The Party Line (radio)
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| The Party Line | |
| Genre | Sitcom |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 min |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Languages | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 4 |
| Starring | James Fleet |
| Writers | Steve Punt Hugh Dennis |
| Producers | Adam Bromley |
| Air dates | 2005 to Present |
The Party Line is a British radio sitcom. It is co-written by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis, produced by Adam Bromley. The second series is currently broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The show stars James Fleet as Duncan Stonebridge, a Member of Parliament for the imaginary constituency of Rothershurst, which appears to be in the north of England. The British parties are not often mentioned by name in the show, but it can be assumed that Stonehurst is a Labour MP and that Rotherhurst is a marginal constituency, one which was traditionally Tory but turned Labour under Tony Blair. In line with the national trend, the elections of 2005 saw Stonebridge's majority reduced to 25.
The show follows the everyday life of the MP. Each episode begins and concludes with Stonebridge traveling on the train from London, and a short, witty dialogue between Stonebridge and a railway attendant. Most episodes then revolve around Stonebridge's attempt to gain publicity in his constituency, ultimately being thwarted by an unlikely twist of fate or bad luck. Stonebridge finds it difficult to fill the shoes of his Conservative predecessor, Sir Digby, whose name still looms large in the shape of his wife, Harriet. He also struggles to keep one step ahead of Angela, his image-conscious and media savvy Conservative rival. It is an ongoing joke that he is secretly attracted to Angela.
It is notable that the show is written and produced only 24 hours before it is broadcast, so it contains witty references to the current political events of the day.
