The New Statesman

Award-winning British sitcom from the 80s satirising the Tory government of the time. Written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gram on the request of its principal actor, Rik Mayall.

Its main character was Alan B'stard, an ultra-right wing and ultra-ambitious politician. It was mostly set in B'stard's antechambers in the House Of Commons and featured Piers Fletcher-Dervish, B'start's twittish upper-class side-kick.

The sitcom was riotously funny but also desperately cruel and utterly irreverent, treating all its subjects with the cold hand of black humour.

See also Yes Minster and Yes Prime Minister.