Drop the Dead Donkey

Political satire about television news company Globe Link and its team of workers such as anchors Henry and Sally, reporter Damien, editor Dave, execs George and Helen, assistant Joy and manager Gus Hedges.

Genre: Comedy

Cast:Neil Pearson , Jeff Rawle , David Swift , Stephen Tompkinson , Victoria Wicks , Robert Duncan , Susannah Doyle , Ingrid Lacey , Haydn Gwynne , Geoffrey McGivern , Sara Stewart , Nina Marc , Jasper Jacob , Melvyn Hayes , Neil Stuke , Victoria Carling , Louisa Milwood-Haigh , James Bannon

0Season 1

S1.E0 ∙ Unaired Pilot

2008

A computer virus is introduced into the GlobeLink newsroom, causing lots of personal information about the staff to appear onscreen, creating friction among the personnel.

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ A New Dawn

Thu, Aug 9, 1990

GlobeLink is taken over by Sir Royston Merchant, and Gus Hedges takes over as the newsroom manager. Full of management-speak, he interferes in the running of the newsroom despite claiming to be 'hands-off.'

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ Sally's Arrival

Thu, Aug 16, 1990

Gus employs a new, popular newsreader who manages to irritate all members of staff. However, an increase in ratings that results from her performance, and a bonus pay increase, makes the staff much happier.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ A Clash of Interests

Thu, Aug 23, 1990

There is a conflict of interest when one of Sir Royston Merchant's chemical companies spills some chemicals. Gus continues to put pressure on George. Henry is unhappy when he sees his prerecorded obituary.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ A Blast from the Past

Thu, Aug 30, 1990

Gus has a charity dinner with Prince Philip and wants the Prince's views to be shown on GlobeLink News. Damian has done an investigative piece on a slum landlord who turns out to be Alex's ex-husband and she must find out what he's up to.

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ Old Father Time

Thu, Sep 6, 1990

Henry brings his 20-year-old great-nephew to the newsroom as part of his journalism course. His youthful presence and enthusiasm make the editorial staff wonder if they're getting too old.

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ Sex, Lies and Audiotape

Thu, Sep 13, 1990

George is undecided about whether to run a news story that came from an anonymous source and will embarrass the government. Sally is recorded having sex with her 'Big Norse Warrior' and the whole newsroom gets a copy.

7Season 1

S1.E7 ∙ The New Approach

Thu, Sep 20, 1990

George asks important questions like: 'Can news broadcasting be truly unbiased?', 'Is it right to ignore Government pressure?', and 'Where the hell are my ulcer pills?'. Meanwhile, Gus shows that beneath his cunning, slimy, manipulative exterior there is a warm, cunning, slimy and manipulative human being.

8Season 1

S1.E8 ∙ The Root of All Evil

Thu, Sep 27, 1990

Economy is Gus's latest obsession, as he attempts to introduce an austerity drive at the station. This threatens to have a disastrous effect on Damien's bribing techniques and Dave is obsessed with his own lack of solvency. Sally reaps the reward of an over-zealous publicity campaign and an outbreak of petty theft prompts a security crisis.

9Season 1

S1.E9 ∙ Death, Disaster 'n Damien

Thu, Oct 4, 1990

Damien is happily perverting the course of news reporting, as usual, when an execution proves less telegenic than he had expected. Closer to home, his coverage of an animal liberation raid lacks glamour until he takes charge and turns it into a dog's dinner - literally.

10Season 1

S1.E10 ∙ The Big Day

Thu, Oct 11, 1990

The news team achieves its ultimate aim and, as well as getting a late extension to the bar, they secure an interview with the Prime Minister.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ The Gulf Report

Thu, Sep 26, 1991

The team reviews their Gulf War coverage. Gus launches some scuds and George experiences some collateral damage.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ The Trevorman Cometh

Thu, Oct 3, 1991

Globelink is in severe financial difficulties and only one thing unites the staff - the desire to stab someone else in the back.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ Henry & Dido

Thu, Oct 10, 1991

Making the news means daily confrontation with war and violence, but at Globelink News the bloodiest war and violence is taking place between the newsreaders.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ Baseball

Thu, Oct 17, 1991

Chief executive Gus Hedges reveals his deeper feelings for his brother by making him grovel.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ Drunk Minister

Thu, Oct 24, 1991

A government minister turns out to be somewhat incapable and George, as usual, is totally inept.

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ Alex and the Interpreter

Thu, Oct 31, 1991

Alex gets involved with a visiting Russian and his interpreter who have come to see how the station is run.

7Season 2

S2.E7 ∙ Hoax

Thu, Nov 7, 1991

Newshound Damien Day deplores fabrication by TV reporters, especially when someone else does it better than him.

8Season 2

S2.E8 ∙ Don't Mention the Arabs

Thu, Nov 14, 1991

There's bad news for Christianity when the unspeakable Sally Smedley finds God.

9Season 2

S2.E9 ∙ Damien Down and Out

Thu, Nov 21, 1991

There's bad news for George about his daughter, bad news for Damien about a bet he's made and bad news for God about Sally - she's still a Christian...

10Season 2

S2.E10 ∙ The Evangelist

Thu, Nov 28, 1991

Sally finds God and a somewhat dubious spiritual guide. Meanwhile, divorce is on the cards for George and something even nastier is on the cards for Dave.

11Season 2

S2.E11 ∙ George's Daughter

Thu, Dec 5, 1991

Damien kicks some doors down and a visiting documentary crew causes problems for George, but not as many problems as his daughter causes.

12Season 2

S2.E12 ∙ Dave's Day

Thu, Dec 12, 1991

Dave seeks psychiatric help and encounters problems with a trick cyclist.

13Season 2

S2.E13 ∙ Xmas Party

Thu, Dec 19, 1991

Henry can't cope with what's happening, George doesn't remember what happened, and Alex and Dave try very hard to forget what has happened.

1Season 3

S3.E1 ∙ In Place of Alex

Thu, Jan 7, 1993

Gus and George interview possible replacements for Alex, who has been poached by another newsroom, and the office sweepstake goes into overdrive to nobble the front-runners.

2Season 3

S3.E2 ∙ Sally's Accountant

Thu, Jan 14, 1993

When prominent MPs are invited to discuss the recession, Henry hits meltdown as personal angst overcomes professional etiquette and the subject hits more than a chord.

3Season 3

S3.E3 ∙ Henry's Lost Love

Thu, Jan 21, 1993

Henry's ex-wife tells him she's re-marrying - why not to him, he wants to know. Meanwhile, Damien reckons he's on his way to a gambling fortune.

4Season 3

S3.E4 ∙ Helen'll Fix It

Thu, Jan 28, 1993

In the face of Government threats, Helen refuses to name her sources. Meanwhile, Gus refuses to OK Damien's titillating report on prostitution.

5Season 3

S3.E5 ∙ Sally's Libel

Thu, Feb 4, 1993

Newspaper reports suggest Sally isn't the most able, attractive, popular and least boring member of the Globelink team. She decides to sue.

6Season 3

S3.E6 ∙ Lady Merchant

Thu, Feb 11, 1993

Sexual harassment raises its ugly head in the newsroom - but for once its not Henry's. Meanwhile, Damien is busy invading every bit of privacy he can to track down a Nazi war criminal.

7Season 3

S3.E7 ∙ The New Newsreader

Thu, Feb 18, 1993

Gus introduces Jill, a newly qualified newsreader, as the youthful face of Globelink's image. But Henry and Sally discover she may become its only face.

8Season 3

S3.E8 ∙ Joy

Thu, Feb 25, 1993

Reeling from Helen's rejection, George finds a kindred spirit in Joy. But when he tells her to take things in hand, why does that include a knife?

9Season 3

S3.E9 ∙ Paintball

Thu, Mar 4, 1993

Gus decides that Globelink is suffering from 'team-unbonding'. His answer? A weekend of 'adventure-harmonising', better known as paintball in the woods.

10Season 3

S3.E10 ∙ George and His Daughter

Thu, Mar 11, 1993

George is having family problems, Gus is having morality problems, and all around them Chippendale-mania is sweeping the country.

11Season 3

S3.E11 ∙ Awards

Thu, Mar 18, 1993

It's party time for GlobeLink: the razz at the British News Awards ceremony begins. Damian dreams of victory, Dave dreams of Helen, and for once Henry is less than happy to be centre-stage.

1Season 4

S4.E1 ∙ The Undiscovered Country

Thu, Sep 29, 1994

After a sudden death at GlobeLink, Gus goes into exercise overdrive to try to defer his own demise. Meanwhile, George tries his hand at acting; and Damien has trouble with his Porsche.

2Season 4

S4.E2 ∙ Quality Time

Thu, Oct 6, 1994

Gus recovers from his heart tremor and tries to survive the visits from his fellow workers. Meanwhile Helen has a crisis about being a single parent and Dave's compulsive betting gets him into deep water.

3Season 4

S4.E3 ∙ The Day of the Mum

Thu, Oct 13, 1994

George is invited to his ex-wife Margaret's wedding; Damien unhappily expects a special visitor; and Gus pursues his new hobby: relaxing.

4Season 4

S4.E4 ∙ Births and Deaths

Thu, Oct 20, 1994

Damien receives death threats from other than Joy; Henry and Sally face dark secrets from their pasts, recent for one and distant for the other.

5Season 4

S4.E5 ∙ Helen's Parents

Thu, Oct 27, 1994

When Helen's parents decide to stay, she has to decide whether to stay in or come out of the closet. Meanwhile, Sally's becoming more human and George is wearing his best cardie!

6Season 4

S4.E6 ∙ Sally in TV Times

Thu, Nov 3, 1994

Sally suffers a tragedy; Joy offers to pose nude for a photographer; Gus reveals the new GlobeLink logo; and the staffers show their skills at investigative journalism - into George's love life.

7Season 4

S4.E7 ∙ Crime Time

Thu, Nov 10, 1994

Wedding bells ring for George, while warning bells ring for everyone else. Will he make it to the altar, especially now that he's chosen Dave as best man?

8Season 4

S4.E8 ∙ No More Mr Nice Guy

Thu, Nov 17, 1994

Unlucky in love, George turns tyrant overnight and surprises the news team with his decisiveness and strange choice of suits. Sally is dispatched to Acapulco and Henry plots her downfall live via satellite.

9Season 4

S4.E9 ∙ Henry's Autobiography

Thu, Nov 24, 1994

Henry is about to spill the beans in his 'tell-it-like-it-was-and-is' life story - and become rich overnight. While he finds a new female admirer among the news team, Sally plots to prevent publication.

10Season 4

S4.E10 ∙ The Strike

Thu, Dec 1, 1994

Gus stands to make a million from GlobeLink's record profits, but some of the staff face the sack, so the news team vote to strike = except for Sally and Damien.

11Season 4

S4.E11 ∙ The Wedding

Thu, Dec 8, 1994

Everyone throws themselves into preparations for an upcoming GlobeLink wedding - including Gus, who's determined to become one of the lads.

12Season 4

S4.E12 ∙ Damien and the Weather Girl

Thu, Dec 15, 1994

Gus takes the moral high ground in a drive to promote family values, both on-screen and off. Meanwhile, Henry takes fright at his loss of libido and is caught short on live TV.

1Season 5

S5.E1 ∙ Inside the Asylum

Tue, Oct 1, 1996

Helen is unnerved by a traumatic start to her working day. Henry is happy to be courted by a rival broadcaster - will he make a marriage made in TV heaven? And the Globelink team - all of them as sane as the next person - prepare to welcome back Sally from an enforced absence in another place.

2Season 5

S5.E2 ∙ The Godless Society

Tue, Oct 8, 1996

Gus is eager to impress a Japanese delegation of potential financiers; the news staffers are introduced to the novel concept of religious belief, except for George, who's lost all faith in public transport.

3Season 5

S5.E3 ∙ The Bird of Doom

Tue, Oct 15, 1996

The technology revolution reaches Globelink. Joy prepares to shin up the career ladder and Sally has a close encounter with an enemy on the wing.

4Season 5

S5.E4 ∙ What Are Friends For?

Tue, Oct 22, 1996

Gus has a date with destiny, Helen is in a spin over spin doctors and Globelink News braces itself for a visit by the nation's leader - no, not Sir Royston, John Major!

5Season 5

S5.E5 ∙ The Path of True Love

Tue, Oct 29, 1996

Helen has a new woman in her life and Gus is about to get a woman in his life as Cupid starts firing poison-tipped arrows.

6Season 5

S5.E6 ∙ George's Car

Tue, Nov 5, 1996

Sally decides her face doesn't fit. Meanwhile, George's newly-bought car turns out to be a dud; and Dave tries to grasp the concept of fidelity.

7Season 5

S5.E7 ∙ Charnley in Love

Tue, Nov 12, 1996

Gus is worried about an old face, Dave is worried about his wedding, and Damian is just worried.

8Season 5

S5.E8 ∙ Henry's Diary

Tue, Nov 19, 1996

Gus holds a celebrity dinner in honour of Sir Royston; George prepares for a very public debut; and Henry's newspaper column suffers from a ghost in the machine.

9Season 5

S5.E9 ∙ Dave and Diana

Tue, Nov 26, 1996

Rumours are sweeping the Globelink newsroom about the incident of the mysterious, handsome man-about-town seen with Di... And as if that's not enough, a psychologist arrives to appraise the team's mental health.

10Season 5

S5.E10 ∙ Luck

Tue, Dec 3, 1996

Henry has a mid-life crisis, Sally makes an exhibition of herself, and Damien discovers he's not Mister Indestructible after all.

11Season 5

S5.E11 ∙ The Graveyard Shift

Tue, Dec 10, 1996

Helen is not alone when she works the nightshift. George is suspected of having some form of mind-altering experience, while Joy admits to being involved in an unusual relationship.

12Season 5

S5.E12 ∙ Sex 'n Death

Tue, Dec 17, 1996

George grapples with illness, Henry grapples with some dreadful news and Gus wrestles with dreams involving a rather nice set of manacles.

1Season 6

S6.E1 ∙ The Newsmakers

Wed, Oct 28, 1998

The staff of Globelink News are to be the stars of a docusoap, whether they like it or not. As they fend off hand-held cameras, they discover their futures are in doubt. Especially now Sir Roysten's son is coming.

2Season 6

S6.E2 ∙ Beasts, Badgers and Bombshells

Wed, Nov 4, 1998

Globelink is seized by rumours after the announcement of job cuts. In a frantic bid to up the ratings, Gus launches a dumbed-down news. Henry and Dave launch themselves on an even dumber weather girl while George befriends a badger and Damien tangles with something bigger.

3Season 6

S6.E3 ∙ The Diaries

Wed, Nov 11, 1998

Gus is in denial about the imminent demise of Globelink. Helen wrestles with single motherhood and her sexuality, while Sally tries to discover the secret of eternal youth and Joy finds a dope for some drug-testing.

4Season 6

S6.E4 ∙ But Is It Art?

Wed, Nov 18, 1998

Gus is still in denial, George meets Henry's niece, and overcomes his fear of flying. Sally goes in search of an alternative income and Helen discovers she has no secrets.

5Season 6

S6.E5 ∙ George Finds Love

Wed, Nov 25, 1998

Sally is very taken with her wealthy fiance, and so is Gus. George plays hard to get and Helen is in mourning.

6Season 6

S6.E6 ∙ A Bit of an Atmosphere

Wed, Dec 2, 1998

Henry finds new fame as an icon of youth TV, while Dave dabbles in the underworld and gambles with his future.

7Season 6

S6.E7 ∙ The Final Chapter

Wed, Dec 9, 1998

Time is running out for Globelink. During the station's dying days, Sally prepares for her final bulletin and married bliss, whilst Dave and Henry are at daggers drawn.