5 Lessons from Sir Humphrey | Yes, Prime Minister | BBC Comedy Greats

Sir Humphrey has imparted many pearls of his own political wisdom to Bernard - here are some of our favourites.
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#Comedy #YesPrimeMinister

[@jimspink2922]

What do you want Bernard ? I want to have a clear conscience. A clear conscience ? Yes When did you acquire this taste for luxury ? Classic 🤣🤣🤣

[@boraradicevic1911]

😂😂😂

[@aleksanderfinstad5785]

😂😁🤣

[@solaodebunmi9492]

😂😂😂😅

[@apomekhanes297]

Sir Humphrey (Nigel Hawthorne) was phenomenal - the writing and Hawthorne's portrayal consistently excellent. But, "A clear conscience... when did you acquire this taste for luxuries?" is an absolute highlight. Hardest laugh I've had in the past month. I watched both series (YM and YPM) in their entirety some years ago, but didn't remember the details of this scene ... wasn't quite prepared for the level of perfection there. 🤣🤣🤣

[@jimspink2922]

@@apomekhanes297 There is another scence where Sir Humphrey is talking with Sir Arnold who having retired from the civil service was Chairman of the Freedom of Information Committie and Sir Humphrey ask him..How things were going at Freedom Of Information and Sir Arnold replies without missing a beat replies Sorry cannot say

[@georgefernandez7558]

"The universities, both of them ..." A gem.

[@maryasabeaashun201]

My fave!

[@briananthony4044]

The two he attended no doubt.

[@johnking5174]

It is the pause in the sentence which makes it even better. The universities ... both of them.

[@sevenpolar3483]

one day that joke might not be relevant anymore and people will wonder what universities Humfrey was talking about, the fact that the joke has survived so long is a testament to just how powerful those institutions are.

[@rotboy101]

@@sevenpolar3483 Oxford and Cambridge are the 2nd and 3rd oldest universities in the world. They've been around for centuries (800ish years) and will probably still be around for centuries to come.

[@GlasgowKissTwo]

“You need to get behind someone before you can stab them in the back” Wonderful writing and acting

[@AzguardMike]

Odo: you'd stab a man in the back? Garak: of course! its the safest way to be sure Sir Humphrey: Mr Garak, you excell yourself once again!

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

Just Garak... Plan, simple... ​@@AzguardMike

[@ministry_of_love]

9:11

[@iandhr1]

I’m an American and Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister is one of my favorite shows of all time. Two of my favorite Sir Humphrey lines are “controversial means this will cost you votes, courageous means this will cost you the election. And “half of them are your enemies and the other half for the sort of friends that make you prefer your enemies.”

[@MrBenzcdi]

Those are great! Mine is “a mistake can only be seen as such, at the time, without the benefit of hindsight”.

[@clairee4939]

“Minister, I don’t know what you don’t know, it could be almost anything” “The ship of state is the only ship that leaks from the top” “The Official Secrets Act isn’t there to protect secrets, it’s there to protect officials”

[@bobbrewer5182]

Favourite* Time for Americans to learn the English language.

[@iandhr1]

@@bobbrewer5182 "Yes, the English speaking nations can be said to include the United States....With a certain generosity of spirit. " - Bernard

[@clairee4939]

@@iandhr1 “two nations divided by a common language” Winston Churchill. Which just reminds me of when Hacker starts talking like Churchill lol

[@Mububban23]

Sir Humphrey really was the role of a lifetime. Such amazing writing, perfectly delivered every time

[@jeremythompson5322]

True, but I don't think the performance would have been as good without Hacker, or even Bernard. It's a role that doesn't really work in isolation.

[@kodhaivaradarajan2154]

All three of them. All three.

[@profdc9501]

The shows (Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister) were one of the few gems that provides an insight into political life. The West Wing was a more idealistic take on the executive. If only more voters understood how the sausage is made.

[@DomWeasel]

That's why the remake was so awful. None of the actors were any good with their roles and they had zero chemistry.

[@Mububban23]

@@DomWeasel There was a remake?!? never heard of it. I guess politics never changes really, but this show was absolute perfection so not sure why they bothered

[@tim7052]

Nigel Hawthorne acted as Sir Humphrey Appleby in both series. His mastery in faultlessly delivering complex speech, his diction and timing will always underpin this,his legacy. His delivery was so superb that he created in the Civil Service the vernacular of "doing an Appleby". Such a credit to the English language is very rarely coined: which is a testament to his brilliant acting skills!!! R.I.P Sir Nigel. 👍

[@annatamparow4917]

I have had the honour of meeting Nigel Hawthorne in his role of The Madness of George III, and he accepted my humble gift with a handwritten note which I treasure to this day! May he rest in eternal peace!

[@MrDarkweaver]

Let's not forget the writing he delivered so well. Nigel Hawthorne was part of a trio in that series that were absolutely perfectly cast, and each of them were brilliant. But the writing they delivered was comedic genius. How else can you explain something so funny, witty, and satrical about something as dry as minsterial politics?

[@MyMusic-cd3do]

One of the things that made this series outstanding was that they were theater actors. Nigel Hawthorne said that he could still remember many of the monologues years after the show. The writing was genius, the triple threat of Eddington, Hawthorne, and Fowlds and the relevance of the show made it one of the best series ever. I bought the box set of DVDs and never get tired of watching it.

[@tim7052]

@MyMusic-cd3do I bought the boxed set too!! Brilliant, and timeless, comedy!!

[@stavrosk.2868]

"Both of them" .....after 20 of 30 years, still cracks me up. Timeless. Classic.

[@saradhiv3467]

Could you care to explain the joke to the non-English? Thanks

[@johnwilliamson8110]

@@saradhiv3467 certainly, he is referring to Oxford and Cambridge. By implication he doesn’t regard anywhere else as a university.

[@saradhiv3467]

@@johnwilliamson8110 I understood which two Unis. Over the course of time, its shown that he favours his own alum and I thought he preferred one over the other and when he said "both of them" he was making a one time concession.

[@highvoltage7797]

@@saradhiv3467 Nah it’s what John said 😂

[@arcticchrisx7724]

@@saradhiv3467 it was more than that even. He only really regarded another chap as being of sound standing if he was an alumni of the exact same college within Oxford Uni.

[@psr0459]

"You must appear to offer them your full support. After all, you need to get behind someone before you can stab them in the back". …. 😂

[@MarKeMu125]

Keir Starmer vs Corbyn? Lolol

[@igregmart]

I served in NY (USA) state government law enforcement for 30 years until retiring from it about 10 years ago. I always made a point of watching all the episodes when they were released for both Yes PM and Yes Minister. They were very helpful in my government service ;)

[@Stinger913]

Based

[@miloholmans9665]

Bet you can still remember the first African American you hit 🤢🤢

[@TunaFreeDolphinMeat]

Still rate this as one of the best sitcoms ever made.

[@liamclarke5761]

Best political sitcom that is

[@Captn_Slow]

What? I thought it was a documentary!

[@siriondil4739]

After all these clips got recommended to me I finally started watching it in full, am almost done with series 2 of Yes, Minister now, and I fully agree. I think it’s certainly one of the finest comedies I’ve ever seen.

[@liamclarke5761]

@@siriondil4739 what about only fools and horses

[@greggweber9967]

A great primer for politics on both sides of the Pond.

[@Michelle_Schu-blacka]

A timeless classic. So well written albeit disturbingly close to reality, although today's politicians aren't this intelligent.

[@lauterunvollkommenheit4344]

Sir Humphrey isn't a politician.

[@Michelle_Schu-blacka]

@@lauterunvollkommenheit4344 It's a weird one because Civil Servants are effectively the government.

[@Your.Uncle.AngMoh]

@@lauterunvollkommenheit4344 Spot on.

[@raifthemad]

Both Bernard and Sir Humphrey are in fact unelected bueraucrats from civil service.

[@jesperengelbredt]

This should be shown to all kids in the higher grades in school to prepare them for the bullshit politicians are pulling all the time.

[@vhawk1951kl]

it just goes to show how easy it is to rig an opinion poll, and is done beautifully elegantly

[@damienocallaghan2648]

If Sir Humphrey was American he would ne DONALD TRUMP

[@vhawk1951kl]

@@damienocallaghan2648 those that abuse capital letters emphasise nothing but the hysteria of the abuser. I doubt someone with the wits of Sir Humphrey could possibly arise in America.

[@alfredthegreat9543]

​@@damienocallaghan2648 Eh? Appleby is highly intelligent, Trump is the only idiot in a village populated by baboons.

[@oliverschoneck7750]

Humphrey is far more intelligent and would be down right furious at being compared to that nincompoop.

[@Voron_Aggrav]

@@damienocallaghan2648 you made the poor chap roll in his grave... anyone with that level of sophistication and ability would after being compared to that...

[@Cloudberry46]

Apart from being one of the best series ever, it also stands as the best insight of how government works.

[@someb0dy2]

You mean how government STILL works.

[@lukashavel7690]

"I need to know everything." Great Palpatine moment there!

[@davidlingwood4873]

Nigel Hawthorn as Sir Humphrey is an absolute legend and genius. Superb performance and superb writing.😊

[@applejuice5272]

*Sir Humphrey:* "...the National Theatre into a carpet sale warehouse?" *Bernard:* "It looks like one, actually!" *Sir Humphrey:* "We gave the architect a knighthood so that nobody would ever say that!" 🤣🤣

[@Emilpoika]

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

[@JGalt-em4xu]

14:20 As an Oxford man, Sir Humphrey very broad minded to acknowledge the existence of a second university.

[@mhug162]

Not so suprising, Hull is a great instituition. Larkin, you know.

[@AthelstanEngland]

LOL very good sir... "both of them" one of the best lines of the whole series, short and concise compared to Sir Humphrey's regular soliloquies.

[@ruthmeb]

You spelled "better" incorrectly.

[@jkerman5113]

"The official secrets act is not to protect secrets, it is to protect officials."

[@passiveaggressive6175]

“Universities-both of them”😅 pure comedy gold

[@MarkJohnson-ro1ed]

Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister were marvellous documentaries!

[@julianaylor4351]

😁😆❤️

[@v1e1r1g1e1]

Yes... or, rather, exposes of what goes on behind closed doors.

[@AzguardMike]

according to the doccumentry, the episodes were based on leaks by three MP's close to the PM. So Humpy and Hacker saying Number 10 is the only ship that leaks from within, is very true

[@MarkJohnson-ro1ed]

@@AzguardMike It was worse than that. There were apparently several senior members of the civil service that were sending the writers all the background information that they needed on a regular basis.

[@mikethatguy2103]

Weve always loved this show. Back then it was political satire, watching it now seems like reality television. LOL. An extraordinary brilliant comedy.

[@raifthemad]

It was reality TV back then as well, the guy that Humphrey was based upon was cooperating with the writing staff and some of the events are based on actual ones, like getting drunk at the arabian reception for instance.

[@jtaylor8606]

Nigel Hawthorn really was a first class actor - absolute genius level performance.

[@jshaers96]

One thing that strikes me about this show is the length of the scenes - it's closer to theatre than TV. They go on for quite a long time but we don't really notice because they are so well-written and the actors know what they are doing and can keep the energy up. I doubt TV directors would allow a scene to last more than a couple of minutes now because they would be frightened of the audience getting bored. Most TV now is made so quickly that there's no time for rehearsal, so that if a longish scene works it will usually involve very experienced actors. Otherwise they will break up scenes and intercut them with other ones so that the time doesn't drag so much.

[@mdhazeldine]

This sitcom ages like a fine wine. With every government it becomes more like reality.

[@matthewparker9276]

It always was reality, governments have just gotten complacent in putting on a front.

[@silenciothequiet3471]

YPM wasn't entertainment, it's priceless life lessons about the reality of political power at the executive level.

[@Voron_Aggrav]

not just that, but also how to approach situations, that's the beauty, it works on any level of management as long as you can steer things

[@TheGrenadier97]

The very best of british comedy, no doubt about that.

[@maryasabeaashun201]

The very best of comedy, not just British. Period.

[@Haztagz]

40 years later .. and its scarily more accurate today .. Some shows are truly timeless

[@blackpoolbarmpot]

One of the best written, best acted, best researched comedy's of all time.

[@Johnny-dz6vl]

2022 and still relevant today. Brilliant 👏

[@trooperdgb9722]

Bernard.... come and sit down... LOL

[@timmygrace1]

a clear conscience, when did you acquire this taste for luxuries. 😂

[@sg_hokkien_opera]

One of my favorite all time shows! I rewatch the whole series every few years.

[@markgibbins4143]

Never grows old ,superb writing

[@warrenookland8169]

I have watched this dozens of times, both on TV and on line, it still holds up.

[@tariqsyed445]

One of the greatest series, ever ! Humor and truth, manipulated together, so brilliantly !! One of my favorites !!

[@andreashaynes3346]

Sir Humphrey in his element. Outstanding 😂👍

[@lamaisontokyo4696]

Funny because intelligent. One of my favourite shows.

[@coolersmoke]

"The Universities.. both of them" 😀 The very best script writing of all time.

[@petermostyneccleston2884]

"The Universities, Both of them." I always thought that Sir Humphrey was wrong about that, having lived near Oxford, I have only been able to count 1 University.

[@diestormlie]

That just goes to show the even-handed, far-sighted nature of the Civil Service.

[@mistywolf312]

My American friend was confused as to why i wasn't worried about Boris resigning, I told him to watch some yes minister clips on KZbin, he came back to me with, but its a comedy and I replied so was MASH ! Now he understands.

[@arturs2436]

Not to be surprised but Dame (and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) Margaret Tatcher was a big fan and loyal watcher of both series and: 1)By 1984 she made sure write a sketch which you can see here/Yt named"Yes Real Prime Minister AKA The Thatcher Sketch"(performed on the National Viewers and Listeners Awards in 1984)with herself. Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne involved in it. and 2) When the producers asked persmission to tape a segment outside the real Downing Street 10 facade (part of Season 1 of Yes Prime Minister, Eppisode 4"The Key"(1986)), she allowed it to happen.

[@Bhanz1]

Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister was an education in politics

[@Fourevrlearning]

Bernard is quite brilliant and underrated.

[@wotireckon]

This ought to be on the national curriculum.

[@redset11]

I want to go back to the days when people were more intelligent and programmes like this were very popular.

[@abhaygsingh4405]

Intelligent media gives rise to intelligent patrons, intelligent patrons expects its government to be accountable to people. Now we can't have that can we Bernard.😉

[@amoral_minority]

When was that? People were always stupid. If anything, they are slightly less stupid now, but that isn't saying much.

[@abhaygsingh4405]

@@amoral_minority true, just trying to be coy

[@amoral_minority]

@@abhaygsingh4405 not talking about your comment, yours was funny

[@HDreamer]

I wonder if there's a site that has the number on how many people actually watched it back in the day.

[@kyle381000]

Arguably the most consistently well written series in television history.

[@nobel87able]

"If the right people don't get the power, the wrong people will get it" That sounds right.. And yet somehow i am sure that i will get beaten if i used it as campaign slogan

[@nobel87able]

P.S I think this is why the regional government major hire the people but the central government or the overseer aka the governor paid/approved their salary payment.

[@cherisewiltshire5232]

Best sitcom of all time!

[@denisemcdougal6445]

I simply love British humor ❤ Well written, excellent delivery

[@DJ-ll4mq]

Such delicious writing and faultless delivery.

[@tomcoryell321]

Sir Humphrey is so patient with Bernard

[@sue7014]

Bernard is also a great personality & so is the actor as Bernard. Because without him, Sir Humphrey wouldn't have anyone to react with.

[@23theseeker50]

The more I've watched this gem of a comedy I realise what genius the writing and brilliant acting of these characters they make politics fun to watch utterly compelling true genius all the lead actor's are sorely missed BRILLIANT, AMAZING, WONDERFUL CAN'T PRAISE THEM ENOUGH.

[@rkgaustin9043]

An entire political education in one show.

[@MrEst1953]

The very best of British Comedy.

[@WolfieRich1]

Exquisite writing and acting.

[@vhawk1951kl]

I doubt if any contemporary actor could remember and deliver the following lines from the episode: "what a tangled web we weave" as well as Nigel Hawthorne : "Unfortunately although the answer was indeed clear, simple and straightforward, there is some difficulty in justifiably assigning to it the fourth of the epithets you applied to the statement, inasmuch as the precise correlation between the information you communicated and the facts, in so far as they can be determined and demonstrated, is such as to cause epistemological problems of sufficient magnitude as to lay upon the logical and semantic resources of the English language a heavier burden than they can reasonably be expected to bear." I also doubt that many contemporary beings have a sufficient attention span rather longer than that of the average goldfish or garden furniture, to understand them or find them amusing. I'm almost certain that no contemporary American could possibly follow them, although the immortal Dorothy Parker would have relished them with delight. Anyone that can write: “Those familiar with the novels of Miss X will look forward to her next novel with the sort of enthusiasm generally reserved to that of the fatted calf when contemplating the return of the prodigal son.” could also have written those words delivered so perfectly by Nigel Hawthorne. Wits such as those are rare in any land let alone America.I doubt if contemporary America can produce another wit like that of Dorothy Parker, although tthe writers of the big bang theory do indeed come close at times. There are indeed some that sneer at Americans but they forget some of the wonders that America has produced, not least Robert Benchley and Dorothy Parker - real cynics are not common in contemporary America, as far as I can determine. The predisposition of contemporary Americans to sentimentality would have to be excised before another Dorothy Parker might be possible.

[@partharege440]

This is gold very grateful to all the folks at the bbc 🙏👍

[@Bawheidbob]

Let's not go too far lol

[@Pwills]

@@Bawheidbob I bet none of them have ever had that said to them before 😂🤣😂

[@ihsandujaili8515]

Without any doubt "Yes, minster" is the crown 👑 of the BBC sitcom, l borrowed it many times from the library till I end up buying the complete collection to say the least!

[@michaelmeredith9470]

This would never get commissioned today

[@markc7440]

The best ever documentary about British politics.

[@brucemckean2848]

Only British?

[@romeyburgin7221]

This is not a sitcom, this is reality then and today

[@PrashanthSadashivan]

Bernard: (anxious, worried) "But you only need to know things on a need to know basis!" Humphrey: (emphatic, jowls quivering, gritted teeth): "I need to know EVERYTHING! How else would I judge whether or not I need to know it?" Unparalleled brilliance in both writing and delivery - satire at its best!

[@sue7014]

You should also mention Bernard's reply to him...😂

[@dubey_ji]

i always lose it when Sir Humphrey says months of fruitful work

[@kiwitrainguy]

More like (what he is really saying) "months of fruitless work".😄

[@M-E_123]

"This is a British democracy" tops it for me.

[@nottimhortons]

You could label this as a documentary program on PBS and the people will not blink.

[@veelat6176]

I’m crying - subtitles for sir Humphrey is ‘hungry’ and ‘Batman’ for Bernard 😂😂😂

[@morrisizing]

Still a masterpiece.

[@john115777]

Frighteningly accurate! More now than then!

[@owenleal]

I think the main lesson we can learn from Sir Humphrey and Jim Hacker is that just because you are the leader, that doesnt mean you are in control. It is the person with their hand on the wheel who steers the ship, and while they ostensibly dont have a say in where the ship goes, with enough engineering they can make it so that they inevitably steer in the direction that they are most comfortable with, even against the captain's wishes.

[@todorivanchev3773]

Just the greatest show ever.

[@trooperdgb9722]

Wonderful hearing Humphrey tell Bernard that HE never comes to the point!

[@vallee3140]

So clever it could have been made today, and the acting is superb.

[@robdykes3659]

No it couldn't according to the woke agenda you would have to have half if them black,some black woman in it,a man in a wheelchair,a transgender arsehole for the LGBT+ mob a asian person,just to get pass the planning stage,so your not accuse of racism against minority people,this why tv is shit today

[@sonnylambert4893]

So clever it would not be allowed to be made today particularly criticizing progressive liberal Marxist governments in Western civilizations

[@michaelmeredith9470]

There are no writers around today let alone actors that could make a series of such subtlety

[@richardarriaga6271]

@@michaelmeredith9470 Not true. It's a studio exec problem.

[@PMMagro]

A masterpiece theese series.

[@Anonymous-ib8so]

Brilliant never bettered

[@b00le]

Always good to be reminded how perfect the writing and performances were. Just noticed how bad the lighting was.

[@sirjackfalstaff]

"The universities... both of them." Exquisite shorthand.

[@karinabrampt1556]

Yes Minister, what a cracka of a series!

[@thejfg7741]

People say that this is a reflection of politics, actually it’s about power. It’s genius, but it’s about power in all its forms

[@schubertuk]

The exercise of power is about politics (with a lower case 'p') - they are eternally entwined.

[@SardonicALLY]

This show is perfection.

[@srbicelis]

min 09:29 change his mind: 1) express absolute support 2) list praise worthie qualities that makes him unsuitable for the job 3) make those become a vice by labeling them 4) name the bad points by defending them with excuses... wow!!!

[@valicourt]

I heard a minister say on radio 4 about Boris J. before he was forced out of office: “Yes he is a liar but his heart is in the right place.” That was point 4 taken care of.

[@sue7014]

Pure politics

[@natalieharrison7999]

After all this time I still love Humpy.🎉🎉❤

[@BOBBOBBOBBOBBOBBOB69]

We are lucky to have had a man like Sir Humphrey run the country.

[@williamdrijver4141]

A timeless masterclass acting and how bureaucracies all over the world operate. Superb quality in every aspect!

[@Maisiewuppp]

Yes, it really is universal but so well clothed in British-ness.

[@ministry_of_love]

4:41 Bernard: I thought you only needed to know things on an need to know basis. Sir Humphrey: I need to know everything! How else can I judge whether or not I need to know it.

[@chrislyne377]

I wish the people running the country these days were this competent

[@Maisiewuppp]

Then you are obviously 😢getting the point.

[@chrisc5275]

It’s not comedy, it’s documentary. 🤣🤣

[@feliscorax]

It’s a documentary performed as satire - and satire, as we all know, is sarcasm’s more truthful alter-ego.

[@luckan20]

This is truly funny. Lovely program. I grew up watching these series. Love it

[@CookieBlue1646]

Sir Humpy is beyong amazing chatacter 😂his domina is Everything!!

[@oneteaminbristolbcfc]

Brilliant absolutely Brilliant

[@julianaylor4351]

You only need to know things on a need to know basic. I need to know everything! ...... 😆❤️

[@sauluxville]

It’s vital to know that they’re there! - Definition of a comfort zone :)

[@emaavramov-atlas9564]

I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!

[@sheilabruce5161]

❤ Could we have some new episodes...have watched these hundreds of times,still laugh my heart out.😂🎉

[@gertrudlehmann4869]

nice Balliol tie touch

[@quizzy840]

16 minutes of genius.

[@theodorrodriguez1800]

Its surprising how accurate this show is

[@ahdal5288]

I dont think BBC will ever be able to make show like this ever

[@peaty32]

An absolute masterclass

[@samil5601]

"This is a British democracy!" How painfully true after all these years.

[@damienocallaghan2648]

BORIS was taking notes TYPE IN Yes Minister - Appalled

[@fezmai1282]

Absolutely 💯 timeless.

[@soakupthesunman]

This was as accurate then as it is now. The main difference is that those who must be obeyed have decided there are too many of us. It's an interesting time to be alive. Choose a side and back them, or you won't be on the winning side regardless.

[@AlexanderPacker]

Humphrey's "hands of the barbarians" jeremiad is perhaps the greatest distillation of Establishment tenets ever achieved.