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#218: Jesse Armstrong, screenwriter

#218: Jesse Armstrong, screenwriter

<p>In this episode, recorded live at the <a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.londonlibrary.co.uk%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=092570e37ca88720a057d2604b2a5115758b4de3fa3d33b336bfa88328e860c0" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">London Library</a>, Simon and Rachel speak with the screenwriter <a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Fname%2Fnm1104036%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=147b5a11046a0122e6e8ea4b5cb4780a89950fa3634a1991cfff565ed81d2dda" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Jesse Armstrong</a>. Born in Shropshire and educated at Manchester University, Jesse co-created the Channel 4 comedy series "<a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt0387764%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=544aa6b67a7c761d25034284fa2f3d3c7dee2c08da70dac22070af523e11e7da" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Peep Show</a>" (2003–2015) and "<a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt2058303%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=67db7c867438809ed9dca9b42415f969d6685c19bfd371c60de3c01ad2d74b0b" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Fresh</a><a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt2058303%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=67db7c867438809ed9dca9b42415f969d6685c19bfd371c60de3c01ad2d74b0b" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> </a><a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt2058303%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=67db7c867438809ed9dca9b42415f969d6685c19bfd371c60de3c01ad2d74b0b" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Meat</a>" (2011–2016), was a writer on "<a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt0459159%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=2310fecd0dcd7d2aeeccdef692ca29275438f5e2a6915bc767d6d29e042252c8" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Thick of It</a>" (2005-2012) and "<a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt1341167%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=f0da1d2df636bfc5873776b7284bce1341ba05c63f4856b1634473d21b49359c" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Four Lions</a>" (2010) and is the creator of the HBO series "<a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt7660850%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=bc89f1d7b257c4a1c85d28dab8f6d1c24d5fab7674840eecb0a677c49983cc23" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Succession</a>" (2018–2023). He has received many nominations and awards, including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing the film "<a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt1226774%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=8735a62fd519b626390e31bcc4d17155a46dbc6b1f8189d4ffb66af1e1b9c3bb" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">In the Loop</a>" (2009), and four wins for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. In 2016 Jonathan Cape also published his novel set against the background of the Bosnian War, "<a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.penguin.co.uk%2Fbooks%2F416214%2Flove-sex-and-other-foreign-policy-goals-by-jesse-armstrong%2F9780099578741&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=fcf51f233d972367ce1cac7be76306a719d0d9f519b63cf95397a9afd4cf5f61" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Love, Sex and Other Foreign Policy Goals</a>". We spoke to Jesse about his early career as a screenwriter, creating a global hit with "Succession", and his latest film, "<a href="https://us13.mailchimp.com/mctx/clicks?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt35396529%2F&xid=4e4697063d&uid=57080101&iid=787039e2d2&pool=cts&v=2&c=1754318934&h=1d8abf775bdad3c49a8e348432f1a2c09b6c9a76

Always Take Notes

August 5, 202559m 41s

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Show Notes

In this episode, recorded live at the London Library, Simon and Rachel speak with the screenwriter Jesse Armstrong. Born in Shropshire and educated at Manchester University, Jesse co-created the Channel 4 comedy series "Peep Show" (2003–2015) and "Fresh Meat" (2011–2016), was a writer on "The Thick of It" (2005-2012) and "Four Lions" (2010) and is the creator of the HBO series "Succession" (2018–2023). He has received many nominations and awards, including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing the film "In the Loop" (2009), and four wins for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. In 2016 Jonathan Cape also published his novel set against the background of the Bosnian War, "Love, Sex and Other Foreign Policy Goals". We spoke to Jesse about his early career as a screenwriter, creating a global hit with "Succession", and his latest film, "Mountainhead".


We’ve made another update for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We’ve added 40 pages of new material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New York Times, the Washington Post and the BBC. The whole compendium now runs to a whopping 160 pages. For Patreons who contribute $10/month we’re now also releasing bonus mini-episodes. Thanks to our sponsor, Scrivener, the first ten new signs-ups at $10/month will receive a lifelong license to Scrivener worth £55/$59.99 (seven are left). This specialist word-processing software helps you organise long writing projects such as novels, academic papers and even scripts. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of the podcast book and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with Simon and Rachel.


A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World’s Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.


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