# Yes, Prime Minister (1986)

> A bumbling minister rises to No. 10 Downing Street only to be outwitted at every turn by his cunning civil servant.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/11746

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 16
- Episode runtime: 30 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy
- Created by: Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn
- Network: BBC Two
- Cast: Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds, Donald Pickering, Frederick Treves, John Nettleton, Deborah Norton, Ludovic Kennedy
- TMDB rating: 8.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086831/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: witty, sardonic, deadpan, irreverent, cynical

## What critics say

Acclaimed as a sharp, witty political satire whose razor-edged dialogue between Hacker and Sir Humphrey keeps its bite.

## Synopsis

Yes, Prime Minister (1986-1988) is a British political sitcom created by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn for BBC Two, running two seasons of sixteen half-hour episodes. Paul Eddington plays James Hacker, a bumbling Government minister for Administrative Affairs who is promoted to the very top job at No. 10 Downing Street. Nigel Hawthorne is his formidable Permanent Private Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby, a civil servant who serves as both guide and obstacle, and Derek Fowlds plays the put-upon aide Bernard Woolley caught between them. The engine of each episode is a battle of wits: Hacker wants to push through a policy, and Humphrey uses polite stalling, euphemism and bureaucratic procedure to steer him elsewhere. Each episode is built from a sequence of briefings, cabinet manoeuvres and private office negotiations that expose the gap between political rhetoric and governing. The tone is witty, sardonic and deadpan, with a satirical edge toward Westminster and Whitehall. Fans of Yes, Minister, The Thick of It and Blackadder will find resonance in its verbal sparring and its affectionate cynicism about power. Its dialogue-driven comedy rewards close attention and repeat viewing.

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