Yes Minister. Image shows from L to R: James Hacker (Paul Eddington), Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne), Bernard Woolley (Derek Fowlds). Copyright: BBC
Yes Minister

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

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 464

Episode menu

Series 3, Episode 3 - The Skeleton In The Cupboard

The Minister is dismayed when he is instructed that he must discipline the most efficient borough council in the country for having failed to return a few statistical surveys to Whitehall. A visit to Scotland's past offers up the perfect opportunity to reach a compromise.

Preview clips

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 25th November 1982
Time
9pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Tuesday 25th October 2011 10:40am Gold
Tuesday 25th October 2011 5:20pm Gold
Friday 11th May 2012 11:50pm Gold
Saturday 12th May 2012 2:00am Gold
Friday 31st August 2012 12:20pm Gold
Friday 31st August 2012 7:00pm Gold
Thursday 24th January 2013 8:20pm Gold
Thursday 24th January 2013 11:40pm Gold
Saturday 27th July 2013 9:20am Gold
Friday 27th September 2013 6:20pm Gold
Saturday 28th September 2013 10:20am Gold
Saturday 1st March 2014 11:00pm Gold
Sunday 2nd March 2014 2:05am Gold
Thursday 24th April 2014 9:40am Gold
Friday 25th April 2014 6:45am Gold
Tuesday 7th April 2015 3:20pm Gold
Wednesday 29th July 2015 3:50pm BBC2
Tuesday 4th August 2015 2:35pm BBC2
Saturday 31st October 2015 9:40am Gold
Friday 25th December 2015 3:00am Gold
Wednesday 6th April 2016 10:40pm Yesterday
Tuesday 6th September 2016 9:55pm Yesterday
Wednesday 7th September 2016 8:35pm Yesterday
Thursday 15th September 2016 2:45pm BBC2
Thursday 16th February 2017 3:40pm Yesterday
Thursday 16th February 2017 9:40pm Yesterday
Sunday 23rd April 2017 10:40pm Yesterday
Monday 24th April 2017 3:40pm Yesterday
Tuesday 31st October 2017 7:30am Gold
Tuesday 13th February 2018 7:25am Gold
Tuesday 13th July 2021 8:00pm BBC4
Tuesday 28th November 2023 8:40pm BBC4

Cast & crew

Cast
Paul Eddington James Hacker
Nigel Hawthorne Sir Humphrey Appleby
Derek Fowlds Bernard Woolley
Guest cast
John Pennington Peter (Civil Servant)
Rosemary Williams Gillian (Civil Servant)
Ian Lavender Dr Cartwright
Donald Gee Alex Andrews (Daily Mail Reporter)
Writing team
Antony Jay Writer
Jonathan Lynn Writer
Production team
Peter Whitmore Director
Peter Whitmore Producer
Ian Williams Editor
Gary Pritchard Production Designer
Ronnie Hazlehurst Composer

Video

Complete confidence - Yes Minister

Woolley explains the nature of confidential discussions to Hacker.

Featuring: Paul Eddington (James Hacker) & Derek Fowlds (Bernard Woolley).

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