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    The New Statesman

    • TV Series
    • 1987–19941987–1994
    • 1h 10min
    IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    2.4K
    YOUR RATING
    Episode guide
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    The New Statesman (1987)
    Comedy

    The ultra right-wing Alan B'Stard, the most selfish, greedy, dishonest, sadistic and sociopathic Conservative MP of them all, plots to achieve his meglomaniacal ambitions.The ultra right-wing Alan B'Stard, the most selfish, greedy, dishonest, sadistic and sociopathic Conservative MP of them all, plots to achieve his meglomaniacal ambitions.The ultra right-wing Alan B'Stard, the most selfish, greedy, dishonest, sadistic and sociopathic Conservative MP of them all, plots to achieve his meglomaniacal ambitions.

    IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    2.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Creators
      • Maurice Gran
      • Laurence Marks
    • Stars
      • Rik Mayall
      • Michael Troughton
      • Marsha Fitzalan
    Top credits
    • Creators
      • Maurice Gran
      • Laurence Marks
    • Stars
      • Rik Mayall
      • Michael Troughton
      • Marsha Fitzalan
    • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Episodes29

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Photos75

    Rik Mayall in The New Statesman (1987)
    Terence Alexander and Rik Mayall in The New Statesman (1987)
    Stephen Fry in The New Statesman (1987)
    Rik Mayall in The New Statesman (1987)
    The New Statesman (1987)
    The New Statesman (1987)
    The New Statesman (1987)
    Rik Mayall in The New Statesman (1987)
    Julianne White in The New Statesman (1987)
    The New Statesman (1987)
    Rik Mayall in The New Statesman (1987)
    Rik Mayall in The New Statesman (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rik Mayall
    Rik Mayall
    • Alan B'Stardas Alan B'Stard
    29 episodes29 eps • 1987–1994
    Michael Troughton
    Michael Troughton
    • Piers Fletcher-Dervishas Piers Fletcher-Dervish
    26 episodes26 eps • 1987–1992
    Marsha Fitzalan
    Marsha Fitzalan
    • Sarah B'Stardas Sarah B'Stard
    21 episodes21 eps • 1987–1992
    Terence Alexander
    Terence Alexander
    • Sir Greville McDonaldas Sir Greville McDonald…
    8 episodes8 eps • 1989–1992
    Rowena Cooper
    • Norman Bormannas Norman Bormann
    5 episodes5 eps • 1987
    John Nettleton
    John Nettleton
    • Sir Stephen Baxteras Sir Stephen Baxter
    5 episodes5 eps • 1987–1989
    Berwick Kaler
    Berwick Kaler
    • Geoff Dicqueadas Geoff Dicquead…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1989–1990
    Nick Stringer
    Nick Stringer
    • Crippenas Crippen…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1987–1989
    Victor Lucas
    Victor Lucas
    • Mr Speakeras Mr Speaker…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1989
    Steve Nallon
    Steve Nallon
    • Margaret Thatcheras Margaret Thatcher…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1987–1990
    Vivien Heilbron
    • Beatrice Protheroeas Beatrice Protheroe
    3 episodes3 eps • 1987
    Benjamin Whitrow
    Benjamin Whitrow
    • Paddy O'Rourkeas Paddy O'Rourke
    3 episodes3 eps • 1991–1992
    Brigitte Kahn
    • Frau Kleistas Frau Kleist…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1987–1992
    Adam Wide
    • Messengeras Messenger…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1987–1991
    John Carlin
    • House of Commons Speakeras House of Commons Speaker
    3 episodes3 eps • 1987
    John Warnaby
    • Auctioneeras Auctioneer…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1992
    Alan Hardwick
    • Newscasteras Newscaster
    3 episodes3 eps • 1989–1990
    Charles Gray
    Charles Gray
    • Roland Gidleigh-Parkas Roland Gidleigh-Park
    2 episodes2 eps • 1987
    • Creators
      • Maurice Gran
      • Laurence Marks
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    Storyline

    Edit
    Tells the adventures of Conservative MP Alan B'Stard, a man who doesn't have any morals at all. He stops at nothing to make himself richer and more powerful in the party and is involved in drugs, adult films, fraud (making up charities with the initials C.A.S.H when writing on cheques) and even murder but believes that he will never be caught as he is a Conservative MP and therefore all powerful. He has almost complete power over another MP - Piers Fletcher-Dervish who is nearly completely brainless. His wife Sarah B'Stard has very loose morals (both of them have affairs mostly every day) and has hated her husband from five minutes after they got married and tries to use Alan to get anything she wants. Each episode contains recent news items and Alan moves with the times with things like the end of the cold war, the Nazi hunt in the late 80's as well as the Animal Freedom Party. Keeping up with the huge amount of cash, Alan moves (in the 4th season) to the European Union to continue to make herself richer and to climb to the most powerful position he can reach... —Lee Horton <Leeh@tcp.co.uk>
    british humourdark comedyyorkshireselfishmegalomaniac18 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Rowena Cooper was credited as R. R. Cooper to keep her gender dubious for the first 6 episodes of season 1
    • Quotes

      Alan: Why should we, the country that produced Shakespeare, Christopher Wren, and those are just the people on our banknotes for Christ's sake, cower down to the countries that produced Hitler, Napoleon, the Mafia, and the the the, the the the, the the the Smurfs!

    • Connections
      Featured in A Night of Comic Relief 2 (1989)

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    Mmm, Corrupt!
    When I first sat down to view my first helping of "The new statesman" I was of course expecting a programme with a fantastic mix of Rik Mayall's wonderful wit and charm, his comic acting genius and the creative talent of Maurice Gran and Laurence Marks. I'll be honest... I was not disappointed! It had all of these along with bag fulls of beautiful political corruption thrown in at every opportunity. A treat from beginning to end, while Rik's character, (suitably named "Alan B'stard) managed week in week out to be the most cruel, obnoxious and all round disturbingly corrupt um, "B'stard" on TV, yet still came away with the audience loving him. The only warning that I will give is that if you're looking for another "Bottom" then this is not the place! In fact the ideal viewer for this show would be a half-crazed political mess who adores Rik Mayall's wiley wit and charm... Oh, and it would help if you're a bit left wing, and if you're right wing... Have a laugh at yourself!
    helpful•8
    2
    • Chew-7
    • Mar 6, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 13, 1987 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Ireland
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Parlamentets svarta får
    • Production companies
      • Alomo Productions
      • SelecTV
      • Yorkshire Television (YTV)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 10min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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