Margaret Thatcher Queen of Game Shows

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In a television landscape where Ann Widdecombe and Ed Balls can appear on Strictly it's not inconceivable that Margaret Thatcher would present a high-octane glitter-infused Saturday night game show. This all-singing, all-dancing cavalcade of audience involvement not only functions as a crowd-pleasing spectacle but manages to make joyously barbed stabs at the British political system along the way.

After all, as Maggie herself notes, the game show trope of forcing individuals to compete for consumer goods is the apotheosis of Thatcherism. As such, the crowd are divided into teams of skivers and strivers, and representatives compete in games based around Brexit, tabloid journalism and white privilege. Thatcher begins by revelling in all this unashamed social Darwinism, but unexpected moments force her to reflect on her ideology. As she is visited by a succession of other political fugures, as well as the ghosts of game shows past, she moves towards an epiphany. Who will, in the end, be the winner?

This is a solidly political show, as shown by the audience's divided reactions to the partisan gags. But all sides get it in the neck, even if it is Thatcher's brand of anti-society rhetoric that is most held up for scorn. It has a joyous party atmosphere, until you suddenly realise you're cheering on your team mate to be the fastest in a game involving dismantling the NHS. Thatcherism continues to haunt us and its status as derided profit-before-principle tactics is made showbiz here.