The Thick of It

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For the upcoming American adaptation, see The Thick of It (US TV series)
The Thick of It
Genre Comedy
Creator(s) Armando Iannucci
Starring Chris Langham
Peter Capaldi
Chris Addison
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 7
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel BBC Four
Original run 2005 – Continuing

The Thick of It is a British comedy television series, which satirises the inner workings of modern British government. It was broadcast on BBC Four in 2005, and has so far completed two series of three half-hour episodes each. To date, the series has earned Best New Comedy and Best Comedy Performer for Chris Langham at the 2005 British Comedy Awards[1], and won Best Situation Comedy and Best Comedy Performance, also for Langham, at the 2006 BAFTAs.[2]

Contents

[edit] Production

The series is written by a team of writers led by Armando Iannucci, who also directs the series. Other writing credits include Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell and Tony Roche.[3] Some of the dialogue is improvised rather than scripted, and includes some very strong language. Peter Capaldi has stated that "Fundamentally 80% of the final cut is the script that we started with. The improvisation just makes it feel more real and not written." [4] Prior to performance, the scripts are e-mailed to a "swearing consultant" in Leicester called Ian Martin, who adds some of the series' more colourful language. [5] The programme is filmed with hand-held cameras to give it a mockumentary look and feel, and has no laughter track.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The action centres on the fictitious Department of Social Affairs, which supposedly came out of the Prime Minister's passing enthusiasm for "joined-up government". Thus, it acts as a "Super Department" overseeing many others, which enables different political themes to be dealt with in the programme, similar to the Department for Administrative Affairs in Yes Minister.[6] Hugh Abbot, played by Chris Langham, is a blundering minister heading the department, who is continually trying to do his job under the watchful eye of Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi), Number 10's highly aggressive and domineering "enforcer". The programme also features James Smith as Senior Special Advisor Glenn Cullen, Chris Addison as Junior Policy Advisor Oliver "Ollie" Reeder, and Joanna Scanlan as Civil Service Press Secretary Terri Coverley.

The Thick of It can be described as the 21st century's answer to Yes Minister, highlighting the struggles of the media and spin doctors against civil servants. Iannucci himself describes it as "Yes Minister meets Larry Sanders".[7] The former civil servant Martin Sixsmith is an advisor to the writing team, giving some of the storylines an element of realism to them; in particular, the character of Malcolm Tucker bears a distinct resemblance to Alastair Campbell.[8]

[edit] Transmission

The first episode screened on BBC Four on May 19, 2005, followed by two more episodes. A second series of three episodes was transmitted from October 20 until November 3, 2005. The six episodes were repeated on BBC Two in early 2006, and later on BBC America.

An hour-long Christmas special aired in January 2007 with a further ten episodes planned for later on in the year. However, Chris Langham will not be reprising his role as Hugh Abbot, due to recent legal allegations against him.[9] To fill this void, Iannucci has introduced new characters into the series forming the opposition.

[edit] American adaptation

Main article: The Thick of It (US TV series)

On October 27, 2006, it was announced that The Thick of It would be adapted for American television, with Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz executive producing, along with Armando Iannucci and Richard Day.[10]

Christopher Guest will direct the pilot of the single-camera series.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ British Comedy Awards 2005, URL accessed 4th January, 2007
  2. ^ Awards at the Internet Movie Database, URL accessed 4th January, 2007
  3. ^ Cast list at the Internet Movie Database, URL accessed 18th January, 2007
  4. ^ Interview with Armando Iannucci, at bbc.co.uk, URL accessed January 18th, 2007
  5. ^ Above and Beyond, interview with Chris Addison by David Whitehouse in The London Paper, Wednesday, December 20 2006
  6. ^ BBC Press Release, URL accessed 18th January, 2007
  7. ^ Interview with Armando Iannucci, at bbc.co.uk, URL accessed January 4th, 2007
  8. ^ Interview with Armando Iannucci, at bbc.co.uk, URL accessed January 4th, 2007
  9. ^ Paramount Comedy.com, URL accessed January 4th, 2007
  10. ^ Hollywood Reporter.com, URL accessed 4th January, 2007

[edit] External links

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