S01E01 A New Dawn
Sir Roysten takes over at Globelink News, and puts Gus in charge. The Editor George tries to sack Damien for seeding crash sites,while he is filming , but Gus intercedes and Damien is only reprimanded.
Drop the Dead Donkey
S01E07: The New Approach
Gus brings in a stress therapist to interview the staff and after a group session, a fight breaks out between Dave and Henry, so Gus fires the therapist. Dave persuades Henry to put money into a racehorse which turns out to be rubbish.
Overview
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.
Episodes
S01E02 Sally's Arrival
As Britain is threatened by Saddam Hussein with the Gulf war about to break out the staff have a bigger problem to contend with. The arrival of a new news reader, Sally Smedley.
S01E03 A Clash of Interests
Gus tries to get Alex on his side in order to pressurise George to censor a story about a chemical spillage from a company owned by Sir Roysten. Dave updates the obituaries but Henry accidentally...
S01E04 A Blast from the Past
Damien is doing a story on slum landlords but when they view the footage, Alex is staggered to learn that her ex husband is involved in the story. Sally and Henry have elocution lessons, and...
S01E05 Old Father Time
Henry's nephew comes to the office to gain work experience but everybody gets worked up as to just how young he is.
S01E06 Sex, Lies and Audiotape
Alex has obtained a top secret audio tape, that the Government wants banned. Sally is taped making love to the sound man, but when Dave makes Henry a copy of Sally's tape, he accidentally uses...
S01E07 The New Approach
Gus brings in a stress therapist to interview the staff and after a group session, a fight breaks out between Dave and Henry, so Gus fires the therapist. Dave persuades Henry to put money into...
S01E08 The Root of All Evil
Sally gets flowers from a secret admirer and when she loses her purse, Dave comes under suspicion, because he has been trying to borrow money. Gus goes on an economy drive.
S01E09 Death, Disaster 'n' Damien
On location, Damien fakes a firing squad. He also gets injured organising an animal rights protest, but before he can film it, Alex steps in and the raid is cancelled. To make up for the...
S01E10 The Big Day
Gus wants Sally to interview the Prime Minister when she comes to the studio, but Alex and George want Henry to do the interview. When an electrician fuses the lights the interview is called off....
Cast
Neil Pearson
Dave Charnley
Victoria Wicks
Sally Smedley
Susannah Doyle
Joy Merryweather
David Swift
Henry Davenport
Stephen Tompkinson
Damien Day
Jeff Rawle
George Dent
Robert Duncan
Gus Hedges
Ingrid Lacey
Helen Cooper
