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IMDbPro

A Very British Coup

  • TV Mini Series
  • 1988
  • Not Rated
  • 2h 28m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
992
YOUR RATING
A Very British Coup (1988)
A Very British Coup: Episode 1
Play trailer1:49
3 Videos
4 Photos
Drama

From the late 1980's, when the conservative party under Margaret Thatcher held sway. "A Very British Coup" has just as much satirical relevance today.From the late 1980's, when the conservative party under Margaret Thatcher held sway. "A Very British Coup" has just as much satirical relevance today.From the late 1980's, when the conservative party under Margaret Thatcher held sway. "A Very British Coup" has just as much satirical relevance today.

  • Stars
    • Ray McAnally
    • Marjorie Yates
    • Geoffrey Beevers
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    992
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Ray McAnally
      • Marjorie Yates
      • Geoffrey Beevers
    • 24User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 BAFTA Awards
      • 6 wins & 4 nominations total

    Episodes3

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 Season1988

    Videos3

    A Very British Coup: Episode 1
    Trailer 1:49
    Watch A Very British Coup: Episode 1
    A Very British Coup: Episode 3
    Trailer 2:00
    Watch A Very British Coup: Episode 3
    A Very British Coup: Episode 2
    Trailer 2:00
    Watch A Very British Coup: Episode 2

    Photos

    Ray McAnally in A Very British Coup (1988)
    Ray McAnally in A Very British Coup (1988)
    Ray McAnally in A Very British Coup (1988)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ray McAnally
    Ray McAnally
    • The Cabinet - Harry Perkins
    Marjorie Yates
    • The Cabinet - Cook
    Geoffrey Beevers
    Geoffrey Beevers
    • The Cabinet - Wainwright
    Keith Allen
    Keith Allen
    • The Staff - Thompson
    Oliver Ford Davies
    Oliver Ford Davies
    • The Staff - Tweed
    Bernard Kay
    Bernard Kay
    • The Staff - Inspector Page
    Alan MacNaughtan
    Alan MacNaughtan
    • The Public Servants - Browne
    Tim McInnerny
    Tim McInnerny
    • The Public Servants - Fiennes
    Christine Kavanagh
    • The Public Servants - Liz
    David McKail
    • The Public Servants - Robertson
    Shane Rimmer
    Shane Rimmer
    • The Americans - Secretary of State
    Philip O'Brien
    Philip O'Brien
    • The Americans - President
    Clive Merrison
    Clive Merrison
    • The Media - TV Interviewer
    Philip Madoc
    Philip Madoc
    • The Media - Fison
    Jeremy Young
    Jeremy Young
    • The Media - Alford
    Harmage Singh Kalirai
    Harmage Singh Kalirai
    • The People - Patel
    Hugh Martin
    Hugh Martin
    • The Cabinet - Sampson
    Stephanie Fayerman
    Stephanie Fayerman
    • The Media - Editor
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      All the cars have 'J' registration plates. The series was made in 1988 when the current registration letter was 'E'; the producers obtained permission to use fake car registration plates to establish that the action was set in the future.
    • Connections
      Edited into Masterpiece: A Very British Coup (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Great Mass in C Minor
      Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as Mozart)

      Performed by London Symphony Orchestra & London Symphony Chorus

      Conducted by Colin Davis

    User reviews24

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Well Made and Absorbing
    I'd like to think that this isn't particularly credible, but, allowing for that, this is a well made and gratifying piece of television drama.

    It's all built around a towering performance from Ray McAnally, who simply doesn't put a foot wrong. The blend of kindness and steel we see in his portrayal of Harry Perkins is perfect. He is ably supported by a cast of British stalwarts, of whom Keith Allen and Marjorie Yates deserve special mention.

    Whatever your politics, it's impossible not to be swept along in the sheer exhilaration of the opening twenty minutes or so as Perkins wins a landslide victory in a General Election and becomes Prime Minister at the head of a radical Labour government. After that, the pleasure comes mainly in some clever scripting and interesting use of Mozart's music.

    The conclusion is pleasingly ambiguous. Too many dramas these days wrap up everything neatly, giving us nothing to think about. That's not the case here.

    Excellent effort all round then. Rating: 8/10.
    helpful•20
    9
    • Caps Fan
    • May 5, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 19, 1988 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Очень британский переворот
    • Filming locations
      • UK
    • Production company
      • Skreba Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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