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.

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 240

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Press clippings

Peter Capaldi: "We didn't rehearse for The Thick Of It. I could never remember my lines"

The Doctor Who star talks about the new series of The Devil's Hour, having a sinister voice, and how society has stopped investing in young people.

Helen Brown, i Newspaper, 18th October 2024

10 little-known UK sitcoms that US viewers need to watch

Only a few British sitcoms make an impression in the United States, but there are plenty of hilarious shows which deserve bigger international audiences. While shows like Fawlty Towers, Blackadder and The Office have had plenty of success in America, this is merely the tip of the iceberg. British comedy doesn't always translate well overseas, so people don't often give lesser-known British sitcoms a chance.

Ben Protheroe, Screen Rant, 28th July 2024

What would Malcolm Tucker make of this election campaign?

You know things are seriously bad when a leaders' debate looks to be the better option as compared to watching Scotland at the Euros. However, the good news is that these debates have turned into comedy gold in terms of political satire. Indeed the one person I feel sorry for just now is Armando Iannucci, because the politicians are blatantly stealing his best plot-lines.

Robert Menzies, The Herald, 28th June 2024

Armando Iannucci on how the Americans ruined The Thick Of It

Armando Iannucci has spoken of how the Americas ruined The Thick Of It - exorcising all the swearing and making a "really boring" version of his political sitcom.

Chortle, 26th June 2024

The 50 best TV comedies of all time - ranked

From cult classics to sitcom royalty, we've assembled the definitive list of TV comedy greats - but has Mrs. Brown's Boys made the grade?

Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 20th June 2024

Armando Iannucci compares Tory plan to Thick Of It's "The Rise of the Nutters"

Armando Iannucci has compared a bizarre plotline in The Thick Of It to the Conservative Party's latest immigration initiative.

Nicole Vassell, The Independent, 4th June 2024

The Office named top landmark comedy of the last 50 years

The Office was the highest-placed comedy in a Broadcasting Press Guild list of the top 50 landmark programmes of the last 50 years.

British Comedy Guide, 13th March 2024

Peter Capaldi says The Thick Of It could not be remade because politics now is 'beyond a joke'

Peter Capaldi has said that a reboot of the dark political comedy The Thick Of It would be too pertinent given the current climate of contemporary British politics.

Ellie Muir, The Independent, 9th January 2024

British comedy's US disasters

As media continues to become more globally inclusive (largely thanks to the rise of streaming services) the idea of remaking anything to fit another culture is gradually becoming more of an outdated concept. But in the past, American TV producers have repeatedly tried and failed to remake many beloved British sitcoms with terrible consequences.

Jazzy Janey, The Comedy Blog, 2nd September 2023

What happens to comedy when British politics becomes a joke?

When audiences do want something sharp, they want it to confirm prejudices.

The Economist, 17th August 2023

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