The Thick Of It

The Thick Of It is the best British comedy going at the moment. It's like a more modern and savage Yes, Minister, and the two 'specials' screened since the turn of the year have been a joy to behold. Last week's second part was a particularly telling and well-timed ode to the art of intra-party political gamesmanship, charting all the party figures as they shuffle about in a desperate bid to back the winner of the race to be the new PM, regardless of who it is. All for personal gain, and all completely engrossed in their own bubble. Hilarious, and also extremely realistic. Armando Ianucci is still excelling himself. The first series was brilliant too and I hope they make a second, but that all depends on the outcome of the charges against Chris Langham.

One of the series' main attributes is its breathtaking use of swearing. Not piss-poor, unimaginative swearing for cheap laughs, but superb, highly aggressive and imaginative swear-filled rants for erm, expensive laughs. The scriptwriters even have a 'swearing consultant' based in Leicester, who they send their scripts to for a bit more colour to be added. It's just got a great script in general actually. My favourite line the other night was "you're on the last chopper out of Saigon while I'm being fucked in the arse by Ho Chi Minh." Part One featured a mesmerising put-down by the new Press Officer (and Malcolm Tucker clone) Jamie based around operating an iPod Nano via a political advisor's penis [watch video clip].

Political comedy doesn't seem to be a ratings winner in this day and age, but this certainly should be. Then again, there's no tiresome catch-phrases and it's not Catherine Tate, so it's hardly a surprise that it's savoured by relatively few people. It's all repeated on BBC2/BBC Four at various times in the coming week though, so watch it if you haven't already. Anwyay, I think I've waxed lyrical quite enough. "Wake up and smell the cock!"