The Party Line: Complete Series 1-3

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy

By: Steve Punt, Hugh Dennis

Narrated by: James Fleet, Simon Greenall, Geoffrey McGivern, Geraldine McNulty, Matilda Ziegler, Neil Edmond, Sarah Solemani, Rachel Atkins, full cast

All three series of the satirical sitcom by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis, following the fortunes of a hapless backbench MP.

Ever since he fell off the stage live on Question Time, Labour MP Duncan Stonebridge has been stuck in political limbo. Struggling with a tiny majority and a career that's going nowhere, he's caught between the impossible demands of his constituents and the dictates of Westminster—and constantly afflicted by the bane of all politicians: events.

Whether he's getting wound up about a wind farm, saving his party agent from a rabid Russian oligarch, fending off accusations of financial irregularities or losing a laptop full of top-secret government reports, life never runs smoothly for the beleaguered backbencher. So when an old friend makes him an attractive job offer, will he give up his seat for a cushy corporate role—or battle on in the hope that things can only get better?

Written by comedy kings and Now Show hosts Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis, this sparkling sitcom was first broadcast in 2005, and still feels topical and relevant today. James Fleet stars as Duncan Stonebridge, with a stellar supporting cast including Simon Greenall, Geoffrey McGivern, Sally Hawkins and Sarah Solemani.

Production credits:

Written by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis

Produced and directed by Adam Bromley and Dawn Ellis

Cast:

Duncan - James Fleet

Arthur/Tom - Simon Greenall

Jane/Sue - Rachel Atkins

Norman/Roger - Geoffrey McGivern

Fennella - Sally Hawkins

Lady Harriet - Geraldine McNulty

Sue - Matilda Ziegler

Neil - Neil Edmond

Ruth - Sarah Solemani

With Jenny Cox, Dominic Coleman, Sue Elliott-Nicholls, Lucy Montgomery, Neil Edmond, Hugh Dixon, Beth Chalmers, Manjeet Mann and Dan Mersh

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 May-30 June 2005 (Series 1), 3 October-7 November 2006 (Series 2), 7 October-11 November 2008 (Series 3)

©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Series 1-2 were great, Series 3 wasn't

Series 1-2 were entertaining and generally quite funny. When I started Series 3 though I quickly realized that for some idiotic reason the producers changed the format of the show and recorded the rest of it with a loud live audience laughing at the jokes. Gave up listening to the rest and will be returning it to get my credit back. Extremely disappointing.