Bremner, Bird and Fortune

Rory Bremner's show returned in 1999 but with a new title and extended slots, though with the same high quality mix of impressionism and satire. As the title suggests there was a greater input from John Fortune and John Bird who, in addition to performing their own pieces, also worked in recurring sketches in which Rory Bremner, in the guise of a politician, would be grilled by the pair as interviewers. Another bonus was the excellent portrayal by Andrew Dunn of the Prime Ministers notorious press secretary Alistair Campbell, presented here as a cross between Machiavelli and a gruff northern Football manager.

The third series found Bremner perfecting his impressions of new Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and new England football coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The satirical triumvirate of Bremner, Bird and Fortune have been bringing us their weekly viewpoint on the Iraq crisis, the axis of evil, human rights, domestic rifts between church and state and the morality of Tony Blair (""if he exists, why does he allow such terrible things to happen?""). The series starred George W Bush, Tony Blair, Jack Straw, David Blunkett, Archbishop Rowan Williams, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleeza Rice, Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and a cast of… well, Rory Bremner, flanked by John Bird and John Fortune.

-Advert for Churchills -Rory Bremner on Tony Blairs Holiday John Prescott getting into Number 10 Security in Buckingham Palace -Tony Blairs Holiday at the President of Italys Silvio -Lib Dem Advert-Funny Names -Conservative Advert-Michael Howerd proving he's human -BBC News-Political Correspondant (Jeff Randell) trtying not to go Cockney -Gordan Brown in spoof of Money Advert -Meal- and reporter called Steve -Chief Constable Meeting-Security in Buckingham Palace and Binge Drinking -IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:New Tracking system introduced for Protesters at Westminster -Rory Bremner on The Iraqi Government -Jeff Randell tells us how excited he is -Princess Diana Memorial Fountain Security Plan -Parkinson interviews George Parr -Terretorial Army Advert -Rory Bremner on Jack Straw losing his Glasses -Blair and Cherie in Bedroom- Cherie tells Blair about her new case that involves him -John on being a Hunter -Richard Branson secrets about Virgin -Ro

The two Johns use their "George Parr" sketch to explain the mindset of investment bankers "Everybody asking all sort of difficult questions...nit-picking like 'Where the money gone?'... as if I'm supposed to know," "Stupidity and incompetance...that's something we can be very proud of" and there is even a sketch based around the South Sea Bubble, showing how little we had learnt since the early 1700's. Rory Bremner spoofed Gordon Brown, Robert Peston, Dr Rowan Williams, and George Bush, and he has some good lines in his standup (or desk-bound) comedy, laughing at bankers around the globe while explaining the insanity of it all: "Stan O'Neil left Merrill Lynch with a heavy heart, but a heavier wallet." "I happen to know the White House is going to be repossessed any day now." There are apt comparisons with 1929 and the cautious 1950's as well.