The Thick of It
B OX S E T
In recent years as we have seemingly moved into a world beyond satire, it is now possible to look back on Armando Iannucci’s biting political comedy The Thick of It with an element of nostalgia.
First appearing on BBC2 back in 2005 (with a Labour government in power), it was set in the fictional Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship (DoSAC) and riffed hilariously on the administrative shenanigans, blunders and general incompetence of bumbling Minister Hugh Abbot (Chris Langham) and his team – senior Spad Glenn Cullen (James Smith), junior policy adviser Ollie Reeder (Chris Addison) and civil service press secretary Terri Coverley (Joanna Scanlan).
They carry out their work under the watchful eye – and in permanent fear – of the PM’s aggressive ‘enforcer’ Malcom Tucker (Peter Capaldi), known for his short temper and florid verbal attacks on anyone or anything that displeases him. Since DoSAC is a kind of superdepartment designed to facilitate ‘joinedup government’, it allowed Iannucci and his co-writers to introduce a variety of political themes.
Shot in a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ documentary style, it strikes just the right tone – using frequently laugh out loud satirical humour to expose the (many and various) failings of the British political system. And it must be one of the few shows to have a ‘swearing consultant’ as part of its crew, assisting the writing team with some of the more elaborate of Tucker’s expletive-laden explosions.
Though not for the easily offended, these are a highlight of each episode – enhanced by the relish with which they are delivered by Capaldi.