Power Monkeys
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| creator = Andy Hamilton
Guy Jenkin
| writer = Andy Hamilton
Guy Jenkin
| director =
| starring = Jack Dee
Kevin McNally
Archie Panjabi
| opentheme =
| composer = Philip Pope
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_episodes = 6
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = Jimmy Mulville
| producer =
| editor =
| runtime = 25 minutes
| company = Hat Trick Productions
| network = Channel 4
| first_aired = {{start date|2016|06|08|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2016|07|06|df=yes}}
| num_series = 1
}}
Power Monkeys is a 2016 British political comedy series which appeared on Channel 4 in the run-up to and immediate aftermath of the 2016 UK EU membership referendum, and also lampooned the ongoing 2016 United States Presidential election campaign.{{cite web |title=About the Show & Episodes |url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/power-monkeys/episode-guide |website=channel4.com |publisher=Channel Four Television Corporation |accessdate=20 July 2019}}
The six-part series depicts four different sets of fictional mid-level political operatives, reacting to and commentating on political and other events. Like its predecessor series Ballot Monkeys, episodes were written and produced within hours of transmission, allowing the characters to react to recent real-world events.{{Cite web |title=Jack Dee, Claire Skinner and Archie Panjabi join Brexit comedy Power Monkeys |author= |work=RadioTimes |date= |access-date=9 June 2016 |url = http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-05-25/jack-dee-claire-skinner-and-archie-panjabi-join-brexit-comedy-power-monkeys}}{{Cite web |title=Power Monkeys is written on the day of broadcast to ensure maximum topicality |author= |work=The Independent |date=8 June 2016 |access-date=9 June 2016 |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/power-monkeys-the-new-political-sitcom-is-written-on-the-day-of-broadcast-to-ensure-maximum-a7070126.html}}
The series was written by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. It stars Jack Dee, Kevin McNally and Archie Panjabi.{{Cite web | title = Power Monkeys programme information |publisher=Channel Four Television Corporation| author = | work = channel4.com | date = 25 May 2016 | accessdate = 2019-07-19 | url = https://www.channel4.com/press/news/power-monkeys-programme-information | quote = cast }}
Synopsis
Though broader in scope, Power Monkeys is similar in format to its predecessor, featuring four mostly non-interacting groups of mid-level political operatives. The characters of Gerry of Ukip and Ruby of the Conservatives from Ballot Monkeys feature. The settings are:{{cite web |title=Power Monkeys Press Pack |url= https://www.channel4.com/press/news/power-monkeys-press-pack|website=Channel4.com|publisher=Channel Four Television Corporation |date = 25 May 2016 |access-date=19 July 2019}}{{cite web |title=Search results for power monkeys |url=https://www.channel4.com/press/content-search?search=power%20monkeys%20 |website=channel4.com |publisher=Channel Four Television Corporation |accessdate=20 July 2019}}
- A Vote Leave campaign bus
- A Conservative Party "unity unit" tasked with trying to keep peace between Conservatives on different sides of the EU referendum debate.
- The Donald Trump presidential campaign plane.
- A Kremlin office housing aides to Vladimir Putin.
Cast
- Jack Dee as Oliver of the Conservatives, a drunk gambler and Remainer, with the "people skills of the South Yorkshire Police".
- Kevin McNally as Spencer, a rich self-made millionaire who steals road signs as a hobby and in protest against the European Union and the nanny state. He's getting married soon after the referendum but his fiancée is cheating on him.
- Archie Panjabi as Preeya of the Conservatives on the vote leave bus campaigning for leave before the referendum and then at the Unity Unit afterwards.
- Claire Skinner as Sara of the Conservatives, she has a one-night stand with Tony which she can't get over. She is OCD about milk being left out of the fridge.
- Andy Nyman as Gerry of Ukip, head of the leave battle bus while struggling with his father's death. He also appeared in Ballot Monkeys.
- Ayda Field as Bea of the US Republican Party, deputy of the Trump campaign – an over-enthusiastic, somewhat delusional, Trump campaigner.
- Amelia Bullmore as Lauren of the US Republican Party who's tasked with making Trump more appealing to women.
- Robert Wilfort as Brett of the Republican party, a dim Republican who idolises Trump's every word and who served as his golf caddy.
- Ben Willbond as Oleg, a long-standing aide of Vladimir Putin who jostles with Alexi for Putin's favour.
- Alec Utgoff as Alexi, a newly appointed aide to Vladimir Putin tasked with such honours as walking the president's dog.
- Anthony Calf as Tony of the Conservatives and leader of the Unity Unit, he is married, but has a one-night stand with Sara much to Sara's regret.
- Liz Kingsman as Ruby of the Conservatives a dim unity unit staff member who is only there because her father's a donor. She also appeared in Ballot Monkeys.
- Gwyneth Keyworth as Jackie of the Labour party, a far-left neo-communist who supports Brexit as a means of achieving the abolition of capitalism and the establishment of a direct e-democracy.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|www.channel4.com/programmes/power-monkeys|Power Monkeys}} – official website
- {{IMDb title|id=5780516|title=Power Monkeys}}
Category:2010s British political television series
Category:2010s British satirical television series
Category:2016 British television series debuts
Category:2016 British television series endings
Category:2016 in British television
Category:2016 United States presidential election in popular culture
Category:British television spinoffs
Category:British English-language television shows
Category:British political satire
Category:Political satirical television series
Category:Television series by Hat Trick Productions