Henry Goodman & David Haig confirmed for new 'Yes, Prime Minister'
It has been confirmed that David Haig and Henry Goodman will play Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey Appleby, respectively, in the new Yes, Prime Minister TV series.
The hit 1980s political sitcom is returning to TV after a break of more than 24 years as part of digital channel GOLD's investment into new home grown comedy. The popular satire originally starred Paul Eddington as well meaning politician Jim Hacker, with Nigel Hawthorne as his scheming Permanent Secretary, Humphrey Appleby.
The scripts for the new 6-episode series - written by original creators Sir Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn - are based on the 2010 stage revival of the popular comedy, in which Goodman and Haig starred.
The writers describe the premise as follows: "Rt. Hon Jim Hacker back is in office as PM, leading a coalition government confronting the greatest economic crisis in a generation, European economies going down the toilet, a leadership crisis with his coalition partners, a Scottish independence referendum and the greatest moral dilemma he has ever faced."
GOLD boss Steve North commented at the time of the commission: "GOLD is making a great investment into iconic and original British programming and what better place to start than with the timely return of the nation's greatest satire: Yes, Prime Minister. I'm a huge fan of the original and it's a real treat to be able to bring this utterly brilliant series to a whole new generation."
Yes, Prime Minister isn't the only classic sitcom due to be revived this year. GOLD's sister channel, Dave, has recently completed filming a new tenth series of Red Dwarf.
The new series of Yes, Prime Minister will be recorded on Sundays from 19th August at BBC TV Centre. Free tickets to be in the audience have been released. Fans are advised to book quickly as demand is likely to be high.
Henry Goodman is best known as a stage actor, and won the Olivier award in 1993 for his role in Stephen Sondheim's musical Assassins. Meanwhile David Haig, also an Olivier award-winner, is perhaps best known to TV comedy fans as Inspector Grim in The Thin Blue Line.
As recently reported, Haig starred in the pilot episode of Ben Elton's new health & safety department set BBC One sitcom Slings & Arrows, which was recorded at Teddington Studios on Saturday.
Here's the trailer for the stage show, featuring Goodman and Haig in action: