Flying the Flag: The Complete Series 1-4

Synopsis

All four series of the Eastern bloc embassy sitcom starring Dinsdale LandenSet in a British embassy somewhere in Russia, as the Cold War draws to a close, this entertaining sitcom follows Her Majesty's Ambassador Mr Mackenzie as he navigates the idiosyncrasies of life behind the Iron Curtain. Together with his First Secretary, William Frost, and personal assistant Helen Waterson, he manages matters ranging from dissidents to diplomatic dinners, all while maintaining his urbane, unflappable demeanour.Engaging with Communism is challenging enough, but the era of glasnost and perestroika brings new problems - including tourism, press freedom and an outbreak of political sickness in the People's Republic. However, Mackenzie battles on bravely, striving to dispense his own unique blend of British foreign policy and maintain the upper hand. Whether he's dealing with drug barons, hijackers, a Briton being held hostage or a container ship full of toxic waste, it's all in a day's overwork for the Ambassador. Not even an imminent revolution can faze him: but all distinguished careers must come to an end, and eventually it's time for Mackenzie to pack his diplomatic bags.But as he contemplates a bleak future in Britain, with no servants - and no knighthood - he finds himself facing one final crisis. Can he salvage some personal profit from someone else's disaster?Written by Alex Shearer, this wry observation of East-West diplomacy stars Dinsdale Landen as Ambassador Mackenzie, with Peter Acre as William, Moir Leslie as Helen, Christopher Benjamin as Colonel Surikov and Stephen Greif as US Ambassador Spiro Weinberg.Production creditsWritten by Alex ShearerProduced by Pete Atkin and Neil CargillCastHM Ambassador Mr Mackenzie - Dinsdale LandenWilliam Frost - Peter AcreHelen Waterson - Moir LeslieBrown - Milton JohnsBryant - Stuart OrganColonel Surikov - Christopher BenjaminYakov Korovin - Michael BiltonMikael Korovin - Jonathan KyddUS Ambassador Spiro Wineberg - Stephen GreifEugenia - Sue BroomfieldBrown - Milton JohnsMrs Poonskey - Margaret WardMrs Newton - Susie BrannGeorge Sommers - Peter HowellHarris - Stephen RashbrookOlav/Captain Warner - David GoodlandMorris - John BaddeleyKeith Branley - Richard PearceNesterov - Peter CrazeBrodsky - Paul GregoryFrank Burton - Alan DudleyGerald Calder-Browne MP - Richard TateHenry Treebling - John GrieveDr Hutchings - Norman BirdGrub - Julian DuttonDuncan Bridges - Peter WhitmanPrincess Sharon Eckersley - Elaine LordanDave - Simon SchatzbergerFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 21 April-26 May 1987 (Series 1), 10 March-28 April 1988 (Series 2), 20 November-25 December 1990 (Series 3), 16 June-4 August 1992 (Series 4)©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd