The Thick Of It. Image shows from L to R: Oliver Reeder (Chris Addison), Terri Coverley (Joanna Scanlan), Nicola Murray (Rebecca Front), Glenn Cullen (James Smith), Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi). Copyright: BBC
The Thick Of It

The Thick Of It

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two / BBC Four
  • 2005 - 2012
  • 23 episodes (4 series)

Satirical political sitcom. Number 10's foul-mouthed policy enforcer Malcolm Tucker rules the Government's PR team with an iron fist. Stars Peter Capaldi, Chris Addison, James Smith, Joanna Scanlan, Rebecca Front and more.

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 125

Press clippings Page 12

Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) is back with us, storming around like an angry undertaker, plotting against lame-duck party leader Nicola Murray (Rebecca Front).

To orchestrate her downfall, he has deliberately put her on a train to Bradford while he sets off various PR bombs. But he needs Olly to help, and Olly is in hospital. Malcolm visits, with a bouquet, and Olly is touched. "Did you actually buy me flowers, Malcolm?" he splutters. "No, no," protests the lethal aide. "It's one of the many advantages of living near an accident blackspot."

The lavishly profane Malcolm-scenes are intercut with a frantic Nicola trying to salvage her political career from a train carriage, without the TV crew who are following her noticing. And Rebecca Front does panic brilliantly.

David Butcher, Radio Times, 29th September 2012

As it approaches its end, The Thick of It feels simultaneously darker, angrier and more despairing than ever. Is this really how government works? In the aftermath of last week's Tickell-related developments, we return to the opposition - the affair has serious implications for them too. Chiefly for Nicola, who, according to Malcolm, is 'as fucked as Caligula's favourite watermelon'. Clearly, Tucker has never been one to 'look a gift corpse in the mouth' but can he manage the logistics of betrayal at long distance? The main theme of this closing series is beginning to become clear: there's little more than a fag paper between the parties in terms of either policy or moral probity; the only real race they're engaged in is one to the bottom. If it wasn't so uproariously funny, The Thick of It would be too depressing for words...

Phil Harrison, Time Out, 29th September 2012

Red Dwarf: Tube Talk Gold

On paper, there's absolutely nothing about Red Dwarf that should have worked.

Emma Dibdin, Digital Spy, 29th September 2012

The Thick of It - Lines of the Week

Tucker finally puts in an appearance, with the Malcolmiest version of Malcolm we've seen for years. And what's more, the episode ended with a 'To be continued ...'

Stuart Heritage, The Guardian, 29th September 2012

Review: Malcolm Tucker eyes a revolution

Anyone who has been missing Malcolm Tucker's mischief-making from much of this series will be delighted by the events of this week's fourth episode - which saw Mr Tucker beginning the first delicate stages of his all-out coup.

Caroline Frost, The Huffington Post, 29th September 2012

The Thick Of It series 4 episode 4 review

It's over to the Opposition again in this week's superb The Thick Of It, which sees Malcolm Tucker back at full strength...

Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 29th September 2012

Malcolm was back in The Thick of It (BBC Two) and ordering a soft drink. "I'll have a f------ Fanta." What I love about him is how, since he swears so much, nobody else has to swear at all. They do anyway, but they aren't in his league.

Clive James, The Telegraph, 28th September 2012

The excellent political satire continues with Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) ramping up his stealth campaign to oust the Leader of the Opposition, Nicola Murray (Rebecca Front). He packs Murray off to canvas at a party event in Bradford, leaving him free to move his political pawns into place. This means forcing policy advisor Ollie Reeder (Chris Addison) to coerce shadow ministers into joining the coup from a hospital bed, where he's recovering from an appendectomy.

The Telegraph, 28th September 2012

Has Vince Cable been watching The Thick of It?

Life imitates art (again) as business secretary's big idea echoes micro-bank proposed in Saturday's episode of BBC2 political satire.

Paul Owen, The Guardian, 24th September 2012

Review: Swings and roundabouts for the coalition

After last week's almost existential angst in Opposition, the subdued Malcolm Tucker can at least console himself it's not all fun and backslaps in the Coalition Government, but it's definitely jollier for us watching.

Caroline Frost, The Huffington Post, 23rd September 2012

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