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Drop the Dead Donkey

All Episodes 1990 - 1998

  • Ended
  • #<Network:0x00007ff66db0fa20>
  • 1990-08-08T23:00:00Z
  • 24m
  • 1d 2h (65 episodes)
  • Guy Jenkin + 1 more, Andy Hamilton
  • United Kingdom
  • English
  • Comedy
Drop the Dead Donkey is a situation comedy that first aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom between 1990 and 1998. It is set in the offices of “GlobeLink News”, a fictional TV news company. Recorded close to transmission, it made use of contemporary news events to give the programme a greater sense of realism. It was created by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. The series had an ensemble cast, making stars of Haydn Gwynne, Stephen Tompkinson and Neil Pearson. The series began with the acquisition of GlobeLink by media mogul Sir Roysten Merchant, an allusion to either Robert Maxwell or Rupert Murdoch. Indeed, Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin note on their DVDs that it was fortunate for their libel lawyers that the two men shared the same initials. The series is mostly based on the on-going battle between the staff of GlobeLink, led by editor George Dent, as they try to maintain the company as a serious news organisation, and Sir Roysten’s right-hand man Gus Hedges, trying to make the show more sensationalist and suppress stories that might harm Sir Roysten’s business empire. The show was awarded the Best Comedy Award at the 1994 BAFTA Awards. At the British Comedy Awards the show won Best New TV Comedy in 1990, Best Channel 4 Comedy in 1991, and Best Channel 4 Sitcom in 1994.

66 episodes

1990-07-31T23:00:00Z

Special 1 Pilot

Special 1 Pilot

  • 1990-07-31T23:00:00Z24m

Introducing the Globelink newsroom. A standalone pilot rather than an 'episode 0', as it includes characters that join again in the first two episodes.

Series Premiere

1990-08-08T23:00:00Z

1x01 A New Dawn

Series Premiere

1x01 A New Dawn

  • 1990-08-08T23:00:00Z24m

Sir Roysten takes over at Globelink News, and puts Gus in charge. The Editor George tries to sack Damien for seeding crash sites,while he is filming , but Gus intercedes and Damien is only reprimanded.

1990-08-15T23:00:00Z

1x02 Sally's Arrival

1x02 Sally's Arrival

  • 1990-08-15T23:00:00Z24m

As Britain is threatened by Saddam Hussein with the Gulf war about to break out the staff have a bigger problem to contend with. The arrival of a new news reader, Sally Smedley.

1990-08-22T23:00:00Z

1x03 A Clash of Interests

1x03 A Clash of Interests

  • 1990-08-22T23:00:00Z24m

Gus tries to get Alex on his side in order to pressurise George to censor a story about a chemical spillage from a company owned by Sir Roysten. Dave updates the obituaries but Henry accidentally sees his and gets upset.

1990-08-29T23:00:00Z

1x04 A Blast from the Past

1x04 A Blast from the Past

  • 1990-08-29T23:00:00Z24m

Damien is doing a story on slum landlords but when they view the footage, Alex is staggered to learn that her ex husband is involved in the story. Sally and Henry have elocution lessons, and Sally appears on a TV telethon for charity.

1990-09-05T23:00:00Z

1x05 Old Father Time

1x05 Old Father Time

  • 1990-09-05T23:00:00Z24m

Henry's nephew comes to the office to gain work experience but everybody gets worked up as to just how young he is.

1990-09-12T23:00:00Z

1x06 Sex, Lies and Audiotape

1x06 Sex, Lies and Audiotape

  • 1990-09-12T23:00:00Z24m

Alex has obtained a top secret audio tape, that the Government wants banned. Sally is taped making love to the sound man, but when Dave makes Henry a copy of Sally's tape, he accidentally uses the secret tape, thus erasing it.

1990-09-19T23:00:00Z

1x07 The New Approach

1x07 The New Approach

  • 1990-09-19T23:00:00Z24m

Gus brings in a stress therapist to interview the staff and after a group session, a fight breaks out between Dave and Henry, so Gus fires the therapist. Dave persuades Henry to put money into a racehorse which turns out to be rubbish.

1990-09-26T23:00:00Z

1x08 The Root of All Evil

1x08 The Root of All Evil

  • 1990-09-26T23:00:00Z24m

Sally gets flowers from a secret admirer and when she loses her purse, Dave comes under suspicion, because he has been trying to borrow money. Gus goes on an economy drive.

1x09 Death, Disaster 'n' Damien

  • 1990-10-03T23:00:00Z24m

On location, Damien fakes a firing squad. He also gets injured organising an animal rights protest, but before he can film it, Alex steps in and the raid is cancelled. To make up for the cancellation and while he is in hospital he tries to film a heart operation.

Season Finale

1990-10-10T23:00:00Z

1x10 The Big Day

Season Finale

1x10 The Big Day

  • 1990-10-10T23:00:00Z24m

Gus wants Sally to interview the Prime Minister when she comes to the studio, but Alex and George want Henry to do the interview. When an electrician fuses the lights the interview is called off. After Damien fakes another report, George threatens to sack him.

Season Premiere

1991-09-25T23:00:00Z

2x01 The Gulf Report

Season Premiere

2x01 The Gulf Report

  • 1991-09-25T23:00:00Z24m

The book on Globelink News' coverage of the Gulf War is about to be published and George is to be interviewed on TV about it. Sally goes on childrens TV and gets dunked in the gunge tank. Sir Roysten's daughter comes to work at the office and starts dating Dave.

1991-10-02T23:00:00Z

2x02 The Trevorman Cometh

2x02 The Trevorman Cometh

  • 1991-10-02T23:00:00Z24m

Gus brings in an office efficiency expert to help with the job cuts he has in mind. Henry's legs are paralysed due to stress brought about by his experiences in the Korean war. To stop the job cuts, the staff agree to pay cuts as long as Gus is included.

1991-10-09T23:00:00Z

2x03 Henry and Dido

2x03 Henry and Dido

  • 1991-10-09T23:00:00Z24m

Sally brings her dog Dido into the office. Henry dates a young actress. Dave, trying to find out how she feels about Henry, ends up sleeping with her, but when Henry finds out, he knocks his computer on to the floor and kills Dido.

1991-10-16T23:00:00Z

2x04 Baseball

2x04 Baseball

  • 1991-10-16T23:00:00Z24m

The staff are drafted into Gus's baseball team, just because he wants to get revenge on his older brother Julian. Meanwhile, the staff also use a photocopier repairman to see which stories are the best.

Sally complains to George that she is getting all the depressing stories. A Government Minister shows up for Henry's interview dead drunk. Damien tries to do his report from the streets and keeps getting interrupted. Gay rights protesters break into the studio just before they go on air.

1991-10-31T00:00:00Z

2x06 Alex and the Intrepreter

2x06 Alex and the Intrepreter

  • 1991-10-31T00:00:00Z24m

While George is on holiday Alex runs the office and gets involved with a Russian and his interpreter, who are here to see how the station is run. The Russian proposes, Alex turns him down, but the interpreter accepts. Dave gets her off the hook, by posing as her fiance. Damien is under pressure from Lynn Yates, a reporter from another TV station, to get the best stories..

1991-11-07T00:00:00Z

2x07 Hoax

2x07 Hoax

  • 1991-11-07T00:00:00Z24m

Henry spends the whole episode trying to solve the last clue in the times crossword, when the answer comes from a surprising source. Sally's mother dies and after the cremation she brings the urn into the office. Damien meets the source who has hoaxed him on several stories.

1991-11-14T00:00:00Z

2x08 Don't Mention the Arabs

2x08 Don't Mention the Arabs

  • 1991-11-14T00:00:00Z24m

Sally has found religion. Henry is writing an obituary of a fellow journalist, who is seriously ill. George is under pressure to shelve Henry's documentary on human rights.

1991-11-21T00:00:00Z

2x09 Damien Down and Out

2x09 Damien Down and Out

  • 1991-11-21T00:00:00Z24m

While Damien lives on the streets to get to the bottom of a big story, Dave uses his credit cards. George's marriage is on the rocks.

1991-11-28T00:00:00Z

2x10 The Evangelist

2x10 The Evangelist

  • 1991-11-28T00:00:00Z24m

The Reverend Earl Johnson wants Globelink to cover his shows, but Alex says no. Sally comes to her senses when Earl makes a pass at her. Damien reads the tarot cards, George becomes very upset over his marriage breakup.

1991-12-05T00:00:00Z

2x11 George's Daughter

2x11 George's Daughter

  • 1991-12-05T00:00:00Z24m

On the day George has to bring his delinquent daughter to work a television company makes a documentary about the newsroom for 'Hidden Eye'. Damien's good relations with the police force are threatened when the editors want to air a tape Damien made of a botched raid.

1991-12-12T00:00:00Z

2x12 Dave's Day

2x12 Dave's Day

  • 1991-12-12T00:00:00Z24m

Dave goes to a counsellor to cure his gambling. Gus gives Dave a very important video tape to take to Sir Roysten, but during the trip the taxi is involved in a accident, and the tape is stolen.

Season Finale

1991-12-19T00:00:00Z

2x13 The Christmas Party

Season Finale

2x13 The Christmas Party

  • 1991-12-19T00:00:00Z24m

During the Christmas party things start to get out of hand, and Dave finally sleeps with Alex, who regrets it in the morning. George gets drunk falls asleep and wakes up at Oxford Station.

Season Premiere

1993-01-07T00:00:00Z

3x01 In Place of Alex

Season Premiere

3x01 In Place of Alex

  • 1993-01-07T00:00:00Z24m

After Alex leaves, Gus and George start to look for a replacement. When just two people (Peregrine and Helen) are left in the hunt, Dave and Henry come up with a plan to get Gus to choose the person they want.

1993-01-14T00:00:00Z

3x02 Sally's Accountant

3x02 Sally's Accountant

  • 1993-01-14T00:00:00Z24m

Henry has money troubles so he gets Sally's accountant to help him out, but the accountant skips town with all his money. Henry interviews real life M.P.s Teddy Taylor and Ken Livingstone.

1993-01-21T00:00:00Z

3x03 Henry's Lost Love

3x03 Henry's Lost Love

  • 1993-01-21T00:00:00Z24m

Dave finally wins big on the horses, but Henry goes off on a bender with the betting slip, after hearing that his ex wife is getting married again.

1993-01-28T00:00:00Z

3x04 Helen'll Fix It

3x04 Helen'll Fix It

  • 1993-01-28T00:00:00Z24m

'Jim'll Fix It' gets Sally to agree to read the news with a little girl who has told the program that her mother has just died. Damien is following a story on prostitutes but Gus discovers that one of the girls is seeing Sir Roysten and wants the program cancelled.

1993-02-04T00:00:00Z

3x05 Sally's Libel

3x05 Sally's Libel

  • 1993-02-04T00:00:00Z24m

A new sports reporter joins the team. He is an ex-goalkeeper who conceded an easy goal during a cup tie and never lived it down. Sally sues a newspaper and wins her case but receives only 15 pence as her award.

1993-02-11T00:00:00Z

3x06 Lady Merchant

3x06 Lady Merchant

  • 1993-02-11T00:00:00Z24m

Damien tries to interview a war criminal but realises that he has got the wrong man. Gus is seduced by Sir Roysten's wife.

1993-02-18T00:00:00Z

3x07 The New Newsreader

3x07 The New Newsreader

  • 1993-02-18T00:00:00Z24m

A new news reader joins the staff but she is so good that Henry and Sally try to get her the sack. George tries to pluck up courage to ask Helen out but then he learns that she is a lesbian. Dave and Damien go pot holing and get trapped.

1993-02-25T00:00:00Z

3x08 Joy

3x08 Joy

  • 1993-02-25T00:00:00Z24m

Joy is seeing a married man. After some advice from George, Joy tells his wife, he gets stabbed and Joy is a suspect. Henry and Sally argue over desk space. Dave and Damien fall out.

1993-03-04T00:00:00Z

3x09 Paintball

3x09 Paintball

  • 1993-03-04T00:00:00Z24m

Gus takes the office on a war game weekend but Henry gets a black eye which forces him to drop out of a documentary that he was about to film. Damien discovers that Dave has slept with Helen.

1993-03-11T00:00:00Z

3x10 George and His Daughter

3x10 George and His Daughter

  • 1993-03-11T00:00:00Z24m

Damien gets caught in South Africa when a dictator wants information on dissidents in the UK. Joy and her friend go to see the Chippendales, so Henry and Dave try to show that they can go one better. George hunts for his daughter who is living rough with a bunch of squatters.

Season Finale

1993-03-18T00:00:00Z

3x11 Awards

Season Finale

3x11 Awards

  • 1993-03-18T00:00:00Z24m

The office go to an awards dinner but Joy and Sally turn up in the same dress. Gus hears a rumour that Sir Roysten is pulling out of Globelink. Henry wins a life achievement award.

Season Premiere

1994-09-28T23:00:00Z

4x01 The Undiscovered Country

Season Premiere

4x01 The Undiscovered Country

  • 1994-09-28T23:00:00Z24m

After going to the funeral of a colleague, Gus becomes very upset at the thought of death. Dave and Henry go on a bender. Damien is banned from driving. Sally goes to the opera.

1994-10-05T23:00:00Z

4x02 Quality Time

4x02 Quality Time

  • 1994-10-05T23:00:00Z24m

Helen meets her daughter's new teacher. Damien and Henry bet Dave that he can't date Joy so he trains with her in preparation for her appearance on Gladiators. Gus is still in hospital after his heart scare. Dave has to read the new book on Princess Diana.

1994-10-12T23:00:00Z

4x03 The Day of The Mum

4x03 The Day of The Mum

  • 1994-10-12T23:00:00Z24m

Gus is back from hospital and delegates more responsibility to Helen. Damien's mother shows up and is still criticising him. Helen sorts out a problem of expenses between Henry and Sally. George goes to his ex wife's wedding.

1994-09-19T23:00:00Z

4x04 Births and Deaths

4x04 Births and Deaths

  • 1994-09-19T23:00:00Z24m

Damien gets a death threat from the drug barons he featured in one of his reports so Gus gets him a bodyguard. Is Sally pregnant? Someone claiming to be Henry's son shows up.

1994-09-26T23:00:00Z

4x05 Helen's Parents

4x05 Helen's Parents

  • 1994-09-26T23:00:00Z24m

Helen asks Dave to be her boyfriend at a dinner party she is holding for her parents so she doesn't have to tell them that she is gay. Sally turns out to be pregnant. George thinks he is love with Anna. Henry beats Damien at chess but he is getting all his moves from Joy.

1994-11-03T00:00:00Z

4x06 Sally in T.V. Times

4x06 Sally in T.V. Times

  • 1994-11-03T00:00:00Z24m

Anna is marrying George but she has an alternative motive. Sally is being interviewed by the TV Times. Joy propositions the photographer. Sally loses her baby.

1994-11-10T00:00:00Z

4x07 Crime Time

4x07 Crime Time

  • 1994-11-10T00:00:00Z24m

Gus proposes a new crime programme fronted by Sally and Damien but is unhappy with the director so he shoots the program himself. George still wants to marry Anna so Dave finds a way to stop them. When George finds out he goes berserk. Anna turns down Gus's offer of marriage.

1994-11-17T00:00:00Z

4x08 No More Mr Nice Guy

4x08 No More Mr Nice Guy

  • 1994-11-17T00:00:00Z24m

George sends Sally and Henry out to Acapulco for an international conference after shedding his wimpish image.

1994-11-24T00:00:00Z

4x09 Henry's Autobiography

4x09 Henry's Autobiography

  • 1994-11-24T00:00:00Z24m

George is scared stiff that he will be interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on BBC TV. Henry tries to date the new girl reporter who has just joined the team but she turns him down. Damien tries to break into several high profile places to test their security.

1994-12-01T00:00:00Z

4x10 The Strike

4x10 The Strike

  • 1994-12-01T00:00:00Z24m

Most of the staff are out on strike because of job cuts but Gus, Sally, George and Damien are still working so Gus brings in Russian back room staff to cover. Dave plays poker with the police who are on picket duty. George's wife has published an account about their life together.

1994-12-08T00:00:00Z

4x11 The Wedding

4x11 The Wedding

  • 1994-12-08T00:00:00Z24m

Dave organises a stag night for a member of the staff but it is Gus who is stripped naked at the end of the evening. Henry's house is occupied by the builders so he has to stay with Gus who turns out to be very boring. Joy is put in charge of the stationary cupboard.

Season Finale

1994-12-15T00:00:00Z

4x12 Damien and the Weather Girl

Season Finale

4x12 Damien and the Weather Girl

  • 1994-12-15T00:00:00Z24m

A new weather girl joins the show and Dave ends up dating her, but he discovers that it is too dangerous to keep on seeing her so Damien tries his luck. Henry is to be featured on 'Living Legends' but he refuses to take part because he has confided in Dave that he may be impotent.

Season Premiere

1996-09-30T23:00:00Z

5x01 Inside the Asylum

Season Premiere

5x01 Inside the Asylum

  • 1996-09-30T23:00:00Z24m

Sally returns from a mental hospital. Helen is carjacked. Henry is offered a job at the BBC.

1996-10-07T23:00:00Z

5x02 The Godless Society

5x02 The Godless Society

  • 1996-10-07T23:00:00Z24m

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

1996-10-14T23:00:00Z

5x03 The Bird of Doom

5x03 The Bird of Doom

  • 1996-10-14T23:00:00Z24m

Gus hires a new security firm. Joy applies for a job at the BBC.

1996-10-21T23:00:00Z

5x04 What are Friends For

5x04 What are Friends For

  • 1996-10-21T23:00:00Z24m

Joy's friend comes to work at the office but unwittingly lets slip some of their secrets from while they were growing up. Damien interviews John Major and has trouble staying awake. Gus chats to a girl over the internet but before asking her out he wants to practice on Sally but she gets the wrong idea.

1996-10-29T00:00:00Z

5x05 The Path of True Love

5x05 The Path of True Love

  • 1996-10-29T00:00:00Z24m

Helen holds a dinner party to introduce her lesbian friend to the rest of the office but Damien tries to break them up. Gus finally dates the woman he has been chatting to on the internet but he wants to use Dave's chat up lines. Sally does a radio advert.

1996-11-05T00:00:00Z

5x06 George's Car

5x06 George's Car

  • 1996-11-05T00:00:00Z24m

George buys Henry's old Jaguar and immediately has to spend 2000 pounds on a new gearbox. Sally is thinking about cosmetic surgery and Dave might break the habit of a lifetime and propose marriage to his girlfriend.

1996-11-12T00:00:00Z

5x07 Charnley in Love

5x07 Charnley in Love

  • 1996-11-12T00:00:00Z24m

Sally does an old age pensioners advert, but it backfires on her. Dave is beginning to have second thoughts about getting engaged, then he finds out that his fiance is dumping him. One of Gus's old girl friends, who now works for Sir Roysten, comes to give Globelink the once over. Damien is the first subject on a new reality TV show. Damien interviews M.P.s Anne Coates and Tony Banks.

1996-11-19T00:00:00Z

5x08 Henry's Diary

5x08 Henry's Diary

  • 1996-11-19T00:00:00Z24m

Henry's newspaper column is causing problems among the office staff. Gus is trying to sell tickets to Sir Roysten's benefit and he gets Joy to become a waitress for the evening.

1996-11-26T00:00:00Z

5x09 Dave and Diana

5x09 Dave and Diana

  • 1996-11-26T00:00:00Z24m

Gus brings in a psychologist to interview the staff. Henry and Damien think that Dave is dating Princess Diana but have a surprise in store. George brings in his home made wine.

1996-12-03T00:00:00Z

5x10 Luck

5x10 Luck

  • 1996-12-03T00:00:00Z24m

Damien ends up in hospital with a broken leg after being pushed down stairs by Liam Gallagher. Sally acts in a pantomime with Rosemarie Ford. Dave clears his debts with a bet on the football.

1996-12-10T00:00:00Z

5x11 The Graveyard Shift

5x11 The Graveyard Shift

  • 1996-12-10T00:00:00Z24m

Most of the staff end up back at the office on the graveyard shift. Dave and Helen see the report on the drug tests that Gus has taken showing George with traces of ecstasy. Joy brings her brother who has been sleeping rough back to the office and he beats Gus's record score on a video game.

Season Finale

1996-12-17T00:00:00Z

5x12 Sex 'n Death

Season Finale

5x12 Sex 'n Death

  • 1996-12-17T00:00:00Z24m

Henry finds out that he is dying so goes on a bender to end all benders but there is a surprise in store. Gus is having sex nightmares about Joy so he asks Dave for advice but the nightmares continue with someone else.

Season Premiere

1998-10-28T00:00:00Z

6x01 The Newsmakers

Season Premiere

6x01 The Newsmakers

  • 1998-10-28T00:00:00Z24m

A documentary crew films the demise of Globelink News.

Roy Merchant promises to not cut jobs.

1998-11-11T00:00:00Z

6x03 The Diaries

6x03 The Diaries

  • 1998-11-11T00:00:00Z24m

Helen tells her father she's a lesbian. Henry and Sally look for other jobs. Dave tries to get fired.

1998-11-18T00:00:00Z

6x04 But is it Art?

6x04 But is it Art?

  • 1998-11-18T00:00:00Z24m

Sally begins dating older men. George meets Henry's niece. Helen tells her mother she's a lesbian.

1998-11-25T00:00:00Z

6x05 George Finds Love

6x05 George Finds Love

  • 1998-11-25T00:00:00Z24m

George goes out on a date with Henry's niece Sue. With the threat of unemployment looming ahead Damien starts to suffer from a nervous condition. And can Sally's future husband save Globelink News?

1998-12-02T00:00:00Z

6x06 A Bit of an Atmosphere

6x06 A Bit of an Atmosphere

  • 1998-12-02T00:00:00Z24m

Damian's fainting spells get worse. Henry gets a job on children's TV. Joy's sketches are displayed in a gallery.

Season Finale

1998-12-09T00:00:00Z

6x07 The Final Chapter

Season Finale

6x07 The Final Chapter

  • 1998-12-09T00:00:00Z24m

The staff prepares big changes in their second careers, but nothing goes as plans.

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