Power Monkeys

Power Monkeys is a 2016 British political comedy series which appeared on Channel 4 in the run-up to and immediate aftermath of the 2016 UK EU membership referendum, and also lampooned the ongoing 2016 United States Presidential election campaign.[1]

Power Monkeys
Created byAndy Hamilton
Guy Jenkin
Written byAndy Hamilton
Guy Jenkin
StarringJack Dee
Kevin McNally
Archie Panjabi
ComposerPhilip Pope
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producerJimmy Mulville
Running time25 minutes
Production companyHat Trick Productions
Release
Original networkChannel 4
Picture format16:9 1080i
Audio formatStereo
Original release8 June (2016-06-08) –
6 July 2016 (2016-07-06)
External links
Website

The six-part series depicts four different sets of fictional mid-level political operatives, reacting to and commentating on political and other events. Like its predecessor series Ballot Monkeys, episodes were written and produced within hours of transmission, allowing the characters to react to recent real-world events.[2][3]

The series was written by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. It stars Jack Dee, Kevin McNally and Archie Panjabi.[4]

Synopsis

Though broader in scope, Power Monkeys is similar in format to its predecessor, featuring four mostly non-interacting groups of mid-level political operatives. The characters of Gerry of Ukip and Ruby of the Conservatives from Ballot Monkeys feature. The settings are:[5][6][1]

  • A Vote Leave campaign bus
  • A Conservative Party "unity unit" tasked with trying to keep peace between Conservatives on different sides of the EU referendum debate.
  • The Donald Trump presidential campaign plane.
  • A Kremlin office housing aides to Vladimir Putin.

Cast

The main cast consists of:[4][1]

  • Jack Dee as Oliver of the Conservatives, a drunk gambler and Remainer, with the "people skills of the South Yorkshire Police".
  • Kevin McNally as Spencer, a rich self-made millionaire who steals road signs as a hobby. He's getting married soon after the referendum but his fiancée is cheating on him.
  • Archie Panjabi as Preeya of the Conservatives on the vote leave bus campaigning for leave before the referendum and then at the Unity Unit afterwards.
  • Claire Skinner as Sara of the Conservatives, she has a one-night stand with Tony which she can't get over. She is OCD about milk being left out of the fridge.
  • Andy Nyman as Gerry of Ukip, head of the leave battle bus while struggling with his father's death. He also appeared in Ballot Monkeys.
  • Ayda Field as Bea of the US Republican Party, deputy of the Trump campaign – an over-enthusiastic, somewhat delusional, Trump campaigner.
  • Amelia Bullmore as Lauren of the US Republican Party who's tasked with making Trump more appealing to women.
  • Robert Wilfort as Brett of the Republican party, a dim Republican who idolises Trump's every word.
  • Ben Willbond as Oleg, a long-standing aide of Vladimir Putin who jostles with Alexi for Putin's favour.
  • Alec Utgoff as Alexi, a newly appointed aide to Vladimir Putin tasked with such honours as walking the president's dog.
  • Anthony Calf as Tony of the Conservatives and leader of the Unity Unit, he is married, but has a one-night stand with Sara much to Sara's regret.
  • Liz Kingsman as Ruby of the Conservatives a dim unity unit staff member who is only there because her father's a donor. She also appeared in Ballot Monkeys.
  • Gwyneth Keyworth as Jackie of the Labour party, a far-left neo-communist who wants to tax old age.

References
  1. "About the Show & Episodes". channel4.com. Channel Four Television Corporation. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  2. "Jack Dee, Claire Skinner and Archie Panjabi join Brexit comedy Power Monkeys". RadioTimes. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  3. "Power Monkeys is written on the day of broadcast to ensure maximum topicality". The Independent. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  4. "Power Monkeys programme information". channel4.com. Channel Four Television Corporation. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 2019-07-19. cast
  5. "Power Monkeys Press Pack". Channel4.com. Channel Four Television Corporation. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  6. "Search results for power monkeys". channel4.com. Channel Four Television Corporation. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
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