"Yes Minister" (1980) TV series 1980-1984

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

25 February 1980 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

James Hacker is the British Minister for Administrative Affairs. He tries to do something and cut government waste...

Plot Keywords:

Career | House Of Commons | Member Of Parliament | Trick | Office

Awards:

6 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Paul Eddington	...	James Hacker (22 episodes, 1980-1984)
Nigel Hawthorne	...	Sir Humphrey Appleby (22 episodes, 1980-1984)
Derek Fowlds	...	Bernard Woolley (22 episodes, 1980-1984)
Diana Hoddinott	...	Annie Hacker (10 episodes, 1980-1984)

Runtime:

30 min (21 episodes) | 60 min (1 episode)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Finland:K-3 (2001) | Australia:G | Singapore:PG | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Westminster, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

A great fan of the series, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (as she then was) wrote a sketch for the show with press secretary Bernard Ingham which was recorded and aired as part of the 1984 National Viewers and Listeners Awards. The sketch featured Paul Eddington and Nigel Hawthorne, both of whom are talking to the Prime Minister (played by Thatcher herself) about her notion to abolish economists.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the train sequence in "The Official Visit", a close-up shows that the warning notice on the wall is written in gibberish.

Quotes:

Sir Humphrey Appleby: [Talking about Government reports] it could be argued that the Sermon on the Mount, where it a government report would never have been published.
[pause]
Sir Humphrey Appleby: All that nonsense about the meek inheriting the earth.
[pause]
Sir Humphrey Appleby: Could do illrepairble damage to the defence budget

Movie Connections:

Featured in 30 Greatest Political Comedies (2006) (TV)

Not to put too fine a point on it, absolutely fabulous!

Quite easily among the best-written comedies of all time. The razor-sharp wit and the superbly crafted word-play will have you both laughing out loud and oooohing and aaaahing in appreciation. Yes Minister tracks the day jobs of its three pivotal characters: Jim Hacker, the honorable Minister of the Dept of Administrative Affairs, his Permanent Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby and his Private Sct, Bernard.

In each episode, the somewhat idealistic (though exceedingly publicity-hungry) Minister tries to reform govt in one way or the other, but is blocked by his Permanent Sct, Sir Humphrey. Though this comedy is based on the British system of govt, I think the problems presented have universal appeal and so it would be appreciated by Americans, in fact by people of all nationalities.

The highlight of the comedy, in my mind, is the brilliant script, esp the lines Sir Humphrey delivers when he wishes to "talk a lot but say nothing". Nigel Hawthorne's acting is Grade A material and a treat to watch.

For those of you who enjoy wordplay, a somewhat cererbral comedy, or are simply an official in one or the other branch of govt, don't miss this one.