Another special for Thick Of It

Like the New Year special, the new script will focus as much on the Tory spin doctors as Labour ones.

And beleaguered minister Hugh Abbot, will again not be appearing, as actor Chris Langham defends himself against child pornography charges.

Creator Armando Iannucci and his writing team will pick up where this month's Thick of It special left off - with the Prime Minister having announced his shock resignation.

The new hour-long special will air sometime in the summer.

Speaking at the launch of BBC4’s new schedules, channel controller Janice Hadlow said: ‘We are doing another one-off special. Armando's planning to pick it up the following day so it carries on from where the Christmas one-off left off.

‘So many people came up to me and said how much they'd enjoyed The Thick Of It over Christmas. It's almost become a drama, it's interesting to see what's happening with [spin doctor] Malcolm [Tucker] as he loses control of the levers.’

The critically-acclaimed special shown on January 2 attracted just over 200,000 viewers to BBC4.

The new winter-spring season on BBC4 includes an 80-minute drama about music hall star Marie Lloyd, one of the first star female comedians, starring ex-EastEnder Jessie Wallace.

The channel has also confirmed the line-up for its Tight Spot season of four one-off comedy showcases, as Chortle first reported in September.

They are:

Lift, by Mark Watson: About four people trapped in an elevator: stressed businessman Paul late for a vital meeting; Sunita, who won’t shut up about her inappropriate experiences; teenager Rocco with seven major phobias; and the dangerously jolly but Christabel who is challenged in the bladder area.

Stuck by Mark Warren: About a pompous, tense ad executive stuck in the car with a laid-back creative type he shares little in common with. This is being made by Baby Cow under executive producers Henry Normal and Lindsay Hughes.

Freezing by James Wood: ‘A modern, urban comedy’ about an Oscar-nominated actress now languishing in a West London suburb worrying about where the next job will come from. Her husband, too, has lost his publishing job so for the first time in their marriage the couple have to spend their days together at home seeking work.

HR by Nigel Williams: About two white middle-aged corporate men under threat from the brave new world of management consultancy.

Published: 17 Jan 2007