Armando Iannucci

Iannucci: 'Now is not the time for a crap opposition'

Armando Iannucci, creator of The Thick of It, is Britain's greatest political satirist in recent years. So, when is he going to sink his teeth into the coalition?

US cable network Comedy Central has ordered a pilot based on the satirical UK history series Time Trumpet, which originally aired over six parts on BBC2 in 2006.

The format was created by UK comic Armando Iannucci and Comedy Central has asked him to oversee the US adaptation, according to US trade THR. If picked up for a series, it could launch in 2011.

Free Download: Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive

The Guardian and Observer have teamed up with Audible to give away a free audiobook download every day this week.

Today's download is the best of Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive.

Fans of Armando Iannucci's already classic The Thick Of It will be familiar with the comic work of Justin Edwards, thanks to his role as gormless wannabe-Machiavelli "Blinky" Ben Swain. But his solo shows in the guise of dipsomaniac children's "entertainer" Jeremy Lion are an altogether different (if no less hilarious) proposition. Red-faced, belching and swigging from cans of Special Brew, Lion is a majestically larger-than-life grotesque. When Edwards last brought this character to the fringe in 2005 he walked away with a Perrier nomination and, on the strength of his latest show, you wouldn't bet against him receiving similar recognition this time. The brand-new eco-themed spectacular sees Lion and pianist Hilary Cox (AKA comic Gus Brown) in a "play" about the dangers of an environmentally unfriendly lifestyle. This is big, vivid and brilliant comedy, with set pieces that could see you feeling incapacitated with laughter.

The MediaGuardian Top 100 2010 - 60. Armando Iannucci

He may have been stranded at the BBC's election night boat party, but The Thick of It creator's profile continues to rise.

Our man in the know bows out after a second successful run of You Have Been Watching. As ever, due to the late production of the show, it's impossible to know what Charlie Brooker's going to be lampooning with his guests. We do know that among them are regulars Rufus Hound and Josie Long. Joining them is the first man of British satire, Armando Iannucci, whose brilliant lancing of Westminster in The Thick Of It saw him have an almost Dimbleby-sized presence on election night television.

Channel 4's Alternative Election Night was good fun, if a little long. Still with only 3 results announced by midnight, it was better than all the endless, ill-informed, speculation going on over on BBC1 and ITV.

Gag of the night went to David Mitchell. "Does David Cameron actually find his wife attractive? Or, like everyone else, just feels he ought to?"

Predictably Jimmy Carr was rather less subtle, and came over all Ben Elton. "This is the most exciting election for 35 years. Margaret Thatcher can't remember a better election. Or the names of her children." Ouch!

The Thick Of It's Armando Iannucci revealed his abiding memory of the 1997 election. "I remember doing something not dissimilar to this - a live comedy show from this studio, went on for 3 hours," he recalled fondly. "My abiding memory of the entire election was sitting afterwards on a beer-sodden carpet next to Valerie Singleton watching Michael Portillo lose."

We, as you should, will be beginning election night with C4. Their Alternative Election Night is a kicking-off point, where you can watch Jimmy Carr deliver uncomfortable jokes about how ugly politicians are, Charlie Brooker deliver anger you can tell he no longer feels and Lauren Laverne make some vowels last an instant too long. The Election Special Come Dine With Me is infuriating and not just because of Brian Paddick's shirts and Rod Liddle's Julie Burchill-style provocateering. Comes to something when Edwina Currie is clearly the least annoying person on screen. Armando Iannucci is on at 10.

Armando Iannucci: The day I set up my own police force

Inspired by the Conservative manifesto, Armando Iannucci decided to take the law into his own hands.

RIP #twitterforce. Armando Iannucci winds up his force

The Thick of It creator's taste of 'big society' crimefighting renounces its protection of Wigan.