Things Can Only Get Worse

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

1997-2001

20180629

20210809 (R4)

O'Farrell's best-selling comic memoir about how he helped the Labour Party lose elections, with a bit of help from Hugh Dennis, Jan Ravens, Doon Mackichan and Lewis MacLeod.

How did British politics go from New Labour landslides to Brexit and Corbyn? John O'Farrell is the comedy writer with a knack of finding himself at the heart of British politics; standing in Maidenhead against Theresa May in 2001, doing even worse in the Eastleigh by-election of 2013, successfully campaigning for a non-selective inner-city state school but then realising he had to send his kids to it.

Looking back at the last 20 years in British politics, these are the frank and funny memoirs of one Labour activist who tried to carry on as usual long after politics stopped making sense.

Episode 1 - 1997-2001

Election night 1997 ushered in a new era. Tony Blair promised a brave new future to the sound of D:Ream singing Things Can Only Get Better. That was certainly true for Professor Brian Cox. But the shine of that election victory is a distant memory in 2018. Just how did we get here?

written and read by John O'Farrell

Produced by Victoria Lloyd

A BBC Studios Production.

How did British politics go from Labour landslides to Brexit? John O'Farrell finds out.

Adaptation of John O'Farrell's best-selling book about the New Labour project.

2001-2007

20180706

20210810 (R4)

Episode 2 - 2001-2007

John O'Farrell looks back at the last 20 years in British politics, to try to make sense of where we are now. The shine had barely gone off the New Labour project when 9/11 changed everything. By the time of the 2005 election, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were rowing so hard that Blair's purchase of two ice-creams felt significant and oddly reassuring. Iraq made the New Labour government unpopular but for Gordon Brown a bigger crisis was ahead - at the hands of, well, Gordon Brown.

written and read by John O'Farrell

Produced by Victoria Lloyd

A BBC Studios Production.

Political comedy memoir from accidental parliamentary candidate John O'Farrell.

Adaptation of John O'Farrell's best-selling book about the New Labour project.

2008-2013

20180713

20210811 (R4)

Episode 3 - 2008-2013

John O'Farrell looks back at the last 20 years in British politics, to try to make sense of where we are now. In the US the Democrats had chosen Barack Obama as their candidate, and John O'Farrell headed to Wisconsin to help canvas. Hope was in plentiful supply but 2008 would still bring a series of financial blows from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Worse still, Gordon Brown forgot all about Prudence on the campaign trail.

written and read by John O'Farrell

Produced by Victoria Lloyd

A BBC Studios Production.

Barack Obama's election, the financial crisis and Gordon's lack of prudence.

Adaptation of John O'Farrell's best-selling book about the New Labour project.

2013-2017

20180720

20210812 (R4)

Episode 4 - 2013-2017

John O'Farrell looks back at the last 20 years in British politics, to try to make sense of where we are now. It was a time of self-inflicted wounds - from the 'Ed Stone', to David Cameron's decision to hold a referendum on Brexit to unite the Conservative Party. Trump won a fantastic victory in the US presidential elections,, but lost the popular vote. In the bloody war of Miliband v Miliband, Ed may have won the battle. But did David win the war?

written and read by John O'Farrell

Produced by Victoria Lloyd

A BBC Studios Production.

From the 'Ed Stone' to veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn, via Trump and Brexit.

Adaptation of John O'Farrell's best-selling book about the New Labour project.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
1997-2001	20180629	20210809 (R4)	O'Farrell's best-selling comic memoir about how he helped the Labour Party lose elections, with a bit of help from Hugh Dennis, Jan Ravens, Doon Mackichan and Lewis MacLeod. How did British politics go from New Labour landslides to Brexit and Corbyn? John O'Farrell is the comedy writer with a knack of finding himself at the heart of British politics; standing in Maidenhead against Theresa May in 2001, doing even worse in the Eastleigh by-election of 2013, successfully campaigning for a non-selective inner-city state school but then realising he had to send his kids to it. Looking back at the last 20 years in British politics, these are the frank and funny memoirs of one Labour activist who tried to carry on as usual long after politics stopped making sense. Episode 1 - 1997-2001 Election night 1997 ushered in a new era. Tony Blair promised a brave new future to the sound of D:Ream singing Things Can Only Get Better. That was certainly true for Professor Brian Cox. But the shine of that election victory is a distant memory in 2018. Just how did we get here? written and read by John O'Farrell Produced by Victoria Lloyd A BBC Studios Production. How did British politics go from Labour landslides to Brexit? John O'Farrell finds out. Adaptation of John O'Farrell's best-selling book about the New Labour project.
2001-2007	20180706	20210810 (R4)	Episode 2 - 2001-2007 John O'Farrell looks back at the last 20 years in British politics, to try to make sense of where we are now. The shine had barely gone off the New Labour project when 9/11 changed everything. By the time of the 2005 election, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were rowing so hard that Blair's purchase of two ice-creams felt significant and oddly reassuring. Iraq made the New Labour government unpopular but for Gordon Brown a bigger crisis was ahead - at the hands of, well, Gordon Brown. written and read by John O'Farrell Produced by Victoria Lloyd A BBC Studios Production. Political comedy memoir from accidental parliamentary candidate John O'Farrell. Adaptation of John O'Farrell's best-selling book about the New Labour project.
2008-2013	20180713	20210811 (R4)	Episode 3 - 2008-2013 John O'Farrell looks back at the last 20 years in British politics, to try to make sense of where we are now. In the US the Democrats had chosen Barack Obama as their candidate, and John O'Farrell headed to Wisconsin to help canvas. Hope was in plentiful supply but 2008 would still bring a series of financial blows from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Worse still, Gordon Brown forgot all about Prudence on the campaign trail. written and read by John O'Farrell Produced by Victoria Lloyd A BBC Studios Production. Barack Obama's election, the financial crisis and Gordon's lack of prudence. Adaptation of John O'Farrell's best-selling book about the New Labour project.
2013-2017	20180720	20210812 (R4)	Episode 4 - 2013-2017 John O'Farrell looks back at the last 20 years in British politics, to try to make sense of where we are now. It was a time of self-inflicted wounds - from the 'Ed Stone', to David Cameron's decision to hold a referendum on Brexit to unite the Conservative Party. Trump won a fantastic victory in the US presidential elections,, but lost the popular vote. In the bloody war of Miliband v Miliband, Ed may have won the battle. But did David win the war? written and read by John O'Farrell Produced by Victoria Lloyd A BBC Studios Production. From the 'Ed Stone' to veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn, via Trump and Brexit. Adaptation of John O'Farrell's best-selling book about the New Labour project.