The amoral Charles Prentiss (Stephen Fry) and the unmotivated Martin McCabe (John Bird) are former high-flying TV commissioners at the BBC.

Regular characters in earlier programmes from writer Mark Tavener (such as In The Red), they were responsible for getting rid of most of the corporation's staff.

However, Charles and Marty were so successful at getting rid of people they found themselves redundent at the Beeb. Now they have gone into business together and formed "Prentiss McCabe", a government-media relations consultancy, designed to help with any kind of government project, no matter what it is - so long as there is money in it.

Absolute Power follows Prentiss McCabe take on various projects, from trying to increase sales of The Sun to helping an American get his wish of having a socialist mayor of London. However, just as they get to grips with the problem, trouble always comes in the form of Archie Hilditch (Tony Gardner, Alex Lowe), a faceless member of Tony Blair's New Labour Government who always wants them to do the opposite for an even larger sum. This results in Charles and Martin attempting to please both sides in order to make as much cash as possible.