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A Very British Coup (1988) Country of Origin: UK
Date(s) of Broadcast: 1988
Number of Seasons:
Total Number of Episodes:
Average Episode Running Times:
Format: colour
Sound: CREDITS PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Skreba Films / Channel 4
Producers: Ann Skinner, Sally Hibbin
Production Manager: Donna Grey SCRIPT
Script: Alan Plater
Novel: Chris Mullin DIRECTION
Director: Mick Jackson
Assistant Director: Gary White PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Ernie Vincze
Camera Operator: John Maskall
Gaffer Electrician: John May EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editor: Don Fairservice MUSIC
Music: John Keane; Mozart (Great Mass in C Minor)
Mozart Music Performed By: London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Conductor: Colin Davis
Music Mixers: Dick Lewzey, Sean Cotter SOUND
Sound Recordist: Christian Wangler
Dubbing Editor: Peter Elliott
Dubbing Mixer: David Old MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Lindy Shaw
Hair: Wendy Rawson
Wardrobe Supervisor: Philippe Pickford DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Grant Hicks
Art Director: Mark raggett
Production Buyer: Jill Quertier
Construction Manager: Brian Higgins MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor: Joan Marine
Production Accountant: Carl Griffin
Advisors: Alistair Campbell, Duncan Campbell, Trevor Hyett, Chris Nawrat, Keith Smith
Archive Material: BBC; CNN; Index Stock Shots; Thames Television; Weintraub Screen Entertainment LOCATIONS
Location Manager: Howard Gibbins ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks To: Jim Coleman; Sheffield City Council CASTING
Casting Dir: Anne Henderson CAST
Ray McAnally (Perkins)
Alan McNaughtan (Browne)
Keith Allen (Thompson)
Geoffrey Beevers (Wainwright)
Jim Carter (Newsome)
Philip Madoc (Fison)
Tim McInnerny (Fiennes)
Marjorie Yates (Cook)
Roger Brierley (Andrews)
Hugh Martin (Sampson)
Oliver Ford Davies (Tweed)
Bernard Kay (Inspector Page)
Christine Kavanagh (Liz)
David McKail (Robertson)
Julian Fox (Porter)
Bert Gaunt (returning officer)
Shane Rimmer (Secretary of State)
Philip O'Brien (President)
Erin Donovan (Chambers)
Robert Arden (ambassador)
Clive Merrison (TV interviewer)
Jeremy Young (Alford)
Clive Panto (producer)
Zulema Dene (vision mixer)
Stephanie Fayerman (editor)
Terry John, George Rossi (photographers)
Jessica Carney (Maureen)
Harmage Singh Kalirai (Patel)
Caroline John (Annette)
Berwick Kaler (Smith)
Preston Lockwood (Lord Fain)
Gabrielle Daye (mum)
Barbara Ward (reporter - uncredited) SUMMARY Harry Perkins, a working class man from a family of committed communists, is elected Prime Minister of Britain and leads the Labour Party into power. The election of such a hard-line left winger which controversial views on nuclear disarmament and the openness of government is simply something that the establishment cannot sit still for. Backed by the media and foreign governments, including the USA, the civil service swings into action and begins a coup by stealth, hoping to undermine and overthrow Perkins. CAPSULE REVIEW
That rarest of beasts, politically committed television,
A Very British Coup is a scathing satire of the British
political system. It should be required viewing for any student of political
science and remains every bit as relevant today as it did when it was
first shown. How much of it would make sense to non-UK viewers is hard
to say, but the drama is strong enough to keep the attention throughout
- the acting is amazing, the script witty and the direction spot on.
Thoroughly recommended though somewhat hard to find now.
AWARDS
1989
Banff Television Festival
Grand Prize - winner British Academy Television Awards, UK
Best Actor (Ray McAnally) - winner
Best Drama Series (Sally Hibbin, Mick Jackson, Alan Plater, Ann Skinner) - winner
Best Film Editor (Don Fairservice) - winner
Best Film Sound (Peter Elliott, David Old, Christian Wangler) - winner
Best Design (Grant Hicks) - nominated
Best Film Cameraman (Ernest Vincze) - nominated REFERENCES MAGAZINES Broadcast 27 March 1987 p.8 (UK)
note Broadcast 27 November 1987 p.15 (UK)
production notes Cinefantastique vol.19 no.4 (May 1989) p.55 (USA)
review City Limits no.350 (16 June 1988) p.22 (UK)
review Critical Studies in Mass Communication vol.8 no.4 (December 1991) pp.389-403 (USA)
article The Listener vol.119 no.3068 (23 June 1988) pp.8-9, 44 (UK)
article, review The Listener vol.120 no.3071 (14 July 1988) pp.28-29 (UK)
letter Screen vol.32 no.2 (Summer 1991) pp.209-219 (UK)
article Screen International no.622 (17 October 1987) p.54 (UK)
credits Screen International no.623 (24 October 1987) p.411 (UK)
credits Screen International no.629 (5 December 1987) p.27 (UK)
production notes Sight and Sound vol.57 no.2 (Spring 1988) pp.95-97 (UK)
article Television Today no.5593 (23 June 1988) p.17 (UK)
review Televisual November 1987 p.19 (UK)
production notes Time Out no.930 (15 June 1988) p.47 (UK)
article Time Out no.931 (22 June 1988) p.48 (UK)
review TV Times vol.131 no.25 (18 June 1988) p.10 (UK)
review Variety 6 July 1988 p.46 (USA)
credits, review OTHER SOURCES screen
credits KEYWORDS
book into film, politics, coups, spies, secret agents, communism,
subterfuge, alternative histories, civil servants, politicians
Last Updated:
1 January, 2009
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