Sir Humphrey Appleby, the popular Yes Minister character, is to return to TV after more than 20 years. Sir Antony Jay, the co-writer of the classic political sitcom, has penned three special election sketches for BBC Two's Newsnight.

The new sketches observe Sir Humphrey Appleby, a senior civil servant who is a master of obfuscation and manipulation, grappling with how the civil service should respond to party manifesto promises ahead of the arrival of the new minister.

The role of Sir Humphrey was made famous by Sir Nigel Hawthorne (pictured), who won four BAFTA awards for his portrayal of the scheming government official. Hawthorne passed away in 2001 of a heart attack, aged 72, and so for the new sketches the character of Sir Humphrey will be played by Henry Goodman, the actor who is also taking on the role in a forthcoming theatre production of Yes, Prime Minister. The stage production of the show is being directed by the sitcom's other co-writer, Jonathan Lynn, and will be on at the Chichester Festival Theatre between 13th May - 5th June.

Viewers can see the first of the new Yes Minister TV sketches in tonight's episode of Newsnight (26 April 2010), which starts on BBC Two at 10:30pm.

For more information about the sketches see the Newsnight website