The New Statesman. Alan B'Stard MP (Rik Mayall). Copyright: Alomo Productions / Yorkshire Television
The New Statesman

The New Statesman (1987)

  • TV sitcom
  • ITV1
  • 1987 - 1994
  • 28 episodes (4 series)

Sitcom parody of 1980s Conservatism. Tory MP Alan B'Stard holds the largest majority in the House: his interests are money, power, sex, and himself. Stars Rik Mayall, Michael Troughton, Marsha Fitzalan, Rowena Cooper, John Nettleton and more.

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The New Statesman. Alan B'Stard MP (Rik Mayall). Copyright: Alomo Productions / Yorkshire Television

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1987 - 1994
Channel
ITV1
Episodes
28 (4 series), plus 1 Comic Relief special
Creators
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
Stars
Rik Mayall, Michael Troughton, Marsha Fitzalan, Rowena Cooper, John Nettleton, Terence Alexander, Victor Lucas and Berwick Kaler
Writers
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
Directors
Geoffrey Sax and Graeme Harper
Producers
David Reynolds, Tony Charles, Andrew Benson, Bernard McKenna, John Bartlett and Michael Pilsworth
Companies

Yorkshire MP Alan B'Stard has the largest majority in the House of Commons, and an ego to match. He's vulgar, often dimwitted, sexually incompetent, uncaring, ruthless and generally loathsome all-round: a perfect combination for a public figure on the brink of power.

Aside from the regular abuse and ritual humiliation of fellow Conservative MP Sir Piers Fletcher-Dervish - a wholly childlike, effeminate man - Alan's primary concerns and interests are himself, the acquisition of wealth, himself, women, increasing his power and influence, and himself.

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Additional details

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Colour
Soundtrack
The theme tune is Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky.

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Sunday 13th September 1987 at 10pm on ITV1
Most recent repeats

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