The New Statesman (1987)
The savagely funny British sitcom that turned parliamentary corruption into unmissable comedy, powered by Rik Mayall's unforgettable performance as the monstrous MP Alan B'Stard.
The New Statesman - Series Information
- Original Title: The New Statesman
- First Air Year: 1987
- Last Air Year: 1992
- Created by: Laurence Marks, Maurice Gran
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 4
- Number of Episodes: 26
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 13, 1987 (United Kingdom - 15)
- Networks: ITV1
The New Statesman - Plot
The New Statesman is a British sitcom of the late 1980s and early 1990s satirising the Conservative government of the time.
The New Statesman - Trailer
Check out this clip and get a taste of Alan B'Stard's gloriously corrupt world.
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The New Statesman - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Laurence Marks
- Maurice Gran
Main Cast
- Rik Mayall
- Michael Troughton
- Marsha Fitzalan
- Terence Alexander
- Nick Stringer
- Rowena Cooper
- John Nettleton
- Victor Lucas
- John Carlin
- Vivien Heilbron
Writers
- Laurence Marks
- Maurice Gran
The New Statesman - FAQs
Who does Rik Mayall play in The New Statesman?
Rik Mayall plays Alan B'Stard, a monstrous, self-serving Conservative MP for the fictional Yorkshire constituency of Haltemprice. B'Stard is greedy, corrupt, and utterly shameless — a gleefully exaggerated caricature of Thatcherite political ambition that became one of British television's most iconic comic creations.
Is The New Statesman worth watching today?
Absolutely. The New Statesman remains razor-sharp and disturbingly relevant decades on. Rik Mayall's ferocious performance as Alan B'Stard is a masterclass in comic villainy, and the writing by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran skewers political greed with a savagery that feels just as biting now as it did in the late 1980s.
Where can you stream The New Statesman?
The New Statesman is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, BritBox, and the BritBox Apple TV Channel. You can also buy episodes on Amazon Video. Free viewing options with ads include The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi TV, and Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, as well as Plex.
What is The New Statesman satirising?
The series takes direct aim at the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher, lampooning the greed, hypocrisy, and moral bankruptcy of the political class. Through Alan B'Stard's outrageous schemes in the House of Commons, the show dissects British parliamentary culture, class privilege, and the darker impulses lurking behind respectable political facades.
Who created The New Statesman and wrote the scripts?
The series was created and written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, the prolific British comedy duo also responsible for Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart. Their scripts for The New Statesman are among their sharpest work, blending farcical plotting with pointed political commentary throughout all four series.
How many seasons and episodes does The New Statesman have?
The New Statesman ran for four series between 1987 and 1992, comprising 26 regular episodes plus three special episodes. Each series typically contained six or seven episodes, with the show airing on ITV1 and building a devoted audience drawn to its uncompromising satirical edge and Mayall's electrifying central performance.
Did The New Statesman win any awards or critical recognition?
The series earned strong critical praise for its audacious political satire and Rik Mayall's commanding performance. It is widely regarded as one of the finest British political comedies ever produced, frequently cited alongside Yes Minister and Spitting Image as a defining work of satirical television from the Thatcher era.
What shows are similar to The New Statesman?
Fans of The New Statesman tend to love The Thick of It for its savage Westminster satire, Yes Minister for its gentler but equally incisive political comedy, and Spitting Image for its puppet-based lampoons of the same era. Brass Eye also shares the show's willingness to push political comedy into genuinely uncomfortable territory.
More About The New Statesman
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