In February last year Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci coughed some insight about the new season to the Guardian. The much loved Tory MP character Peter Mannion “becomes minister but there will be someone from the other party in the coalition in his office, so a lot of the comedy will come from that tension between duplicated ministers.” Though the man behind the show is a LibDem voter, he’s clearly not going to hold his punches in season four. Guido is hearing whispers of what to expect when filming begins in April…

Apparently there will be a judge led inquiry overshadowing the series. The central LibDem character  is currently called Ferguson, a junior minister at the mythical Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship, struggling as he makes it into government. Apparently he’s highly ethical, but blighted by terrible anger management. Full of ideas after years of being ignored, Ferguson is very friendly on the surface, but prone to shouty, childish abuse when things go wrong.

It sounds like an horrendous amalgamation of Chris Huhne and Sarah Teather…