The Rise And Rise Of Michael Rimmer

Peter Cook stars in this 1970 British political satire in which he starts as the new boy at an advertising agency - and ends up becoming the first President of the UK. Cook in the title role rises through the ranks by virtue of being a spin maestro - rebranding a line of sweets, creating propaganda films, and even claiming gold has been struck in the North Sea. Co-written by Cook, David Frost and Monty Python pair John Cleese and Graham Chapman, Cook’s cold performance is the perfect foil for the Who’s Who cast of British comedy at the time.

This sharp, witty film is still relevant today, particularly with the part played by polls in determining government policies and the way in which such polls can be manipulated, and it’s hard to understand why Michael Rimmer has been rather forgotten over the years.