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

User Rating:

9.1/10   

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

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

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

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (as she then as) was a great fan of the series.

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)

extremely funny BBC political comedy series

Jim Hacker is England's Prime Minister. He does have some good ideas, but Sir Humphrey -- played by Nigel Hawthorne -- always makes sure that none of Jim's ideas are realized. Jim Hacker is a Tory, alright, but he is in fact more of a liberal man -- that keeps Sir Humphrey busy, who would do anything to keep the UK from adopting progressive politics. Of course, Jim himself does have some serious flaws himself, not so much on the political, but rather on the personal side -- this makes Sir Humphrey's "job" a lot easier.

Nigel Hawthorne spreads the same kind of Tory charm that he does in _Her Majesty Mrs Brown_, where he interprets D'Israeli. _Yes PM_ is for those who like a bit of politics and LOTS of humour: the eternal fight between progress (Jim, his wife, Dorothy) and reaction (Sir Humphrey and Bernard, Hacker's secretary, who's always driving the others mad with his speeches on Latin and Greek grammar...)