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.
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.
Stream and download
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
-
- Saturday 24th December 2016 at 3:15am on London Live - Series 1, Episode 4
- Saturday 24th December 2016 at 2:45am on London Live - Series 1, Episode 3
- Saturday 24th December 2016 at 2:15am on London Live - Series 1, Episode 2