
Ambassadors
- TV comedy drama
- BBC Two
- 2013
- 3 episodes (1 series)
Comedy drama starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb as the British ambassador and his Mission deputy who are busy in Tazbekistan. Stars David Mitchell, Debbie Chazen, Matthew Macfadyen, Oliver Dimsdale, Richard Katz and more.
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 1 - The Rabbit Never Escapes
Further details

The new British ambassador to Tazbekistan is tasked with securing a £2 billion helicopter contract for the UK.
Things begin badly when Keith Davis accidentally shoots an ibex, the national animal, while on a hunting trip with the president - and are further jeopardised when an arrogant young British human rights activist is arrested by the regime on trumped-up charges.
This throws Davis into direct conflict with Neil Tilly, who believes Britain should be prioritising human rights over winning arms contracts. Neil, though, has ethical troubles of his own when the Tazbek secret police blackmail him into spying on the British for them.
The embassy is hosting a 'Best of British Festival' to offer an opportunity for Davis to impress the Tazbeks and persuade them to go with the British helicopters. However, the best the festival can offer is a medieval folk group from Gloucestershire, a demonstration of how to make a pork pie and a one-man production of Frankenstein.
Nobody, least of all Davis, is feeling too confident... Then news reaches them that the human rights activist is facing the death penalty and the ambassador and his team are forced to make a tough decision.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Wednesday 23rd October 2013
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 60 minutes
Cast & crew
David Mitchell | Keith Davis |
Debbie Chazen | Ludmilla |
Matthew Macfadyen | POD |
Oliver Dimsdale | French Ambassador |
Richard Katz | Jamatt |
George Lasha | Tall Surveillance Man |
Sevan Stephan | Short Surveillance Man |
Velibor Topic | Svecko |
Andy Lucas | Sergei |
James Doherty | Kevin |
Lachele Carl | US Ambassador |
Jenny Galloway | Mrs Petrova |
Robert Webb | Neil Tilly |
Keeley Hawes | Jennifer |
Susan Lynch | Caitlin |
Amara Karan | Isabel |
Shivani Ghai | Natalia |
Yigal Naor (as Igal Naor) | President Karzak |
Natalia Tena | Tanya |
Danny Scheinmann | Guide |
Henry Lloyd-Hughes | Simon Broughton |
Elliot Cowan | Stephen Pembridge |
Helen Daniels | Daisy |
James Wood | Writer |
Rupert Walters | Writer |
Jeremy Webb | Director |
Chris Carey | Producer |
Kenton Allen | Executive Producer |
Luke Alkin | Executive Producer |
Chris Sussman | Executive Producer |
Matthew Justice | Executive Producer |
David Mitchell | Executive Producer |
Robert Webb | Executive Producer |
James Wood | Associate Producer |
Rupert Walters | Associate Producer |
Crispin Green | Editor |
Tom Bowyer | Production Designer |
Daniel Pemberton | Composer |
Video
Toasting Tazbekistan
Davis and Neil discuss the complicated order of the Tazbekistan toasts.
Featuring: David Mitchell (Keith Davis), Robert Webb (Neil Tilly) & Susan Lynch (Caitlin).