Ian Martin, swearing consultant
May 18, 2025 4:31 AM Subscribe
These people wouldn’t last 10 seconds in an actual fight. They probably don’t even go to the gym because they haven’t got time. They just drink lots of coffee from 5am and shout … it’s a stupid and frankly inefficient way of working. — Armando Iannucci on The Thick of It, with recollections of this 20 year old semi-improvised low budget BBC politics satire from (nearly) all the actors involved.
Honestly, there's just too many pull quotes from the article to get everything out, but it's a delight. And they do address how completely dysfunctional DoSAC was. But how realistic, too.
Capaldi — I love the idea of playing husks. Malcolm loved his job, he was addicted to it. But I think when it’s all over and he’s in the back of the car after leaving the police station, he’s relieved that the shit is over.
Iannucci — I got in touch with politicos, ex-ministers, former civil servants, political journalists, insiders, outsiders. I said: “I’m not here for scandal, I want the boring stuff!” I wanted to know who gets in first, who’s last to leave, what is the relationship with civil servants, who would take a call from the Daily Mail? And the big revelation for me was how much the country was being run by 22-year-olds.
Tandy — When Peter came in, I think he was on the verge of giving up acting. We were running slightly behind schedule and Sarah Crowe, our casting director, actually had to pop out of the casting session to try to persuade him to stay.
Joanna Scanlan — Most of what I created as Terri was from when I worked at the Arts Council England. There were people there who’d move from job to job within the arts without ever understanding what it was they were trying to create.
Honestly, there's just too many pull quotes from the article to get everything out, but it's a delight. And they do address how completely dysfunctional DoSAC was. But how realistic, too.
Capaldi — I love the idea of playing husks. Malcolm loved his job, he was addicted to it. But I think when it’s all over and he’s in the back of the car after leaving the police station, he’s relieved that the shit is over.
Iannucci — I got in touch with politicos, ex-ministers, former civil servants, political journalists, insiders, outsiders. I said: “I’m not here for scandal, I want the boring stuff!” I wanted to know who gets in first, who’s last to leave, what is the relationship with civil servants, who would take a call from the Daily Mail? And the big revelation for me was how much the country was being run by 22-year-olds.
Tandy — When Peter came in, I think he was on the verge of giving up acting. We were running slightly behind schedule and Sarah Crowe, our casting director, actually had to pop out of the casting session to try to persuade him to stay.
Joanna Scanlan — Most of what I created as Terri was from when I worked at the Arts Council England. There were people there who’d move from job to job within the arts without ever understanding what it was they were trying to create.
There's also this, for a taste: Malcolm Tucker Rampage Compilation (Part 1)
posted by chavenet at 5:10 AM on May 18 [2 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 5:10 AM on May 18 [2 favorites]
For all his rampaging, my all time favorite Malcolm Tucker scene is when he receives the Happy Birthday C*nt cake from an anonymous ill-wisher. In a hushed moment of self awareness he muses, “This could be from anyone.”
posted by theory at 6:10 AM on May 18 [10 favorites]
posted by theory at 6:10 AM on May 18 [10 favorites]
My absolute all-time favorite Malcolm Tucker line:
"I would rain down upon you so hard, you'd have to be reassembled by fuckin' air crash investigators."
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 6:43 AM on May 18 [3 favorites]
"I would rain down upon you so hard, you'd have to be reassembled by fuckin' air crash investigators."
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 6:43 AM on May 18 [3 favorites]
The thick of it! I had no idea that this was exactly what I wanted to see and hear - and since I've seen it, I don't want to see another TV series ever again. The door has closed.
The thick of it made me realize that most other TV comedy is made for geriatric patients. Someone cracks a joke, then there's a pause, so you can understand that this was supposed to be funny, and cough up a few laughs, then there are a few more lines, which are meant to transport you to the next joke and the next pause; repeat ad nauseam. The thick of it, on the other hand, just hits the ground running - nothing is explained to you. Malcolm Tucker wasn't the only one full of attitude: it was as if the entire show was made by a bunch of people who said "If you don't get it - fuck you."
I still don't understand how they were able to come up with a group of different characters who all fit together so well - Ollie Reeder, Mannion, Terri Coverley, Glenn Cullen, Nicola, Stuart ... They are stupid, yet likable. They are simple and readable, like cartoons, and yet believable - I felt like I would meet similar people if I ever got the opportunity of watching the political sausage factory from the inside.
posted by Termite at 7:05 AM on May 18 [3 favorites]
The thick of it made me realize that most other TV comedy is made for geriatric patients. Someone cracks a joke, then there's a pause, so you can understand that this was supposed to be funny, and cough up a few laughs, then there are a few more lines, which are meant to transport you to the next joke and the next pause; repeat ad nauseam. The thick of it, on the other hand, just hits the ground running - nothing is explained to you. Malcolm Tucker wasn't the only one full of attitude: it was as if the entire show was made by a bunch of people who said "If you don't get it - fuck you."
I still don't understand how they were able to come up with a group of different characters who all fit together so well - Ollie Reeder, Mannion, Terri Coverley, Glenn Cullen, Nicola, Stuart ... They are stupid, yet likable. They are simple and readable, like cartoons, and yet believable - I felt like I would meet similar people if I ever got the opportunity of watching the political sausage factory from the inside.
posted by Termite at 7:05 AM on May 18 [3 favorites]
Termite: "since I've seen it, I don't want to see another TV series ever again"
do try Veep, it's also by Iannucci and stars Julia Louis Dreyfus. I was skeptical, but then quickly won over; same vibe, different accents
posted by chavenet at 7:08 AM on May 18 [3 favorites]
do try Veep, it's also by Iannucci and stars Julia Louis Dreyfus. I was skeptical, but then quickly won over; same vibe, different accents
posted by chavenet at 7:08 AM on May 18 [3 favorites]
Thanks, chavenet - but I've tried Veep, and no, it just doesn't work.
posted by Termite at 7:26 AM on May 18 [2 favorites]
posted by Termite at 7:26 AM on May 18 [2 favorites]
> strange reminder of when politicians (and politics) were serious enough that they could be made fun of. Now the parody is running the world.
as i see it iannucci’s approach works even better when used to portray very hard times. like, death of stalin is a straight-up masterpiece.
posted by Sperry Topsider at 7:55 AM on May 18 [12 favorites]
as i see it iannucci’s approach works even better when used to portray very hard times. like, death of stalin is a straight-up masterpiece.
posted by Sperry Topsider at 7:55 AM on May 18 [12 favorites]
Here's a favourite of mine, from the movie In The Loop, where Malcolm Tucker faces off against Gen. Miller (James Gandolfini). "Don't ever call me fucking English again." [CW: homophobia]
posted by Acey at 8:15 AM on May 18 [3 favorites]
posted by Acey at 8:15 AM on May 18 [3 favorites]
I love all the In the Loop burns on the young slick analysts and office holders in DC … true today more than ever with DOGE and the like. To wit:
Malcolm Tucker: Linton! Linton!
Linton Barwick: Mr Tucker, isn't it? Nice to see you again.
Malcolm Tucker: Are you fucking me about?
Linton Barwick: Is there a problem, Mr Tucker?
Malcolm Tucker: I've just come from a briefing with a nine-year-old child.
Linton Barwick: You're talking about AJ. AJ is one of our top guys. He's a Stanton College Prep, Harvard. One of the brightest and best.
Malcolm Tucker: Well, his briefing notes were written in alphabetti spaghetti. When I left, I nearly tripped up over his fucking umbilical cord.
Linton Barwick: I'm sorry it troubles you that our people achieve excellence at such an early age. But could we just move on to what's important here? Now, I understand that your Prime Minister has asked you to supply us with some, say, fresh British intelligence, is that true?
Malcolm Tucker: Yeah, apparently, your fucking master race of highly-gifted toddlers can't quite get the job done...
Linton Barwick: All right.
Malcolm Tucker: ...between breast feeds and playing with their Power Rangers. So, an actual grown-up has been asked to fucking bail you out.
posted by caviar2d2 at 9:35 AM on May 18 [5 favorites]
Malcolm Tucker: Linton! Linton!
Linton Barwick: Mr Tucker, isn't it? Nice to see you again.
Malcolm Tucker: Are you fucking me about?
Linton Barwick: Is there a problem, Mr Tucker?
Malcolm Tucker: I've just come from a briefing with a nine-year-old child.
Linton Barwick: You're talking about AJ. AJ is one of our top guys. He's a Stanton College Prep, Harvard. One of the brightest and best.
Malcolm Tucker: Well, his briefing notes were written in alphabetti spaghetti. When I left, I nearly tripped up over his fucking umbilical cord.
Linton Barwick: I'm sorry it troubles you that our people achieve excellence at such an early age. But could we just move on to what's important here? Now, I understand that your Prime Minister has asked you to supply us with some, say, fresh British intelligence, is that true?
Malcolm Tucker: Yeah, apparently, your fucking master race of highly-gifted toddlers can't quite get the job done...
Linton Barwick: All right.
Malcolm Tucker: ...between breast feeds and playing with their Power Rangers. So, an actual grown-up has been asked to fucking bail you out.
posted by caviar2d2 at 9:35 AM on May 18 [5 favorites]
Thick always had a different vibe for me than Veep, but I loved when there were little nuggets that would crossover, like glacee cherries and marzipan dildos, and when Ian Martin showed up in Finland to grief Dan. I was always hoping that Malcolm would get to tussle with Selina's staff or Selina herself, and I was sad that it never happened.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:43 AM on May 18
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 10:43 AM on May 18
The two best shows ever
And I say that ina universe where Fawlty towers exists
posted by Keith Talent at 11:06 AM on May 18
And I say that ina universe where Fawlty towers exists
posted by Keith Talent at 11:06 AM on May 18
"I’m from Glasgow – the swearing came naturally!" [Peter Capaldi]
Somewhat tangential, definitely fun - Peter Capaldi and Matt Berry both appeared together in one of the Letters Live events, reading both parts of the apocryphal Correspondence between the Ottoman Sultan and the Zaporozhian Cossacks. Capaldi has the Cossacks' response to the Sultan - and has a lot of fun with it (one notable line "You couldn't even slay a hedgehog with your naked arse!"); and gets so fired up that at one point he even throws in his own improvised "you son of a bitch".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:13 PM on May 18 [2 favorites]
Somewhat tangential, definitely fun - Peter Capaldi and Matt Berry both appeared together in one of the Letters Live events, reading both parts of the apocryphal Correspondence between the Ottoman Sultan and the Zaporozhian Cossacks. Capaldi has the Cossacks' response to the Sultan - and has a lot of fun with it (one notable line "You couldn't even slay a hedgehog with your naked arse!"); and gets so fired up that at one point he even throws in his own improvised "you son of a bitch".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:13 PM on May 18 [2 favorites]
These people wouldn’t last 10 seconds in an actual fight.
I don't know, I always had the feeling that Malcolm had a violent past and he could really throw down if he had to. Not so much that he was strong, but he was quick, vicious and calculating. Remember the Joker's pencil trick in The Dark Knight? If Malcolm pulled a move like that you'd be shocked, but it wouldn't seem entirely out of character.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 4:46 PM on May 18
I don't know, I always had the feeling that Malcolm had a violent past and he could really throw down if he had to. Not so much that he was strong, but he was quick, vicious and calculating. Remember the Joker's pencil trick in The Dark Knight? If Malcolm pulled a move like that you'd be shocked, but it wouldn't seem entirely out of character.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 4:46 PM on May 18
« Older There seems something unusually elastic about... | Mystical Newer »
[Malcolm Tucker is most obviously Alastair Campbell, but there's so much more to him as well. It's a really brilliant show and you can watch it on Dailymotion: here's Episode 1]
posted by chavenet at 5:09 AM on May 18 [7 favorites]