Yes, Prime Minister 

James Hacker was propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of politics - Number 10.

Stars:

Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds

Top Rated TV #180 | 5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
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

Storyline

Following on from Yes Minister, Jim Hacker is now Prime Minister and Sir Humphrey Appleby is Cabinet Secretary. Bernard is also along for the ride, as Hacker's personal secretary. As in their previous roles, their jobs often devolve into a battle of agendas, ideals, wills and wits between Hacker and Sir Humphrey.

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Plot Keywords:

sequel | satire | british humour | 1980s | british prime minister | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 January 1986 (UK)

Also Known As:

Javisst, herr premiärminister

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (16 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It is noticeable throughout the run of this show, (and particularly in the second series) that in most of Paul Eddington's scenes, he is sitting down. This was due to the fact that Eddington's health had begun to deteriorate and production changes had to be made to accommodate his condition.

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Quotes

James Hacker: I know exactly who reads the papers. The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country. The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country. The Times is read by people who actually do run the country. The Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country. The Financial Times is read by people who own the country. The Morning Star is read by the people who think the country should be run by another country. And the Daily Telegraph is read by ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Comedy Connections: Yes Minister (2008)

User Reviews

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.