The Department

The Department is a satirical comedy on BBC Radio 4 about a secret organisation with the power to influence every aspect of your life.

This article is about the radio series. For the 2015 film, see The Department (film). For other uses, see Department (disambiguation).

Chris Addison, John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman 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 (cancelled after the third series which was written only by Oliver and Zaltzman, after Addison concentrated on his first book[1]), with Peter Dickson, Matthew Holness and Lucy Montgomery.

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

Series One
No. Episode No. Title Original airdate
11"Education"7 January 2004 (2004-01-07)
22"Public Transportation"14 January 2004 (2004-01-14)
33"The Army"21 January 2004 (2004-01-21)

Series Two
No. Episode No. Title Original airdate
41"Crime and Punishment"12 July 2005 (2005-07-12)
52"Democracy"19 July 2005 (2005-07-19)
63"The Environment"26 July 2005 (2005-07-26)
74"Europe"2 August 2005 (2005-08-02)
85"Health"9 August 2005 (2005-08-09)

Series Three
No. Episode No. Title Original airdate
91"Tax and Public Spending"2 August 2006 (2006-08-02)
102"Terrorism"9 August 2006 (2006-08-09)
This episode was postponed from 16 August 2005.
113"Trade"16 August 2006 (2006-08-16)
124"Immigration"23 August 2006 (2006-08-23)
135"Science and Technology"30 August 2006 (2006-08-30)
146"Making Britain Great Again"6 September 2006 (2006-09-06)

References
  1. Addison, Chris (2007). Cautionary Tales. Hodder Paperback. ISBN 0340920726.


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