Iannucci working on new scripts

Armando Iannucci is working on another eight episodes of The Thick Of It – despite claims that his Twitter update announcing the news was a spoof.

He posted an update yesterday morning confirming: ‘Up early to work on Thick Of It scripts. Oh yes. There will be eight of them.’

The Independent claimed the post was the work of an impostor, saying: ‘The mimic sent his several thousand “followers” into a frenzy, claiming to have already written the show's third series. The news was immediately picked up by several entertainment sites.

‘Alas, the profile is a fake. Iannucci has yet to embrace the dubious pleasure of “tweeting”.’

The Independent’s story was also repeated on the Daily Telegraph website.

However, Iannucci has confirmed to Chortle that the Twitter account was genuine. A fake profile had been set up under his name, but that has now been deleted, and the Thick Of It update came from the real account.

The new commission would double the number of episodes of the political satire. Since 2005, there have been just two three-part series on BBC Four, plus a two-part special, The Rise Of The Nutters, in 2007.

A movie spin-off, In The Loop, is due out this month featuring some of the actors from the TV series, including Peter Capaldi and Chris Addison.

Published: 6 Apr 2009