diff --git a/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-issue-message/prepare.py b/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-issue-message/prepare.py
index a5474cf..a983aa2 100644
--- a/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-issue-message/prepare.py
+++ b/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-issue-message/prepare.py
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ def body_excerpt(value, limit=ISSUE_BODY_LIMIT):
 
 
 def format_closed(repository, issue, actor):
-    label = escape_markdown(f"Issue #{issue['number']}")
+    label = escape_markdown(f"issue {issue['number']}")
     link = f"[{label}]({escape_link_url(issue['url'])})"
     parts = [
-        escape_markdown(repository),
+        f"*{escape_markdown(repository)}*",
         f"{link} closed",
         f"*{escape_markdown(issue['title'])}*",
         escape_markdown(actor),
diff --git a/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-pr-message/prepare.py b/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-pr-message/prepare.py
index 5ab438a..63f44d9 100644
--- a/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-pr-message/prepare.py
+++ b/.github/actions/prepare-telegram-pr-message/prepare.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def escape_link_url(value):
 
 
 def pull_request_link(pull_request):
-    label = escape_markdown(f"PR #{pull_request['number']}")
+    label = escape_markdown(f"PR {pull_request['number']}")
     url = escape_link_url(pull_request["url"])
     return f"[{label}]({url})"
 
@@ -43,14 +43,14 @@ def format_opened(repository, pull_request, event_action):
     }
     event = events.get(event_action, "opened")
     return (
-        f"{escape_markdown(repository)} · {pull_request_link(pull_request)} {event} · "
+        f"*{escape_markdown(repository)}* · {pull_request_link(pull_request)} {event} · "
         f"*{escape_markdown(pull_request['title'])}* · {escape_markdown(author_login(pull_request))}"
     )
 
 
 def format_merged(repository, pull_request):
     return (
-        f"{escape_markdown(repository)} · {pull_request_link(pull_request)} merged · "
+        f"*{escape_markdown(repository)}* · {pull_request_link(pull_request)} merged · "
         f"*{escape_markdown(pull_request['title'])}* · {escape_markdown(author_login(pull_request))}"
     )
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def format_digest(repository, pull_requests, now=None):
 
     now = now or datetime.now(timezone.utc)
     count = len(pull_requests)
-    header = f"{escape_markdown(repository)} · {count} open {'PR' if count == 1 else 'PRs'}"
+    header = f"*{escape_markdown(repository)}* · {count} open {'PR' if count == 1 else 'PRs'}"
     lines = []
     for pull_request in pull_requests[:DIGEST_PR_LIMIT]:
         age = max(0, (now - parse_github_time(pull_request["createdAt"])).days)
diff --git a/test/test_telegram_notifications.py b/test/test_telegram_notifications.py
index 1cc1355..4e62557 100644
--- a/test/test_telegram_notifications.py
+++ b/test/test_telegram_notifications.py
@@ -38,13 +38,13 @@ def test_formats_opened_pull_request(self):
 
         self.assertEqual(
             message,
-            "owner/repo · [PR \\#42](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/42) opened · "
+            "*owner/repo* · [PR 42](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/42) opened · "
             "*feat: add notifications* · octocat",
         )
 
     def test_formats_ready_and_reopened_pull_request_actions(self):
-        self.assertIn("[PR \\#42](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/42) ready", PR_TELEGRAM.format_opened("owner/repo", self.pull_request, "ready_for_review"))
-        self.assertIn("[PR \\#42](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/42) reopened", PR_TELEGRAM.format_opened("owner/repo", self.pull_request, "reopened"))
+        self.assertIn("[PR 42](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/42) ready", PR_TELEGRAM.format_opened("owner/repo", self.pull_request, "ready_for_review"))
+        self.assertIn("[PR 42](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/42) reopened", PR_TELEGRAM.format_opened("owner/repo", self.pull_request, "reopened"))
 
     def test_skips_draft_pull_request(self):
         self.pull_request["isDraft"] = True
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def test_formats_merged_pull_request(self):
 
         self.assertEqual(
             message,
-            "owner/repo · [PR \\#42](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/42) merged · "
+            "*owner/repo* · [PR 42](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/42) merged · "
             "*feat: add notifications* · octocat",
         )
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def test_open_pull_request_digest_excludes_drafts_and_reports_age(self):
         )
 
         self.assertIn("1 open PR", message)
-        self.assertTrue(message.startswith("owner/repo"))
+        self.assertTrue(message.startswith("*owner/repo*"))
         self.assertIn("octocat · 2d", message)
         self.assertNotIn("#41", message)
         self.assertNotIn("more", message)
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ def test_open_pull_request_digest_lists_at_most_ten_pull_requests(self):
         message = PR_TELEGRAM.format_digest("owner/repo", pull_requests)
 
         self.assertIn("12 open PRs", message)
-        self.assertIn(r"[PR \#10](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/10) *feat: add notifications*", message)
-        self.assertNotIn(r"[PR \#11](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/11) *feat: add notifications*", message)
+        self.assertIn("[PR 10](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/10) *feat: add notifications*", message)
+        self.assertNotIn("[PR 11](https://github.com/owner/repo/pull/11) *feat: add notifications*", message)
         self.assertIn(r"[\.\.\.and 2 more](https://github.com/owner/repo/pulls)", message)
 
     def test_open_pull_request_digest_stays_within_telegram_limit(self):
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def test_closed_issue_includes_body(self):
 
         self.assertEqual(
             message,
-            "owner/repo · [Issue \\#12](https://github.com/owner/repo/issues/12) closed · "
+            "*owner/repo* · [issue 12](https://github.com/owner/repo/issues/12) closed · "
             "*Move notifications* · octocat\nResolution summary\\.",
         )