Says Armando Iannucci

Armando Iannucci says the BBC wrecked the US version of The Thick Of It by excluding him from the remake.

A pilot of the political satire was made for the ABC network two years ago, but it was never picked up.

He told the Daily Mirror: ‘I was shoved out of the equation straight away. The BBC just went and sold it to the highest bidder without really telling me.’

It was developed for America by Arrested Development producers Mitch Hurwirtz and Richard Day, with Spinal Tap star Christopher Guest directing.

Iannucci – who runs a comedy unit within the BBC – added: ‘Maybe Guest wasn't the best person. He favours a slow unravelling - whereas The Thick Of It is quite frenetic.’

Iannucci was credited as an executive producer on the US version, but had little direct input.

Published: 27 Mar 2009