Yes Minister (TV Series) Doing the Honours (1981) User Reviews

Another strong episode from a great series

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 9 April 2021]

Bernard gives Hacker an idea about civil service honours.

This is a very interesting episode that presents a cynical and plausible concept for the allocation of honorary titles, along with the financial implications of university places.

The plot follows the standard route that sees Hacker battling Sir Humphrey to get an initiative put into action. Along the way are lots of hilarious observations of how things work in the backscratching world of government.

My favourite scene is Sir Humphrey being pressurised by a more senior civil servant to ensure that he puts a stop to Hacker's ideas. Also, when we see Humphrey's master plan start coming to fruition it is quite amusing.

Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne and Derek Fowlds are excellent as always.

It's an honor

[safenoe · 9/10 · 27 December 2023]

Here Jim Hacker, the Minister for Administrative Affairs, is appalled about the idea of honors being granted for the sake of seniority, and he's on to something here as it happens in many countries.

Talking about honors (or honours as spelt in the United Kingdom), Jonathan Lynn co-created and co-wrote Yes, Minister with Antony Jay. Interestingly, Antony Jay received a knighthood to become Sir Antony Jay but to this day Jonathan Lynn hasn't. Yet Jonathan Lynn went on to direct Clue, Nuns on the Run, My Cousin Vinny, and The Whole Nine Yards so it's strange init that Jonathan has been overlooked for a knighthood.