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

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Yes Minister. James Hacker (Paul Eddington). Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1980 - 1984
Channel
BBC Two
Episodes
22 (3 series), plus 1 short insert
Stars
Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds, Diana Hoddinott and Neil Fitzwiliam
Writers
Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn
Directors
Sydney Lotterby and Peter Whitmore
Producers
Sydney Lotterby and Peter Whitmore
Company

Jim Hacker, Member of Parliament, is appointed to the Cabinet as Minister For Administrative Affairs. There he is introduced to Bernard Woolley, his Principal Private Secretary, and the Civil Service's head of the deparment, Permanent Secretary Humphrey Appleby.

Once ensconced in his ministry, Hacker is forced to fight Appleby, not to mention the Whitehall machine at large, at every turn in order to get his own way - and soon finds that manifesto promises are far harder to keep than anyone might have guessed.

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Additional details

Part of

Yes Minister

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Monday 25th February 1980 at 9pm on BBC Two
Most recent repeats
  • Sunday 31st December 2023 at 1:40am on BBC4 - Special
  • Sunday 24th December 2023 at 8:30pm on BBC4 - Special
  • Tuesday 19th December 2023 at 8:30pm on BBC4 - Series 3, Episode 7

Recording details

  • BBC Television Centre

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