The Thick Of It
Coming to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO in January 2006
Episode Five
The pressure is on at the Department of Social Affairs: there's a reshuffle and outside advisor, Julius Nicholson (Alex Macqueen) is investigating the structure of all Government departments.
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Will the department survive? Will Hugh survive? And could promotion be in the air?
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With the reshuffle pending, Hugh (Chris Langham) wants a new policy announcement which will impress the Prime Minister, only to discover that it's common knowledge that the PM's wife doesn't like him.
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It's news to Hugh, painful news. He tries to take it manfully, but doesn't.
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Meanwhile, as the paranoia and game-playing begins, Nicholson drops into Malcolm's (Peter Capaldi) office, sniffing around the department.
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Nicholson wants access to various papers, people and meetings. Malcolm is as obstructive as he can be, right up to the point of insubordination.
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They both hint at the power that flows to them from the PM, and the closeness of their ties. A childish power-play ensues - Nicholson drops in that he plays tennis with the PM and Malcolm says he has every Sunday breakfast with the PM and his family.
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The fight is on. Horns are locked.
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Hugh's possible appearance on Question Time has fallen through and he's freaking out about his profile. He decides his final chance to put in a good show before the reshuffle is to host a successful party for the press.
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Only for Nicholson to rain on his parade: the Treasury has also arranged a last minute bash that night.
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Malcolm is sick of Nicholson hanging around. He can't wait any longer - later that night he decides to f**k him up. With the help of Hugh, Ollie (Chris Addison) and Glenn (James Smith) he plots and conspires to destabilize Nicholson. How? The oldest trick in the book, Chinese whispers.
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