The Thick Of It

Hugh Abbott is invited to a private supper with the PM while there is jealousy over the media attention given to Dan Miller for his help in the department's new Housing Bill.

Tomorrow is the final day of the report stage of Hugh's Housing Bill in the Commons, and everything's going splendidly. But envy is brewing in the Department over the media attention that charming Junior Minister Dan Miller is receiving for his input on the bill - leaving Abbot starved of the limelight.

Hugh and Glenn seem slightly allergic to the bright young Minister - and annoyed that everyone, including Malcolm, appears to be Miller's back-slapping friend. Abbot tries desperately to downplay the imposition. Why should he care? He has been invited to a private supper with the PM.

The air of success is soon overturned. Word gets out that Abbot has two houses, one within commuting distance and the other in Notting Hill (that he barely gets to use) - which ultimately undermines his own Housing Bill.

Glenn tries to satiate the situation by placing Abbot's flat in Notting Hill on the market - but rejecting all offers. The press can smell blood. Will their hunt for evidence of a scandal end before they completely destroy Abbot's empire?

Poor Abbot can't understand what the fuss is all about - he hasn't killed anyone - he just wants to see his family!

Tensions build within the Department as they anxiously seek to protect their positions. Heads will roll... but who will be scalped?

But it is not only in the Department where allies are suddenly becoming enemies. Their friendly journalist Angela Heaney has bent over backwards for far too long. Abbot enters an interview with Heaney expecting a warm fuzzy profile piece, but Heaney has turned cold - she intends to portray a rather unattractive image of the Minister. Can Tucker stop things from turning ugly?