Power Monkeys programme information

25 May 2016

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Power Monkeys is a show like no other – a scripted comedy (practically) made and aired in one day, with six writers, four directors and a whole host of panicking political power monkeys...

Following the success of their 2015 election comedy Ballot Monkeys, Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin (Ballot Monkeys, Outnumbered, Drop the Dead Donkey) return to Channel 4 with a six-part satire lampooning the fictional communications and social media ‘experts’ on both sides of the EU referendum, as well as taking audiences a few doors down from the Kremlin and into the imagined world of Donald Trump’s campaign plane.

Featuring  a stellar comedic cast including Jack Dee and Claire Skinner in the pro-Europe ‘Unity Unit’, and Andy Nyman and Kevin McNally heading the ‘Brexit Roadshow’ bus, the show will, of course, go big on the EU, with two episodes bookending June’s all-important Brexit referendum.

At the Conservative HQ’s Unity Unit is Oliver (award-winning comedian Jack Dee), a volatile ex-hack who regularly enjoys winding up his sensitive colleague Sarah (Claire Skinner, Outnumbered), who  employs laboured metaphors in, what her colleagues might unkindly term, her 'psychobabble'. Also at the HQ is Tony (Anthony Calf, New Tricks), a fence-sitter and veteran ‘survivor’ of Tory party politics.  The Unity Unit’s assistant is Ruby (Liz Kingsman) - who returns to play the same privileged and not-very-bright character as in Ballot Monkeys – a PA impervious to being fired since she's the daughter of a prestigious party donor.

On the cross-party Brexit Roadshow bus are Spencer (Kevin McNally, Downton Abbey, The Pirates of the Caribbean films), a disenchanted former UKIP-er now hopelessly in love with an Eastern European,  and Gerry (Andy Nyman, Ballot Monkeys, Psychobitches), the Roadshow's production manager. Gerry is busy prepping for any potential disasters, while at the same time dealing with some very personal family issues - namely his father's funeral combined with some nightmare relatives. The team is flanked by Jackie (Gwyneth Keyworth, Plebs, Game of Thrones, E4’s upcoming Wasted), an idealistic left-wing student and staunch Corbynista.

Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife, The Fall) will play Preeya, a careerist Tory who flits between being pro and anti-Brexit, depending on who she wants to impress within the party.

Looking to global politics, over on Trump's campaign plane, moderate Republican Lauren (Amelia Bullmore, Scott & Bailey, Happy Valley) has been drafted in specifically to help the controversial presidential hopeful win women’s votes. But she clashes with fervent colleagues Bea (Ayda Field, Fresh Meat) and Brett (Robert Wilfort, Dickensian, Wolf Hall) who both hero worship their boss, Donald Trump, and Lauren starts to question if she’s really the right person for the job.

At the Kremlin, Oleg (Ben Willbond, Yonderland, Horrible Histories) and Alexi (Alec Utgoff, The Wrong Mans) are apparatchiks jostling for Putin’s favour and monitoring the news of the day from the Western media.

Power Monkeys was created by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin (Drop the Dead Donkey, Outnumbered). It is directed by Guy Jenkin, Andy Hamilton, Paul Schlesinger  and Neil Pearson. It is produced by Debbie Pisani and executive produced by Jimmy Mulville. It was commissioned for Channel 4 by head of comedy by Phil Clarke and Liz Lewin, commissioning editor for Channel 4 comedy.

Power Monkeys airs on Channel 4 every Wednesday at 10pm from 8th June, with an extra special episode following the EU referendum, at 10pm on Friday 24th June.