Black Mirror
(2011– )
Prime Minister Michael Callow faces a shocking dilemma when Princess Susannah, a much-loved member of the Royal Family, is kidnapped.
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Title: The National Anthem (04 Dec 2011)
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Cast
| Episode cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Rory Kinnear | ... | Michael Callow | |
| Lindsay Duncan | ... | Alex Cairns | |
| Donald Sumpter | ... | Julian Hereford | |
| Tom Goodman-Hill | ... | Tom Bilce | |
| Anna Wilson-Jones | ... | Jane Callow | |
| Patrick Kennedy | ... | Section Chief Walker | |
| Alastair Mackenzie | ... | Martin | |
| Chetna Pandya | ... | Malaika | |
| Alex Macqueen | ... | Special Agent Callett (as Alex MacQueen) | |
| Jay Simpson | ... | Rod Senseless | |
 |
Helen Fospero | ... | Lucinda Towne |
| Lydia Wilson | ... | Princess Susannah | |
| Sophie Kennedy Clark | ... | Lauren | |
| Andrew Knott | ... | Brian | |
| Allen Leech | ... | Pike | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
In a run-up to Christmas the British Prime Minister Michael Callow is woken up and shown a disturbing video. On it he sees that people's princess Susannah of Beaumont has been abducted and will allegedly be murdered unless he has sex with a pig on live television. An effort to trace the kidnapper on a deserted campus proves to be in vain and Michael dismisses his aides' suggestion that a porn star perform the bestiality with the PM's face digitally superimposed. News coverage and Internet tweeters go into overdrive as Michael ultimately does his duty, in a deserted room with one camera man and a seemingly contented pig. Despite being ordered not to look, millions of people tune in though their amusement soon turns to horror at what they see. Written by don @ minifie-1
Plot Keywords:
bestiality | humiliation | performance artist | kidnapping | bare chested male |Certificate:
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Trivia
This episode became the subject of discussion when, in September 2015, then-current Prime Minister David Cameron was alleged to have placed his penis into the mouth of a dead pig as part of a university initiation rite (with even some of the hashtags seen in this episode being used). See more »Goofs
When the PM kicks his desk, there are already marks from previous takes on the desk. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
4 December 2011 (USA) See more »Filming Locations:
Chesham Broadway, Chesham, England, UKCompany Credits
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16:9 HDLooking for some great streaming picks? Check out some of the IMDb editors' favorites movies and shows to round out your Watchlist.
The Prime Minister is woken up in the middle of the night to find out Princess Susannah has been kidnapped. In her ransom video, the kidnappers demand he broadcast a video of himself having sex with a pig on live TV in exchange for her release.
This episode isn't futuristic, but it shows the power of social media and the internet. The ransom video spreads like wildfire despite being removed 9 minutes after it was uploaded. The public opinion is broadcasted on the news as the polls sway. The faces of the public watching are shocked and disgusted yet they can't look away.
Since Black Mirror episodes are individual stories, I recommend skipping S1Ep1 if you're new to the series, come back to it later. It doesn't do the show justice overall and could turn off first time viewers. It's a disturbing thriller with a twist.
5/10