British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
The New Statesman. Alan B'Stard MP (Rik Mayall). Copyright: Alomo Productions / Yorkshire Television
The New Statesman

The New Statesman (1987)

  • TV sitcom
  • ITV1
  • 1987 - 1994
  • 28 episodes (4 series)

Sitcom parody of 1980s Conservatism. Tory MP Alan B'Stard holds the largest majority in the House: his interests are money, power, sex, and himself. Stars Rik Mayall, Michael Troughton, Marsha Fitzalan, Rowena Cooper, John Nettleton and more.

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See also

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Yes Minister

Political satire in which well-meaning MP Jim Hacker has a fast introduction to the world of Whitehall and must then struggle against the Civil Service.

No Job For A Lady. Jean Price (Penelope Keith). Copyright: Thames Television TV

No Job For A Lady

Gentle sitcom about female MP Jean Price entering Parliament for the first time, doing her best to stick to her principles without any compromise.

The Thick Of It. Image shows from L to R: Oliver Reeder (Chris Addison), Terri Coverley (Joanna Scanlan), Nicola Murray (Rebecca Front), Glenn Cullen (James Smith), Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi). Copyright: BBC TV

The Thick Of It

Satirical political sitcom. Number 10's foul-mouthed policy enforcer Malcolm Tucker rules the Government's PR team with an iron fist.

ITV1 logo. Credit: ITV TV

Believe Nothing

Sitcom starring Rik Mayall as the world's cleverest man.

My Dad's The Prime Minister. Image shows from L to R: Dillon Phillips (Joe Prospero), Prime Minister Michael Phillips (Robert Bathurst), Clare Phillips (Carla Mendonca), Sarah Phillips (Emma Sackville) TV

My Dad's The Prime Minister

Family-friendly satire co-written by Ian Hislop and starring Robert Bathurst as the Prime Minister.

The Party Line. Copyright: BBC Radio

The Party Line

Satirical radio sitcom about backbench MP Duncan Stonebridge (played by James Fleet), written and recorded the day before transmission.

Absolute Power. Image shows from L to R: Charles Prentiss (Stephen Fry), Martin McCabe (John Bird). Copyright: BBC Radio

Absolute Power

Meet masters of spin Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe, the morally corrupt owners of Prentiss McCabe Government-Media Relations Consultancy.

In The Loop. Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi). Copyright: BBC / Aramid Entertainment Film

In The Loop

The US President and the UK Prime Minister fancy going to war - but this one will be quick. Looks like Malcolm Tucker is in the thick of it again.

Spitting Image TV

Spitting Image

Groundbreaking, long-running and hugely popular satirical sketch show with a cast of grotesque latex puppets.

Cameron at a press conference in Headcases. Copyright: Red Vision TV

Headcases

A satirical comedy series from former Spitting Image lead writer Henry Naylor. The characters are animated using ground-breaking 3D CGI.

Absolute Power. Image shows from L to R: Martin McCabe (John Bird), Charles Prentiss (Stephen Fry). Copyright: BBC TV

Absolute Power

Satire set amidst one of London's leading public relations firms and the exploits of its bosses, the amoral Charles Prentiss and worldly wise Martin McCabe.

Yes Minister. Image shows from L to R: Bernard Woolley (Derek Fowlds), James Hacker (Paul Eddington), Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne). Copyright: BBC Radio

Yes Minister

Radio adaptation of the satirical sitcom about the "rise" of Jim Hacker MP and his not-so-civil servant Sir Humphrey Appleby.

Whoops Apocalypse. Image shows from L to R: Premier Dubienkin (Richard Griffiths), The Deacon (John Barron), President Johnny Cyclops (Barry Morse), Kevin Pork (Peter Jones). Copyright: London Weekend Television TV

Whoops Apocalypse

Whoops Apocalypse takes a cynical and (hopefully) exaggerated look at international politics.

Drop The Dead Donkey. Image shows from L to R: Henry Davenport (David Swift), George Dent (Jeff Rawle), Helen Cooper (Ingrid Lacey), Sally Smedley (Victoria Wicks), Damien Day (Stephen Tompkinson), Gus Hedges (Robert Duncan), Joy Merryweather (Susannah Doyle). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions TV

Drop The Dead Donkey

Sitcom set at GlobeLink News, a TV news station which is ordered to start taking a sensationalist stance to the news by its new owner.

The Men From The Ministry. Copyright: BBC Radio

The Men From The Ministry

Satrical sitcom about the bungling civil servants at the General Assistance Department.

Filthy Rich & Catflap. Image shows left to right: Ralph Filthy (Nigel Planer), Eddie Catflap (Adrian Edmondson), Richie Rich (Rik Mayall). Credit: BBC TV

Filthy Rich & Catflap

Following the misadventures of never-was-been Richie Rich, his drunken minder Eddie Catflap, and agent Ralph Filthy as they strive to get him on TV.

Bottom. Image shows from L to R: Richie Richard (Rik Mayall), Eddie Hitler (Adrian Edmondson). Copyright: BBC TV

Bottom

Richie Richard and Eddie Hitler are a pair of disgusting, anti-social and regularly violent losers who share a grubby flat in Hammersmith.

The New Statesman. Image shows from L to R: George Vance (Windsor Davies), Enid Vance (Anna Dawson). Copyright: BBC TV

The New Statesman

George Vance, custodian of an agricultural museum near Aylesbury, receives news that is about to change his life. He is to become an Earl.

Goodnight Sweetheart. Image shows from L to R: Yvonne Sparrow (Emma Amos), Gary Sparrow (Nicholas Lyndhurst), Phoebe Sparrow (Elizabeth Carling). Copyright: Alomo Productions / BBC TV

Goodnight Sweetheart

Whilst walking around the East End, TV repairman Gary Sparrow is transported back to 1940 where he begins to live a second life.

Mr White Goes To Westminster. Ben White (Bill Paterson). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions TV

Mr White Goes To Westminster

Satire by Guy Jenkin, based on the election of former BBC war reporter and "man in the white suit", Martin Bell, to Parliament.

Chariot Film

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Film, shot fly-on-the-wall style, that follows a corrupt local politician (played by Robert Pugh) as he prepares for a by-election in Wales.

Sir Ian Bowler's Brexit Strategy. Ian Bowler (Nathaniel Tapley) Online

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A web series following spoof Conservative MP Ian Bowler as Britain prepares to leave the EU.

The New Statesman. Alan B'Stard MP (Rik Mayall). Copyright: Yorkshire Television / Alomo Productions TV

The B'Stard Legacy

A sitcom spin-off from The New Statesman, focusing on the business dealings of Alan B'Stard's son Arron.

The Best Of Enemies. Image shows from L to R: Wilkins (Deryck Guyler), Geoffrey Broom MP (Tim Barrett), Willie Gordon MP (Robert Coote). Copyright: Thames Television TV

The Best Of Enemies

Two MPs of opposing parties are obliged to share an office at the House of Commons.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC TV

Norman Ormal: A Very Political Turtle

The comic life and times of an unlikely politician, starring the many faces of Harry Enfield.

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