Playback is currently unavailable for S2 E1 · The Gulf Report. Episode details remain available below.
Drop the Dead Donkey
A sitcom set in the offices of "GlobeLink News" after its acquisition by media mogul Sir Roysten Merchant. Led by editor George Dent, the staff of GlobeLink battle to maintain the company as a serious news organization against Sir Roysten's right-hand man, Gus Hedges, who wants to make the show more sensationalist and suppress stories that might harm Roysten's business empire.
- Created by:
- Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin
- Cast:
- Neil Pearson, Victoria Wicks, Susannah Doyle, David Swift
- Language:
- English
- Network:
- Channel 4
Episode guide
Seasons
Season 2
Episodes
E01
Episode 1
The Gulf Report
1991-09-26 · 25mThe 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.
Current episode
E02
Episode 2
★ 8.0The Trevorman Cometh
1991-10-03Gus 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.
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E03
Episode 3
Henry and Dido
1991-10-10Sally 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.
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E04
Episode 4
★ 10.0Baseball
1991-10-17The 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.
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E05
Episode 5
★ 10.0The Drunken Cabinet Minister
1991-10-24Sally 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.
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E06
Episode 6
★ 8.0Alex and the Intrepreter
1991-10-31While 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..
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E07
Episode 7
Hoax
1991-11-07Henry 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.
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E08
Episode 8
★ 10.0Don't Mention the Arabs
1991-11-14Sally 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.
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E09
Episode 9
★ 10.0Damien Down and Out
1991-11-21While 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.
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E10
Episode 10
★ 10.0The Evangelist
1991-11-28The 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.
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E11
Episode 11
★ 9.0George's Daughter
1991-12-05On 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.
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E12
Episode 12
★ 7.0Dave's Day
1991-12-12Dave 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.
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E13
Episode 13
★ 10.0The Christmas Party
1991-12-19During 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.
Watch progress · Not trackedCast
Neil Pearson
Dave Charnley
Victoria Wicks
Sally Smedley
Susannah Doyle
Joy Merryweather
David Swift
Henry Davenport
Stephen Tompkinson
Damien Day
Jeff Rawle
George Dent
Robert Duncan
Gus Hedges
Ingrid Lacey
Helen Cooper