A bit more popular culture here, and this is mostly thanks to
@edricwashington who came to me with the original idea that we fleshed out together.
I hope you all enjoy
The Thick of It is a Britsh comedy television series that satirises the inner workings of modern British government. It was first broadcast for two short seasons on BBC Four in 2005, initially with a small cast focusing on a government minister, his advisers and their party's spin-doctor. The cast was significantly expanded for two hour-long specials in 2008 to coincide with Christmas and the imperial election, which saw new characters forming the main opposition party added to the cast. These characters continued when the show switched channels to BBC Two for its third season in 2009, now as members of the government in coalition with a third party. A fourth season, broadcast in 2011, featured old characters from all parties, as well as new characters in the Deputy Prime Minister's office. It was followed by a fifth seasons in 2012, which took place after an election and shifted the focus primarily onto the Deputy Prime Minister's office, now in coalition with the former opposition party. Through the following seasons, the Deputy Prime Minister became Prime Minister before losing power and becoming Leader of the Opposition and then heading into another election.
The first four seasons and the two 2008 specials generally focused on the fictional Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship (DoSAC), before shifting in season 4 to focus on the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, and finally in the fifth season focusing entirely on the staff of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Even though no mention is made of the words "Liberal", "Conservative" and "Social Democrat", it is strongly implied that this is a dramatised reflection of real-life political parties and events, and the portrayal of the various parties references real-life British imperial politics. The series also avoided having the Prime Minister on-screen throughout the first four seasons, referring to them by name or initials only.
The first two seasons, which aired in 2005 and consisted of four episodes each, focused on the blundering Albert Alger (John Michael Higgins), the new head of DoSAC, and his staff. Alger continues as a main character through the 2008 specials, which saw the government and the opposition attempt to handle computer problems in the immigration system, and introduced several opposition cast members. The third season, that aired in 2009 and picks up after an imperial election, sees the former government now in opposition, with Alger, having been blamed for the scandal that triggered the election being "sent to Australia". His successor at DoSAC is Nicola Murray (Julia Morris), a generally well-meaning Australian MIP ostensibly unfit for politics, who is a main character in the third and fourth seasons as part of the "JB" government. Dan Miller (Tony Gardner), the new Leader of the Opposition, appears as the main opposition character, and is shown scheming with the junior coalition party leader, who remains unseen, to bring down the government. These characters remain the main focus throughout season 4, which aired in 2011 and ends with a bruising election campaign and an unclear result.
Season 5 marked a shift in the show's focus and direction, as it saw many long-standing characters leave the show. Airing in 2012, season 5 focused primarily on Dan Miller as the new Prime Minister and the previously unseen deputy PM Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who is portrayed as having been her party's second choice for leader. Seasons 6 (2013) and 7 (2014) followed the narrative of the coalition government, with Meyer finding herself ignored by Miller, who's party becomes embroiled in a scandal about the health service from their previous time in government. Alongside returning government characters from the first two seasons, and the new staff of Meyer's office, several new and returning opposition characters also appear in these seasons, most notably opposition leader Bill O'Brien (Oliver Platt). Season 7 sees Miller call an election, in which Meyer overtakes his party in seats, despite multiple campaign gaffes and her nearly loosing her seat, and the finale sees Selina Meyer become Prime Minister. Season 8 (2015) closely follows the now Office of the Prime Minister, with many characters from the Miller government departing and new deputy PM Tom James (Hugh Laurie) being introduced. At the end of the season, James and his party leave the coalition and trigger an election, while O'Brien is ousted as leader by Laura Montez (Andrea Savage).
Season 9 (2016) takes place almost exclusively within the narrative of the campaign, which ends with a hung Parliament. After Meyer fails to build a coalition with Tom James or the minor parties, Montez, whose party won a plurality of seats, forms a minority government. Airing in 2017, the tenth season saw a return to the earlier format, following staff within both the Prime Minister's Office and Meyer's team, who now serves as Leader of the Opposition. Meyer sees off a challenge from her former Chancellor of the Exchequer, long-term MIP Andrew Doyle (Phil Reeves) during the season, whilst the Montez government is beset by a refugee crisis in Gibraltar. Jonah Ryan (Timothy Simons) appears more prominently as a new MP from Miller/James’ old party, having previously served as a Downing Street aide in the Miller government, and supports Montez on a budget vote by splitting from his party to form "Team Ryan", the only explicitly named party in the series. The season ends with a flash-forward to 2019 where Montez unexpectedly calls an election that will take place in season 11, which will cover the events of the missing year and a half as well as the election. The show has been commissioned for two more seasons, to air in 2018 and 2019.
Fictional Prime Ministers in The Thick of It
2004–2007 Unnamed PM (Liberal majority) (unseen, resigned)
2007–2009 Stuart Davis (Scotland) (Liberal majority) (unseen)
2009–2012 "JB" (Virginia) (Conservative–Social Democratic majority coalition) (unseen)
2012–2014 Dan Miller (England) (Liberal–Social Democratic majority coalition)
2014–2016 Selina Meyer (Columbia) (Social Democratic–Liberal majority coalition)
2016–2019 Laura Montez (Florida) (Conservative minority, then Conservative–Team Ryan majority coalition)
Fictional Deputy Prime Ministers in The Thick of It
2004–2009 Dan Miller (England) (Liberal)
2009–2014 Selina Meyer (Columbia) (Social Democratic)
2014–2016 Tom James (Ohio Country) (Liberal)
2016–2017 Position Vacant
2017–2019 Jonah Ryan (New England) (Team Ryan)
Fictional Leaders of the Opposition in The Thick of It
2004–2009 "JB" (Virginia) (Conservative) (unseen)
2009–2012 Dan Miller (England) (Liberal)
2012–2016 Bill O'Brien (Canada) (Conservative)
2016–2016 Laura Montez (Florida) (Conservative)
2016–2019 Selina Meyer (Columbia) (Social Democratic)
