British Comedy Guide
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
The Thick Of It

The Thick Of It

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two / BBC Four
  • 2005 - 2012
  • 23 episodes (4 series)

Satirical political sitcom. Number 10's foul-mouthed policy enforcer Malcolm Tucker rules the Government's PR team with an iron fist. Stars Peter Capaldi, Chris Addison, James Smith, Joanna Scanlan, Rebecca Front and more.

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Series 2, Episode 3

Someone sends an email they shouldn't have, while Hugh lies to a Select Committee.

Further details

Hugh returns from holiday to take up residence in their new offices - part of the impressive new multi-ministry building.

However, the Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship new offices are actually a bit disappointing - there's no privacy, the 'intelligent ventilation system' isn't working and the internal email is down and everyone's using their web-based private email addresses.

Terri's back in the fray after her dad's death and briefs Hugh that the date for his appearance in front of the ongoing Education Select Committee has been set: it's tomorrow. Hugh is p***ed off and he wants it moved - but it's not possible.

Meanwhile, Malcolm makes his way through the new building on what appears to be a multi-ministry b****cking mission - and the team all run to take a look.

Ollie, Glenn and Hugh return to Hugh's office to discuss what policies they will be covering under their new area of Citizenship. It appears that basically they are getting all the s**t that every other department doesn't want and anything to do with the Isle of Man... plus long term care for the elderly.

Hugh and Glenn take an instant dislike to the Second Educational Advisor, Roy Smedley. Bored, Hugh pops out of the meeting to Terri's computer and sends an email to Glenn. "Christ alive, what a c**t!"

He addresses it to Glenn's Hotmail address and hits send. Hugh looks through the glass, smiling, waiting for Glenn to hear the 'bing bong' of the email, but hears nothing and Glenn doesn't move. Who the hell has he sent the email to? Answer: an eight-year-old girl called Glenn Cullen (after Glenn Close). The story goes big in the national papers.

Meanwhile, Hugh accidently lies in front of the Educational Select Committee, which leaves Malcolm to clean up the fallout - along with the three other Ministries in the same building.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 3rd November 2005
Time
10:30pm
Channel
BBC Four
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Peter Capaldi Malcolm Tucker
Chris Addison Oliver Reeder
James Smith Glenn Cullen
Joanna Scanlan Terri Coverley
Chris Langham Hugh Abbot
Polly Kemp Robyn Murdoch
Guest cast
Eve Matheson Claire Ballantine
Martin Ball Rob Smedley
Writing team
Simon Blackwell Writer
Tony Roche Writer
Ian Martin Writer (Additional Material)
Martin Sixsmith Script Development
Jesse Armstrong Writer (Additional Material)
Armando Iannucci Writer (Additional Material)
Production team
Armando Iannucci Director
Adam Tandy Producer
Jon Plowman Executive Producer
David Frisby Editor
Simon Rogers Production Designer

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