closure of the steel works before Wales. We have so much in common. We need to work even more in tandem both as countries and in kindred spirits to engage the positive energy necessary to force meaningful change.
I remember the bitterness in Scotland when Ravenscraig was shut down. The knock-on effect was huge; in 1979 Scotland had 1.2 mn in employment, by 1982 that had fallen to 900k. At the time Ravenscraig was the most efficient steel plant in Europe. It was shut down because the witch - thatcher - transferred the ECSC credits from Ravenscraig to Port Talbot where she believed the tories had a better chance of winning votes. For me, it represented the introduction of us "pork barrel" politics to the uk.
Wow, how refreshingly exciting to have a creative person who knows about politics, talks so honestly about the change in politics we need, while being interviewed by cautious journalists, who do not reveal their politics. Thank you Michael Sheen.
Absolutely love Mr Sheen! Always right, politically, morally and just a lovely bloke! I have yet to hear him say anything I disagree with! A true democratic socialist!
How? By appropriating English culture whilst stoking nationalism and anti English hate? Or by giving privilege to his untalented daughter so she can have an acting career, taking parts that could have gone to more talented working class actresses?
Michael has the personality that NO-ONE in British politics has!!!! He has the ability to speak with passion and authenticity that is needed today. I would vote for him!!!!
Yes, but if he became PM he’d very quickly be made to change his tune. It happens every time. What an appalling shock the Blair government became. And look at the mess the Starmer lot have made in such a short time. They all make promises that they know they can’t keep. 🤷
Very interesting! I don’t agree with him politically at all, but I can see that he’s a genuine man who cares about people, places and things. And that’s a very important thing to know these days. Anyways, Thank you for an enjoyable and informative interview.
Michael is so right - it's not about party, it's about having the vision and commitment to improve our way of life. We (the world) seem to be stuck in the rut of a two-party system who arm wrestle with each other for power rather than clue into the bigger picture.
Great to hear Michael Sheen call out the UK's (governance) system itself as a root cause of public disquiet/dissent? My vision for a future UK is as a Federal State, constituted from relatively large sub-UK entities boasting a high degree of semi-autonomy. This arrangement would be bound by a succinct and relatable codified constitution we've ALL had a say in designing, via a Citizens' Convention process. That outcome, for me, WOULD represent the kind of radical transformation Michael Sheen alludes to here?
The point is Andrew Windsor won't be extradited or charged with any offence because in Britain the Establishment ARE above the law. The mantra that no one in Britain is above the law is total BS!
I haven’t seen this yet. I saw Coogan do Savile which was chilling. I saw the trailer to this of the pre-interview with Andrew, his PS and his daughter present. When Andrew asks ‘Have any of you been abused’ an icy chill passed through me.
The day after the revolution is what no one has the answer for. Zizek isn't the only one asking "What comes next?" No one has the answer, that's the problem
Sheen, as always, articulate, laconic, witty & highly intelligent - thank goodness he didn't transition into a polititican - such an act would have despoiled his persona.
He could very well be the best ever actor from Wales! I love his approach to acting and he does blend comedy, drama and other skills effortlessly. What a humble and great man. And yes he is right. We have to think of another system than Capitalism and not confuse it with always Kommunism!
There are problems baked into our system (and - granted - benefits too). You could list each (I started and got bored at point 7 on the drawbacks) but it's easier just to say that, weighing up everything, I'd prefer a different system which is more PR in spirit. There was a Referendum in 2010 about this which didn't pass. I think it'd be a much closer result today after the last 14 years.
What would help all the main parties would be an effort to address the majority, acknowledging our greatness as a people and offering a future not just devoted to loud and aggressive minorities.
We need a radical change of direction, but like a cruise liner, to keep the ship afloat and the people onboard alive, (mixed analogy ahead), you don't pull on the handbrake and spin the wheel. It will take a year or two before we notice the change, and 5 or 10 before the policies have their desired effect.
Why everyone seems to forget is how much better off we all are now relative to where we were 20 years ago The poor are a lot less poor, which is the benchmark for improvement in society There will always be homeless people, but we can do more to help them
I’m a Labour supporter and have been all of my life. But, Michael hit the nail on the head. We need bravery, we need a government that will break the wheel, and make brave decisions about what the future will be. I hope that Rachel Reeves has some groundbreaking policies in her budget. We need to be as far away from the Conservative Party and Capitalism as possible.
@@petercollins7848 We live in a Capitalist World! £200,000 flat refurbishment for Boris? Four Tory MPs who made huge £6m selling taxpayer-funded 2nd homes, and won't say whether they paid tax? I mean I could go on as the Tory list is endless! Let’s not be silly here eh? The problem is that whole system that needs to be changed. As Pat Cullen said, this country is and always will be better off with a Labour government. And no need to feel sorry for me. And no, I haven’t read Orwell, but I get the analogy. What I have read is countless reports and papers on the state of the economy over the last 20 years, and the negative impact on our country. And I don’t mean what’s reported in the news, I mean published studies and papers.
Michael Sheen was perfect as Andrew, walking the line between guilt and innocence. I didn’t sympathize with Andrew by the end, but for the first time I had compassion. It reminded me of when Nixon left in disgrace. I had zero sympathy for him, but I did feel some compassion.
@@mixodorians12 you saw how the markets reacted to unfunded tax cuts with Liz Truss, do you think they'd be more forgiving toward unfunded government spending? There isn't much wiggle room for radical change
What a lovely guy.. Remembers and cares for our country and his roots
Well he is a professional Welsh man. As David Tennant is a professional Scotsman.
What a great conversation and Michael Sheen is spot on in his political analysis.
He has the powerful combination of a resonant voice, true compassion, humility and a clarity of thought. The News Agents intervened just about enough to let it shine through.
Brilliant interview!
Fab interview. Michael is great and so down to earth. A breath of fresh air.
Not like the News. Agents
We need more sane and compassionate voices like this as part of the national dialogue right now
What an interesting person he is. Thoughtful perspectives on the state we're in spoken with honesty and humility.
How wonderful Michael Sheen is. His talent is unbounded and he is very much on the right side of politics.
... the right side being, in this context, the left side 😀
@@annphillips1086 obvs!
Isn't he a nationalist?
@@annphillips1086and in every other context
@@stevenwilliamson6236 OK, I'll grant you that.
What a brilliant interview. This is what we need to see more of, these are the kinds of people that need more airtime. Not Kwasi Kwarteng and Nadhim Zahawi. They've had their chance at visibility and having a platform and we all know what they chose to do with it.
Therein lies (part of), the problem, though. The right-wing cranks generate outrage, drama & attention, which boosts viewership and brings in that sweet, sweet ad money. Given that equation, why on Earth would any corporate media executive, program director or booking agent ever choose the impassioned, considered & rational discussion of systemic transformation over the pyrotechnics & argle-bargle of mouth breathers, bullies & authoritarian carnival barkers?
The inherent supremacy of capitalism is held as an incontrovertible fact in our society - to deny it is tantamount to sacrilege against an article of faith, let alone to go further & actually suggest & explore alternatives. I believe this is evidence of fragility, not strength, and is precisely why capitalist doctrine requires complete fealty; it cannot survive honest examination.
This is also why the transformative aspirations of Jeremy Corbyn, Bernie Sanders, etc. on the left ,can never & will never come to fruition. Our political systems are as subsumed into capitalism's rapacious maw as everything else in society and therefore cannot accept radical change from within. Revolution must come from outside because every compromise or concession made by a candidate in order to get elected is, no matter their intentions, a form of grooming by the system. Every form of participation, right down to voting, is a tacit admission that the system is in some way functional, which is itself an act of submission.
The most important component of political organizing on the left is and always will be education. It's our first defense against both ignorance & cynicism and our only source of hope for life beyond the all-consuming vampirism of capitalism. We must teach & practice resistance & revolution, not reform. It's what Audre Lorde was addressing when she said that we can't dismantle the master's house using the master's tools.
So great to hear someone with such clarity and humility expressing what millions are feeling.Bravo to the whole News Agents team for this wonderful interview.
This has to be one of the best episodes of The News Agents. Superb interview. Thank you Michael Sheen and all at The News agents for putting this together.
Fab interview with Michael Sheen. Super talented. His interest in politics cuts through into the roles he has played so brilliantly.
Such a thoroughly decent man with real integrity and has done so much in his local area about homelessness and other social issue.
He's a nationalist, no?
@@jackdoyle7453Again with that?
@@jackdoyle7453No, he’s Welsh!
Sheen did a magnificent job as Andrew. Phenomenal actor and a very intelligent man.
Wonderful session - thank you so much for a perceptive and useful discussion.
Great interview. Love this man. Wish there were more people like him in this world.
I came on here to say exactly that.
I could spend the whole day listening to Michael Sheen. A wonderful man.
Loved this interview, such a talented actor, excellent interview from news agents team
Michael's views on politics I so agree with, especially around needing radical change.
Certainly, so long as it's Michael Sheen's (and Aneurin Bevan's) version of radical change. Donald Trump offers his own version of radical change, as do many of these nascent far-right groups cropping up around the world, but theirs is an offering the world could do without!
@@philroberts7238 agree 👍
@@philroberts7238then I wonder why millions of people agree with them and want the change they promote ? All over Europe and the US….? Wow, can they ALL be wrong ?
What a lovely, interesting man. Thank you all.
His portrayal of the late, great Brian Clough was outstanding. Bravo Sir.
One of my faves,,genius.
I thought exactly the same when he was talking about characterisations. Ive loved him in everything he's done!!
Brian Clough should have been played by an actor from the north-east, not a Welshman.
Kudos also to the two genuine journalists, talented and sincere, speaking to my Scottish heart. Scotland suffered the same closure of the steel works before Wales. We have so much in common. We need to work even more in tandem both as countries and in kindred spirits to engage the positive energy necessary to force meaningful change.
Independence!!! free ourselves from Westminster's greedy war hungry shackles
Fab interview. Mr Sheen is a national treasure like his pal Dave.
Experienced this in my home town in Cornwall that’s why I cry hearing this thank you
Wonderful interview. Michael should start his own podcast. I'd watch!
No. Saturation is the enemy
I think he's got one with David Tennant.
@@Nick-q8k Really? I'll check
Another fantastic interview, thank you. What a contrast with your last: uplifting to hear a man brimful of humanity
This is my favourite interview on the news agents so far.
I remember the bitterness in Scotland when Ravenscraig was shut down. The knock-on effect was huge; in 1979 Scotland had 1.2 mn in employment, by 1982 that had fallen to 900k. At the time Ravenscraig was the most efficient steel plant in Europe. It was shut down because the witch - thatcher - transferred the ECSC credits from Ravenscraig to Port Talbot where she believed the tories had a better chance of winning votes. For me, it represented the introduction of us "pork barrel" politics to the uk.
Agreed, that was her aim wasn’t it?
What a fantastic interview
Lovely man, gives me a bit of faith in humanity
Very refreshing interview. Loved it!
Wow, how refreshingly exciting to have a creative person who knows about politics, talks so honestly about the change in politics we need, while being interviewed by cautious journalists, who do not reveal their politics. Thank you Michael Sheen.
I could listen to him all day.
I love Michael Sheen, so genuine, warm and charismatic.
Isn't he a nationalist?
@@jackdoyle7453are you some kind of imbecile?
@@jackdoyle7453 no he is fighting for better situation in Wales which is disadvantaged in a number of ways.
@@jackdoyle7453And fourth post from you, same thing? What's your objective?
Absolutely love Mr Sheen! Always right, politically, morally and just a lovely bloke! I have yet to hear him say anything I disagree with! A true democratic socialist!
He's a nationalist, no?
@@jackdoyle7453nationalist just means you feel strongly about your nation,it doesn't mean that you want independence.
@@jackdoyle7453Good grief, man. Why on earth do you keep repeating the same thing under all the comments? Very odd, I must say.....
@@jackdoyle7453And here you are again. What gives?
Excellent, reflective, imaginative…refreshing. Thank you
Your a national treasure Michael ❤
A really enjoyable interview thank you
Brilliant Michael thank you 🎉
Sheen is not only a great actor, he’s a great man.
How? By appropriating English culture whilst stoking nationalism and anti English hate? Or by giving privilege to his untalented daughter so she can have an acting career, taking parts that could have gone to more talented working class actresses?
Michael has the personality that NO-ONE in British politics has!!!!
He has the ability to speak with passion and authenticity that is needed today.
I would vote for him!!!!
Yes, but if he became PM he’d very quickly be made to change his tune. It happens every time. What an appalling shock the Blair government became. And look at the mess the Starmer lot have made in such a short time. They all make promises that they know they can’t keep. 🤷
He's an actor.
Sorry, that was NOT acting - that was pure emotion & enthusiasm.
Don’t start something !
@@Wubbay828 🤣💙🩵🩵💙🤣
Oh, Gold stars for all of you!
What a beautiful human being.
Spine tingling - from 23m onwards he gave me goosebumps!
I got tears in my eyes around 24:50 very stirring and motivating. It makes me feel like I need to do something similar.
What a great bloke!
Thank you Michael!
Michael Sheen, total legend.
The best yet
Great interview and a lovely guy who is spot-on about the political system
Michael Sheen just perfectly summed up the state of politics here in Australia. Great interview!
wonderful man x
If more actors could reference Antonio Gramsci during an interview without revising I would watch tv and films.
Fascinating insight into the workings of a brilliant actor’s mind. Love his analysis of UK politics too.
Very interesting! I don’t agree with him politically at all, but I can see that he’s a genuine man who cares about people, places and things. And that’s a very important thing to know these days. Anyways, Thank you for an enjoyable and informative interview.
This is great. I would love to sit down and have a conversation with him but this is the next best thing!
Michael you are my hero
Michael is so right - it's not about party, it's about having the vision and commitment to improve our way of life. We (the world) seem to be stuck in the rut of a two-party system who arm wrestle with each other for power rather than clue into the bigger picture.
Great podcast!
What a lovely guy.
Love Michael Sheen
Wasn't expecting the Mark Fisher reference, glad to hear it. Hope more people discover his work
Thanks for commenting. I was just going back through this interview to find this reference.
Surprisingly inspiring interview!
Wow! Michael for PM! Great ideas!
One of the world’s best actors with one of the world’s best journalists 👌
Not Maitliss. Overrated!
Brilliant! That's all! 😀
Great to hear Michael Sheen call out the UK's (governance) system itself as a root cause of public disquiet/dissent?
My vision for a future UK is as a Federal State, constituted from relatively large sub-UK entities boasting a high degree of semi-autonomy. This arrangement would be bound by a succinct and relatable codified constitution we've ALL had a say in designing, via a Citizens' Convention process.
That outcome, for me, WOULD represent the kind of radical transformation Michael Sheen alludes to here?
Amazing actor! I love Frost/Nixon!
The point is Andrew Windsor won't be extradited or charged with any offence because in Britain the Establishment ARE above the law. The mantra that no one in Britain is above the law is total BS!
Correct 💯
I haven’t seen this yet. I saw Coogan do Savile which was chilling. I saw the trailer to this of the pre-interview with Andrew, his PS and his daughter present. When Andrew asks ‘Have any of you been abused’ an icy chill passed through me.
The day after the revolution is what no one has the answer for. Zizek isn't the only one asking "What comes next?" No one has the answer, that's the problem
Love Sheen, Frost Nixon is immense.
What an articulate and great mind, such a shame he is not in politics, although if he was as he said the system would chew him up and spit him out.
Wonderful man.very proud of him.
Micheal sheen rocks!
The radical change we need is.....PR. Make every vote count.
Sheen, as always, articulate, laconic, witty & highly intelligent - thank goodness he didn't transition into a polititican - such an act would have despoiled his persona.
I LOVE Michael Sheen, give him a script and he can pull it off. He can play such a wide range of characters. 💋❤️💋❤️💋😻💔❤️💋❤️💋💋❤️💋❤️💋❤️
National Treasure! Perhaps even International Treasure…
I’d love to see Michael Sheen and Rob Brydon in a movie or series together. The Welsh scale would be off the chart! 🏴
With Ruth Jones
Imagine Sheen and Anthony Hopkins
Congratulaciones Michael
His Brian clough was brilliant great actor 😊
His Brian Clough was great.
He could very well be the best ever actor from Wales! I love his approach to acting and he does blend comedy, drama and other skills effortlessly. What a humble and great man. And yes he is right. We have to think of another system than Capitalism and not confuse it with always Kommunism!
The intro.... OMG this is the news!!
There are problems baked into our system (and - granted - benefits too). You could list each (I started and got bored at point 7 on the drawbacks) but it's easier just to say that, weighing up everything, I'd prefer a different system which is more PR in spirit.
There was a Referendum in 2010 about this which didn't pass. I think it'd be a much closer result today after the last 14 years.
The greatest living Welshman
I don’t think so.
who is then I’m your opinion?
What would help all the main parties would be an effort to address the majority, acknowledging our greatness as a people and offering a future not just devoted to loud and aggressive minorities.
Truth!❤
Independence for wales,scotland would make a difference for them. England needs to wake up!
So do the people of Scotland and Wales. Being in the Union does not ever favour the Celtic nations.
We need a radical change of direction, but like a cruise liner, to keep the ship afloat and the people onboard alive, (mixed analogy ahead), you don't pull on the handbrake and spin the wheel. It will take a year or two before we notice the change, and 5 or 10 before the policies have their desired effect.
Great man
His Brian Clough was peerless
Nothing about this aspect of Prince Andrew's life would make me want to invest my time in watching anything on it.
Why everyone seems to forget is how much better off we all are now relative to where we were 20 years ago
The poor are a lot less poor, which is the benchmark for improvement in society
There will always be homeless people, but we can do more to help them
A true comrade ✌🏻
He's a complete hypocrite, look how he's helped his untalented daughter become a Nepo baby
I’m a Labour supporter and have been all of my life. But, Michael hit the nail on the head. We need bravery, we need a government that will break the wheel, and make brave decisions about what the future will be. I hope that Rachel Reeves has some groundbreaking policies in her budget. We need to be as far away from the Conservative Party and Capitalism as possible.
You don’t think the Labour Party is Capitalistic then? I feel very sorry for you! Have you not read ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell?
£16,000 freebies?
@@petercollins7848 We live in a Capitalist World! £200,000 flat refurbishment for Boris? Four Tory MPs who made huge £6m selling taxpayer-funded 2nd homes, and won't say whether they paid tax? I mean I could go on as the Tory list is endless! Let’s not be silly here eh? The problem is that whole system that needs to be changed. As Pat Cullen said, this country is and always will be better off with a Labour government.
And no need to feel sorry for me. And no, I haven’t read Orwell, but I get the analogy. What I have read is countless reports and papers on the state of the economy over the last 20 years, and the negative impact on our country. And I don’t mean what’s reported in the news, I mean published studies and papers.
Michael Sheen “puts all of his personal opinions aside” when he works, something that the Newsagents consistently fail to do 😂
Michael Sheen was perfect as Andrew, walking the line between guilt and innocence. I didn’t sympathize with Andrew by the end, but for the first time I had compassion. It reminded me of when Nixon left in disgrace. I had zero sympathy for him, but I did feel some compassion.
0:10 No no no! It's "The gorgeous Michael Sheen"
Love him ❤
Is it that politics is failing us, or our expectations of what politicians can achieve is being set too high?
Well when all they can offer is austerity?
@@mixodorians12 you saw how the markets reacted to unfunded tax cuts with Liz Truss, do you think they'd be more forgiving toward unfunded government spending? There isn't much wiggle room for radical change
Top draw interview with a Top Bloke!