The Thick of It - Episode Guide

Hugh Abbot is the Minister for Social Affairs and he's facing a policy crisis; his 'Snooper Squad' idea has been vetoed which leaves him with just forty minutes to come up with a new policy.

Hugh enlists the help of a focus group to help him make a decision between two policies.

An empty London flat threatens the future of a potential Housing Bill. Dan Miller is getting plenty of media-attention for his work on the bill, which is causing creating a degree of envy.

A ministerial visit goes horribly wrong for Hugh. Only Malcolm can help, but is he inclined to do so?

With a reshuffle about to take place, everyone is trying to raise their profile.

Hugh sends an expletive-littered e-mail to an eight year old girl.

While the Minister is away, junior minister Ben Swain tries to make some headlines, but only succeeds in making a fool of himself on Newsnight. Meanwhile, everything begins to unravel for Malcolm Tucker and his team at Number 10.

Malcolm Tucker's political career is hanging by a thread. He has just seventeen hours to prove to everyone that he has what it takes to retain hs position of power, and it's going to be the longest night of his life.

It's reshuffle day at Number 10 and there's a new face on the show. When the job at the Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship is rejected by all the other candidates, there is no option but to promote unknown MP Nicola Murry to the Cabinet. Spin-doctor Malcolm soon puts her in her place then there's an unfortunate poster launch that brings things crashing down for their PR.

There's a crisis when someone wipes some immigration records.

Chaos ensues at the Annual Party Conference, as Glenn and Malcolm clash over a great publicity opportunity and Nicola and Ollie try desperately to write a speech.

The civil servants at DoSAC prepare for a visit from DoSAC shadow minister Peter Mannion.

Richard Bacon holds a radio debate with DoSAC minister Nicola Murray and her shadow Peter Mannion and as usual all does not go well.

The Prime Minister is away but Nicola's tempted to launch a leadership bid anyway.

Who's going to be the face of DoSAC's Healthy Choices campaign? Nicola Murray hasn't a clue.

As the election looms and the Opposition eye the prize, the word around the Westminster Village is that Malcolm Tucker is running out of both options and friends.

The General election has been and gone and it's all change at Number Ten. Peter Mannion is now the Conservative Secretary of State for Social Affairs in a coalition government and must launch one of his coalition partner's policies. Meanwhile, Terri attempts to get on the redundancy list.

As the new Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition, former DOSAC Secretary Nicola Murray wants to concentrate on practising walking for laying the poppy reef at the Cenotaph. Unfortunately, what with being accosted by an 8 foot pork chop and her new aide, Helen, being photographed with embarrassing discussion notes, this is proving difficult.

Peter Mannion is forced to spend his Easter weekend 'imagineering' with at a 'Thought Camp', being run by Stewart Pearson. With phones, and iPads being banned from the event, chaos ensues when an unexpected news story breaks.

Malcolm sees an opportunity to continue his plan to replace Nicola with Dan Miller as Leader when she is stuck on a train to Bradford. Unfortunately he is missing accomplices as Olly's burst appendix has him in hospital and Ben

When the plan to sell key-worker housing goes awry, both Peter Mannion and Nicola Murray must strive to avoid scandal, whilst vigorously pointing the finger of blame at one another.

Now that an inquiry has been set-up to look into the suicide of a nurse after his flat was sold off, the government, opposition and civil service have a questions to answer.

As the enquiry fallout continues, the Home Office cut police numbers and blame enormous queues at police stations on DoSAC. Meanwhile, Malcolm sends Dan Miller to the local police station in order to make the government look incompetent .