SPOILERS Every day, newsrooms from across the world write and screen stories of the events of our planet. Every person in that room, from the Editor who checks stories and decides on running order, right down to the intern who makes the tea, all are important and crucial for a successful edition. In 1990, this journalistic world of contemporaneous humour and alcoholic drinking binges was brought to life in a comedy by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkins. Telling the story of the fictional Globelink News, "Drop the Dead Donkey" became a long running sitcom of astronomical standards. With a large cast of faces who have since mostly become incredibly famous, the series never lost it's cutting edge and was loved and hated by politicians and celebrities alike. It was a beautifully written comedy diamond, and the fact it's DVD release has only occurred eight years after the final episode is a disgrace.
When Globelink News is taken over by the overwhelming force of Sir Royston Merchant, editor and chief George Dent (Jeff Rawle) and his staff find their lives changing. Now being observed by the irritating Gus Hedges (Robert Duncan) they find themselves constantly at odds with their owner who's news morality is flexible and often easily bought. Life for the staff of Globelink News has taken a change for the worse.
Led from the front by magnificent performances by Stephen Tompkinson, Neil Pearson, Jeff Rawle, Susannah Doyle (2nd season through to conclusion) and others, "Drop the Dead Donkey" was a pleasure to watch throughout. Constantly witty and sharp tongued, it never lost it's edge and would help to bury many a politicians career. MPs throughout the country either loved it or hated it. The more they hated it, the more writers Hamilton and Jenkins were happy.
Perhaps the biggest irony about "Drop the Dead Donkey" is the claim that it is dated. Whilst it is true in regards to key issues it has not aged that well, the world today is not really that different to the year the series was debuted. Debuting in 1990, the series was shown at a time when America and Britain were fighting in Iraq, when a Bush was in the White House, a fool ran the British Cabinet and the English football team dreamt of glory (ok, that's a piece of news that is always true). Not the shows fault as much as a coincidental part of life, this striking similarities between times is as much frighting as it is amusing.
Brilliantly written, with an excellent cast, "Drop the Dead Donkey" gave us some magical moments and some equally magical characters. The series might have aged over the years, but it is still as funny today as it was back then. It is a joy to watch, and the delay on it's DVD release is a travesty. A must watch.
