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"A dark tale of greed, corruption and burning ambition."

Francis Urquhart is a politician seemingly without compassion or compunction who is determined to get to the top - and stay there. As this acclaimed trilogy follows the cunning drama and twists along the corridors of power, the nail-biting suspense intensifies...

Prime Minister Henry Collingridge doesn't know it yet, but he has just made the biggest mistake of his life. During the recent battle for the leadership of the Party, Collingridge encouraged the Party's loyal and trusted Chief Whip Francis Urquhart to expect a ministerial post in his new Cabinet in return for his support. But political promises are notoriously fickle and this one was no exception. ,/p>

Urquhart, already contemptuous of Collingridge, is furious. And he is a very dangerous man to cross. He receives the news with smiling urbanity, but underneath he is already plotting his revenge. Collingridge must go.

He is already in deep trouble. A humiliating performance at the recent General Election, coupled with the need for scapegoats, means that he has virtually no support left in the Party. And for Urquhart, trusted Chief Whip with his hands on every grubby little secret in politics, the rest is almost too easy.

By now, Urquhart has his sights set on the top job for himself, though no one guesses apart from his ambitious wife Elizabeth (a modern Lady Macbeth). She is even prepared to overlook his affair with innocent young journalist Mattie Storin if it will help them move into Number 10.

Mattie is a useful tool as well as a beautiful mistress.Through her, Urquhart can leak any information to the press that he pleases.

With venomous charm, he invites viewers in on the plot to destroy each of his political rivals. And he does it with the same deadly ease with which he shoots grouse on his ancestral estate. One by one his opponents tumble, until at last there is just one wild card left in the pack: Mattie, who is beginning to suspect her "Daddy".

Episode 1
Urquhart is the perfect politician. Impeccably diplomatic, charming, admired, trusted and respected by all. He has faithfully served his party without question, but events are about to spark his ambition.When the long-standing Prime Minister dies, the hunt is on to find a replacement. Urquhart is a hard-line Conservative and believes in strong leadership. In his eyes, none of the choices measures up. Naturally, he keeps his opinions to himself, but as Party Whip, his support is valuable and he is courted by all the candidates. He must tread warily, as supporting the loser could cost him his position. Supporting the winner, however, could land him a Cabinet position.

Episode 2
The new Prime Minister, Collingridge, tells Urquhart that he is far too valuable in his current post to be offered a ministerial position. Urquhart is furious but hides his contempt of the man under his usual urbane smile. Collingridge, he believes, will not last long and perhaps something can be arranged to hasten his departure? Meanwhile, it might be a good idea to surreptitiously undermine the leader and start manoeuvring in his own favour and, as luck would have it, an inexperienced young journalist, Mattie Storin, is innocently hanging on his every word. He pretends to be helping her learn about Westminster politics, instead he uses her to leak damaging stories about his rivals. As the Party gathers for its annual conference, the scandals begin to break.

Episode 3
Collingridge is in deep political trouble and he has no alternative but to step down as Prime Minister. Ironically, he still has great faith in Urquhart, whom he feels is the only man he can trust. However, as the scandals and leaked stories have gained momentum, political journalist Mattie Storin begins to suspect that Collingridge has been framed. But who is the culprit? By now, she is too emotionally involved with Urquhart (her loving "Daddy") to realise how she has been used.

Episode 4
Urquhart's ruthless scheming has worked. As the leadership election looms, all his leading rivals have been discredited. But even though the obstacles in his way have been erased, there is still no guarantee of his winning. Meanwhile, by the process of reason and elimination, the truth is beginning to dawn on Mattie, though she can hardly bring herself to believe that "Daddy" is not what he seems. As for Urquhart, he has too much to lose now to let sentiment stand in his way. He will go to any lengths to prevent her, or anyone else, from finding out just what he has done to gain power.

Director:

Paul Seed [3], Mike Vardy [2],

Starring:

James Villiers [6], Ian Richardson [19], Paul Freeman [8], Michael Kitchen [34], Susannah Harker [4], Isla Blair [3], Nicholas Selby [1], Kitty Aldridge [4], Tom Beasley [1], David Lyon [1], Colin Jeavons [2],

Screen Formats:

Full Frame 1.33:1

Subtitles:

English

Language and Sound:

English Dolby Digital Stereo

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