Yes Minister
- TV sitcom
- BBC Two
- 1980 - 1984
- 22 episodes (3 series)
Political satire in which well-meaning MP Jim Hacker has a fast introduction to the world of Whitehall and must then struggle against the Civil Service. Stars Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds, Diana Hoddinott and Neil Fitzwiliam
- Special repeated Tuesday at 9:40pm on BBC4
Streaming rank this week: 517
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 5 - The Writing On The Wall
Jim's latest drive to slim down the Civil Service has won favour with both the PM and Cabinet colleagues, but Sir Humphrey is bitterly opposed to the plans. However, the pair are forced to put the disagreement aside when it becomes apparent that they could both be adversely affected.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Monday 24th March 1980
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
| Paul Eddington | James Hacker |
| Nigel Hawthorne | Sir Humphrey Appleby |
| Derek Fowlds | Bernard Woolley |
| Neil Fitzwiliam | Frank Weisel |
| Tenniel Evans | Martin (Foreign Secretary) |
| John Savident | Sir 'Jumbo' Frederick |
| Daniel Moynihan | Daniel Hughes (Prime Minister's Senior Policy Adviser) |
| Antony Jay | Writer |
| Jonathan Lynn | Writer |
| Sydney Lotterby | Director |
| Sydney Lotterby | Producer |
| Neil Pittaway | Editor |
| Tom Yardley-Jones | Production Designer |
| Ronnie Hazlehurst | Composer |
Press
Brexit vote makes Yes Minister clip go viral
In the episode "The Writing on the Wall", Permanent Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby patiently explains to minister Jim Hacker precisely why Britain has such a vexed relationship with the EU. "Minister, Britain has had the same foreign policy objective for at least the last five hundred years: to create a disunited Europe," he says.
James Gill, Radio Times, 24th June 2016