1 9 9 0 (UK)
4 x 50 minute episodes 1 9 9 1 (UK)
4 x 50 minute episodes
This four-episode British comedy from Channel 4 about bureaucratic bribery and corruption in the EEC saw naive and idealistic young Eurocrat Dr Hans-Joachim Dorfmann (Christoph Waltz) becoming involved with EU politics, a surplus of rotting plums, shady fixers and the Machiavellian schemes of the self-serving British diplomat Michael Spearpoint (Ian Richardson), head of the runt department of Information and Culture.
The series was shot in Austria, Germany, Belgium, and in England at Pinewood.
A four-part sequel, The Gravy Train Goes East, was produced in 1991 with the newly “liberated” Eastern European backwater of Slaka, headed by president-cum-romantic novelist Katya Princip (Francesca Annis), aspiring to join the EU. Unfortunately, its sole supporter was Hans-Joachim Dorfmann.
Waltz and Richardson reprised their roles, joined by Roger Lloyd Pack, Jeremy Child, John Dicks and Henry Goodman.
Dr Hans-Joachim Dorfmann
Christoph Waltz Michael Spearpoint
Ian Richardson Nadine
Almanta Suska Vlad Milcic
Alexei Sayle Jean -Luc Villeneuve
Jacques Sereys Gianna
Anita Zagaria Christa
Sabine Weber HildaSpearpoint
Judy Parfitt Gustave
Geoffrey Hutchings Delise
Amanda Mealing Alexei
Phillip Joseph Maria Theresa
Julia Dearden Rudolph
Stephen Greif
