The Department is a satirical comedy on BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...

 about a secret organisation with the power to influence every aspect of your life.

Chris Addison

Chris Addison

Chris Addison is an English stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is known for his lecture-style comedy shows, two of which he later adapted for BBC Radio 4...

, John Oliver

John Oliver (comedian)

John Oliver is a British stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. He is best known for his work on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, for which he won an Emmy in 2009. He also plays a recurring character, Professor Ian Duncan, on the television series Community...

 and Andy Zaltzman

Andy Zaltzman

Andrew "Andy" Zaltzman is a British comedian and author who largely focuses on political material. He has worked extensively with John Oliver; their work together includes Political Animal, The Department and The Bugle.-Early life:...

 star as Research Team 32, an eccentric three-man think-tank with the brief to brainstorm new ideas on solving society's problems. The Department is written and performed by Chris Addison, John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman (series three written only by Oliver and Zaltzman), with Peter Dickson, Matthew Holness

Matthew Holness

Matthew Holness is an English comedian and actor from Whitstable in Kent. He attended Chaucer Technology School in Canterbury and read English at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he was vice-president of the Cambridge Footlights...

 and Lucy Montgomery

Lucy Montgomery (actor)

Lucy Montgomery is an English comedian, actress and writer, best known for her radio and television work.Montgomery is married to fellow comedian Rhys Thomas; they have two daughters – Polly and Rosie Rae – and live in London.-Career:While at Cambridge University, Montgomery was a member of...

.

Character List

• Oscar Proud (Chris Addison) - Team 32's team leader and historian. Very patriotic and nostalgic for the time of the British Empire, but generally moral.
• Victor Gooch (John Oliver) - Team 32's lawyer. Ruthless and cheerfully amoral.
• Lazlo Wolfe (Andy Zaltzman) - Team 32's scientist. Deeply in love with 'Wendy'.
• Keith Bilk (Matthew Holness) - Undersecretary to the Department Committee. Very organised, fit, talented and obnoxious. Despises Team 32.
• "Tony" - A Department canteen worker, although also seen working in security. Also despises Team 32, especially Victor.

Episode list

1st Series 2004

1. 1- 1 Jan 7 04 Education
2. 1- 2 Jan 14 04 Public Transportation
3. 1- 3 Jan 21 04 The Army

2nd Series 2005

4. 2- 1 Jul 12 05 Crime and Punishment
5. 2- 2 Jul 19 05 Democracy
6. 2- 3 Jul 26 05 The Environment
7. 2- 4 Aug 2 05 Europe
8. 2- 5 Aug 9 05 Health

3rd Series 2006

9. 3- 1 Aug 2 06 Tax and Public Spending
10. 3- 2 Aug 9 06 Terrorism [postponed from Aug 16 05]
11. 3- 3 Aug 16 06 Trade
12. 3- 4 Aug 23 06 Immigration
13. 3- 5 Aug 30 06 Science and Technology
14. 3- 6 Sep 6 06 Making Britain Great Again

External links

• The Department