The Damnation of Harvey McHugh

This is one of my favourite programs produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Superbly written, it also featured some great performances from the whole cast, but especially Aaron Blabey and Monica Maughan.

It was impossible not to warm to Harvey as he battled against the odds, both in his personal life and in his job where he was constantly shuffled from job to job, jobs which just seemed to get worse and worse over the course of the series!

This show wasn't for everyone, but generally those who liked it, loved it.

This is a highly unusual and edgy satirical view of Australian politics and the public service. I came to this as a Philip Quast fan and he absolutely shines in what was arguably his best on-screen role, as the manipulative and villanous Minister. He has plenty of screen time and makes the best of it. The character's rapport with the naive young Harvey (Aaron Blabey) is multi-faceted and ever-changing.

The story chronicles the misadventures of a young public servant who finds himself inadvertently in the hubbub of big politics. This is personified in the Minister whom Harvey tends to trust but who ruthlessly manipulates and uses him, even to his own personal ends.