Cast announced for C4's ultra-topical comedy

Jack Dee, Ben Willbond and Claire Skinner are to star in Channel 4's new ultra-topical comedy show Power Monkeys.

A follow-up to the 2015 election comedy Ballot Monkeys, the new show focusses on the political machinations surrounding the EU referendum, Donald Trump's US Presidential campaign and at the Kremlin.

It is more or less shot on the day of transmission,  with six writers including Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin  and four directors in order to keep the jokes current.

The series was announced earlier this month, now Channel 4 have confirmed the cast.
 
Dee plays Oliver, a volatile former journalist who runs the pro-Europe Unity Unit at the Conservative HQ. Skinner plays his sensitive colleague Sarah, who spouts 'psychobabble'. Also at the HQ is Tony (Anthony Calf), a fence-sitter and veteran 'survivor' of Tory party politics and assistant Ruby, played by Liz Kingsman, who was seen in Ballot Monkeys, but has not lost her job despite being useless since  she's the daughter of a prestigious party donor.
 
On the cross-party Brexit Roadshow bus are Spencer (Kevin McNally), a disenchanted former Ukipper now hopelessly in love with an Eastern European,  Gerry (Andy Nyman, reviving his role from Ballot Monkeys), the Roadshow's production manager, and Jackie (Gwyneth Keyworth), an idealistic left-wing student and staunch Corbynista.

Archie Panjabi will play Preeya, a careerist Tory who flits between being pro and anti-Brexit, depending on who she wants to impress within the party.
 
Meanwhile on Trump's campaign plane, moderate Republican Lauren (Amelia Bullmore) has been drafted in to try to win women's votes. But she clashes with fervent colleagues Bea (Ayda Fiel) and Brett (Robert Wilfort) .
 
At the Kremlin, Oleg (Ben Willbond) and Alexi (Alec Utgoff) are apparatchiks jostling for Putin's favour and monitoring the news of the day from the Western media.
 
Power Monkeys is  directed by Jenkin and Hamilton along with Paul Schlesinger  and Neil Pearson, who starred in the creator's earlier series, Drop THe Dead Donkey. 

It is produced by Debbie Pisani and executive produced by Jimmy Mulville. It was commissioned for Channel 4's head of comedy by Phil Clarke and Liz Lewin, commissioning editor for Channel 4 comedy.
 
Power Monkeys will air on Channel 4 every Wednesday at 10pm from June 8, with a special episode on Friday June 24, the day after the EU referendum.

When the series commission was announced,  Clarke said: 'I'm delighted to announce that I have no idea what the content of this series will be. It will be satirical, highly topical, and filmed at the last minute. It's exactly the type of show we should be making.' 

It is not the only referendum-themed comedy show Dee will be fronting this summer, as his HelpDesk will be returning to BBC Two for three new editions based around the EU vote.
 

Published: 25 May 2016