"Yes, Prime Minister" (1986) TV series 1986-1987

Director:

Peter Whitmore

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

9 January 1986 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Caught off-guard by the sudden retirement of the Prime Minister, Sir Humphrey and his civil service allies soon get their house-trained minister...

Plot Keywords:

Prime Minister | Political | 10 Downing Street | House Of Commons | Punctuation In Title

Awards:

4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Paul Eddington	...	James Hacker (16 episodes, 1986-1988)
Nigel Hawthorne	...	Sir Humphrey Appleby (16 episodes, 1986-1988)
Derek Fowlds	...	Bernard Woolley (16 episodes, 1986-1988)
Diana Hoddinott	...	Annie Hacker (8 episodes, 1986-1988)

Runtime:

UK:30 min (16 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG (some episodes) | Singapore:PG | Australia:G (some episodes)

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Every episode ends with Sir Humphrey and/or Bernard saying, "Yes, Prime Minister."

Quotes:

[Sir Humphrey demonstrates how public surveys can reach opposite conclusions]
Sir Humphrey Appleby: Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the rise in crime among teenagers?
Bernard Woolley: Yes.
Sir Humphrey Appleby: Do you think there is lack of discipline and vigorous training in our Comprehensive Schools?
Bernard Woolley: Yes.
Sir Humphrey Appleby: Do you think young people welcome some structure and leadership in their lives?
Bernard Woolley: Yes.
Sir Humphrey Appleby: Do they respond to a challenge?
Bernard Woolley: Yes.
Sir Humphrey Appleby: Might you be in favour of reintroducing National Service?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Remade as "Not My Department" (1987)

The rare sequel equal to the original.

"Yes Prime Minister" picks up where the previous "Yes Minister" left off, and continues the quality. The two series are bridged by a Christmas special, "Party Games", where the Prime Minister has retired, and Sir Humphrey has manipulated the selection process to place Jim Hacker in Number 10. The new series picks up with Hacker now in his new job.

The series continued the fine work of its predecessor. The writing is first rate and the performers still shine. New dimension was added with the introduction of Deborah Norton as Dorothy Wainwright, Hacker's political advisor. Wainwright is a master strategist, who is able to counter Sir Humphrey's schemes. As such, Jim gets to win a few more this time. Still, never underestimate Sir Humphrey.

There is more of a trade-off here, as the battles are split between Sir Humphrey and Hacker, and a few where they are allies. If there is any criticism of the show, it's that some of the themes had already been done in the original series. However, they are given a new wrinkle as Hacker is now in the top spot. He no longer has to worry about the PM, because he is the PM; but, he still will not make a "courageous" decision, or anything that is unpopular.

Repetition may explain why this series was shorter. The series had explored everything it could, short of full scale war. Still, every episode is a delight.

The entire series is available on vhs, in the US; and, hopefully, will follow the recent release of "Yes Minister" on DVD. Also, the two "diaries" of the shows are well worth seeking out. They beautifully capture the shows, through diary entries, memo's, and government documents. They are far more than a brief plot summary. You can find them through out-of-print book searches on the web.