Yes, Prime Minister The Complete Series 1 (DVD)

Party Games finishes with the Hon Jim Hacker being promoted up to become the Prime Minister. With this we also see Sir Humphrey Applegate and Bernard Wooley move up into the higher echelon of the British establishment. It is so strange how even after 25 years that the issue are the same. This is must watch viewing for today! In 2004 Yes Minister / Prime Minister, came sixth in Britain's Best Sitcom's of all time. The 6 series which were made by the ...
...produced by the BBC.

Yes Prime Minister revolves round the plot of a minister who is frustrated at every move by the Civil Service. The series was inspired by the diaries of Richard Crossman circa 1964. These were dominated by Crossman's constant struggle with Dame Evelyn Sharp, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

Jim Hacker [Paul Eddington], is now the Prime Minister, and is articulatly ... more

Party Games finishes with the Hon Jim Hacker being promoted up to become the Prime Minister. With this we also see Sir Humphrey Applegate and Bernard Wooley move up into the higher echelon of the British establishment. It is so strange how even after 25 years that the issue are the same. This is must watch viewing for today! In 2004 Yes Minister / Prime Minister, came sixth in Britain's Best Sitcom's of all time. The 6 series which were made by the BBC has went down as probably the best comedy ever produced by the BBC.

Yes Prime Minister revolves round the plot of a minister who is frustrated at every move by the Civil Service. The series was inspired by the diaries of Richard Crossman circa 1964. These were dominated by Crossman's constant struggle with Dame Evelyn Sharp, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

Jim Hacker [Paul Eddington], is now the Prime Minister, and is articulatly assisted and hindered at every turn my his two primary officials Sir Humphrey Applegate [Nigel Hawthorne] now the cabinet secretary and Bernard Wooley [Derek Fowlds].

Sir Humphrey, uses his unique and flamboyant turn of language to stonewall his incompetent minister and dissuade him from achieving anything other than what is the pre-decided civil service policy for the country. Sir Humphrey is the master strategist and tactical implementer of his directions. Bernard is a somewhat less forceful and almost more simple character, who moves between wanting to support the Prime Minister, though never forgetting where his true allegiance lies, namely in towing the civil service line.

The Rt Hon Jim Hacker PM, is a superbly casted role played so well by Paul Eddigton, he blunders along being tugged this way and that by the machine, but as the series and subsequent series unfold, we see him learn the ways of the true masters of Whitehall, and turning their tactics devastatingly on them. Yet Jim is never, ever, really in control, its normally only temporary and illusional.

Tony Benn is reputed to have described the series as a the absolute example of the way he was frustrated by the civil service. Margaret Thatcher often publicly stated it was her favorite TV programme.

The Episodes
=============

1. The Grand Design

The newly appointed Jim Hacker PM, has decide that he is going to really tackle something, and comes up with the idea of getting rid of Trident, and bringing in the conscription to solve unemployment an education issues. Shelved though until he returns from America.

2. The Ministerial Broadcast

Hacker is back for America and can hardly keep awake. Cabinet support vanishes as the Civil Service mafia get to action. We see one of the best sections on the manipulated pole, can we ever again accept them! Again the Grand Design goes onto the back burner.

3. The Smoke Screen

The PM wants to cut £1.5bn from taxes. At the cricket match Sir Humphrey gets awfully drunk in the VIP booth of the British Tobacco Group (BTG). Jim moves up a gear as he out maneuvers the civil service for once.

4. The Key

Probably the funniest episode ever produced. Sir Humphrey is humbled when he is refused entry and eventually has his key removed from him. Sir Humphrey is further brought to heel as his position as head of the civil service is questioned. Finally Sir Humphrey has been brought to heel.

5. A Real Partnership

The country is faced with a financial crisis and this just at the time when MPs are looking for a pay rise not to mention the civil service. How will Sir Humphrey secure what's needed for the service and fight off the threat to his position as its head. Bribe the PM!

6. A Victory for Democracy

The American Ambassador is talking about East Yemen and he also murmured something about St. George's Island part of the Commonwealth. The service is plotting the demise of a nation. However the astute Hacker scuppers them with a Battalion of Paratroops.

7. The Bishops Gambit

Hacker is manipulated to appoint a Bishop, does he believe in God, hardly an issue for the establishment. Meanwhile Sir Humphrey gets ride to an impediment to his live outside the service as a Master of Bailey.

8. One of us

Sir Humphrey is under suspicion as he cleared a spy who had been a head of MI6, will this result in Sir Humphrey being sent on "Gardening Leave". Meanwhile the country is captivated by the dog stuck in a minefield.

Extras
=====

Artist profiles

Conclusion
=========

Despite being nearly 25 years of age, the series and subsequent series are so very current to today's politics. The watcher indeed might feel that they are watching a current docu soap. This and the follow-ups are a must see, not to be missed. The Series deserves much more than just 5 starts, I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

One thing I didn't like was the double sided DVD pack that came, no reason why it could not be supplied as two CD's.

Certificate: PG
200 mins approx
 

...less