Season 1
1988 | 3 Episodes
Harry Perkins, steel worker and trade unionist from Sheffield, becomes Prime Minister of the UK by an overwhelming majority, partly because of corruption and public disillusionment with the Conservative Party and financial institutions of the City of London. The IMF and the military and secret services of the UK (and USA) are unhappy with the non-nuclear and neutral aspirations of his party and are supported in their fears by nationalistic media moguls. Quietly, the protagonist Harry is driven by an underlying desire to compensate for the corporate manslaughter of his granddad, "who were killed at work" when he was splashed by molten steel. Harry inherited his shaving mug, nothing more, and was originally determined to see workers participate in decision making for safety on the job. As his national-political consciousness grew he formed a wider agenda for a reinvestment in health and education as well as public ownership of public utilities. Harry maintains his drive despite sex scandals and suicide involving his colleagues and the assassination of his trusted military advisor Monty Kowalski. Harry says that "the dead [read: his grandfather, Annette Newson and Monty] ask the best questions, and we are answerable". He finds some personal support in his ex-lover Helen, a passionate advocate for alternate economic strategies, and Harry's spy in the corridors of power; Thompson, an investigative journalist. But ultimately this is a story about one man's convictions.
Country: United Kingdom
Type: scripted
Status: Ended
Language: English
Release Date: June 19, 1988
Also Known As: A Very British Coup, Очень британский переворот狙われた政権~英国ダウニング街の謀略~, Colpo di stato all'inglese, To timima tis exousias, 最もイギリス的なクーデター, Et meget britisk kupp, Ena poly vretaniko praxikopima | See more »
Production Co: Skreba Films
1988 | 3 Episodes
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Emmy
Drama
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BAFTA TV Award
Best Drama Series
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Best Actor
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BAFTA TV Award
Best Make Up
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BAFTA TV Award
Best Film Cameraman
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Best Film Sound
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Best Film Editor
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BAFTA TV Award
Best Design
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Best Original Television Music