Drop the Dead Donkey

Drop the Dead Donkey

1990
Drop the Dead Donkey
Drop the Dead Donkey

Drop the Dead Donkey

8 | en | Comedy

Drop the Dead Donkey is a situation comedy that first aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom between 1990 and 1998. It is set in the offices of “GlobeLink News”, a fictional TV news company. Recorded close to transmission, it made use of contemporary news events to give the programme a greater sense of realism. It was created by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. The series had an ensemble cast, making stars of Haydn Gwynne, Stephen Tompkinson and Neil Pearson. The series began with the acquisition of GlobeLink by media mogul Sir Roysten Merchant, an allusion to either Robert Maxwell or Rupert Murdoch. Indeed, Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin note on their DVDs that it was fortunate for their libel lawyers that the two men shared the same initials. The series is mostly based on the on-going battle between the staff of GlobeLink, led by editor George Dent, as they try to maintain the company as a serious news organisation, and Sir Roysten’s right-hand man Gus Hedges, trying to make the show more sensationalist and suppress stories that might harm Sir Roysten’s business empire. The show was awarded the Best Comedy Award at the 1994 BAFTA Awards. At the British Comedy Awards the show won Best New TV Comedy in 1990, Best Channel 4 Comedy in 1991, and Best Channel 4 Sitcom in 1994.

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Seasons & Episodes

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
EP7  The Final Chapter
Dec. 09,1998
The Final Chapter

The staff prepares big changes in their second careers, but nothing goes as plans.

EP6  A Bit of an Atmosphere
Dec. 02,1998
A Bit of an Atmosphere

Damian's fainting spells get worse. Henry gets a job on children's TV. Joy's sketches are displayed in a gallery.

EP5  George Finds Love
Nov. 25,1998
George Finds Love

George goes out on a date with Henry's niece Sue. With the threat of unemployment looming ahead Damien starts to suffer from a nervous condition. And can Sally's future husband save Globelink News?

EP4  But is it Art?
Nov. 18,1998
But is it Art?

Sally begins dating older men. George meets Henry's niece. Helen tells her mother she's a lesbian.

EP3  The Diaries
Nov. 11,1998
The Diaries

Helen tells her father she's a lesbian. Henry and Sally look for other jobs. Dave tries to get fired.

EP2  Beasts, Badgers and Bombshells
Nov. 04,1998
Beasts, Badgers and Bombshells

Roy Merchant promises to not cut jobs.

EP1  The Newsmakers
Oct. 28,1998
The Newsmakers

A documentary crew films the demise of Globelink News.

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8 | en | Comedy | More Info
Released: 1990-08-09 | Released Producted By: , Country: United Kingdom Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

Drop the Dead Donkey is a situation comedy that first aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom between 1990 and 1998. It is set in the offices of “GlobeLink News”, a fictional TV news company. Recorded close to transmission, it made use of contemporary news events to give the programme a greater sense of realism. It was created by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. The series had an ensemble cast, making stars of Haydn Gwynne, Stephen Tompkinson and Neil Pearson. The series began with the acquisition of GlobeLink by media mogul Sir Roysten Merchant, an allusion to either Robert Maxwell or Rupert Murdoch. Indeed, Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin note on their DVDs that it was fortunate for their libel lawyers that the two men shared the same initials. The series is mostly based on the on-going battle between the staff of GlobeLink, led by editor George Dent, as they try to maintain the company as a serious news organisation, and Sir Roysten’s right-hand man Gus Hedges, trying to make the show more sensationalist and suppress stories that might harm Sir Roysten’s business empire. The show was awarded the Best Comedy Award at the 1994 BAFTA Awards. At the British Comedy Awards the show won Best New TV Comedy in 1990, Best Channel 4 Comedy in 1991, and Best Channel 4 Sitcom in 1994.

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Cast

Neil Pearson , Victoria Wicks , Susannah Doyle

Director

Guy Jenkin

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Reviews

Parker Lewis Even though I wasn't living in the UK when Drop the Dead Donkey was screened, it is one of my favorite series about the news and politics. Originally DTDD had the novelty of featuring very recent news events (the scripts were re-written at the last minute to incorporate big news items). Over time though the episodes focused on relationships within the newsroom, which I liked.The final episode was bittersweet with the characters going their own way, and I really miss DTDD. I guess a reunion is unlikely but it was good to see a reunion of sorts where Neil Pearson, Haydn Gwynne and Jeff Rawles appear in a Midsomer Murders episode "Dark Secrets", although I don't think all three shared screen time at once, but still.Around this time, you had Canada with The Newsroom which was very dark in tone, and Australia had "Frontline" which was sort of mid- way between DTDD and The Newsroom regarding the level of satire.
James Isgar Its being around 22 years since the show first aired seems a long time. But we haven't forgotten tight arsed sally Smedley, anchor man Henry Davenport and general shag merchant Dave Charnley. We remember Alex paites who buggered off to the 'high classed' beeb and Helen Cooper and no one can forget the one man chemist which is George Dent and the jargon talking bullock brain hands off executive which is Gus Hedges and we will not forget Joy Merry-weather ( That is what she told me to put BEWARE) and they are all under the watchful eye of their megalomaniac Proprietor Sir Royston Merchant Best mates with Rupert Murdoch and the human torpedo Robert Maxwell
hgallon "Drop the Dead Donkey" ran in six series from 1990 to 1996. The bulk of the humour deals with then-topical British news, so the program doesn't really travel well, or last more than a week (a long time in politics). Best of all the episodes released on video was the award-winning "The Christmas Party", which had hardly any up-to-date content.The central characters are all exaggerated caricatures of office and media stereotypes. Robert Duncan was good as jargon-spouting executive Gus Hedges, and Jeff Rawle as ineffectual editor George Dent. Haydn Gwynne played the cool, competent editor with a messy private life almost too well, so that the lighter Ingrid Lacey didn't have the same impact when she later filled the same role.Stephen Tompkinson's acting was probably the best although he was mainly used for the slapstick scenes. (Listen for the inimitable voice of Andy Hamilton playing luckless cameraman Jerry, screaming "Damien!!!" as Tompkinson's suicidally reckless reporter leads them into imminent danger, in almost every episode.)Susannah Doyle was a good "PA from Hell", but Sara Stewart's portrayal of a vapid blonde in the same slot in series 1 was also a delight.David Swift's portrayal of a vain newsreader must have been uncomfortably close to some real life newsreaders, with his booming delivery, ruined liver, and his obvious "syrup of figs".The series may have been killed off, but some of its highlights deserve to be remembered for a long time. Well done everybody, Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin in particular.
Pammit During my 2 year stay in the UK, I grew addicted to this show. To a newcomer, the satirical bite to this show gave me the "real" feel of how the dry news of the day was perceived by the public. The writing was great and was brought to life by a brilliant cast! I was elated when I found this show was to be shown on Comedy Central in the US, but it took one viewing to realize that without the daily access to the british news, this show was lost here. Too bad! It was extremely funny! BTW, can someone please tell me what happened to that poor chap, Jerry the camera man?