A chat show in which guests from the world of comedy, journalism, politics and culture are set challenges, lured into debate and interrupted by arbitrary and stupid things, that either illustrate the points being made, or stop the guests in their tracks and allow us to change the subject very quickly.

Charm Offensive is hosted by comedy guru Iannucci, recorded in front of a live audience. With the sketchability of The Now Show, combined with the going-off-on-a-mad-streak of a maverick News Quiz round, Iannucci and his comedian guests pull apart the news, in an effortlessly original manner. The show also has sketches, messed-about archive, interviews and lots of lies.

A chat show in which guests from the world of comedy, journalism, politics and culture are set challenges