1982, the world is on the brink of nuclear destruction. The Kremlin is governed by a string of ailing old commissars, the United States are governed by a president who has a bomb named after himself and is guided by a christian fundamentalist and the Shah of Iran is stuck on a ferry between Dover and Calais, because the UK refuses him to enter the country. Meanwhile an international terrorist, Lacrobat the Devil played by John Cleese (Fawlty Towers, Monty Python's Flying Circus, How to Irritate People, …), steals the most deadly weapon from Americas nuclear arsenal with the aid of the CIA to covertly support a counter-revolution to help the Shah retake control of Iran. Then of course there is the fact, that Britain's newly elected left-wing government joins the Warsaw Pact.
This black comedy continues the proud tradition of other films highlighting the madness in mutually assured destruction, like Dr. Strangelove and The Bed-Sitting Room. Even when faced with global annihilation you still got to laugh and wear your mushroom with pride.
A feature film using the same title was released in 1986. Although some characters and plot elements from the original are used, the story is quite different. Notably the cast of the film includes many comedy stars, such as Michael Richards (Seinfeld), Rik Mayall (Bottom, Filthy, Rich and Catflap, The Young Ones), Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H) and Herbert Lom (Inspector Clouseau films).