Satire has been a staple of the arts for as long as there have been hapless authority figures. It toes the line between reality and fiction, skillfully avoiding lawsuits and libel orders. From cartoons mocking pre-Revolutionary French aristos, to TikTok parodies, it is a well-established outlet for the people to berate their overlords. 

However, one piece of satire in particular has struck viewers for its seemingly prophetic quality. The BBC’s The Thick of It, written by Armando Iannucci stars Peter Capaldi as the ruthless and vulgar-mouthed government Director of Communications, Malcolm Tucker. 

Unless this article was to be longer than the show’s four-series script, it would be impossible to list every occasion where events in the show have mysteriously come to pass in British politics.

When is a party not a party? Well, if you ask The Thick of It’s Peter Mannion, who depicts the minister for the fictitious Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship, “When it’s at your house!”. This quote may have been taken out of its original context, but perfectly summarises the government’s ethos when it came to the ‘Partygate’ scandal. Remember the suitcase of bevvies rolling into Number 10 over Christmas 2021? 

The Thick of It comes to a dramatic conclusion in its final series with the ‘Goolding Inquiry’ into the political culture of leaking sensitive information. One piece of sensitive information Boris Johnson and his Downing Street cronies would rather not have had leaked was the video that ignited the ‘Partygate’ scandal. In both the show and real-life, high-profile politicians find themselves giving their testimony -truthful or not- to an inquiry that threatens their careers. However, the fiction of ‘Goolding’ precedes Gray by 9 years!

Similarities do not end there. When one leading figure in the The Thick of It’s ‘Goolding Inquiry’ is caught up in a scandal of her own, she is forced to stand down to spare what little integrity the investigation has left. Although ‘Baroness Sureka’ is a figment of Iannucci’s sharp satirical mind, former Downing Street Permanent Secretary, Simon Case is very real. Case was forced to give up his role in the ‘Partygate’ Inquiry when starring in his own scandal… attending the parties he was investigating. 

For those still sceptical, there is also the evidence of the pork chop. Unpopular and impotent, the show’s Nicola Murray is overshadowed by the food item, when its career hounding her outlasts her career as party leader. Remind you of a certain lettuce?

This comparison is in fact in aid of some conclusion. When the distinction between farce and reality becomes too obscure, should we be concerned about the state of British politics? Like anything, politics can be a source of comedy, but when satirists are scripting current affairs, perhaps it is time to reflect upon the integrity of politicians and politics.

Can satire really be so hilarious when it simply mirrors political disaster? 
That said, The Thick of It is on iPlayer and worth a watch!