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BBC Two is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964.

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Inside the Commons

Michael Cockerell

Anthony Geffen

Emma Whitlock

Jack MacInnes

Robert Halfon

Thomas Docherty

Kate Emms

Lawrence Ward

Robin Fell

Andrew George

John Dowzell

Peter Wosahlo

Jacob Rees-Mogg

Steve Rotheram

Peter Bone

Andrew Percy

Angela Eagle

William Hague

Dennis Skinner

David Blunkett

Nicholas Soames

Inside the Commons: Episode 2: Upstairs, Downstairs

Documentaries

Factual: Politics

Upstairs, Downstairs

Episode 2

Episode 2: Upstairs, Downstairs

BBC Two - Inside the Commons, Upstairs, Downstairs

Michael Cockerell examines what goes on backstage at the state opening of parliament.

Political documentary series. Michael Cockerell examines what goes on backstage at the state opening, when the Queen comes to open the parliamentary year.

In the second episode of this major four-part series, presenter Michael Cockerell explores the upstairs-downstairs world of the House of Commons. We see what goes on backstage at the state opening, when the Queen comes to open the parliamentary year, including a surreal traditional search for gunpowder. Behind the pomp and pageantry, we meet the army of skilled workers who struggle to keep the Commons show on the road. We follow MPs who want to introduce their own bills in the Commons and have to play a bizarre form of parliamentary bingo to get the chance. And we show how Labour and Conservative MPs conspire together to thwart their party whips.

In this episode we meet two very different MPs: Robert Halfon, a campaigning Conservative and thorn in the side of the government, who receives an unexpected call from Downing Street. And Thomas Docherty, Labour's deputy-shadow leader of the house, who goes to extraordinary lengths and makes unlikely alliances to guarantee time in the chamber for his party.

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Four-part series filmed over the course of a year with unparalleled access to the Commons.

Michael Cockerell presents a four-part series filmed over the course of a year with unparalleled access to the House of Commons.

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Episode 2: Upstairs, Downstairs

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