New Series of Spooks and The Thick Of It

BBC Commission New Episodes of Critically Acclaimed Shows

Apr 27, 2009

New series of Spooks and The Thick Of It have been confirmed by the BBC to be shown on TV late in 2009.

The BBC has announced that two of its critically acclaimed TV shows – The Thick of It and Spooks – are currently in production for new series to be broadcast later this year. Both series will have eight new episodes.

The BAFTA award-winning political satire The Thick Of It has been promoted to BBC Two and due to a “reshuffle” has a new Social Affairs Secretary in the form of Nicola Murray (Rebecca Front) who replaces Hugh Abbot (Chris Langham). Front has previously worked with creator, writer, director and general overlord Armando Iannucci on the likes of The Day Today and I’m Alan Partridge.

She will have to contend with the Prime Minister's feral Director of Communications Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi) who’s unsubtle and profanity laden approach to political persuasion is always a joy to see. As a general election looms, the government currently facing problems and the opposition trying to gain the advantage he’s bound to be more highly strung this year. Fantastic.

Although the first series and subsequent specials didn’t achieve high ratings, possibly as they were hidden away on BBC Four, The Thick Of It was a favourite amongst critics and the series recently went world-wide with a brilliant feature length spin-off In The Loop, which lampooned the corridors of Washington as well as Westminster.

Iannucci has assured that things will kick off between Tucker and his new nemesis Murray. The Minister’s ragtag and ineffective group of advisors Ollie (Chris Addison), Glenn (James Smith) and Terri (Joanna Scanlan) are also returning.

The BBC’s long running spy drama Spooks has always been a programme that’s full of shocking twists and isn’t afraid to unexpectedly kill off its lead characters. The eight series kicks off where the last one ended with London saved from a potential nuclear explosion and Section D’s former head Harry Pearce (Peter Firth) being bundled into the boot of a car by Russian agents.

This new outing sees Ros Myers (Hermione Norris) back as the Head of Section D and so too is last year’s new boy Lucas North (Richard Armitage, also in the latest run of Robin Hood), who spent eight years in a Russian prison after his cover was blown.

The beautifully shot series is a benchmark in tense British drama that definitely gives US equivalents such as 24 a run for their money and after so many years doesn’t feel as flabby or worn out as its American counterparts but remained gripping and fast-paced.

As filming is still going on the story arc for the new series is yet to be officially revealed. But chances are it will contain more double crosses, stars being killed mid-way through episode 3 and hopefully torture scenes where the cast are forced to watch Spooks: Code 9 on a never ending loop.

The copyright of the article New Series of Spooks and The Thick Of It in British TV is owned by Steven Cookson. Permission to republish New Series of Spooks and The Thick Of It in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.