Episode #4.6 

Ministers and aides from all parties are summoned to give evidence at the Goolding Inquiry into the events involving and following Tickel's suicide. First witness is Pearson, whose obscure ... See full summary »

Director:

Armando Iannucci

Writers:

Simon Blackwell, Roger Drew

Stars:

William Hoyland, Tobias Menzies, Priyanga Burford

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
William Hoyland	...	Lord Goolding
Tobias Menzies	...	Simon Weir
Priyanga Burford	...	Baroness Sureka
Michael Maloney	...	Matthew Hodge
Vincent Franklin	...	Stewart Pearson
Peter Capaldi	...	Malcolm Tucker
Geoffrey Streatfeild	...	Fergus Williams
Roger Allam	...	Peter Mannion
Olivia Poulet	...	Emma Messinger
Will Smith	...	Phil Smith
Ben Willbond	...	Adam Kenyon
Joanna Scanlan	...	Terri Coverley
Rebecca Front	...	Nicola Murray
Polly Kemp	...	Robyn Murdoch
Chris Addison	...	Oliver Reeder

Storyline

Ministers and aides from all parties are summoned to give evidence at the Goolding Inquiry into the events involving and following Tickel's suicide. First witness is Pearson, whose obscure jargonese strikes the panel as being at odds with his role as an information giver, whilst Tucker is reprimanded for trying to score political points. It soon becomes apparent that opposing sides are using the inquiry to discredit each other whilst those who sent the emails do a good job of discrediting themselves. Mannion struggles, as does Nicola (even though she called for the inquiry) and the most honest witness is aide Robyn, who inadvertently blows the whistle on everybody else's back-biting. Glenn blames Ollie and Tucker, who is recalled and sees that he is cornered, gives a very impassioned speech in which he accuses the accusers.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-MA

User Reviews

OK, whose idea was that?.. Worst episode of the series by far.

My overall rating of "The Thick of it"'s Season 4: 5/10

When people start watching "TTOI", the shaky camerawork seems to be one of the chief complaints and is something that makes some people give up on the show even if they otherwise feel like it's brilliant and humourous (as it is, mostly). However, many of these people do see the point behind that shakiness - to have the events seem to unfold extra rapidly and confusingly, reflecting the dynamism and uncertainty of political life.

That rapid pace has generally slowed down from season to season, and this is the climax of it - an hour-long (!) special of people just slowly answering inane, leading questions in a semi-humourous way. For an hour. All within the same set.

Wow.

Details

Release Date:

20 October 2012 (UK)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

59 min