The Ploughman's Lunch poster

The Ploughman's Lunch( 1983)

TV-MADrama
51%
User
Score

An age of deceit... A man of our times

Overview

As the UK begins its military engagement in the Falklands, a BBC news journalist attempts to climb up from his working-class roots, at any cost, lying to those around him to get what he wants, only to discover that he is the recipient of a deception far more clever than his own.

    Top Billed Cast

    1. cast image

      Jonathan Pryce

      James Penfield

    2. cast image

      Tim Curry

      Jeremy Hancock

    3. cast image

      Rosemary Harris

      Ann Barrington

    4. cast image

      Frank Finlay

      Matthew Fox

    5. cast image

      Charlie Dore

      Susan Barrington

    6. cast image

      David de Keyser

      Gold

    7. cast image

      Bill Paterson

      Lecturer

    8. cast image

      Orlando Wells

      Tom Fox

    9. cast image

      Nat Jackley

      Mr Penfield

    10. cast image

      Pearl Hackney

      Mrs Penfield

    11. cast image

      Peter Walmsley

      Bob Tuckett

    12. cast image

      Robert Cartland

      Editor

    13. cast image

      Christopher Fulford

      Young Journalist

    14. cast image

      David Lyon

      Newsreader

    15. cast image

      Simon Stokes

      Edward

    16. cast image

      Witold Schejbal

      Jacek

    17. cast image

      William Maxwell

      Journalist

    18. cast image

      Andy Rashleigh

      Journalist

    19. cast image

      Polly Abbott

      Gold's Assistant

    20. cast image

      Anna Wing

      Woman at Poetry Reading

    21. cast image

      Ken Drury

      Young Man at Poetry Reading

    22. cast image

      Richard Cottan

      Student at Poetry Reading

    23. cast image

      Peter Birch

      Barman

    24. cast image

      Ken Shorter

      Squash Coach

    25. cast image

      Libba Davies

      Betty

    26. cast image

      Sandra Voe

      Carmen

    27. cast image

      Andrew Norton

      Pete

    28. cast image

      Cecily Hobbs

      Carol

    29. cast image

      Clare Sutcliffe

      Jill

    Social

    Review 1Discussion

    A review by CinemaSerf

    6
    Written by CinemaSerf on Sun Jun 15 2025
    With rumblings coming from the wires about some Argentine activity on the remote island of South Georgia and Margaret Thatcher’s first administration struggling to deal with the gloomy British economic outlook, jaded radio journalist “Penfield” (Jonathan Pryce) finds himself trying to stay motivated despite the fact that he hasn’t a penny to his name. In search of at least a degree of self-fulfilment, he decides to write a book all about the Franco-British invasion on the Suez Canal in 1956. He has an interest in the geo-political dynamics and history of those turbulent events, and so sets abou...

    Media

    Videos 0Backdrops 1Posters 2

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    Facts

    Status

    Released

    Original Language

    English

    Budget

    -

    Revenue

    -

    Keywords

    • london, england
    • british politics
    • falklands war
    • news reporter
    • norfolk