Series synopsis
Yes Minister is a British comedy war & politics television series that premiered on BBC Two on February 25, 1980. It ended on December 23, 1982. It was created by Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay. It stars Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds and Diana Hoddinott.
Satirical sitcom set in the office of a UK Cabinet minister, Jim Hacker MP, who struggles with Civil Service bureaucracy and political machinations as he tries to get on with government business.
Premise
Satirical sitcom set in the office of a UK Cabinet minister, Jim Hacker MP, who struggles with Civil Service bureaucracy and political machinations as he tries to get on with government business.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Paul Eddington as Jim Hacker
- Nigel Hawthorne as Sir Humphrey Appleby
- Derek Fowlds as Bernard Woolley
- Diana Hoddinott as Annie Hacker
- John Nettleton as Sir Arnold Robinson
- John Savident
- Frederick Jaeger
- Richard Vernon
Supporting cast
- Ivor Roberts
- John Barron
- Jerome Willis
- Nigel Stock
- Eleanor Bron
- Ian Lavender
- Neil Fitzwiliam as Frank Weisel
- Tenniel Evans
- Graeme Garden
- Stephen Tate
- Frank Middlemass
- Brenda Blethyn
Guest cast
- John Nettleton as Sir Arnold Robinson
- John Savident
- Frederick Jaeger
- Richard Vernon
- Ivor Roberts
- John Barron
- Jerome Willis
- Nigel Stock
- Eleanor Bron
- Ian Lavender
- Neil Fitzwiliam as Frank Weisel
- Tenniel Evans
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 24 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 3 | December 27, 1982 | December 17, 1984 |
| Season 1 | 7 | February 25, 1980 | April 7, 1980 |
| Season 2 | 7 | February 23, 1981 | April 6, 1981 |
| Season 3 | 7 | November 11, 1982 | December 23, 1982 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Christmas at the Ministry This sketch was aired on December 27 1982 as a part of "The Funny Side of Christmas" on BBC1. |
December 27, 1982 |
| 2 |
Party Games (Christmas Special) The seasonal festivities at the Departmental offices of the Ministry of Administrative Affairs are overshadowed by rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle. |
December 17, 1984 |
| 3 |
Yes, Real Prime Minister (AKA The Thatcher Sketch) Margaret Thatcher wrote the sketch in honour of the show being presented with an award from Mary Whitehouse’s National Viewers’ And Listeners’ Association at an event commemorated on the cover of the satirical magazine Private Eye. Being the PM at the time and writing the sketch, of course she made sure that it co-starred herself…as herself. |
January 20, 1984 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Open Government Jim Hacker retains his seat in the election and is given a cabinet post in the new government He meets the permanent secretary for his department Sir Humphrey Appleby but Jim decides to change the way things are done in the civil service so Sir Humphrey sets out to stop him |
February 25, 1980 |
| 2 |
The Official Visit When the leader of an African country is killed in a coup, his successor, who is an old friend of Jim’s, comes in his place. They negotiate a £50 million deal to help buy oil exploration equipment. |
March 3, 1980 |
| 3 |
The Economy Drive Jim Hacker is determined to reduce the Civil Service, but he is frustrated by Sir Humphrey, and the only numbers he can alter are the numbers of tea ladies. |
March 10, 1980 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Compassionate Society When Jim learns that a brand new hospital still has no medical staff, but hundreds of civil servants working there, he proposes that half of the civil servants be sacked and use the money saved to open wards with medical staff. |
February 23, 1981 |
| 2 |
Doing the Honours When Jim learns that he can block civil servant’s honours, he blackmails them into cutting their budgets, but when he hears that he might be in line for an honorary degree, he has to back down. |
March 2, 1981 |
| 3 |
The Death List When Jim learns that when in opposition he was bugged by the secret service, he decides to bring in legislation to kerb the bugging, only to find out that he is on the death list of a group of terrorists, and the best way to find them, is by bugging phone lines. |
March 9, 1981 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Equal Opportunities Jim decides to promote more women to high civil service positions despite Sir Humphrey’s opposition. |
November 11, 1982 |
| 2 |
The Challenge When Jim tackles local council administration and civil defence, he runs afoul of a B.B.C. interviewer. |
November 18, 1982 |
| 3 |
The Skeleton in the Cupboard Jim uses a costly mistake from Sir Humphrey’s past to escape chastising an efficient local council for being late with their paperwork. |
November 25, 1982 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC Two |
|---|---|
| First aired | February 25, 1980 |
| Last aired | December 23, 1982 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Thursday at 21:00:00 |