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Armando Iannucci: Why I won’t write a Thick of It-style comedy about Donald Trump

28 November 2017

Given political events at home and abroad, conditions would seem ripe for new series of TV satires in the style of or .

But the creator of those shows, Armando Ianuncci, has no intention of writing sitcoms around current political figures.

“I feel there are other great comedians who are looking at and they tend to be journalists in their method,” .

“John Oliver on HBO does a great show, but he has a team of researchers analysing things that Trump’s said in the past and comparing them with what he’s said now … a team looking at the argument. I think that’s the way to go.

“I don’t think a fictionalised version of what’s happening now would be as horrific or as absurd as what is actually happening now.

“I do think it’s important that people don’t turn [Trump] into a clown, because a clown is safe. It makes him a cuddly character; a caricature. And he’s not, he’s real.

“He feels like a caricature, but that’s the problem.

“You don’t need comedians to do that because he kind of does it himself.”

Armando’s interview in full

  • The brain behind The Thick of It talks with Nick about language in politics, why comedy needs to be more like journalism and who was the bigger teenage political trainspotter.

More of Armando Iannucci on the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

  • Armando explains why the passion and drama of Mahler is the perfect antidote to his own work.

  • Kirsty Young discovers why Mahler, Bach and Kate Bush would accompany Armando to the island.

  • Mary Ann Sieghart profiles the comedian and writer behind satirical comedies including On The Hour, I'm Alan Partridge and The Thick of It.

  • Armando shares his current favourite book, film and music with Radio 4's Front Row.

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