Ben is Grilled by Jeremy Paxman | The Thick of It | BBC Studios

[@jordank1489]

The cut to Jamie saying 'the cameramen are laughing' is one of my favourite moments of the entire show

[@Satellite_Of_Love]

"He's like a chicken, he's like an enormous chicken!" This whole bit has some of my favorite lines.

[@fairsaa7975]

"He's basically been saying one thing the whole time 'blurgghurh' "

[@JanVinegarOfCastlemilk]

I use that quite a lot whenever I see a politician make a cunt of it on television. Perfect comedic timing.

[@thelonewolf2476]

How does he know they are laughing?

[@jamescollinge5043]

The camera is visibly shaking from their laughter

[@keepyoureyespeeled]

I love how Jamie is so mad at the end that he can't even think of something witty and/or vulgar to say to Ben and just defaults to "you don't deserve to live".

[@t.d.2016]

Oh god YES 😂😂

[@LuminalSpoon]

Love Like Clockwork.

[@dexterhill5843]

@@LuminalSpoon same XD and that line

[@Rory626]

And he's just staring into the distance like a war vet with PTSD

[@mynameismattfirered9276]

keep your eyes peeled is the worst song in the album how can u like it

[@TomWHuxley]

I went years not realising that Paxman filmed nothing for this. His bits were all taken from actual editions of Newsnight. Some genius editing, writing and performance tricks.

[@BossySwan]

That makes it even funnier realising that 😂

[@dontcaremate]

before i saw this comment i never questioned how silly it was that i just assumed they filmed their own paxman interview

[@mzytryck]

I love Ben's look in the car afterwards. Just that look of complete shellshock. He's so out of it he doesn't even respond to Jamie's insults, and Jamie's so furious he can't think up anything better than that. Absolutely brilliant

[@lordvadertheleftie9703]

Jamie's delivery of "you don't deserve to live" is something else

[@hamishwhitehenderson5197]

2:06 If only Ben had known that if he'd carried on talking like that, he would have been Prime Minister in 10 years.

[@CowCao747]

I love how Will and Oli hate each others guts but they can come together to roast Ben

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

😂

[@jlangstone12]

Jamie deserved far more screen time. Everything he said was comedy gold

[@BossySwan]

Motherwell rules

[@starguy321]

"The cameramen are laughing" 😂

[@imshafted]

Jamie then says "What's your favourite band, Blink 182"...

[@Thesherrybee]

One of my favorite lines ever

[@morwenmur]

You can tell Jamie's furious. All he can come up with to say is "You don't deserve to live." xD

[@jamesfandango9466]

“…in a bad way.” There is nothing more brilliant than British humor.

[@1emmain]

Jamie is one of the true stars of the show really, he is kind of Malcolm taken to a logical extreme, a sort of Demented Tartan Tribesman on political speed.

[@andrew7taylor]

A demented tartan tribesman! :D God, that's so good, even getting up today was worth it!

[@bulletproofblouse]

There was a thing about the show Frasier, where Niles was described as "Frasier, but more so". That's Jamie to Malcolm.

[@jaserogers997]

@@bulletproofblouse Being an avid Frasier fan and a rampant TTOI fanboi, I can't believe I didn't make this comparison myself. Absolutely spot on reference.

[@timothycahalan1540]

I wish he stayed on for series 3 and 4

[@BossySwan]

Motherwell Rules

[@conno451]

Best bit is in the deleted scenes where Swain pretends Paxo is interrupting him, "If you'll just let me finish there Jeremy...." "PAXO IS NOT INTERRUPTING HIM!!"

[@felynecomrade]

"He's like a chicken, he's like an enormous chicken!!!" I laughed so much at that. It sounds silly, but when you consider it... very accurate.

[@TheThinkingDead]

"Even the cameramen are laughing." Kills me every single time! The best scene in The Thick of It.

[@andrewmackenzie3672]

Rise of the Nutters was outstanding - arguably the best out of all four series and the specials. I think Ben Swain is loosely based on Ed Balls, but a great character and great sitcom regardless.

[@andrewmiddleton25]

Personally I thought he was Boris Johnson.

[@sausagedog98]

@@andrewmiddleton25 Wrong party fella

[@sibadityapal1493]

Ben Swain was based probably on Chloe Smith

[@MrWillyMrBrightside]

@@sibadityapal1493 Chloe Smith wasn't an MP back then, this was like around 2006/2007. It's mostly Ed Balls, there's a few references to it throughout the series

[@sibadityapal1493]

@@MrWillyMrBrightside ah right...thanks for that....didn't know that this episode was broadcast around that period....thought Swain was just an expertly satirised version of Chloe Smith and her mind-numbing incompetence at understanding words let alone affairs of politics

[@possessedslig]

His acting was actually phenomenal

[@stefansmith]

"If he shits, I'll give you 500 quid!" First time I noticed that on about the 50th viewing!

[@marksinger2360]

In a cut line before that, Malcolm says over the phone to Jamie, "He... he looks like he might be about to shit himself--is he going to shit himself?"

[@MrRyang2001]

Amongst all the cleverly written insults said throughout the show, I still think “you don’t deserve to live” takes the top spot. Beautifully poignant.

[@alanmichael5619]

it's the timing of it that really nails it.

[@felix4645]

2:49 ‘you don’t deserve to live’ is the greatest line in tv history

[@rebeccahaines9839]

"You don't deserve to live!" That always cracks me up, that and "this is what it looks like when you punch a cow!"

[@princeofhavoc]

They cut it off before the great final quote from Glenn: “That was the worst thing I have ever seen…and I was in Nam.”

[@No1twelshy]

Ben's look in the car at the ends says more than he did in the entire interview.

[@pavanpatel4604]

I just loved that quick bit with Jamie telling Ben that he doesn't deserve to live. The look on Ben's face!

[@jamescollinge5043]

'That's a tough day tomorrow picking bits of Ben out of Malcolm's car'

[@marksinger2360]

To make it worse, Phil actually (if momentarily) seems sympathetic.

[@philmuggeson1849]

That's the worst thing I've ever seen and I was in nam

[@zodrob7]

Phil Muggeson, Cheltenham?

[@AidanMillward]

"You never told me you had epilepsy... Of the EYES"

[@ciaranreed91]

Who’d have expected to see you here? Isn’t there an old FIA controversy for you to be researching?

[@michaelarmer256]

it was like watching inoue get hit by the medical car all over again

[@kieran7068]

“Why do you want to work for this company?” 0:53

[@roxanne4820]

jamie deserved so much more screen time

[@Sean-pn3te]

@Anna M. He’s not even Manchester’s top Malcolm Tucker tribute band!

[@jamesinhenley]

Shit character

[@pigger11]

"He's like an enormous chicken!"

[@mikerichards6065]

Coming here today after Liz Truss's performance on BBC local radio - which was somehow worse than Ben's...

[@alexrobertssings]

Glad I'm not the only one who saw the parallels 🤣

[@nictse500]

He spelled Just with four J's!

[@kiratherenegade1561]

In modern times this would be considered a decent interview with an MP.

[@sean-k3u]

the lion/sheep line is one of the finest in the series

[@harrydrake4173]

lol I love how Paxman's scenes were recorded separately.

[@lavenderandred_]

It’s masterful editing on the show’s part

[@gordonferrar7782]

I like the brief moment of levity between Ollie and Phil watching Bentally ill succumb to Paxo in 1st gear.

[@jdjfajfiladjfasdhflkasdksj6280]

Lol their nicknames for him are so funny. Bentally ill is a good one but my favourite was always "Benstral Cycle"

[@MrRiddleAW]

When Jeremy Paxman said, "Thank you very much". That was it for Ben, the show was over, it was curtains, no curtain call, everyone looooved the show, but it just wasn't BUTTERING any PARSNIPS, ANY MORE.

[@Jaxymann]

BROTHER!

[@suicidecontrition]

'...but in a good way.' like the throwaway lines are better than some entire seasons of other shows.

[@kieran3513]

That’s not the line though?

[@BenKellyMusic92]

"The cameramen are laughing." LOL Jamie xD

[@timothycahalan1540]

Jamie at the end looking at him angrily with Ben looking shell shocked and Jamie saying you don't deserve to live is my favourite bit

[@PaulMJohnson]

Jamies reaction at the end is easily the best way to deal with anyone who has just underperformed!

[@squeezebunt]

This is still one of my favorite ever things on television. So. funny.

[@matt_cummins28]

I'm still watching them. Seen them so many times I can quote most of it, but there's always more that you haven't seen, or you just want to see again. And again.

[@nicholascraigen8856]

Magnificent acting.

[@tanisharber1110]

I LOVE JAMIE!

[@sha1841]

He just spelled "just" with 4 js. 😂😂😂

[@Jake-d8d]

AKA Grant Shapps attempting to defend Dominic Cummings on Marr

[@cyorgan]

Malcolm was right. Paxman's got all the tricks. He felt him up under the table..and jazz hands....

[@suzannerider9460]

This is from "Rise of the Nutters". It was one of two that they did. The second one is called "Spinners and Losers". I have both of them on DVD.

[@Warrantofficer13]

I wasn't aware that there was a good way to a lion raping a sheep.

[@fairsaa7975]

I was

[@warrengraham5145]

This went from satire to being a documentary on current politics real quick huh?

[@iWengle]

"He spelt 'just' with four 'j's"

[@Snookbone]

AAAAAAAAAA

[@thehonestaspy102]

The camera men are laughing 🤣

[@Goochintine]

"Bare knuckle back street talking" made me laugh too hard

[@JeffreyGillespie]

“In a bad way” 😂

[@GeorgeQH]

That was an incredibly quick poo

[@raylafont8345]

He said it as an exaggeration. A joke.

[@argieav]

And the proximity of 'poo' with 'your toothbrush' was meant to discomfit the other man. It was a joke, yes. I like the sitting room but the sketch is too exaggerated to be really funny imo. Or do I mean it's too like the kind of real interviews you see every day, but with not quite enough heightening. Either way I didn't laugh too much. But they are all good actors.

[@Prog4Prog]

GD QH it's called a 'perfect storm' - look it up

[@conalljemfrey8630]

It was only one part. The rest was in the interview

[@BossySwan]

*_Man from Mr Muscle adverts_*

[@MisterInsectNasty]

Here after Dominic Cummings' statement

[@NateSean]

This is like Spin City if Spin City had a pair of balls that it didn't mind waving around in public.

[@NateSean]

Boris Shallowgrave Why is your mental institution allowing you online when the rest of us are paying for your free healthcare?

[@borisshallowgrave8062]

Nathanielle Crawford i appreciate your funding. I would be it large, if it weren't for fine upstanding community members like you. 😗😗😗

[@theboltonsband]

“ Ah, Paxo, I'll miss him when he has that massive coronary”

[@keyboarddancers7751]

The last line of this clip is the best.

[@jeanpaulsinatra]

You missed out Jamie's Blink 182 line! That's the best bit!

[@Jack-Oates]

Paxman gave a great performance, most news people when on TV give campe performances, Paxman gave his Newsnight performance.

[@2ndRatePetronius]

I would marry Jamie in a heartbeat.

[@thetimmymctimtim]

This programme is hilarious,the guy who acts as malcolm is gifted

[@aquaries206]

Hands down, this interview and Mannion’s social embarrassment scene are the best in all four seasons! And I always find Jamie attractive(in a good way).

[@BDaMonkey]

That last line always gets me.

[@Dbdbe1]

Hahaha. Now I’m off to relive Chloe Smith doing this for real in 2012....

[@gnalkhere]

Succession finally got its equivalent with Kerry's audition tape

[@heedrightaff8907]

That's a MEGA blink!

[@KUJK13]

2:10 “If he shits I’ll give him 500 quid” 😂

[@AndyPandyLikesCandy]

1:50 paxman white shirt blue tie 2:18 green shirt black tie

[@amsterdamshusi]

“If he shits I’ll give you 500 quid.”

[@michaelmuldowney8]

Magnificent performance…

[@JoeGraham11]

Anyone here after watching Prince Andrew?

[@johnking5174]

Jeremy Paxman had nothing to do with this, the actor playing Ben Swain (Justin Edwards) was keyed into an interview Paxman did with a hapless politician. Look around the edge of Ben and you will see the little bit of green screen residue. 1:42 shows up the tiny miss match between the CSO and Paxman.

[@petitjaque]

Not true - a full version of the interview between the two of them exists in the deleted scenes. It's about 7mins long and it's excellent

[@johnking5174]

@@petitjaque Hi, sorry to disappoint you but it was not a real interview. The production team spliced together footage of Jeremy chewing up some poor helpless MP and edited it into the scene with Ben Swain, the actor playing Ben was actually in a green screen set to join the two scenes together. How do I know this? From the production team

[@jamiengo2343]

John King the clothes which Paxman wears changes as well

[@johnking5174]

@@jamiengo2343 This was a clever bit of digital trickery, and it worked, people thought Paxman starred in The Thick of It, and much to his annoyance

[@jamiengo2343]

John King oh really, what did he feel about it?

[@dancingdan1994]

Malcolm saying i will give you 500 if he shits himself to jamie was epic.

[@ohyeahyeah973]

The Americans will never be able to master the subtleties of British humour

[@tobleramone]

Russian troll right?

[@bun6134]

@@tobleramone what

[@tobleramone]

Do you mean what? @@bun6134

[@bun6134]

@@tobleramone Did you mean "[You're a] Russian troll, right?"

[@tobleramone]

Yeah, sort of.

[@laxeystu8096]

Jeremy Paxman was a great interviewer

[@edwardbaker1451]

You'd almost think it was his day job

[@lordvadertheleftie9703]

Interestingly enough Ben Swain was based upon Boris Johnson. Ben Swain is now the Prime Minister of the UK!

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

That would make a cat laugh ha ha. I love the bit just after this when we see Ben entering the full room with Malcolm and the angriest man in Scotland, it looks like it was just done on the spot, a genuinely funny moment from this wonderful show

[@filmneek]

This is how most of our leaders speak when answering questions

[@JBrown_Trivium]

The thumbnail alone KILLS me 🤣🤣🤣

[@SouthernFriedCyanide]

If he shits, I'll give you 500 quid 😂😂😂😂😂

[@John-ny7jn]

He looks like the guy with the nervous blink from the Thick of It

[@wolfganghendery8298]

I like how all these guys are spin doctors working for opposite sides of politics but they can all bond about how stupid politicians are haha.

[@JonnyRollin]

It's not a satire any longer-it's reality.

[@martinebonita2658]

A satire only works because it's based in reality ??

[@briansmith5239]

That's why Iannuci won't do another season of the show since politics in real life has gotten so crazy.

[@Bootstrap193]

"Ungg-uuung!"

[@elis__nbnb]

god i love jamie

[@KayleighNatasha]

Oliver's funny between 2:03-2:06, he's thinking he's completely and utterly fucked this interview up

[@willherondale6367]

Ollie took the quickest shit in tv history, 30 seconds if that, madman

[@jackbeswick4662]

Every Matt Hancock interview be like...

[@beastworld8109]

Am I the only one who reckons this guy prophesied Keir Starmer?

[@wephilips6651]

Lol yeah totally! After more than a decade of Tory mismanagement and car crash interviews and ministerial meltdowns and firings and a PM in Johnson who waffles and couldn’t properly finish a sentence just like a Ben here it’s clear that that starmer is the current politician most similar to Ben 🤡

[@caberwikijack]

The TV artefacting hides the green-screening astonishing well.

[@Yey4Jay]

He spelt just with four J's!

[@shaunpatrick8345]

0:12 Olly leaves to lay a cable 0:42 Olly returns from the world's fastest dump

[@bmker5469]

The best thing on tv ever!!! Very funny

[@MattRowe182]

This is exactly like Diane Abbott on LBC

[@MarkandJeremy]

What's your favourite band, Blink-182?

[@AshBashVids]

Dominic Cummings right now

[@DVDfeverGames]

Minister, thankyou.