JIM HACKER: Bernard, Sir Humphrey is not God!
BERNARD WOOLLEY: Will you tell him or shall I?
When I first saw 'Yes Minister' many moons ago, my initial reaction was: "This will never catch on. It is too good.". Making fun of politicians on television was not new then, of course - 'T.W.3' ( which Antony Jay contributed to ) did it two nearly decades earlier - but this was, I think, the first time anyone had done it on this scale, albeit with fictional rather than real ones.
The premise is this; the well-meaning but naive Jim Hacker ( Paul Eddington ) is appointed Minister of Administrative Affairs. Though he has sound ideas, such as cutting government waste and ending bureaucracy, he is undermined at every turn by Sir Humphrey Appleby ( Nigel Hawthorne ). Jim is basically a figurehead, the real power lies with unelected civil servants. The show got much comic mileage out of the elusive gobbledegook spouted by politicians, and skilfully avoided naming Jim's party. but I think there was no doubt in anyone's mind as to which one it was.
The superb titles featured caricatures of the cast done in his inimitable style by Gerald Scarfe. Ronnie Hazlehurst's theme was suitably bombastic, if a little similar to the one he did for 'To The Manor Born'.
Along with Jay, the other writer was Jonathan Lynn, an ex-cast member ( and contributing writer to ) L.W.T.'s 'Doctor' series. Together they came up with some outstandingly literate scripts, which were then impeccably delivered by the cast. Hawthorne's 'Sir Humphrey' in particular was a marvellous comic creation, being charming and sinister at the same time. Hacker's habit of turning into Churchill regularly creased me up. Derek Fowlds likewise was hilarious as 'Bernard Woolley', who, while not actually stupid had an unfortunate habit of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
The show caught on, won dozens of awards ( particularly for Hawthorne ), and was a surprise hit in Australia. I suppose that it was because politicians are much the same wherever you go.
I do not know how accurate this depiction of British politics is. If, as was alleged, Ministers are nothing more helpless puppets in the hands of skillful manipulators such as Sir Humphrey, then the democracy in which we live is a sham. This subversive ( not to say depressing ) message could not have hit home with the then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who pronounced herself a fan, and even participated in a specially-written sketch at which Mary Whitehouse was in attendance. Eddington and Hawthorne were not keen to do it, apparently, feeling she was exploiting the show's success.
One of the best episodes was 'Skeleton In The Cupboard' in which Sir Humphrey's involvement in an old scandal comes to light. It was fun to see the tables turned for once, as poor Humph breaks down in front of the Minister. In another, Jim and Humph were at a reception in the Middle East ( where alcohol is not allowed ) and kept sneaking off to a fake communications rooms to imbibe. But easily the best episode was 'Party Games', an extended special which finally propelled Hacker into No.10. Everything about it, from Jim using a minor issue ( the E.U.'s renaming of sausages ) as a crusade to the blackmailing of potential Prime Ministerial candidates, felt right. Ludovic Kennedy obviously struggled to keep a straight face during the interview.
Three seasons were made, followed by a sequel 'Yes, Prime Minister' which was, in my view, not as good. Eddington and Hawthorne are sadly no longer with us, but fortunately the repeats are. Unlike other sitcoms of the period, this has not in any way 'dated'. Its themes are as relevant as ever.
With all the hoo-ha over honours recently, it seems strange no-one has questioned as to how Jay got a knighthood ( as well as co-writing 'Minister', he also penned speeches for Thatcher ) while Lynn did not. Surely he is just as responsible for the show's success? Perhaps him being openly left-wing had something to do with it.
I will leave the last word to an outraged 'Points Of View' letter-writer. When the first season was being repeated, he/she wrote to Barry Took's show to complain, adding: "If this is the way the country is being run, I would rather not know about it!".
BERNARD WOOLLEY: Will you tell him or shall I?
When I first saw 'Yes Minister' many moons ago, my initial reaction was: "This will never catch on. It is too good.". Making fun of politicians on television was not new then, of course - 'T.W.3' ( which Antony Jay contributed to ) did it two nearly decades earlier - but this was, I think, the first time anyone had done it on this scale, albeit with fictional rather than real ones.
The premise is this; the well-meaning but naive Jim Hacker ( Paul Eddington ) is appointed Minister of Administrative Affairs. Though he has sound ideas, such as cutting government waste and ending bureaucracy, he is undermined at every turn by Sir Humphrey Appleby ( Nigel Hawthorne ). Jim is basically a figurehead, the real power lies with unelected civil servants. The show got much comic mileage out of the elusive gobbledegook spouted by politicians, and skilfully avoided naming Jim's party. but I think there was no doubt in anyone's mind as to which one it was.
The superb titles featured caricatures of the cast done in his inimitable style by Gerald Scarfe. Ronnie Hazlehurst's theme was suitably bombastic, if a little similar to the one he did for 'To The Manor Born'.
Along with Jay, the other writer was Jonathan Lynn, an ex-cast member ( and contributing writer to ) L.W.T.'s 'Doctor' series. Together they came up with some outstandingly literate scripts, which were then impeccably delivered by the cast. Hawthorne's 'Sir Humphrey' in particular was a marvellous comic creation, being charming and sinister at the same time. Hacker's habit of turning into Churchill regularly creased me up. Derek Fowlds likewise was hilarious as 'Bernard Woolley', who, while not actually stupid had an unfortunate habit of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
The show caught on, won dozens of awards ( particularly for Hawthorne ), and was a surprise hit in Australia. I suppose that it was because politicians are much the same wherever you go.
I do not know how accurate this depiction of British politics is. If, as was alleged, Ministers are nothing more helpless puppets in the hands of skillful manipulators such as Sir Humphrey, then the democracy in which we live is a sham. This subversive ( not to say depressing ) message could not have hit home with the then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who pronounced herself a fan, and even participated in a specially-written sketch at which Mary Whitehouse was in attendance. Eddington and Hawthorne were not keen to do it, apparently, feeling she was exploiting the show's success.
One of the best episodes was 'Skeleton In The Cupboard' in which Sir Humphrey's involvement in an old scandal comes to light. It was fun to see the tables turned for once, as poor Humph breaks down in front of the Minister. In another, Jim and Humph were at a reception in the Middle East ( where alcohol is not allowed ) and kept sneaking off to a fake communications rooms to imbibe. But easily the best episode was 'Party Games', an extended special which finally propelled Hacker into No.10. Everything about it, from Jim using a minor issue ( the E.U.'s renaming of sausages ) as a crusade to the blackmailing of potential Prime Ministerial candidates, felt right. Ludovic Kennedy obviously struggled to keep a straight face during the interview.
Three seasons were made, followed by a sequel 'Yes, Prime Minister' which was, in my view, not as good. Eddington and Hawthorne are sadly no longer with us, but fortunately the repeats are. Unlike other sitcoms of the period, this has not in any way 'dated'. Its themes are as relevant as ever.
With all the hoo-ha over honours recently, it seems strange no-one has questioned as to how Jay got a knighthood ( as well as co-writing 'Minister', he also penned speeches for Thatcher ) while Lynn did not. Surely he is just as responsible for the show's success? Perhaps him being openly left-wing had something to do with it.
I will leave the last word to an outraged 'Points Of View' letter-writer. When the first season was being repeated, he/she wrote to Barry Took's show to complain, adding: "If this is the way the country is being run, I would rather not know about it!".