Absolute Power

TV Series
2003–2005
29m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

The inner workings of a successful PR firm - lying for a living.The inner workings of a successful PR firm - lying for a living.The inner workings of a successful PR firm - lying for a living.

Creator
- Mark Tavener
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

Creator
- Mark Tavener
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Episodes12

Browse episodes

TopTop-rated2 seasons2 years

Top cast99+

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Stephen Fry

Charles Prentiss

• 2003–2005

John Bird

Martin McCabe

• 2003–2005

James Lance

Jamie Front

• 2003–2005

Zoe Telford

Alison Jackman

• 2003–2005

Nicholas Burns

Nick Mayer

• 2003–2005

Sally Bretton

Cat Durnford

• 2003–2005

Stefanie Callister

Newsreader

• 2003–2005

Kirsty Wark

Kirsty Wark

• 2003–2005

Angus Deayton

Colin Priestley…

• 2003–2005

Dermot Murnaghan

Dermot Murnaghan

• 2003–2005

Jon Culshaw

Telephone Voices…

• 2005

Phillip Schofield

Phillip Schofield

• 2005

Mark Lawson

Mark Lawson

• 2003–2005

Stefan Kalipha

Mohammed

• 2005

Joshua Rozenberg

News Reporter

• 2003–2005

Shaun Stone

Telephone Workman #1…

• 2005

Andrew Whipp

Marcus Payne

• 2003

Silas Carson

Reza Bin Laden

• 2005

Featured reviews

9tdk1147

Another hit British series finally!

Excellent series, really witty and the Stephen Fry is sensational. If only I could be as brilliantly deceptive as his character - he's a morally challenged rogue but so lovable!

Only two things that bug me are:

1. Alison is just too stupid and I'm not sure she can pull it off sometimes (acting wise); and 2. Colin, the Australian press secretary at Downing Street, has a terrible Australian accent. It's more like a New Zealand one.

Eg, the little shut (instead of the little sh*t).

But still really looking forward to series three this year!

Dawnfrancis

Wickedly Funny Satire

This really is an excellent series.Set in the murky world of PR,it brilliantly sends up the world of celebrity and political spin. Wickedly funny and all too true to life. Originally a radio series for BBC R4,it has successfully crossed over to the small screen.

10FlindersRanger

Classic comedy

The incomparable Stephen Fry delivers the acerbic character, Charles Prentiss, and together with the rest of the terrific cast, deliver a wonderful rendition of the radio programme, with a level of satirical splendour not seen in other recent British comedies.

It's difficult not to keep watching both series over and over again. You will not be disappointed!

playdumb

A damn fine job, brilliant!

Hi, This is a fantastic satire on spin and th 'real' power behind popular news stories of the day. British irony at its best. Wickedly funny. Stephen Fry is at his best portraying Charles Prentiss and the script is far above the cheap humour seen on other comedy series, though some might find it a bit too high-brow.

There were 2 runs of this show one in autumn/winter 2003 and then in summer 2005.

PS - For those who like these kind of media based cynicism would also like "Trevor's World of Sport" another BBC comedy to feature around the same time starring Neil Pearson and Paul Reynolds.

Both shows at their heart are about (comic) observations of a crazy world that feature an ironic pair as bosses, one controlling manipulative and the other bumbling, meek work to look forward to retire.

9buddleja

Pure Sophisication

Here is British humour at its very wittiest and cutting.

The machinations of the team at Prentiss McCabe are a joy to behold as they spin the latest challenge.

The dialogue is edged with a delicious sprinkle of smugness. Not that you'd like to meet any of these people - they're utterly self-serving, and are a sharp reflection of the slick wheelings and dealings, counter-dealings, backstabbing, Machiavellian world that I could only imagine might take place in such a real world business.

I came late to this series, only discovering it last year and, I can thoroughly recommend it. Like Fawlty Towers, the limited production of episodes will ensure this remains a classic.

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The television show is based very loosely on the BBC Radio show of the same name. Specifically, the two characters of Prentiss and McCabe are from the radio series and played by Stephen Fry and John Bird, but otherwise the original radio series was completely different. The tone is drastically different, all of the younger office workers are new characters, and the television show has them specifically doing public relations work instead of Downing Street's clandestine "dirty tricks."

Quotes
Simon Wellington: It's very simple. I was looking for a fox.
Colin Priestley: Right. Jesus. It's our own fault. We train you guys to talk bollocks in the House of Commons and the television studio, but please spare me the dispatch box stare. I'm not Leader of the Opposition. I'm an intelligent man.
Simon Wellington: A fox. Really. There are foxes on the heath. It's quite a sight. I like to go there after doing my red boxes.
Colin Priestley: Simon. Simon. As the Prime Minister's Press Secretary, you take more confessions than a priest, so I've heard the best lies in the business and yours is the political equivalent of "the dog ate my homework".
Simon Wellington: If I were making up a cover story, I'd make up something less ridiculous than this.
Colin Priestley: You had scratches and torn clothing.
Simon Wellington: I was mugged. Regrettably, these two men stopped to help me. That's how the story got out. Where's the selfish, uncaring society when you need it?
Colin Priestley: Simon, do me and yourself a favour. You're gay. It's what we call a "moma".
Simon Wellington: I'm sorry?
Colin Priestley: Moment of madness. That one's a bit inky. Have to think of a new one for your press release. Minute of misjudgement. Flash of... Well, maybe not flash, but whatever.
Simon Wellington: Look, call me a leaker, call me a plotter, call me anti-European, but I'm not gay.
Colin Priestley: Simon, you probably think that being gay is the wrong answer, which is why you're lying, but it's the right answer. The PM's got most of the country now, but even after a couple of gay Cabinet ministers the pink flag doesn't exactly flap for him.So we're going to appoint a minister for fudge packers and muff divers - as the electorate will learn to stop calling them - except we can't find a gay minister.
Simon Wellington: Well, what about...
Colin Priestley: Mandelson won't take it. Said something about stereotyping. But then look what the fox dragged in.
Simon Wellington: I'm not gay.
Colin Priestley: Simon, you have 48 hours to decide. "Out and proud" is the press release I'm planning. If you're out, you're in, and if you're in, you're out.