The Thick Of It
91Èȱ¬ FOUR's award-winning comedy coming to 91Èȱ¬ TWO in January 2006
Introduction
Armando Iannucci's satirical 91Èȱ¬ FOUR comedy The Thick of It - hailed as "inspired, seemingly effortless and
far too close for comfort" by the Daily Telegraph and "very funny, simultaneously depressing
and elating" by The Independent - begins its eagerly anticipated transmission on 91Èȱ¬ TWO in January.
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The caustic comedy, set in the corridors of power, follows the career of Hugh Abbot
(Chris Langham), a put-upon MP who is continually harassed by Number 10's foul-mouthed policy
enforcer Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) and is dependent on his not-so-reliable team of civil
servants.
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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 No 42), and Tony Roche (Broken News, Alistair McGowan's Big
Impression).
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The Thick of It is compulsive, hilarious and often painful viewing and has been nominated for
three awards at the 2005 British Comedy Awards.
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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, devised and directed by Armando Iannucci - which 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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"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.
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GJ
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