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The BAFTA award-winning comedy series The Thick Of It returns for a new series on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two.

Once again, the Prime Minister's Director of Communications, played by Peter Capaldi, is ready to fight fires caused by The Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship for eight brand new episodes of the acclaimed political comedy.

This time, after a reshuffle – the last one before the General Election – he has a new Social Affairs Secretary to deal with, in the form of Nicola Murray, played by Rebecca Front.

Nicola Murray will be in charge of regular cast members including Ollie, played by Chris Addison, James Smith who plays Glenn and Joanna Scanlan as the ineffectual Departmental Press Secretary, Terri.

And, with the government at a low ebb, and an election looming, the opposition are also in Tucker's sights. The new stories welcome back Her Majesty's loyal opposition in the form of Peter Mannion, played by Roger Allam, as they try to steal the initiative from the government.

The new series was commissioned by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two Controller Janice Hadlow.

She says: "The Thick Of It is one the cleverest, sharpest and funniest political comedies on television and I'm delighted that it is moving to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two."

Armando Iannucci says: "Fresh from the international arena of In The Loop, Malcolm Tucker will be brought back to British basics in this new series, and I'm delighted to have Rebecca Front, one of our funniest actresses, play his new nemesis, Nicola Murray MP. I can't wait to start shooting."

The series was devised by Armando Iannucci and written by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Sean Gray, Ian Martin, Will Smith, Roger Drew and Tony Roche.

The Thick Of It is now in production and will be ready for transmission on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two later this year.

Notes to Editors

Armando Iannucci reunites the award-winning team behind The Thick Of It for In The Loop, a devastatingly sharp political comedy. In The Loop opened in cinemas across the UK on 17 April 2009.

PA/JD