Succession - the dark comedy following an American media family - has won 13 Emmys, 5 Golden Globes and a BAFTA. As it draws to a close, we take a look at the life of its creator, a British writer who has co-written some of the best television of the last 20 years including Peep Show, The Thick of it and Fresh Meat.

From the border town of Oswestry, Shropshire to the toast of Manhattan and LA, Jesse Armstrong has had an extraordinary journey.

Mark Coles hears from his family, friends and colleagues (including Chris Morris, Isy Suttie, Paterson Joseph, David Mitchell and Susan Soon He Stanton), finding out how Armstrong was able to write such rich worlds that bring the pain and absurdity of life in such a colourful fashion.

Credits

The Hollywood Reporter

Succession
Created by Jesse Armstrong
HBO

Peep Show
Objective Productions/Channel 4

The Thick Of It
BBC Comedy

Presenter: Mark Coles
Producers: Jordan Dunbar, Georgia Coan and Nathan Gower
Editor: Richard Vadon
Sound Design: James Beard