The Final Cut poster

TV series

The Final Cut

19951 season7.7 / 10

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.

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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.

Season 1 episodes

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Episode 1

Part 1

52m5.6 / 10

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.

Episode credits

Guest stars Duggie Brown, Susannah Harker, Kevork Malikyan, Julian Fellowes, Alison Peebles, Cherith Mellor, William Scott-Masson, Ian Mercer

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Episode 2

Part 2

53m6.0 / 10

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.

Episode credits

Guest stars Duggie Brown, Susannah Harker, Leon Lissek, Michael Wardle, Nicholas Blane

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Episode 3

Part 3

54m8.0 / 10

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.

Episode credits

Guest stars Duggie Brown, Susannah Harker, Cherith Mellor, Joseph Long, Boyd Clack, Kenneth Alan Taylor

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Episode 4

Part 4

54m8.3 / 10finale

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.

Episode credits

Guest stars Erika Hoffman, Tom Beasley, Leon Lissek, Joseph Long, Miles Richardson, Barry McCarthy

Where to watch The Final Cut

Episode information updated Nov 14, 2026

More about The Final Cut

Cast

Ian RichardsonFrancis Urquhart
Diane FletcherElizabeth Urquhart
Paul FreemanTom Makepeace
Isla BlairClaire Carlsen
Nickolas GraceGeoffrey Booza Pitt
Glyn GrainRayner
Nick BrimbleCorder
Dorothy VernonSpeaker

Credits

Created by
Andrew Davies
Written by
Andrew Davies, Michael Dobbs, Michael Dobbs

Production details

Status
Ended
Series type
Miniseries
Episodes
4
Original language
English

Networks & production

  • BBC OneUnited Kingdom
  • BBCUnited Kingdom
  • GBHUnited States

Themes

house of cardshouse of commonsminiseriespolitical thrillerprime minister