Does new political satire hit the spot?

Sir Humphrey wouldn't approve of the language.

But BBC 4's new political satire The Thick of It, which began last night, skewers the mind set of today's political classes as mercilessly and precisely as classic Eighties sitcom Yes, Minister.

It's all here. Swaggering spin doctors, cowardly ministers relying on the patronage of a fickle prime minister, policies being made up in the back of taxis and insane rivalry between Downing Street and the Treasury.

But while Yes, Minister was all about the magnificent inertia of the Whitehall machine - and how the civil servants were the ones really pulling the political strings - here the master everyone serves is the media.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4565605.stm

Has anybody seen this show?

I've always liked Armando Iannucci's work. It's on BBC Four, on Thursday (10.30pm).

the best/worst character is the PM's enforcer - an Alistair Campbell/Peter Mandelson type

I'm surprised that they only made three - I was really enjoying it.

I hope a second series is commissioned.

For those who missed it - it's going to be repeated on Saturday at 9.00pm and early Sunday morning at 12.25am. The third episode was the best out of the lot.

Even to an ex-dweller in the bargain-basement political world of Local Government like meself, the types were immediately recognisable, especially the foul-mouthed, mobile-toting New Labour enforcers and the faux-touchy feely PR twin-setters. Brought back many old nightmares!

Like all great satirists, Ianucci knows that you need to go only a little OTT.

The Skin

I haven't seen it (I only have terrestrial analogue), but it does sound good. For those of us still in the steam age, and waiting for its transfer to BBC2, there's always "The Party Line" - written by Punt and Dennis of The Now Show, it's taking a "Drop the Dead Donkey" approach - a sitcom (Labour MP with majority of just 27, various people round him like a Tory MP friend, Labour whips) with topical jokes thrown in for the week. Thursday, 6:30 pm (and 'listen again' on the Beeb website). It's not epoch-making, but it is quite funny.

You're so behind the times! ;-)

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