Our Man in the Company

Our Man in Canberra was originally one episode of the anthology series The Comedy Game which screened in 1971. It was intended that some of the episodes could act as pilots for series. The other successful episodes which led to series were A Nice Day at the Office, Scattergood: Friend of All and The Aunty Jack Show.

The ABC authorised a series of Our Man In Canberra and production commenced in May 1972 on 13 half-hour episodes, written by John O'Grady. It centred on the newly elected MP for Danforth, Humphrey Sullivan, who won his seat by a majority of 15 votes. Humphrey is naive and idealistic and bumbles through his new position. He is being manoeuvred by The Minister but in the end he usually ends up out-manoeuvring him, with help from his wife. Some parallels can be drawn with the later British comedy series Yes, Minister.

After three episodes had been completed it was announced that the program would not go to air. The ABC had received legal advice from the Federal Attorney-General's Department that the series was in breach of the Broadcasting And Television Act which stated that "the Commission or a licensee shall not broadcast or televise a dramatisation of any political matter which is then current or was current at any time during the last five preceding years".

The matter was discussed in Parliament with speculation suggesting that the series was covertly scuttled by the Government because it satirised politicians, particularly Liberal politicians. Prime Minister William McMahon was asked whether his Government had ordered the cancellation but he denied it. ABC Chairman Robert Madgwick and General Manager Talbot Duckmanton denied charges of political pressure when they stand before the Senate Standing Committee on Education, Science and the Arts.[1]

Following the 1972 election which saw the Gough Whitlam's Labor Government in power, the fate of Our Man In Canberra was reconsidered but it was thought that there could be too many repercussions, so the Government refused to give any opinion on the showing of the series. In 1973, a compromise was needed to resolve the deadlock so the ABC Commissioners agreed to rewrite the series in another setting.

Production began on Our Man In The Company in 1973 with John O'Grady agreeing to rewrite the series with a switch from the Canberra political scene to a big business organisation. The general theme, relationships and characterisations were retained.

The cast from the original series was also retained, playing similar characters. The political scene became the world of big business. The Government became the Company; politicians became businessmen; voters became shareholders; seats in Parliament became seats on the Board; the Minister became the Director, the unseen Prime Minister became the unseen Chairman.[2]

It was broadcast in Sydney on 7 July 1973 and in Melbourne on 1 August 1973, with seven episodes. A second series was produced in 1974 for a total of 15 episodes.

• Jeff Ashby as Humphrey Sullivan
• Katy Wild as Kate Sullivan
• Walter Sullivan as The Minister/The Director
• Delore Whiteman as Ena Wheeler
• Benita Collings as Turner
• Lex Mitchell as Pub Philosopher
• Graham Rouse as Pub Philosopher

• List of Australian television series

• Our Man in the Company at IMDb
• Our Man in the Company Classic Australian TV