Yes
Minister and Yes Prime Minister
Television
series
Both series, created by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, are
political satires that explore the workings of the British
government through fictional scenarios.
Yes Minister focuses on the interactions between
Jim Hacker, a newly
appointed Minister for Administrative Affairs, and his Permanent
Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, highlighting the bureaucratic
intricacies and often subversive nature of civil service.
The show examines the clash between Hacker's political ambitions
and Appleby's strategic manipulation of bureaucratic processes.
In Yes Prime Minister, Hacker becomes the Prime Minister,
and the series continues to scrutinise the challenges of governance,
including policymaking and political compromises, while still
emphasising the influence of the civil service. The writing
style of both series is heavily dialogue-driven, with a focus
on witty and sharp exchanges that reflect the nuances of political
manueuvering. The shows are noted for their sharp wit and
insightful commentary on the mechanics of political power
and administrative management. Their depiction of the power
dynamics between elected officials and civil servants remains
a significant point of reference in discussions about political
satire and the nature of governmental operations. The reception
of both series was highly positive, praised for its intelligent
and satirical portrayal of political life. They won several
awards, including BAFTAs for Best Comedy Series, and are often
cited as one of the best British television comedies of all
time. |
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Yes
Minister |
Series
One Episodes (25/2/80-7/4/80)*
|
1 |
'Open Government' |
2 |
'The Official Visit' |
3 |
'The Economy Drive' |
4 |
'Big Brother' |
5 |
'The Writing on the Wall' |
6 |
'The Right to Know' |
7 |
'Jobs for the Boys' |
Series
Two Episodes (23/2/81-6/4/81)* |
1 |
'The Compassionate Society' |
2 |
'Doing the Honours' |
3 |
'The Death List' |
4 |
'The Greasy Pole' |
5 |
'The Devil You Know' |
6 |
'The Quality of Life' |
7 |
'A Question of Loyalty' |
Series
Three Episodes (11/11/82-23/12/82)* |
1 |
'Equal Opportunities' |
2 |
'The Challenge' |
3 |
'The Skeleton in the Cupboard' |
4 |
'The Moral Dimension' |
5 |
'The Bed of Nails' |
6 |
'The Whisky Priest' |
7 |
'The Middle Class Rip Off' |
'Party Games' (1984 Christmas Special, 17/12/84*) |
Cast
|
Paul Eddington........... |
The Rt Hon James Hacker |
Nigel Hawthorne......... |
Sir Humphrey Appleby |
Derek Fowlds............. |
Bernard Woolley |
Diana Hoddinott......... |
Annie Hacker |
John Nettleton........... |
Sir Arnold Robinson |
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Yes
Prime Minister |
Series
One Episodes (9/1/86-27/2/86)* |
1 |
'The Grand Design' |
2 |
'The Ministerial Broadcast' |
3 |
'The Smoke Screen' |
4 |
'The Key' |
5 |
'A Real Partnership' |
6 |
'A Victory for Democracy' |
7 |
'The Bishop's Gambit' |
8 |
'One of Us' |
Series
Two Episodes (3/1/87-28/1/88)* |
1 |
'Man Overboard' |
2 |
'Official Secrets' |
3 |
'A Diplomatic Incident' |
4 |
'A Conflict of Interest' |
5 |
'Power to the People' |
6 |
'The Patron of the Arts' |
7 |
'The National Education Service' |
8 |
'A Tangled Web' |
Cast
|
Paul Eddington........... |
The Rt Hon James Hacker |
Nigel Hawthorne......... |
Sir Humphrey Appleby |
Derek Fowlds............. |
Bernard Woolley |
Diana Hoddinott......... |
Annie Hacker |
Deborah Norton.......... |
Dorothy Wainwright |
John Nettleton............ |
Sir Arnold Robinson |
Peter Collier............... |
Sir Frank Gordon |
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Notes
* Original date of transmission in the UK.
Source:
The Complete Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister
[DVD]. Directed by Sydney Lotterby et al. BBC DVD, 2007.
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