Local hero?

After last week’s Yes, Prime Minister relaunch I was interested to see what new comedy the BBC had decided to develop in house to cast a comedic mirror up to the political process. Now that there’s no more The Thick Of It, The Two Johns, or Bremner, Bird and Fortune, is it really just up to Have I Got News For You to run the flag of political poking for the BBC, with a little help from Russell Howard’s Good News? Nah, course not. BBC4 (that’s a proper grown up channel, that is) have this interesting Brain Cox vehicle in the wings, ready to get down to the nitty gritty of local politics, sending up the fiefdoms and miniature kingdoms of the rural by-election. Of course.

“His despotic ambitions fight back as they are nudged and squeezed…”

First off, Brain Cox has a sharp gift for comic timing, unflinching at his own pomposity. This little big man will turn on a whim and utterly deny he ever faced in any other direction than the one he currently gazes off into, with the self-deceiving faraway look of a visionary in his eye. Clearly Cox is a big Hollywood actor, but to not maintain any of that vanity in the pursuit of the success of a project is refreshing after previous ‘big stars’ who have deigned to step foot into the world of television. I’m probably being unfair as clearly Steve Coogan’s The Trip committed fully to the comedy, but sometimes it does feel as if writers are bowing down to the size of the star as if they were cameo celebrities rather than very talented actors. Luckily, it is not the case here.

Bob Servant Independent doesn’t so much tackle the red tape and ineptitudes of local politics, but allows the titular man to stand up and represent all of our ignorances as to how exactly the machinations of power work. It’s lovely. As a big fish in a small business pond of the Scottish area of Broughton Ferry it’s not an awakening Bob Servant is happy to make – his lack of full omnipotence. Surely if he were to become the local MP he’d not still have to report to Westminster! And adhere to the decisions of the council! His despotic ambitions fight back as they are nudged and squeezed by the reality of the bureaucracy of government. And laws that prohibit the shooting of domestic animals.

Rather than expose the politicians in a sitcom, which obviously couldn’t have surpassed the fab Yes, Prime Minister, the BBC has cleverly decided to instead point out how little we really understand about what government roles are filled by which body – with the delusional Bob Servant acting as a stooge for our education.
Bob Servant Independent, BBC4, Wednesday 23 January