Armando Iannucci is acclaimed as one of the most influential comedy writers and show runners in Britain. He wrote and directed the BAFTA-winning shows ‘I’m Alan Partridge’ (starring Steve Coogan) and the political comedy ‘The Thick Of It,’ as well as fronting his own satirical shows ‘The Friday Night Armistice’ for BBC 2 and ‘The Armando Iannucci Shows’ for Channel 4. His spoof news show ‘The Day Today’ (with Chris Morris) led to him winning a unique Special Jury British Comedy Award, in recognition of his distinctive contribution to radio and television comedy.

Armando started his career in radio, as a music and comedy presenter on Radio Scotland, before moving in 1989 to national radio as a Comedy Producer for BBC Radio. His hit shows ‘The Mary Whitehouse Experience’ and ‘On The Hour’ transferred to television. . In particular, ‘On The Hour’ became The Day Today on BBC 2 in 1994, and brought Chris Morris to TV, as well as introducing the world to Steve Coogan’s terrible TV personality Alan Partridge. ‘The Day Today’ has been widely acclaimed as one of the most influential shows in British TV comedy.

The Alan Partridge character soon got his own chat show, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You...with Alan Partridge’ and a sit-com ‘I’m Alan Partridge’, both of which Armando show-ran and co-wrote.

Armando has also fronted his own satirical shows, including The Friday Night Armistice on BBC Two, which climaxed in a three-hour live Election Night edition on election night, 1997. It was the longest live comedy show ever on British Television, and matched the same ratings are the serious election coverage on the opposing channel ITV. Among the highlights of the TV series was a feature in which Armando tricked O J Simpson into signing a piece of paper that said "I did it".

The Thick Of It, winner of the Best New TV Comedy at the 2005 British Comedy Awards about a beleaguered Minister trying to cope with the pressure imposed by his army of spin doctors, and the spoof clip show Time Trumpet, were both written/directed and co-produced by Armando.

The Thick of IT has received numerous awards and was recently criticised by the British Government for portraying politicians as terrible people. The Thick of It’s plotlines are regularly inspired by anonymous contributions from former members of the British Government.

Armando has his radio show, ‘Armando Iannucci’s Charm Offensive’ on BBC Radio 4, and has been a regular columnist for The Observer. A book of his earlier newspaper work for the Telegraph and the Guardian was published in a 1997 collection, Facts And Fancies, which was also adapted for a Radio 4 series.

He is also heavily involved in classical music, and writes a monthly column for ‘Gramophone’ magazine. His opera ‘Skin Deep’ for which he wrote the libretto, to music by David Sawer, premieres with Opera North and Royal Danish Opera in 2009.

He has just completed filming In The Loop, a feature film comedy set in the world of Whitehall and Washington, and starring Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, Gina McKee and James Gandolfini. Location filming included unprecedented filming at 10 Downing Street.

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