Yes Minister

TV Series
1980–19841980–1984
TV-PGTV-PG
30m

Nigel Hawthorne, Paul Eddington, and Derek Fowlds in Yes Minister (1980)

Yes Minister (German Trailer)

Play trailer1:39

The Right Honorable James Hacker has landed the plum job of Cabinet Minister to the Department of Administration. At last he is in a position of power and can carry out some long-needed refo... Read allThe Right Honorable James Hacker has landed the plum job of Cabinet Minister to the Department of Administration. At last he is in a position of power and can carry out some long-needed reforms, or so he thinks.The Right Honorable James Hacker has landed the plum job of Cabinet Minister to the Department of Administration. At last he is in a position of power and can carry out some long-needed reforms, or so he thinks.

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Top rated TV #152

Won 5 BAFTA Film Awards
- 6 wins & 3 nominations total

Browse episodes

3 seasons

4 years

Videos1

Yes Minister (German Trailer)

Yes Minister (German Trailer)

Photos2014

Nigel Hawthorne and Derek Fowlds in Yes Minister (1980)

Paul Eddington in Yes Minister (1980)

Graeme Garden in Yes Minister (1980)

John Nettleton and Nigel Stock in Yes Minister (1980)

Eleanor Bron in Yes Minister (1980)

Paul Eddington and Derek Fowlds in Yes Minister (1980)

Edward Jewesbury and Paul Eddington in Yes Minister (1980)

Diana Hoddinott in Yes Minister (1980)

Paul Eddington and Derek Fowlds in Yes Minister (1980)

Yes Minister (1980)

Nigel Hawthorne and John Nettleton in Yes Minister (1980)

Thomas Baptiste in Yes Minister (1980)

James Hackeras James Hacker

22 episodes22 eps • 1980–1984

Nigel Hawthorne

Sir Humphrey Applebyas Sir Humphrey Appleby

22 episodes22 eps • 1980–1984

Bernard Woolleyas Bernard Woolley

22 episodes22 eps • 1980–1984

Diana Hoddinott

Annie Hackeras Annie Hacker

10 episodes10 eps • 1980–1984

Sir Arnold Robinsonas Sir Arnold Robinson

8 episodes8 eps • 1980–1984

Neil Fitzwiliam

Frank Weiselas Frank Weisel

5 episodes5 eps • 1980

George - Jim's Driveras George - Jim's Driver

5 episodes5 eps • 1980–1981

Sir Frederick 'Jumbo' Stewartas Sir Frederick 'Jumbo' Stewart

4 episodes4 eps • 1980

John Pennington

Peter - Civil Servantas Peter - Civil Servant

4 episodes4 eps • 1981–1984

Bill Pritchardas Bill Pritchard

3 episodes3 eps • 1980–1982

Robert Dougallas Robert Dougall

3 episodes3 eps • 1980–1981

Sir Desmond Glazebrookas Sir Desmond Glazebrook

2 episodes2 eps • 1980–1981

Martin, Foreign Secretaryas Martin, Foreign Secretary…

2 episodes2 eps • 1980

Sir Ian Whitchurch, Permanent Secretary to the Environmentas Sir Ian Whitchurch, Permanent Secretary to the Environment

2 episodes2 eps • 1981–1982

Dr. Richard Cartwrightas Dr. Richard Cartwright

2 episodes2 eps • 1982

Sir Mark Spenceras Sir Mark Spencer

2 episodes2 eps • 1981–1982

Edward Jewesbury

Vic Gouldas Vic Gould…

2 episodes2 eps • 1980–1982

Rosemary Williams

Civil Servantas Civil Servant

2 episodes2 eps • 1981–1982

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James Hacker is the British Minister for Administrative Affairs. He tries to do something and cut government waste, but he is continually held back by the smart and wily Permanent Secretary of the Department, Sir Humphrey Appleby. Private secretary Bernard Woolley is caught in the middle, between his political master, and his civil service boss. —Tony Lammens <lammens@connexus.apana.org.au>

minister british government british politics bureaucrat bureaucracy 30 more

Trivia
The writers had advisors who worked within the government and many of the stories were based on real situations. For example, in season three, episode four, "The Moral Dimension", they go to an Arab country where alcohol is not allowed, and so they set up a "communications room" in the embassy where they keep a stash of booze so they could slip out and have a drink. This really happened.

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

Quotes
Bernard Woolley: It makes me feel rather downcast. If it's our job to implement Government Policies, shouldn't we believe in them?
Sir Humphrey Appleby: What an extraordinary thing to say.
Bernard Woolley: Why?
Sir Humphrey Appleby: Bernard, I have served 11 Governments in the last 30 years, if I believed in all their policies, I would have been passionately commited to keeping out of the Common Market and passionately committed to going into it, I would've been utterly convinced of the rightness of Nationalising Steel, and of denationalising it, and renationalising it. On Capital Punishment I would have been a fervent retentionist and an ardent Abolitionist, I would have been a Keynesian and a Friedmanite, a Grammar School Destroyer and Preserver, a Nationalisation Freak and a Privatisation Maniac, but above all, I would have been a stark, staring, raving Schizophrenic!

Alternate versions
The pilot version of the first episode, "Open Government", was released on the UK DVD release of Series 1. It differs from the broadcast version in having different, cheaper-looking titles and different theme music (composed by Max Harris with Sidney Margo).

Connections
Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #8.4 (1995)

Top review

Amazing acting and excellent writing

I love the way the writers, Anthony Jay and Jonathon Lynn, wrote the characters of Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey Appleby. Jim is shown to be a weak, indecisive politician eager to change his mind to keep the voters happy, yet the audience love him. Humphrey is shown as a dominating, power-mad, scheming civil servant and yet the audience love him too! It's wonderful. And of course poor Bernard who is stuck in the middle, always a little unsure as to where his loyalties lie. As well as the excellent writing, the programmes wouldn't work without the wonderful talent of Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne and Derek Fowlds. After watching just one or two episodes one thinks that the actors were born to play their parts! A must for future politicians!

helpful•35

0

SaturdayNightFry
Jun 25, 2005

What party does Jim Hacker represent?

Release date
- February 25, 1980 (United Kingdom)
Country of origin
- United Kingdom
Language
- English
Also known as
- 部長大人
Filming locations
- Westminster, London, England, UK
Production company
- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
30 minutes
Color
- Color
Sound mix
- Mono
Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1

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Nigel Hawthorne, Paul Eddington, and Derek Fowlds in Yes Minister (1980)

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