# The Thick of It (2005)

> A profane, fast-paced satire following a government minister and his civil servants as they are hounded by a ruthless Downing Street enforcer.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/4287

## Facts

- Seasons: 4
- Episodes: 21
- Episode runtime: 30 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy
- Created by: Armando Iannucci
- Network: BBC Four, BBC Two
- Cast: Chris Langham, Peter Capaldi, Rebecca Front, Chris Addison, Joanna Scanlan, James Smith, Roger Allam, Morwenna Banks
- TMDB rating: 8.7/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459159/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: breakneck
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: none
- Tone: acerbic, frantic, cynical, profane, breathless

## What critics say

Widely acclaimed as a sharp, profane and cutting political satire whose writing and performances, especially Peter Capaldi's Malcolm Tucker, lift it above typical sitcom fare.

## Synopsis

The Thick of It (2005-2012) is a British political satire sitcom created by Armando Iannucci for BBC Four and BBC Two. Its engine is the constant friction between a harried cabinet minister and the people around him. Chris Langham plays Hugh Abbot, the Minister for Social Affairs, whose department is run by a hapless team of civil servants, including Chris Addison as Olly Reeder and Joanna Scanlan as Terri Coverley. Peter Capaldi plays Malcolm Tucker, Number 10's foul-mouthed policy enforcer, whose relentless abuse and manipulation of ministers drives nearly every scene. Across four seasons and twenty-one half-hour episodes, the series is built from frantic meetings, leaked press lines, and crises that erupt faster than anyone can contain them. Rebecca Front and Roger Allam round out the ministerial ranks. The tone is breathless, cynical, and savagely funny, with overlapping dialogue and handheld, documentary-style camerawork that makes Westminster feel like a cramped, panicked office. Fans of Yes Minister, Veep and The Office will find resonance in its blend of institutional absurdity and sharp workplace comedy.

## Shows like The Thick of It

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- [The Regime (2024)](https://ember.film/tv/129206)
- [This England (2022)](https://ember.film/tv/119208)
- [Yes, Prime Minister (1986)](https://ember.film/tv/11746)
- [The New Statesman (1987)](https://ember.film/tv/5699)

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