Chris Addison on ‘Veep’, ‘The Thick Of It’, Politics and ‘Tall Tales and Murder’

INTERMEDIATE: Chris Addison is a seasoned TV political veteran Its Thickness and won two Emmys for directing Veep, but he thinks it is curtains for this kind of political satire.

“Our relationship with politics has changed a lot,” Addison told Deadline while promoting her comedy show. Tall Tales and Murder and think about his work for the political exhibitions of Armando Iannucci. “The political situation is different now as well [these shows] this place does not fit. Things have changed since 2016 beyond recognition. [Rebooting them] it sounds like a practical thought experiment but it’s not because you couldn’t do it.”

Addison’s talk of changes since 2016 was a reference to the start of Donald Trump’s first presidency and Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. He said “the type of humor people respond to tends to change depending on the current economic conditions.” “When things are difficult people like things that are broader and less challenging, and when people are comfortable they enjoy watching things that are less difficult,” he added.

He said shows like Its Thicknessintroduced more than 20 years ago, too Veep they are about “politicians who present facades of intelligence, but there is no front.” Malcolm Tucker, Alastair Campbell inspired Your Intensity The spin doctor, played by Peter Capaldi, may have a podcast in 2026, Addison joked, a reference to Campbell’s. Rest in… Politics.

Addison starred as Oliver Reeder on the BBC I Your Intensity and went on to direct many episodes of HBO’s American equivalent Veep, while he was also leading In the Loopan Iannucci film that brought together UK and American actors.

‘Tall Tales and Murder’

Since Veep held in 2019, Addison has worked on many projects such as Sky-FX’s They don’t breed and now he continues Tall Tales and Murder for the BBC and Irish broadcaster RTÉ, which has been given a double season order ahead of launch. Avalon is selling out at this week’s London TV Screenings.

Based on Caimh McDonnell’s Dublin Trilogy – confusingly a set of eight books – Addison described the show starring Aidan Gillen and Ella Lily Hyland (Black Pigeons) as “the misbehaving cousin of literature.” The Dublin Trilogy follows the intertwined lives and adventures of Paul Mulchrone, Brigit Conroy and Bunny McGarry in Dublin. When it was first announced, the plot of the TV series was kept under wraps. Now, all Addison can tell us is that the show begins with two young Dubliners looking for treasure and running from gangsters.

“This is much darker than the books and the plot takes you to different places,” he added. “This is a bonkers caper with elements of a gangster film, a treasure hunt and magical realism. It’s really bananas.”

Addison said The Peaky Blinders star Gillen brings “bonkers energy” to Tall Tales and Murder while speaking highly of Hyland, who he said was “one of the best actors I’ve ever worked with.”

Funny jokes are in fashion and Addison said Slow Horseswhich was created by him Your Intensity co-star Will Smith, represents a watershed moment for the genre.

“For a long time it was hard to sell a show with real humor and real stakes,” he added. “Slow Horses it’s a legitimate thriller but it’s not understated, it’s got real humor in it.”

As is Slow horses, which is usually commissioned in blocks of two seasons, the BBC and RTÉ have committed to two seasons Tall Tales and Murder from the beginning.

Addison said the “economics” of the TV industry often hold networks and broadcasters back from making these big bets. “Their time frames are usually not profitable,” he added. “That’s not a human error but it’s just a way of setting up the tax system.” When they calculated how long it takes the Earth to go around the sun, they didn’t calculate how long it takes to fill a six-episode TV show.”

“I can’t think of a world that is thought of more warmly”

Addison co-writes Tall Tales and Murder and Stuart Carolan, creator of RTÉ’s hit crime drama Love/Hateand he said it was important to have an authentic Irish voice. “The show needed to feel completely Irish,” added Addison. “If someone who wasn’t Irish had come he wouldn’t have made it sound good and he wouldn’t have understood the opportunities.”

With shows like The Bad Sisters, The Walsh Sisters and Lisa McGee How can you get to heaven from Belfast, Irish TV feels like it has time.

Addison compared the Irish TV and film industry in 2026 to England in the pre-Covid boom, “busy, busy and with good people working all the time.”

He said the biggest American shows were filmed there like him Game of Thrones (Northern Ireland) and Wednesday (Ireland) was “successful” and led to local news gains. “Ireland has such a traditional personality,” added Addison. “I don’t think about the world that is thought of as global warming, something that wasn’t there for a long time was investment, but it has changed.”