The Final Cut

Synopsis

Seasoned politician Francis Urquhart tries to establish his legacy before retirement by negotiating an end to the Cyprus, but the island hides secrets from his past that could destroy him.

First Air Date: 1995-11-05

Last Air Date: 1995-11-26

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 4

Created By: Andrew Davies

Networks: BBC One

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart
Diane Fletcher as Elizabeth Urquhart
Paul Freeman as Tom Makepeace
Isla Blair as Claire Carlsen
Nickolas Grace as Geoffrey Booza Pitt
Glyn Grain as Rayner
Nick Brimble as Corder
Dorothy Vernon as Speaker
Andrew Seear as Wolfin
Peter Symonds as Polecutt

Seasons

Miniseries (1995)

Seasoned politician Francis Urquhart tries to establish his legacy before retirement by negotiating an end to the Cyprus, but the island hides secrets from his past that could destroy him.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Part 1 (1995-11-05)

Approaching his 65th birthday, PM Francis Urquhart begins to see the end of his career. Not that he has the intention of resigning anytime soon. He does however hope to establish a legacy, one for the history books and one to provide his pension. For the latter, his wife Elizabeth introduces him to Mr Nures, a Turkish-Cypriot businessman who will contribute handsomely to the Urquhart Trust if the upcoming boundary commission report provides a ruling favorable to Turkish-occupied Cyprus.
Ep. 2: Part 2 (1995-11-12)

Having sacked his Parliamentary Private Secretary, Urquhart casts about for a replacement. At the suggestion of Geoffrey Booza Pitt he gives serious consideration to backbench MP Claire Carlsen, despite the fact that she is carrying on an affair with Foreign Secretary Tom Makepeace. Claire is clearly playing both sides of the fence to ensure her own place in the hierarchy, regardless of what the future may hold.
Ep. 3: Part 3 (1995-11-19)

Having resigned as Foreign Secretary, Makepeace launches a blistering attack in the House of Commons directed not only at the government in general but at the Prime Minister in particular. He then moves across the aisle to sit on the opposition benches. For his part, Urquhart takes it all in stride quite sure of his position and his ability to retain the leadership of the party.
Ep. 4: Part 4 (1995-11-26)

Not having secured enough votes on the first ballot to retain the party leadership, Urquhart plots to not only keep him in place as PM but to win the next general election. He is desperate to surpass Margaret Thatcher's length of service and decides that to emulate her is likely the best approach: starting a war in Cyprus, his own little Falklands, as he describes it to his wife.