Eight new episodes for 2011

The BBC has ordered a fourth series of The Thick Of It, Armando Iannucci has revealed.

Writing on his Twitter page, the satire’s creator said: ‘Another 8 Thicks have just been commissioned for next year.’

But the cast will have to wait on the results of this spring’s election to see if their roles are reprised.

Although it is never stated, it is presumed that the party in power in the series is Labour – which could mean changes in the characters if the real Westminster landscape is altered.

Indeed, the last series ended with the announcement of a snap election.

Rebecca Front’s Minister inept Nicola Murray and political appointees such as Chris Addison’s snide Ollie Reader or Peter Capaldi’s vicious spin-doctor Malcolm Tucker could therefore be at risk if the Conservatives win power.

Meanwhile, Iannucci is currently working on a new film, but said it wasn’t a follow-up to Thick Of It spin-off In The Loop.

Published: 29 Mar 2010