The New Statesman
TV Show · Comedy

This BAFTA-winning political satire stars Rik Mayall as Conservative MP Alan B'Stard, whose thirst for power is paramount as he adopts relentless methods to reach the top of the political ladder.

1987 · 24m
Starring Paul O'Grady, Terence Alexander, Nick Stringer

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    Happiness Is A Warm Gun
    In the first episode of this hilarious new political comedy, we meet Alan Beresford B'Stard, an unscrupulous young politico, who will stop at nothing to get elected to parliament.
    23m
  • EPISODE 2
    Passport To Freedom
    Alan's wife, Sarah, inherits a million pounds worth of shares, which enables her to fulfill her deepest wish - to leave Alan. But Alan B'Stard MP knows a politician needs a wife.
    23m
  • EPISODE 3
    Sex Is Wrong
    Alan realises that joining a moral crusade can be extremely profitable... with hilarious consequences.
    23m
  • EPISODE 4
    Waste Not Want Not
    Tory MP Alan B'Stard's dirty dealings have finally caught up with him. Five years ago he accepted £55,000 to get rid of a lorryload of Argentinian nuclear waste but his financial advisor Norman Bormann tells him the lock-up garage storing the sludge is earmarked for demolition!
    23m
  • EPISODE 5
    Friends Of St. James
    Alan organises a parliamentary fact-finding expedition to a sun-kissed Carribean island whose only export seems to be the world's strongest marijuana!
    22m
  • EPISODE 6
    Three Line Whipping
    Alan is booked to appear on TVAM to discuss an important by-election result. Unfortunately, an all-night sitting in a notorious house of ill-repute means he has no idea about the election result.
    23m

Related

Cast & Crew

  • Paul O'Grady
    Actor
  • Terence Alexander
    Actor
  • N‌S
    Nick Stringer
    Actor
  • Rik Mayall
    Actor
  • Berwick Kaler
    Actor
  • Hugh Laurie
    Actor
  • John Nettleton
    Actor
  • Marsha Fitzalan
    Actor
  • M‌T
    Michael Troughton
    Actor
  • V‌H
    Vivien Heilbron
    Actor
  • Benjamin Whitrow
    Actor

About

The New Statesman

Comedy

This BAFTA-winning political satire stars Rik Mayall as Conservative MP Alan B'Stard, whose thirst for power is paramount as he adopts relentless methods to reach the top of the political ladder.

Information

Studio
BritBox
Released
1987
Rated
TV-14
Region of Origin
United Kingdom

Languages

Original Audio
English, English (United Kingdom)
Audio

English (United Kingdom) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (United States) (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
  • Español (México)
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)

Copyright © 2025 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

  • Internet Service Terms
  • Apple TV & Privacy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Support
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)