Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Original poster

I have just discovered Yes, Minister

103 replies

Andylion · 09/11/2023 17:19

And Yes, Prime Minister.

Why did I wait so long? I have developed a crush on Nigel Hawthorne, (or maybe Humpy).

My favourite episode is The Key, from Yes, PM. They took time throughout the series setting up Sir H as a smoothly conniving character so that when he does become unhinged, it is a sight to behold. (I know he loses it in other episodes as well, but this is the best.)

I know there must be other fans out there. What are your favourite bits?

OP posts:
hellosolly · 10/11/2023 16:52

"The Universities. Both of them..."

SisyphusDad · 10/11/2023 17:00

The greatest documentary the BBC ever produced!

KimberleyClark · 11/11/2023 07:38

I love the one where Hacker tells Bernard how to avoid answering awkward questions from the press.

  1. Attack the question
  2. Attack the questioner
  3. Answer a different question
  4. I’ll answer that question in 7 points -questioner won’t let you past point 1

I don’t recall the full list unfortunately but I see politicians doing the above all the time.

tealgate · 11/11/2023 07:59

The first two series of Yes Minister are on BBC Sounds if you like the audio version.

megletthesecond · 30/12/2023 16:38

Heads up, there's almost back to back Yes, Minister on That's TV (channel 7?) until New Years Day. Been binging on it.

"Even the Mail can't blame you for something that happened in the 1950's." 😁

festivetinseling · 30/12/2023 17:43

noblegiraffe · 09/11/2023 22:28

I use that opinion poll sketch in my maths lessons to teach about biased surveys.

Whenever I see any kind of opinion poll statistics, I have that sketch in the back of my mind every single time.😂

PerkingFaintly · 30/12/2023 17:50

Me too!

PerkingFaintly · 30/12/2023 17:52

BronwenFrideswide · 09/11/2023 21:26

Just remembered another episode I love back in the Yes Minister series when Sir Humphrey had royally fucked up regarding the sale of a Government installation on a Scottish Island when he was a junior civil servant and the whole sorry saga was about to be released due to the 30 year rule and Jim Hacker crying with laughter and Bernard trying desperately not to when they discovered that the mystery junior civil servant was Sir Humphrey. Jim then trying to keep a straight face when he let Sir Humphrey off the hook. One of the few times he got one over him. Sublime writing and acting.

Is that the one containing the immortal exchange (from memory):

Bernard (putting down phone): Sir Humphrey's just coming round.
Jim: Why, did he faint?

choirmumoftwo · 30/12/2023 17:55

They're fabulous series. My DS is a civil servant in private office and assured me that it's very true to life even now!!!

clarepetal · 30/12/2023 18:03

PerkingFaintly · 09/11/2023 17:31

Hacker: Don't tell me about the press. I know exactly who reads the papers. The Daily Mirroris read by people who think they run the country; The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country; The Times is read by the people who actually do run the country; the Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country; the Financial Times is read by people who own the country; the Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country, and the Daily Telegraph is read by people who think it is.
Sir Humphrey: Prime Minister, what about the people who read The Sun?
Bernard: Sun readers don't care who runs the country, as long as she's got big tits.

I need to watch this!

BronwenFrideswide · 30/12/2023 18:13

I think so Perking. I love it when Jim tells Bernard that it is not funny then cracking up.

Cotswoldbee · 30/12/2023 18:17

Loved watching them at the time and as I have the DVD box set I give them a viewing from time to time, most recently just a few months ago.

It was always said that they were more true to life than many would care to admit, nowadays they probably look a little tame.

cakeorwine · 31/12/2023 13:56

That's a courageous decision.

It is interesting to hear some of the policies being discussed - National Education Service, smoking, EU discussions, arms trade, NHS efficiency....

Love this programme

Crikeyalmighty · 31/12/2023 14:28

@PerkingFaintly as true as ever!!!love both yes minister and the Thick of it .

Wavinginthewind · 31/12/2023 17:58

I love the episode where the French president’s gift of a puppy for the Queen causes masses of problems over quarantine regulations.

Bernard: No, we can't have alphabetical seating in the Abbey. You'd have Iraq and Iran next to each other. Plus Israel and Jordan all sitting in the same pew. We'd be in danger of starting World War III. I know Ireland begins with an 'I' but no! Ireland doesn't make it any better; Ireland doesn't make anything any better.

It's reassuring that nothing really changes. 😁

cakeorwine · 31/12/2023 18:06

Just watched the one where the Ex Head of MI5 was a Russian spy. Humphrey had had an inquiry into him. It's suggested he takes "Gardening leave"

"How's the garden?"

"Oh, it's fine"

Then it dawns on him

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 31/12/2023 21:41

cakeorwine · 31/12/2023 18:06

Just watched the one where the Ex Head of MI5 was a Russian spy. Humphrey had had an inquiry into him. It's suggested he takes "Gardening leave"

"How's the garden?"

"Oh, it's fine"

Then it dawns on him

I may have posted this before, but I also love in the same episode when it dawns on him that they're accusing him of syping that his defence that he couldn't possibly have been a spy is: "But I'm a married man! And I was at OXFORD!"

BronwenFrideswide · 31/12/2023 22:42

The references to Oxford always made me smile, the story about the motorways to Oxford and the only recent two lane M11 to Cambridge, and the degrees and how any degree from Oxford is higher than any degree from any other University.

doodleZ1 · 31/12/2023 22:51

Yes and Humphrey was asked to come and see the PM to discuss the Scottish island issue, in the next few days, then that was immediately changed to sometime today and then down to he wants to see you in the next few seconds!

CurlewKate · 02/01/2024 20:52

It's amazing. You can see where The Thick Of It came from....

Toddlerteaplease · 02/01/2024 20:56

DogInATent · 09/11/2023 17:59

"So what is the last resort? - Piccadilly? Watford Gap Service Station? The Reform Club?"

That's on as I type. Hilarious!

Toddlerteaplease · 02/01/2024 20:56

Currently on BBC4

CurlewKate · 02/01/2024 21:49

@murasaki "Love it, I too have a copy of the scripts somewhere. We frequently use 'courageous decision minister ' in our house when the other one has suggested something stupid."

So do we!

Wigeon · 02/01/2024 22:01

murasaki · 09/11/2023 23:17

Love it, I too have a copy of the scripts somewhere. We frequently use 'courageous decision minister ' in our house when the other one has suggested something stupid.

One of my favourite bits:

Sir Humphrey: Well briefly, sir, I am the Permanent Under Secretary of State, known as the Permanent Secretary. Woolley here is your Principal Private Secretary. I, too, have a Principal Private Secretary, and he is the Principal Private Secretary to the Permanent Secretary. Directly responsible to me are ten Deputy Secretaries, 87 Under Secretaries and 219 Assistant Secretaries. Directly responsible to the Principal Private Secretaries are plain Private Secretaries, and the Prime Minister will be appointing two Parliamentary Under-Secretaries and you will be appointing your own Parliamentary Private Secretary.

Hacker: Can they all type?

Sir Humphrey: None of us can type, Minister. Mrs Mackay types: she's the secretary.

Yup, love that secretaries quote. Plus the whole of both series (YM and YPM).

Civil servant for 20 years here and totally agree how true it still is.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/01/2024 22:17

Tired and emotional .... as a newt