The Thick of It
Seen it?2005 | 4 seasons | 30 min | Comedy
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (83% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Veep or Parks and Recreation, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Provocative satire that goes after everyone.
- The pace
- 4 seasons, but most episodes stand on their own, so you can dip in anywhere (about 30 minutes each).
- What might put you off
- Rated TV-MA: meant for adults.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Set in the corridors of power and spin, the Minister for Social Affairs is continually harassed by Number 10's policy enforcer and dependent on his not-so-reliable team of civil servants.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
83% on Rotten Tomatoes, 90 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
8.1 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Ran for 4 seasons and reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 375K people sought it out in the past year
Season by season
The show overall is a Saturday Special. Here's how each season stacks up; Series 2 is the high point.
Series 12005 · 3 episodes · 8.5 out of 10Friday- Series 22005 · 3 episodes · 8.6 out of 10Friday
- Series 32009 · 8 episodes · 8.6 out of 10Friday
- Series 42012 · 7 episodes · 8.4 out of 10Friday
Trailer
More like this
Veep Saturday SpecialAlso from creator Armando Iannucci: a political comedy, and a Saturday Special.
Parks and Recreation Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed political comedy.
Monty Python's Flying Circus Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed satirical comedy.
Malcolm in the Middle Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed satirical comedy.
Platonic
Sunday Safe BetAnother comedy, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
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Cast & crew
Created by Armando Iannucci
- Peter CapaldiMalcolm Tucker
- Rebecca FrontNicola Murray
- Chris AddisonOlly Reeder
- Joanna ScanlanTerri Coverley
- James SmithGlenn Cullen
- Roger AllamPeter Mannion