Absolute Power
Twenty Nine episodes. First broadcast from 20000105 to 20061110. (* = BBC7).
Stephen Fry and John Bird star as masters of spin, Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe.
Having left/being ask to leave the BBC they embark on a new career as spin doctors, and are soon mysteriously at the top of their profession.
- None of the broadcasts were given titles, but ones based on themes are generally used.
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | Relaunching The Conservative Party | 20000105 | 20000405, * 20031231, * 20040907, * 20040908, * 20070608, * 20070609 | This week they are visited by the chairman of the Conservative Party. Starring Siobhan Hayes, Jeremy Clyde, Tony Gardner, Simon Greenall, Martin Hyder and Beth Chalmers. With Siobhan Hayes, Tony Gardner, Roger Blake and Neil McCaul. Mark Taverner's political comedy about spin doctors Prentiss and McCabe. With Stephen Fry and John Bird. |
| 01 | 02 | Relaunching The Sun | 20000112 | 20000412, * 20040107, * 20040914, * 20040915, * 20060504, * 20060505, * 20070615, * 20070616 | Charles and Martin are charged with bringing in more readers for The Sun newspaper. Prentiss and McCabe attempt the relaunch of the Sun newspaper as the beacon of the pro-Euro movement while retaining the paper's traditional readership. |
| 01 | 03 | A Socialist London Mayor | 20000119 | 20000419, * 20040114, * 20040921, * 20040922, * 20060511, * 20060512, * 20070622, * 20070623 | This week the specialists in government and media relations get involved in the race for LONDON mayor. With Siobhan Hayes, Tony Gardner, Colin Mcfarlane and Hugh Parker. The agency has an American client who wants Martin and Charles to ensure that a socialist mayor is elected in LONDON. |
| 01 | 04 | The Church Versus The State | 20000126 | 20000426, * 20040121, * 20040928, * 20040929, * 20060518, * 20060519, * 20070629, * 20070630 | - and Prentiss McCabe emerge with a fee from both sides. The PR agency with contacts at the highest level of government is asked to come up with a strategy to increase church congregations around the country. With Siobhan Hayes, Tony Gardner, John Rowe and Alys Torrance. |
| 01 | 05 | Radio 3 | 20000202 | 20000503, * 20040128, * 20041005, * 20041006, * 20060525, * 20060526, * 20070706 | This week, their challenge is to achieve a substantial increase in Radio 3's listening figures. With Siobhan Hayes, Tony Gardner, Rebecca Front, Roger Sloman, Philip Fox, Simon Greenall, Mark Tonderai and Beth Chalmers. Written by Mark Burton. Charles and Martin catch up with a former BBC colleague and visit their old company. Episode 5 of 6. Charles and Martin catch up with a former BBC colleague and visit their old company. |
| 01 | 06 LAST | Englands Great Sporting Victory | 20000209 | 20000510, * 20040204, * 20041012, * 20041013, * 20060601, * 20060602, * 20070713, * 20070714 | This week, they are charged with boosting national morale via an ENGLAND win in a major sporting trophy. With Siobhan Hayes, Tony Gardner, Simon Greenall and Beth Chalmers Charles and Martin are given the task of making the nation smile. But how will they ever arrange an English sporting victory? Charles and Martin are given the task of making the nation smile. |
| 02 | 01 | Relaunching The Labour Party | 20010130 | 20010725, * 20041019, * 20041020, * 20060608, * 20060609, * 20070726, * 20070727, 20060228 | Charles takes a commission to revive interest in the Labour Party. With Siobhan Hayes, Tony Gardner and Beth Chalmers Prentiss McCabe try to save the Government from total voter humiliation. |
| 02 | 02 | Philosophy Is Sexy | 20010206 | 20010801, * 20041026, * 20041027, * 20060615, * 20060616, 20060307 | They enlist Ken Livingston and Mel C in an attempt to sell the study of philosophy as sexy, happening and popular. With Siobhan Hayes, Tamsin Greig and Tony Gardner Have Charles and Martin met their match in a rival PR firm? |
| 02 | 03 | Relaunching A Literary Career | 20010213 | 20010808, * 20041102, * 20041103, * 20060622, * 20060623, * 20070809, * 20070810, 20060314 | They are asked to put a failed novelist at the top of the bestsellers list. With Siobhan Hayes, Tamsin Greig and Tony Gardner Martin is taking a very un-entertaining client to lunch. He turns out to be a former promising literary genius!. |
| 02 | 04 | Shafting The Chancellor | 20010220 | 20010815, * 20041109, * 20041110, * 20060629, * 20060630 | They take on a contract to discredit the Chancellor and make the PM look good. With Siobhan Hayes, Tamsin Greig and Tony Gardner The battle between the PM and the Chancellor is about to get some help from Charles and Martin. The battle between the PM and the Chancellor is about to get help from Charles and Martin. |
| 02 | 05 | Prison Reform | 20010227 | 20010822, * 20041116, * 20041117 | Charles, against his better judgement, decides to help the case for prison reform, while Martin tries to help Delia Smith to change her image. With Siobhan Hayes, Tamsin Greig and Tony Gardner Charles manages to get himself out of trouble at Prentiss-McCabe, or so he thinks. |
| 02 | 06 LAST | Out-wheezed | 20010306 | 20010829, * 20041123, * 20041124, * 20060713, * 20060714 | Charles is temporarily out-wheezed by rival PR woman Gail Shand. With Siobhan Hayes, Tamsin Greig and Tony Gardner Charles is challenged to wheeze the unwheezable. |
| 03 | 01 | Shafting The Pm | 20020101 | * 20060720, * 20060721 | They are asked to knock the PM's reputation. The government retainer comes under threat when Prentiss McCabe is presented with the difficult and complicated task. |
| 03 | 02 | Big Brother | 20020108 | * 20030816, * 20060727, * 20060803, * 20060804, * 20070920, * 20070921 | Charles finds himself entering the world of showbiz when he finds himself representing the latest 'star' from Big Brother. Charles enters the world of show business when he represents the latest `Big Brother' star. The pair find themselves charged with the unenviable task of trying to help the government sort out the health service. This week Charles enters the world of showbiz when he finds himself representing the latest 'star' from Big Brother. |
| 03 | 03 | Heath Service | 20020115 | * 20060728 | They are charged with the unenviable task of helping the government sort out the health service. The pair find themselves charged with the unenviable task of trying to help the government sort out the health service. |
| 03 | 04 | A Difficult Client | 20020122 | * 20060810, * 20060811, * 20070927, * 20070928 | Charles decides that Martin needs a challenge and determines to find him the most demanding client the firm has ever taken on. |
| 03 | 05 LAST | Relaunching Men | 20020129 | * 20060817, * 20060818, * 20071004, * 20071005 | Spin doctors Prentiss and McCabe face one of their biggest challenges to date - a commission to boost public opinion of men. Spin doctors Prentiss and McCabe face one of their biggest challenges to date - a comission to boost public opinion of men. |
| 04 | 01 | Bbc Television | 20040205 | 20060221 | Fresh from BBC2, the hit satirical comedy returns to its radio roots with Stephen Fry and John Bird playing MachiavellIan Masters of spin, Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe. As ever there are 'wheezes' a -plenty to be had, especially when our boys find themselves representing BBC television. |
| 04 | 02 | The Notion Of Nation | 20040212 | 20060222 | When Martin becomes a bestselling author with his scathing attack of Britain under New Labour, The Notion of Nation, Charles finds himself commissioned by the government to bring his friend down a peg or two - a commission he's keen to accept. When Martin becomes a bestselling author with his scathing attack of Britain under New Labour 'The Notion of Nation', Charles finds himself commissioned by the government to bring his friend down a peg or two - a commission he's keen to accept. |
| 04 | 03 | Prentiss, Mccabe - And Clive? | 20040219 | 20060223 | When Martin persuades Charles to accompany him to Devon, Clive is left in charge of the government's Healthy Eating campaign. Will the company survive with Clive in charge, and more importantly, will Charles survive without the cut and thrust of London? |
| 04 | 04 LAST | 20040226 | The firm is offered the chance to cross the pond and help with the presidential campaign, and whilst Charles can't resist the challenge of spinning in the land of the dirty trick, Martin decides to stay at home. Could this be the end of a beautiful friendship? | ||
| 20061103 | 20061104 | One-off special from the comedy series with Stephen Fry and John Bird as the masters of spin. Claret-swilling colleagues Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe are out to trip one another up as much as they are their clients. With Tony Blair leaving and new boy David Cameron on the block, Charles is as mischievous as ever and no doubt Martin will be 'brilliant, but fundamentally unsound', although he may be found in a rather unexpected location with limited visiting rights. With Tony Gardner, Saskia Wickham, Joseph Kloska and Bethan Walker. | |||
| 01 | 20061110 | * 20060427, * 20060428 | Mark Taverner's political comedy about spin doctors Prentiss and McCabe. With Stephen Fry and John Bird. | ||
| 01 | * 20070906, * 20070907 | The government retainer comes under threat when Prentiss McCabe is given a complicated task. Starring Stephen Fry and John Bird. Episode 1 of 5. | |||
| 02 | * 20070802, * 20070803 | The two 'spinmeisters' end up on opposite sides, while the alluring Gail pulls Charles' strings. Tamsin Greig guest-stars. | |||
| 02 | * 20070913, * 20070914 | The pair find themselves charged with the unenviable task of trying to help the government sort out the health service. Episode 2 of 5. | |||
| 04 | * 20070816, * 20070817 | The battle between the PM and the Chancellor is about to involve Charles and Martin. Starring Stephen Fry and John Bird. Episode 4 of 6. | |||
| 05 | * 20060706, * 20060707, * 20070823, * 20070824 | Charles manages to get himself out of trouble at Prentiss-McCabe, or so he thinks. | |||
| 06 LAST | * 20070830, * 20070831 | Charles is challenged to wheeze the unwheezable. Starring Stephen Fry and John Bird. |
Cast and Crew
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See Also