Comedian and classicist Jon Harvey discovers why the essence of 21st Century British Democracy would horrify the ancient Athenians of the 5th Century BC.

Comedian and classicist Jon Harvey explores modern British democracy through an ancient Athenian lens. If there's one thing we can all agree on it's that our state is in a state - could the world’s original democrats help us right the ship?

Democracy was born in ancient Athens and lasted for nearly 200 years. Not all Athenians were democrats - perhaps the most famously outspoken anti-democrat Socrates ended up sentenced to death, ironically by a vote of the people. But if an Athenian democrat time-travelled to 2019, what would he make of what's going on in Britain? Could he fix the chaos?

Jon is a politician of sorts, having recently challenged Boris Johnson at the general election as his alien alter-ego Count Binface.

Written and presented by Jon Harvey

Produced by Polly Thomas and Eloise Whitmore

Executive Producer: Dixi Stewart

A Naked production for BBC Radio 4