Brit satire still sharp on screen

If you want a programme that highlights the wonderful and often complex nature of the English language then Yes Minister is the programme for you.
In the 1970s it and its follow-up Yes Prime Minister made an excellent and incredibly entertaining commentary on the workings of the British Government and of course the puppetry that the ever-present civil servants play in the running of a country and the manipulation of cabinet members and ministers. Even now, some 30 years later, the wit of the programme still stands and although time has passed and many of its stars have also passed, it is still making a social commentary that will have you simultaneously nodding your head and roaring with laughter.
Unfortunately, the Irish equivalent of this kind of political satire has never made it to the small screen.
Radio played its part in the 1980s with Scrap Saturday being the staple in every household. Gift Grub and Knob Nation also have their part to play but the only small screen adaptation that has made an impact in recent years was Bull Island and that was more chuckle-inducing than a thigh-slapping good time.
Hall’s Pictorial Weekly was the favourite of my parents’ generation but, apart from the highlights, I haven’t seen much of it. Political satire should and hopefully always will play a part in society, whether it is on radio or television and, while we are producing very funny political satire on the radio, our British friends are producing top quality visual satire through the wonderfully popular and very entertaining The Thick of It.
Made by the BBC, this political programme highlights the role of the media and the daily struggle that exists between the British hacks and civil servants.
It has been running for three seasons and has also produced a number of one-off specials, one of which coincided with the appointment of Gordon Brown following Tony Blair’s resignation. It also spawned the spin-off feature film In The Loop, which enjoyed well-earned praise in recent years.
The programme was devised by a former civil servant and the insider perspective gives the programme an edge of realism. It is shot in documentary style and in many ways it is like The Office meets Yes Minister in its portrayal of people and their idiosyncrasies.
Over the past three seasons, the real star of the show has been Malcolm Tucker, played by Peter Capaldi, a loud, foul-mouthed bear of a man who, it has been widely remarked upon, bears a striking resemblance to former Director of Communications and Strategy Alastair Campbell.
Malcolm is all that stands between the Minister and the media and he is very passionate about keeping everything ticking over, much as Humphrey, played by Nigel Hawthorne, did in Yes Minister.
The fact that he is a ticking timebomb is what makes this programme so funny. He stomps around, meddling, swearing and arguing with everything. His rants are lyrical genius and his commentary on modern media relations are simply terrific.
The supporting cast include a wealth of familiar faces, including Rebecca Front, James Smith and Chris Addison. The third series, which was filmed in 2009 is currently being shown on RTÉ Two on Thursday at 10.55pm. A new series is due to be filmed by the BBC this year but in the meantime, sit back, relax and enjoy the bufoonery of politics.
Nice to see you, to see you …well, emmm, nice, I guess Brucie.
Bruce Forsyth, the man, the myth, the legend. At 82 years of age he is still working, married to a woman 30 years his junior and as cranky as can be – or at least that’s the impression you get.
Living with Brucie was broadcast last week and gave anyone who cares an insight into the life of the man who is still dancing in this the twilight of his years.
What did we learn? Well nothing really apart from the fact that his wife, Winnie (as he calls her because he can’t pronounce her full spanish name), has the patience of a saint; that he himself likes things just so and that stretches in the morning and flight socks while playing golf are the secret to everlasting life.
Yes, forget searching for fountains, elixers and anything else potion-like, if you want to still be twirling around the ballroom as an octogenarian then there is only one thing for it… corny one-liners and stretches. These regular contortions form a part of Bruce’s early morning wake-up regime and are inspired by a book given to him by his mother-in-law when he married his Puerto Rican beauty and he does them methodically.
Bruce is, as you would expect, an old hand at interacting with the camera and the director and although the programme was frightfully dull it is nice to see how he has kept going for all these years. It is also nice to see that he, just as all older people are entitled to, gets a bit annoyed by young folk and security guards.
In many ways I think Bruce and I would get on great but I don’t want to spend more than an hour with the man, so hopefully there won’t be any more ventures into the Forsyth’s home. Although it is lovely to see two people who do very much love each other enjoying each other’s company. I think I’m getting soft in my old age.

One to watch
Following the recent train crash in India, this may not go ahead but if it does, a programme worth watching this weekend is Monsoon Railway. It is on Friday at 9pm on BBC2 Northern Ireland.
This week’s episode is the first of two programmes charting life on India’s rail network through the monsoon season. It focuses on the daily routine of three workers – a train guard, a traffic inspector and an assistant driver and shows just how important the service is and vital it is for the country’s population. It also shows quite clearly just how destructive rains can be. Well worth a look.