TV Profile – Armando Iannucci
The Multi-award Winning Writer, Producer, Director and Performer
Mar 27, 2009
Armando Iannucci (1963-) is a Scottish-born producer and comedian whose father was originally from Italy. In the last 20 years he has become one of the most influential figures in British comedy and worked with some of the industry’s top talent. He was studying English at University College, Oxford, but gave it up to pursue a calling in broadcasting and comedy.
Producer of The Day Today and Co-creator of I’m Alan Partridge
Iannucci’s career in the media started on BBC Scotland radio in 1988 where he co-hosted shows such as No' The Archie Macpherson Show and Bite The Wax. He then moved on to take a production job at BBC radio in London. It was here where he started working with up-and-coming controversial comic Chris Morris, Steve Coogan, Doon Mackichan and Patrick Marber by producing On The Hour and Knowing Me, Knowing You.
On The Hour was later transferred to television as the spoof news programme The Day Today. This was a savage satire on the way news shows try to present themselves as entertainment and due to its authentic production and pseudo-professional but largely exaggerated presenting style it went on to win many awards.
Knowing Me, Knowing You...With Alan Partridge also began on TV with a series in 1994 where the former Day Today sports anchor (played by Steve Coogan) would interview fake celebrities, directed and co-written by Iannucci. Perhaps his most well-known and acclaimed work to date is I’m Alan Partridge, which follows the day-to-day life of the chat show host as he attempts to revive his fledging career and get back on TV.
The Underrated Armistice and Armando Iannucci Shows
Next came The Saturday Night Armistice – later The Friday Night Armistice – a topical satire on world events where Iannucci and long time collaborators Peter Baynham and David Schneider mixed real life news with comedy sketches and skits. Although it wasn’t popular as it possibly should have been its irreverent views can be seen as somewhat of a precursor to Comedy Central’s outstanding The Daily Show.
Then came The Armando Iannucci Shows, where he starred as “himself” expressing his opinion on different themes and subjects each week – such as Time or Reality - and featured characters like Hugh, who would talk about the “old days” when the internet used to be in black and white and the family would wear their Sunday best to use it. The series was largely overlooked when it was shown on Channel 4 at the same time as the 9/11 terrorist attack but went on to find an audience on DVD.
Critically Acclaimed The Thick Of It and Current Projects
In 2006 he created Time Trumpet, a nostalgia show parody where celebrities – played by actors - comedians such as Adam Buxton and Richard Ayoade in the year 2031 reminisce about made up events from their past. This had its moments but was one of his weaker outputs as the ideas looked funny on paper but didn’t translate to the screen, like when Charlotte Church vomited herself inside out or George Lucas having his funeral delayed for 20 years until the technology was right.
He returned to a political theme by co-writing and directing 2007’s The Thick Of It, a multi camera sitcom about the inner workings of the British government. Although it makes a witty statement about the modern political climate The Thick Of It proves that swearing is big and can be clever. The show was met with considerable acclaim and went on to win at both the BAFTAs and the British Comedy Awards. A second series has been announced.
At the moment Iannucci is currently executive producer of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle on BBC Two and as a red button extra conducts spoof interviews with the star following each episode. His first feature length directorial debut In The Loop, a spin-off of The Thick Of It, has received glowing reviews.
Armando Iannucci Trivia
- He writes a weekly column in The Observer newspaper.
- He is a Professor of Broadcast Media at Oxford University.
- Championed the case for Yes, Minister/Yes, Prime Minister on the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom competition in 2004.
- In 2003 he was listed as one of the funniest people in Britain in an Observer feature.
- Has appeared twice on Have I Got News For You.
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