The Thick of It

The British political satire The Thick Of It is a sitcom based on the workings of a single department of the British Government. Unlike many political based comedy shows The Thick Of It revolves around the real workings of the British government with the show reflecting the real workings of British politics; for example, in season four the characters are part of a coalition government and those who were previously in power are now in opposition to the ruling government. The majority of the show is scripted by creator Armondo Iannucci and a team of writers, but actors are allowed to improvise around the dialogue to add realism to their characters. The character of Malcolm Tucker has become the most famous in The Thick Of It, played by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi Tucker is an aggressive spin doctor who screams profanities at the people who cross his path.

First broadcast on the cable channel BBC4 in 2005 the main focus of the early seasons of the show was Hugh Abbot MP, the Minister for Social Affairs and Citizenship. No political parties are ever named, but it is made clear that the characters are part of the ruling Labour Party of 2005. Throughout the first and second seasons Abbot is shown desperately trying to hold on to his job with the aid of the Prime Minister's main spin doctor Tucker who abuses and ridicules Abbot and his main advisors at every opportunity.

During the third season Abbot is replaced by Nicola Murray MP as the head of Social Affairs and Citizenship; Abbot's main policy advisors and media relations assistant remain in place with Murray. By the fourth season Murray and Tucker's party have been removed from power by a coalition government that sees the cast expanded to include members of all political parties shown during the workings of their daily routines. Murray has become the leader of the opposition party in the U.K. and is being pushed back to power by Tucker.