Thick Of It to return next month

The new show, subtitled Spinners and Losers, picks up where the New Year episode left off – with the Prime Minister unexpectedly announcing his resignation, leaving a power vacuum in which the politicians and aides aggressively jockey for position.

Chris Langham will again not be appearing in the show, due to his ongoing legal defence against child pornography charges. The script has his character, Hugh Abbot, flying back from Australia, leaving his advisors to try to keep his name in the frame with the new regime.

The plot mainly centres on abrasive No 10 spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) fighting to save his political career, having 17-hours to spin his way in with the PM’s expected successor.

Chris Addison and Justin Edwards are among the rest of the cast reprising their roles.

The show, devised by Armando Iannucci, will air on BBC Four at 9pm on July 3, less than a week after Tony Blair leaves office.

Published: 15 Jun 2007