Firing The Headteacher | The Thick of It | BBC Comedy Greats

Contains strong language and adult humour. Nicola and Malcolm Tucker clash heads over her daughter's suspension. Subscribe for more from The Thick of It: bit.ly/BBCComedyGreats
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[@mattponikvar4944]

Love the subtlety of him pouring a drink for her but not himself, in the later seasons it was hinted that he was in recovery. Another similarity to Alastair Campbell

[@smthmlk]

what was the hint that he was in recovery?

[@conno451]

@@smthmlk In Rise of the Nutters, Ben Swain asks Malcolm if he wants a drink and he responds "Yeah I'll have an orange juice thanks", I might be reading into too much but I'd say that's a subtle nod.

[@kb4903]

Never noticed that.

[@conno451]

@@kb4903 Its the little things like that makes the show so good!

[@The123Clarke]

Malcolm also said in this scene that the whiskey hadn’t been used in a while..

[@paulbaker654]

So, as soon as she knows that she can move her daughter to an independent school, it's sod the headmaster, I'm alright jack.

[@MsPea]

Macolm shows a bit of his humanity and empathy when Nicola starts to cry and when he says her daughter might be able to switch to the private school. We don't often see Malcolm being kind. It adds to the entirety of his character and shows he can be more than a shouting madman.

[@jackal59]

I think it was because he felt for her daughter-in the end, probably more than Nicola did.

[@levi9193]

That's not a plan, stan Thats not an agenda, brenda I know the feeling, Malc.

[@Eliteerin]

This is one of Malcolm's more human moments

[@mzytryck]

Yes, even he wasn't happy about the headteacher being fired. He may not give a damn about politicians and media people, but he at least tries to avoid "civilian" casualties.

[@GaldirEonai]

@@mzytryck Which makes the reason he gets canned in the end extra ironic.

[@mzytryck]

​@@GaldirEonai Yes, I loved that on one of the rare occasions Malcolm does violate his own principles (because he was just that desperate to deal with the mess Nicola was making of things) he gets caught out on it. That, and his need to boast about how clever he'd been by showing the inquiry how he made Nicola look like a moron. Pride and breaking your own code; great combo for a fall.

[@marksinger2360]

@@mzytryck That's the best capsule summary of what happens at the end of _The Thick of It_ that I've ever read. If you turn your head just slightly sideways at this program, it's a tragedy. That's a tribute to the writing (and, in this scene, to Capaldi and Front's performances of a great script).

[@jamesflynn4951]

@@mzytryck he even cares about nicola in this scene in some crazy way. He recognises that she is essentially breaking down and his brain's like "ok time to be supportive. Fuck how do I do that? Sod it all I have is platitudes and motivational stuff."

[@sas2300]

"Spare me your psycho fanny" lol

[@KayleighNatasha]

Wish they aired this again on TV. I absolutely loved the show

[@professorminstrels6460]

Its on Netflix

[@user-fy6cj8mn2r]

All on Stan

[@hugoagogo9435]

I player

[@thetributingstrober552]

All those complete WELTS complaining about Thick of It using abrasive swearing, the whole point is that this is how politicians talk to each other behind the scenes in real life and the creative use of ott swearing insults particularly from Peter Capaldi's character is a big part of what makes the show so funny!

[@thegentleassassin]

who’s complaining about the swearing ?

[@g-forcemapping8454]

Sorry what is a WELT

[@TheSchemer1]

@@g-forcemapping8454 A scab

[@g-forcemapping8454]

@@TheSchemer1 thanks, forgive my lack of culture but what do u mean by scab as I know many different ways that can be interpreted

[@thetributingstrober552]

@@g-forcemapping8454 It means like a bad cut, on your arm, like a cyst or a zit - don't quote me on that I'm no medical doctor but it's along those lines

[@Bruh-zx2mc]

Nicola was right - Iannucci said himself Malcolm caused more problems than he ever fixed with his villainous demeanor and drama-baiting.

[@TheSchemer1]

3:17 can't believe I only just caught onto Nicola Murray trying to impersonate Malcolm and his legendary threats XD

[@LL-jt1xt]

That's not a plan Stan. That's not an agenda brenda

[@sahraguya7639]

Love the thumbnail.

[@Andres0082]

1:38 The Doctor explaining the Time War

[@soundssimple1]

Brilliant writing and acting. Where are these programs now ? Suppose once it has ben done it's been done . You cannot top the best.

[@ALEXAN2507]

You seen Succession? It's very close to The Thick Of It in style, it's created by Jesse Armstrong who wrote for Thick of It and co-wrote In The Loop, HIGHLY recommend if you want something similar

[@soundssimple1]

@@ALEXAN2507 Will give a look, thanks. L

[@crabbieappleton]

People always say that. And then a new best show comes along.

[@Gramscifreedom]

1:40 - 2:05 a precise and prescient argument similar to the existential debate within the Labour Party. Although I should say they’re talking more about tactics here than policy, but still eerily accurate.

[@farzanamughal5933]

Maybe

[@kellypaws]

This, was the Dr Who I wanted to see.

[@dan_hitchman007]

A more wise cracking character with a bit of bite when his friends are in need. That would have been a GREAT doctor.

[@robertjenkins4886]

Any Whisky ? Yes, still got Anthony Eden's lipstick on the bottle !!!

[@feebtubereal]

Bizarre to see certain serious clips from this show under the "Comedy Greats" tag lol

[@Whoopsydayzee]

To all those saying this isn't funny: its meant to serve as a sad, humanising scene for 2 of the core characters, to drive the story and make us more sympathetic to them. It also has a few very funny lines , i know its hard to tell without a laugh track to remind you when there has been a FUNNY JOKE. Yes minister has aged like milk in a microwave

[@kanashimi4356]

This is "The Thick of It"

[@elliotkouame3849]

@@kanashimi4356 He knows

[@villetoivonen3360]

Yes Minister at least had a studio audience, whose reactions ranged from mild chuckles to outright bellows - it's not so much for the "dumb" audiences at home as for the actors themselves. And given the unbeatable cast of Yes Minister (and Prime Minister), it's rather... strange that someone should call it dated, unless they only pay attention to superficial things like the fact that it was from the 80s or that it used a more refined, stage-acting style compared to more modern, realistic comedies.

[@marksinger2360]

@@villetoivonen3360 Both programs are brilliant.

[@marktaylor6491]

"Yes minister has aged like milk in a microwave" - Bullshit. That show will never stop being funny. Even Iannucci said that the audience laughter added to it.

[@veryanonymous3630]

Looking at the comments you can hardly tell that the BBC is under fire right now...

[@kethughes8266]

Only by idiots and people who don't matter.

[@Sam-es2gf]

@@kethughes8266 as much as they are idiots, i'm afraid the current government matters quite a lot

[@kethughes8266]

@@Sam-es2gf We have been here before in the 80s with the Conservatives the BBC are still here.

[@morisan42]

for every show like this we have 20 more which are trite, watched by nobody and at the expense of the taxpayer

[@veryanonymous3630]

@@morisan42 You mean 20 other shows you don't personally watch. I seriously doubt you could point to any of them as having no viewers. Say what you mean please.

[@notreallydavid]

It's good, but it's no Happy Days.

[@pjninja9546]

I feel that The Thick of It uses abrasive language to get cheap laughs where Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister used sharp, cunning wit.

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

You don't say? What a revelation!

[@pjninja9546]

@@Offshoreorganbuilder Yep

[@95kct19]

Because the thick of it is more realistic. In the thick of it shows the ministers like many of them are. They based Nicky on a couple of Blairs ministers

[@Lorgar64]

@@95kct19 It was also a different time.

[@patrickbeart7091]

Yes minister is mostly funny words and raised eyebrows, it's about as cunning as a fox in a tiger enclosure

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Is this seriously a BBC comedy? Whatever it is, I am NOT watching any more of this foul-mouthed, abrasive, insult to intelligence.

[@firstnamelastname7113]

i think that’s the point. the people in politics are nasty and politics is facile

[@patrickbeart7091]

It's a serious scene from a comedy, it's people like you that turn every single show into some laugh tracked Americanised nonsense

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

@@patrickbeart7091 So you are fine, are you, with the filthy language?

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

@@patrickbeart7091 And how, exactly, do you define, 'people like you'?

[@patrickbeart7091]

@@Offshoreorganbuilder Yes I find nothing wrong with the language, it fits the character. And by 'people like you' I mean people who not only refuse to consider shows with bad language but also insist others don't watch it