The BEST episodes written by Simon Blackwell

Episode 3
star
8.55
363 votes

#1 - Episode 3

The Thick of It - Season 2 - Episode 3

Someone sends an email they shouldn't have, while Hugh lies to a Select Committee...

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The Inquiry
star
8.49
318 votes

#2 - The Inquiry

The Thick of It - Season 4 - Episode 6

The government, the opposition and the civil service all have a lot of questions to answer about the suicide of a nurse after his flat was sold off. They must now come before an inquiry into the scandal which has engulfed all corners of politics. Lord Goolding is reputedly a fair man, but he is not going to stand for any nonsense and neither is his team of expert inquisitors, so surely now the truth will come out. Unless someone lies, or creates a diversion of some kind, or simply pretends not to remember anything. Which they obviously would never do.

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Thought Camp
star
8.38
323 votes

#3 - Thought Camp

The Thick of It - Season 4 - Episode 3

Stewart Pearson is running 'Thought Camp' at a remote country house hotel, as the perfect way to re-engage the party with the creative cloudscape. No phones, no iPads. Peter Mannion can definitely think of better ways of spending the Easter weekend than 'imagineering' with Stewart, Emma and a bunch of back-benchers and party workers. Meanwhile, Phil is surprised to find the ministerial offices less than deserted. Glenn is there, working on the Fourth Sector backlog. Fergus and his advisor Adam are meeting with a young, attractive economist who wants to start a bank. Then all political hell is let loose when an unexpected and tragic news story breaks.

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Episode 1
star
8.35
40 votes

#4 - Episode 1

Time Trumpet - Season 1 - Episode 1

Sixty-year-olds Ant and Dec talk about the day Charlotte Church vomited herself inside out. Plus the end of Blair, the rise and fall of David Cameron and a very old Tom Cruise. Also featuring Stewart Lee, Richard Ayoade, Matt Holness, Adam Buxton.

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Episode 1
star
8.34
477 votes

#5 - Episode 1

The Thick of It - Season 3 - Episode 1

Reshuffle day at Number 10. When the job at the Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship is turned down by everybody else, there is no option but to promote unknown quantity Nicola Murry to the Cabinet. The downside is she is very keen, has a husband who works for a company that has government contracts, has an 11-year-old about to go to a private school and is about to face the media at a crucial by-election poster launch. Something will have to be done.

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Episode 3
star
8.33
438 votes

#6 - Episode 3

The Thick of It - Season 1 - Episode 3

An empty London flat threatens the future of a potential Housing Bill. Dan Miller is getting plenty of media-attention for his work on the bill, which is creating a degree of envy.

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The Final Reckoning
star
8.30
253 votes

#7 - The Final Reckoning

The Thick of It - Season 4 - Episode 7

The final reckoning. Every dog has its day, but as the fallout from the inquiry starts to take its toll, the everyday problems of government continue unabated. Despite the fact that no-one is actually talking to each other any more. The Home Office have cut police numbers, created a huge backlog of arrest paperwork, and managed to blame DoSAC for the enormous queues at police stations. At Malcolm's suggestion, Dan Miller gets sent on a fact-finding mission to the local cop-shop to press the flesh, in the belief that it will make the government look unresponsive. Or does he have another motive?

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Here 2 Hear
star
8.28
323 votes

#8 - Here 2 Hear

The Thick of It - Season 4 - Episode 4

With Nicola safely on a train to attend the party's Here 2 Hear event in far-flung Bradford, Malcolm is free to launch his latest plot against the leader of the opposition. But Olly will find it difficult to help, given that he's in St Thomas' Hospital with a burst appendix, and Ben Swain will want more than a bar of chocolate for playing along with the scheme. When Nicola finds out what's going on, she has to try to control the situation from a seat in standard class, right under the watchful eye of a 24-hour news channel. Is she sitting on the fast train to Nowheresville, West Yorkshire?

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Episode 7
star
8.28
350 votes

#9 - Episode 7

The Thick of It - Season 3 - Episode 7

Nicola Murray and her team are desperate to find a major sports personality to be the face of DoSAC's new Healthy Choices campaign. Malcolm's away on holiday and doesn't want to be disturbed, so they take advice from Steve Fleming, who's back on the scene as the PM's new fixer. Is Steve really as nice as he seems? Everyone knows Malcolm never takes holidays, so what's he up to now?

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Episode 8
star
8.24
363 votes

#10 - Episode 8

The Thick of It - Season 3 - Episode 8

As the election looms and the Opposition eye the prize, the word around the Westminster Village is that Malcolm Tucker is running out of both options and friends. He may have bitten off more than he can chew with Steve Fleming, but when an offer of help appears from an unlikely direction, Malcolm starts to set his finest trap yet.

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Episode 1
star
8.18
413 votes

#11 - Episode 1

The Thick of It - Season 2 - Episode 1

Something goes terribly wrong at a ministerial visit to a factory – only Malcolm can help, but will he?

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Crate
star
8.18
1269 votes

#12 - Crate

Veep - Season 3 - Episode 9

With Thornhill ahead in the polls, Selina and her staff discuss how to make her more "folksy." In need of a job, Jonah meets with Bill Ericsson. Selina has an interview with pretentious journalist Quincy Carter.

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Episode 6
star
8.16
286 votes

#13 - Episode 6

The Thick of It - Season 3 - Episode 6

With the Prime Minister away at a summit in Spain, Malcolm Tucker is left at home to mind the shop. Just as Nicola Murray is about to launch her Fourth Sector Initiative to the media, the media decide that what they really want is someone to launch another leadership contest. Does Nicola have what it takes and, if she does, can Malcolm take it away from her before she does any damage?

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Election Night
star
8.12
1110 votes

#14 - Election Night

Veep - Season 4 - Episode 10

On election night, Selina and her staff find their nerves growing frayed as each state result is called.

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Episode 2
star
8.09
35 votes

#15 - Episode 2

Time Trumpet - Season 1 - Episode 2

A look back at Tony Blair's resignation, the launch of June Sarpong's Monkey Donkey Question Time and Ant and Dec's special report into the binge drinking hell that is Britain in 2031.

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New Hampshire
star
8.06
1262 votes

#16 - New Hampshire

Veep - Season 3 - Episode 10

Three days before the New Hampshire primary, Selina and her staff juggle her multiple official obligations and campaign appearances.

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New Advisor
star
8.00
320 votes

#17 - New Advisor

The Thick of It - Season 4 - Episode 2

With Glenn gone, Nicola Murray is busy breaking in her new policy advisor, Helen Hatley. When Helen is accidentally photographed holding notes from an ideas meeting, Nicola is understandably angry. Of course, Nicola is already stressed by having an eight foot pork chop following her about, whilst simultaneously being attacked by the rest of her party for endorsing an unpopular policy. Even worse, her rival Dan Miller seems to be getting on very well with Malcolm Tucker.

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Episode 2
star
7.99
332 votes

#18 - Episode 2

The Thick of It - Season 2 - Episode 2

There's a reshuffle in the offing and the PM's new 'blue skies' advisor is making trouble...

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Networked Nation
star
7.91
300 votes

#19 - Networked Nation

The Thick of It - Season 4 - Episode 1

Peter Mannion, the Secretary of State for Social Affairs, is told to launch his coalition partner Fergus's new 'Networked Nation' policy at a school. Peter doesn't even know how to right-click a mouse and would rather be celebrating his wedding anniversary, but Stewart Pearson won't hear otherwise. So Fergus is left in charge of drawing up a list of staff redundancies, and Terri Coverley is pretty sure she can make Fergus's hit list if she works hard at under-performing, and finds help from an unexpected direction. Peter's policy launch is a disaster, and the disaster recovery plan is even more of a disaster.

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Episode 1
star
7.89
834 votes

#20 - Episode 1

The Thick of It - Season 1 - Episode 1

Hugh Abbot is the Minister for Social Affairs and he's facing a policy crisis; his 'Snooper Squad' idea has been vetoed which leaves him with just forty minutes to come up with a new policy.

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No More (2)
star
7.88
134 votes

#21 - No More (2)

Breeders - Season 3 - Episode 10

A furious argument between Paul and Ally is interrupted by Ava's news about Jim. Luke is happier than ever, a newly confident Ava stands up to her dad, but Paul and Ally need to decide - is this it?

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Special Relationship
star
7.85
1376 votes

#22 - Special Relationship

Veep - Season 3 - Episode 7

In the U.K. for the 100th anniversary of WWI, Selina’s staff worries about Ray’s growing influence on the Veep. Meanwhile, Dan’s nerves begin to fray as Ben gets news that sends him back to D.C. Later, Jonah arrives in London, U.K. to spy for Team Maddox, and Amy leaks a secret.

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The Vic Allen Dinner
star
7.83
1352 votes

#23 - The Vic Allen Dinner

Veep - Season 2 - Episode 4

Selina is rankled when the White House releases an unflattering photo of her. Mike and Kent bond over sailing; Jonah gets an executive parking space; Sue has a job interview. Selina takes steps to keep her staff happy as they prepare for her appearance at the Vic Allen dinner.

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Quantocking II
star
7.82
553 votes

#24 - Quantocking II

Peep Show - Season 8 - Episode 6

Dobby is offered a job in New York by ex-boyfriend Simon. Uncertain about the offer, Dobby suggests that she and Mark spend a weekend in the country. The perfect time, as far as Jeremy is concerned, to get a few things off his chest.

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Joint Session
star
7.77
1287 votes

#25 - Joint Session

Veep - Season 4 - Episode 1

Selina's staff frantically works on her first major speech as president. Gary questions his worth.

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Episode 2
star
7.76
624 votes

#26 - Episode 2

The Thick of It - Season 1 - Episode 2

Hugh enlists the help of a focus group to help him make a decision between two policies.

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Data
star
7.73
1232 votes

#27 - Data

Veep - Season 4 - Episode 3

Selina's team tries to find a scapegoat. Catherine wants to support an anti-bullying campaign.

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No Way Back
star
7.71
146 votes

#28 - No Way Back

Breeders - Season 3 - Episode 8

Paul takes his parents on a day-trip to the countryside, to recreate a cherished memory. But the revelation of a number of secrets leaves all three of them reeling.

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Signals
star
7.71
1504 votes

#29 - Signals

Veep - Season 2 - Episode 2

Selina attends a pig roast in North Carolina as part of the president's "Listen to Rural America" initiative. Dan takes up Pilates to get face time.

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Baseball
star
7.69
1665 votes

#30 - Baseball

Veep - Season 1 - Episode 6

Selina attends a healthy eating event at Camden Yards with some very grumpy fast-food executives, where she also confides a secret to Amy. Mike holds a press briefing for some local news pals, save for the inquisitive Leon West. Later, with the Veep delayed, Amy and Dan are forced to entertain elementary school children.

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No Cure (2)
star
7.67
227 votes

#31 - No Cure (2)

Breeders - Season 1 - Episode 10

Luke’s condition worsens and he is admitted to a specialist pediatric unit. As Paul, Ally and their parents desperately wait for news, stress and fear cause cracks to form within the family.

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Nicknames
star
7.64
1797 votes

#32 - Nicknames

Veep - Season 1 - Episode 5

Bloggers' nicknames for Selina become her next obsession; Dan goes on a fact-finding mission after his boss is snubbed by the president; it's make-or-break time for the clean-jobs bill.

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Shutdown
star
7.62
1344 votes

#33 - Shutdown

Veep - Season 2 - Episode 7

With D.C. in the midst of a government shutdown, Selina is forced to furlough some of her staff. A damaging story leaks about Selina’s ex-husband, Andrew; Danny Chung takes advantage of the shutdown; Gary Jonah go on a run to retrieve Selina’s trash.

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No Worries
star
7.58
138 votes

#34 - No Worries

Breeders - Season 3 - Episode 2

Ally fears she might lose her job and her mind, as the company collapses and her HRT meds become unavailable. Luke's panic attack ends Paul's leisurely life at Leah's, while an increasingly isolated Ava faces a huge change.

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No Matter What (1)
star
7.57
100 votes

#35 - No Matter What (1)

Breeders - Season 4 - Episode 9

As Paul and Ally try to help Luke, struggling with being both a dad and a student, they find they have very different ideas about the best way forward. Jackie's condition is becoming more noticeable, and Jim is determined to help out.

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Episode 4
star
7.57
151 votes

#36 - Episode 4

Back - Season 1 - Episode 4

Stephen and Andrew go on an enlightening road trip to meet the pub's suppliers, leaving Geoff to run the pub in his own inimitable way.

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Noël
star
7.57
99 votes

#37 - Noël

Breeders - Season 4 - Episode 1

It's five years since we last saw the Worsleys, with Paul and Ally on the verge of splitting, and Jim and Jackie in turmoil. Things are no less dramatic now as Luke and girlfriend Maya drop a bombshell at Christmas dinner that will change everyone's lives forever.

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No Cure (1)
star
7.53
228 votes

#38 - No Cure (1)

Breeders - Season 1 - Episode 9

Family life is thrown off kilter as Ally spends her weekdays in Berlin and weekends in London. Paul, Luke and Ava try to muddle through without her, but the children aren’t sleeping again and it takes its toll on Paul.

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No Surrender
star
7.52
198 votes

#39 - No Surrender

Breeders - Season 2 - Episode 1

The kids are growing up fast – Ava is now 10 and Luke is about to turn 13. With their burgeoning independence comes the question of whether Paul and Ally’s parenting style still works. Clue: no

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No Alternative
star
7.50
105 votes

#40 - No Alternative

Breeders - Season 4 - Episode 2

The reality of Luke's announcement hits, and Paul and Ally worry about the decision he and Maya have made and whether they should support them. As a New Year starts, the Worsley family gather together with Maya's family, united in their love and worry.

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No Direction Home
star
7.50
146 votes

#41 - No Direction Home

Breeders - Season 3 - Episode 1

With Luke refusing to live with his dad, Paul is staying at honeymooning Leah's house. Single-parent Ally begins to feel the strain, while a distressing event from the family's past has a surprising present-day echo.

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No Regrets
star
7.49
102 votes

#42 - No Regrets

Breeders - Season 4 - Episode 5

Paul and Ally find themselves parenting Jim and Jackie as well as a conflicted Luke. Ava and Holly get closer and Ava decides to take a risk, while Paul meets an old friend and realizes that he might, after all, be happy.

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No More (1)
star
7.47
137 votes

#43 - No More (1)

Breeders - Season 3 - Episode 9

Jim and Jackie are both struggling under their new circumstances. Luke has to choose between Jacob and Ruby. At Alex's 65th birthday party, Ally meets someone who makes her see Paul in a new light.

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No Power (1)
star
7.47
180 votes

#44 - No Power (1)

Breeders - Season 2 - Episode 9

As Jim and Jackie's golden wedding anniversary party is plunged into darkness by a power outage, the growing tensions between Paul and Luke reach an explosive and terrifying climax.

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No Power (2)
star
7.47
177 votes

#45 - No Power (2)

Breeders - Season 2 - Episode 10

On the day of Leah and Alex's wedding, Paul and Ally find they have only a few hours to deal with a family crisis, leading Paul to make the hardest decision of his life.

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Episode 3
star
7.46
165 votes

#46 - Episode 3

Back - Season 1 - Episode 3

When Andrew's improvements to the pub bring amazing TripAdvisor reviews, Stephen worries that they're flying too close to the sun.

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No Matter What (2)
star
7.43
104 votes

#47 - No Matter What (2)

Breeders - Season 4 - Episode 10

Jackie's health is continuing to worsen. Paul helps out a distressed Luke but finds himself in more conflict with Ally. At Baby Jay's naming party, Ava declares her love, and Paul makes an offer that will take him and Ally back in time.

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No Friends
star
7.42
167 votes

#48 - No Friends

Breeders - Season 2 - Episode 8

As he and Ally continue to feel distant, Paul rekindles an old friendship, but at a cost to Ava. Luke surprises everyone by getting a best friend. Jim and Jackie are forced to move.

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No Sleep
star
7.40
462 votes

#49 - No Sleep

Breeders - Season 1 - Episode 1

The children won’t sleep – Paul and Ally thought these nights were over. Paul spends the night fighting his own anger and his children’s inability to go the f**k to sleep.

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That's Why They Call It a Missile
star
7.38
467 votes

#50 - That's Why They Call It a Missile

Avenue 5 - Season 2 - Episode 8

With the ship divided, both sides find themselves in an all-out fight to survive. Then, Ryan takes part in a shotgun wedding, and Rav reaches a personal breakthrough.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV