UK Gold - Yes, Prime Minister

Incredible as it might seem, it's 25 years since Yes, Minister was first broadcast on BBC TV. The first episode was broadcast on February 25th 1980, and the final episode went out in January 1988. Yet its trio of parliamentary protagonists - Jim Hacker, Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley - and their governmental shenanigans still comes across as both familiar and contemporary. You can just as easily see Tony Blair, John Prescott and Gordon Brown quibbling and manoeuvring their way around Whitehall in the time honoured tradition so eloquently portrayed in this classic sit-com. Anthony Jay ... more

Thatcher, in one of her more lucid moments, called this one of the funniest TV programmes she'd ever seen, if perhaps a little understated! It follows on from the 3 series of 'Yes Minister', which depict Minister for Administrative Affairs, Jim Hacker, and his tussles with his Permanent Secretary Sir Humphrey whilst Private Secretary Bernard tries to keep in with both sides. The Christmas Special then covered Sir Humphrey's promotion to cabinet secretary and Jim's accession to the premiership (taking Bernard with him as Private Sec.). Yes Prime Minister follows on from this special with 16 ... more

This political comedy series is still as funny now as it was when it was first written and shows just how little politics has changed over the years. Almost all of the political policies and arguments are still relevant and this is one of the all time funniest comedy series ever written. The late Paul Eddington is magnificent as Jim Hacker and Nigel Hawthorne and Derek Fowlds as the civil servants who look after him are wonderful. Nigel Hawthorne's Sir Humphrey Appleby is the wordy thorn in the PM's side and there exchanges are among the finest ever written. This truly is a timeless classic ... more