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Introduction

Award-winning comedian, writer and director Armando Iannucci (The Day Today, The Friday Night Armistice) delivers another off the wall gem to our screens with this unique take on the world of politics, starring Chris Langham, (Help, The Legend of the Tamworth Two) and Peter Capaldi (Passer By).

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The Secretary of State for Social Affairs is having a meeting with Number Ten's Chief Political Advisor. There are a number of press rumours that the Minister is to be sacked. The Minister is told that none of these stories have come from Number Ten.

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However, now they're out there, Number Ten would look weak not to sack him. So he's sacked.

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His replacement as Minister for Social Affairs takes office. And so starts The Thick of It.

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Recently described by The Telegraph as "likely to take over from The West Wing as compulsory viewing for the political classes", The Thick of It - devised and directed by Iannucci - offers a less than flattering take on the world of British politics.

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"I've always been a political nerd, reading copies of Hansard when I was 12," says Iannucci. "I'm fascinated by how politics works, but have become increasingly appalled by how the truth is quite unashamedly contorted in political debate."

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The Thick Of It follows the relationships between a put-upon Minister (Chris Langham), the Minister for Social Affairs, his political advisors, and their hapless relationship with the media. Peter Capaldi is his Policy Co-Ordinator and Chris Addison his Junior Policy Advisor.

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Described by Iannucci as Yes Minister meets Larry Sanders, the series unveils the inner workings of the corridors of power.

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"I was always a fan of things like Yes, Minister," continues Iannucci "but wanted to do something very, very contemporary.

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"Politics today is not about the civil service, it's more about a Minister's paranoid attempt to make the media stick to his or her agenda."

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The cast all improvise around scripts written by some of the sharpest British comedy writers: Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong (Peep Show, According to Bex, Smack The Pony), Simon Blackwell (Dead Ringers, Kumars at No42), and Tony Roche (Alistair McGowan's Big Impression, Harry Hill, Smith and Jones).

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"I wanted to make a series that used a semi-improvised technique, to make it seem real. Politics seemed the ideal topic for this. If the cast look scared it's not only because they're improvising, it's also because they're playing the part of influencial people who are continually making things up as they go along."

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The Department

The Department of Social Affairs came out of the Prime Minister's passing enthusiasm for 'joined-up government.'

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It is a 'Super Department', overseeing many others - and with some specific responsibilities of its own.

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Now the PM's patronage has moved on, it is not so powerful: maybe even in danger of being dismembered. But certain key passages of Prime Ministerial speeches praising it as a great coming idea seem likely to protect it for a while. Our minister and his senior advisor mentions these often, and to everyone.