A Very British Coup (1988)

In the heart of Sheffield, steel worker and trade unionist Harry Perkins ascends from the industrial heartland to the political pinnacle, becoming the Prime Minister of the UK. His landslide victory is a manifestation of public disillusionment with the corruption-riddled Conservative Party and the financial institutions of the City of London. However, his victory is more than a political revolution; it's a personal crusade. Harry is driven by the haunting memory of his grandfather, a casualty of corporate negligence, who died horrifically, splashed by molten steel. Inheriting nothing more than his shaving mug, Harry's resolve strengthens to see workers involved in decisions regarding safety, ultimately blossoming into a wider scope of reinvestment in health, education, and public ownership of utilities. However, Harry's non-nuclear and neutral stance during the Cold War unsettles the IMF, the military, and their secret service affiliates, both home and abroad. Their discomfort is amplified by the nationalistic fearmongering of media moguls. Amidst the political turmoil, Harry endures personal trials as well, facing sex scandals, the suicide of his Chancellor of the Exchequer's wife, and the assassination of his trusted military advisor Monty Kowalski. Harry's strength is drawn from the dead, including his grandfather, believing they "ask the best questions" to which he is answerable. As the political maelstrom swirls around him, Harry finds solace and support in his ex-lover Helen, a fervent advocate for alternate economic strategies, and Thompson, an investigative journalist who becomes Harry's eyes and ears in the corridors of power. Yet, at its core, this is a tale of one man's conviction and passion. As the haunting drone of helicopters echo on the second election day, the question arises: Has democracy overreached its bounds? Will the military seize control? Even in a nation like the UK? Or could it merely be media helicopters, documenting a radical shift in the power landscape? A Very British Coup is a gripping narrative that explores the tension between idealism and power, the personal and the political, and democracy and its potential for self-destruction.

A Very British Coup is a drama show featuring Ray McAnally.

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