Comedy Connections - Yes Minister

[@humbleopinion1499]

I used to drive taxis while at university and often waited in line at the Victorian State Parliament for passengers. A regular fare was a high ranking public servant and I asked him once did he ever watch "Yes Minister" or "Yes Prime Minister" and he said "rarely". When I inquired why - he said his job was the equivalent to Sir Humphrey, and he "didn't like to see himself on television". I joked that it was just a satire. He laughed and said it was "uncomfortably close" to reality. If that's not an endorsement of the show - I don't know what is!

[@kwerk2011]

In a very similar vein, many well established music artists can't cope with Spinal Tap for the exact same reason - just too close to home.

[@mrsc120]

I met a lady who had worked on Capitol Hill who said they were all very worried that The West Wing was so inaccurate but people believed it. I told her we had Yes Minister and it was totally accurate and we believed it.

[@frog382]

hahhaah, you've been Humphrey'd by the real Humphrey, because he said RARELY, that means nothing lol He could've seen it 60 times and now days he occasionally watches it... Hence, he RARELY watches it xD

[@keithflowers5229]

@@mrsc120 ok

[@aharoneisenberg8913]

Spovan

[@HC-cb4yp]

"We were going to be repeating ourselves. If we didn't have anything more to say, I wanted to stop." Hollywood has absolutely no idea what language you're even speaking in...

[@SamvedIyer]

There might be some truth to the notion that plebeian internet textspeak has superseded English in Hollywood.

[@garryb374]

RIP Nigel, Derek, and Paul. Your work on these two TV shows has made you immortal.

[@trojanthedog]

True. They will live longer in the hearts of the UK and the Dominians than any politician ever will.

[@mareky1234]

@@trojanthedog Absolutely. I’m from Oz. And it was far to close to our way doing things too for us to miss. And Laugh. Absolutely brilliant. Even the final episode (one of my favourites), was still damnably clever, the explanation of “the Lie”, is sheer perfection.

[@trojanthedog]

@@mareky1234 I'm a Queenslander my self.

[@rknowling]

Paul Eddington was a rare human being, unusual in his nobility, humility, sense of responsibility and compassion. I still recall an interview he gave near the end of his life: When asked how he would like to be remembered, he replied to the effect "I would like to have only done a little harm. It seems to me that most people do a great deal, but I hope I have only done a little."

[@AngelWingzzz]

Paul was a wonderful actor. I saw that interview too and though very saddened that he would pass soon...I came away with the feeling he was also a truly good human.

[@DeirdreMcNamara]

Sir Derek thought the world of him, as a friend and as an actor. RIP you great, great guys.

[@claudine98052]

I was not even born when the show started and only discovered it a few years ago. I believe it is one of the wittiest and funniest shows ever made on TV or on film. It is a masterpiece of comedy with absolutely the finest cast ever. All of them are comedy geniuses, writers and actors alike.

[@muhammadumar3938]

I’m with you on that I also found it last year and loved it so Much so that I’m joining my countries government

[@malcolmwilkinson4449]

I had the pleasure of meeting Jones one day when he was filming a sketch in wales. Got the same sense of his brilliance 😂😂😂😂

[@Mark27472]

My all time favourite television programme. With undoubtedly the greatest writing and the richest use of language ever.

[@exessex3522]

14:35 [People were] "so sick of the politicians. They were so sick of the hypocrisy and the lying and the evasion." Thank goodness we don't have that any more in 2022...

[@juddphilby9015]

40yrs old and still as relevant today. Genius

[@neilpountney9414]

Everyone involved in this series is a superstar in my eyes and has more credibility than any British Politician then and since!

[@perherbert]

nothing has changed in the world of politics. The relevance is still there, even here in Sweden. I watched the series from the start in the early eighties and it still works beautifully. 👍

[@robinsanders5541]

You’re quite right Per, British politics cannot change as Britain really never changes.

[@robinsanders5541]

Oh that and the show was so brilliantly written it has become timeless.

[@Farweasel]

@@robinsanders5541 Britain never really changes? I'm *offended* Whatever else people used to be it was never that unless your surname was Whitehouse.

[@DeirdreMcNamara]

Ah, but you have Peter Mattei in Sweden. Makes up for a lot. Possibly the greatest opera singer of all time. (and I mourned Pavo for 7 years...!)

[@snapdragon9300]

Even here in New Zealand our own mps still make references to this show when berating the opposition or policy.😆

[@davidsummer8631]

My grandfather worked as civil servant from the early 50s to the late 80s and he always said that the show was worrying very accurate

[@ralphschroeder6503]

Absolutely, hands down the best and highest standard situation comedy the Brits have ever produced.

[@j.b.9260]

"I couldn't stop him." "Why not?" "He's bigger than me."

[@mrs.dawnbroylesiii4904]

MY favorite character was Sir Humphrey. I loved that series. I still watch old episodes here on KZbin.

[@brianmcdonald9298]

Might be the best written show ever

[@macnewman2588]

it's all still true in the year 2023 they all deserve and are worthy of a CBE

[@snapdragon9300]

I'm buying the complete box set now that I'm jaded enough, old enough to appreciate it.

[@kwerk2011]

Poor Derek Fowlds. Consistently had some of the best lines best delivered in the show, but was always in the shade of Paul Eddington and Nigel Hawthorne. Hammered home by the abrupt ending in the middle of his last comment in the doco.

[@brianbuckley8111]

Jk

[@richodude2679]

Well except, for the people watching, his best lines were received and appreciated.

[@hughanthony2001]

Bernard is my favourite character in this. Such fantastic pedantry and a wonderfully perfect antidote to Hacker's buffonary and Humphrey's evilness. Derek comes across as such a decent guy as well. Didn't realise we lost him relatively recently (Jan 2020).

[@DeirdreMcNamara]

@@hughanthony2001 Oh no! I knew Derek and he was just lovely. we lost touch because of very vicious stuff in the USA. He was so talented and such a kind man, and loved doing Yes Minister....and then being the "gruff" Sergeant in Heartbeat. I had a feeling he had passed to the greater stage, but was afraid to check. So lovable. I knew Sir Nigel, not as well, but he was also a sweet man. Nigel loved my dramas, said they were "beautifully written and should be done..." while he was in Shadowlands in NY. Derek's last words to me in NY were "...when are you coming home (to England) Deirdre..." brought tears to my eyes. Derek said that Paul Eddington was the best of the three...but they brought out the best in one another...and fair dues to the writers - wow!

[@hughanthony2001]

@@DeirdreMcNamara If I could "love" your comment on here I would. What wonderful memories.

[@a.z.s6679]

This will always be my absolute favorite show EVER.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Sir Humphrey was an encyclopedic guide to political double-dealing. Politicians ever since seem to have referred to the series as a kind of guide but they fail to realise that it was meant to be a guide about what NOT to do. Amazing comedy but in a way sad that it is so accurate.

[@ssesf]

I remember giggling to Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister decades ago.

[@therealmrfishpaste]

The cleverest, most insightful, superbly written satire ever

[@ramaswamyadisesh6848]

one of the best comedy series ever made. Great characters, great actors and great writers. For a series to be successful, all these elements have to come together. In this series all of them meshed perfectly. The actors complemented each other to produce the best comedy. Being non British, it gives me a great but a funny window into the workings of the UK govt. I love watching the episodes. Funny thing is, after so many years, it is still relevant in today's context. I guess, somethings never change.

[@mikejduk]

My all time favourite TV sitcom. Pure genius, both in the script and the acting.

[@Scott2148]

best documentary series ever!

[@philsooty61]

I met John Nettleton when he was performing in Sheffield a very nice man.

[@martzenvandenbroek]

My SIL was an ambassador for 10 years and we gifted her the complete series to watch . She absolutely loved it. It is timeless and rings true for every western European country, I would say.

[@hakontvedt1405]

Still love this show.

[@mitadrubanerjeechowdhury9092]

This Is probably the best sitcoms ever made. Its relevant even today and will probably be for a long time.

[@rodb9492]

Absolutely brilliant scripts, brilliantly acted.

[@childofthe50s53]

Hands down the best tv comedy ever

[@Farweasel]

Absolutely brilliant ........... I'd call it a tie with BlackAdder

[@richardbartlett6932]

@@Farweasel Blackadder drifted from comedy to panto and then got lost up its own self important bottom. YM & YPM stayed true to its brief and secondly in any case, the writing was far far superior

[@Farweasel]

@@richardbartlett6932 Then again, there's an argument to be made that Blackadder, whilst formulaic, was more adaptive than the excellent YM & YPM series. More importantly, unlike much of today's BBC output, *both* were genuinely amusing.

[@chrisharperbpool]

During lockdown I watched every episode of each series pretty much back to back.. Not only has it not aged, but you forget just how bloody amazing the timing was on this program. The one liners by Bernard has me in stitches... but of every episode, every speech there is only one, mentioned here in this video that stands out for all time. Hacker: Don't tell me about the press. I know exactly who reads the papers. The Daily Mirror is 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. HUMPHREY: Prime Minister, what about people who read The Sun? BERNARD: Sun readers don't care who runs the country as long as she's got big tits.

[@almostfm]

And if you watch closely, both Hawthorne and Fowlds come close to breaking in the scene. In fact, Hawthorne does break after the last line, although off-camera-if you look at the reflection in the brass above the doorknob, he throws down the folder he was holding, and if I listen closely I _think_ I can hear him laugh

[@TerryTheNewsGirl]

Bernard didn't say much, but by God, when he did he came out with some crackers!

[@DeirdreMcNamara]

@@TerryTheNewsGirl I met him a couple of times in NY, and think he would call me "friend." The sweetest on the planet, devoted to his wife, kind, funny, charming...kept saying "when are you coming home, D....." knew I was desperately homesick, but well, I keep getting "bounced back..." Nigel also liked and encouraged my dramatic works, as did Joss Ackland... MEGA HUGS from across that cold sea... but I still can't watch the episodes yet...keep trying, but miss knowing those great men were "waiting" for me to "come home," and now are no longer there.

[@paulwilkins6362]

My favourite gag in the series.

[@dingopisscreek]

it was a wonderful series, full of convoluted monologues, mainly by Sir Humphrey. the rapport between the 3 main actors was wonderful, with Bernard usually having the punchline. it must be very difficult for writers to maintain the quality of their scripts during a long-running series, but Lynn and Jay somehow managed it. every episode was a gem and millions tuned in every week to watch. Oh, that we had such quality now in these days of multi-channel mediocrity

[@DeirdreMcNamara]

"multi-channel mediocrity..." Wish I could claim those words - perfect!!!

[@NorrisHistoryCorner]

I read Philosophy and Politics at University (not Oxford or Cambridge, or even the LSE!) and I simply quoted parts of YM/YPM and walked out with an Upper Second. The whole series is a documentary, even today: trouble in Europe, cancelling Trident, budget cuts, defence cuts, trouble with Russia, trouble in the Middle East...

[@michaelbroska3144]

Probably the best show on TV. The characters were marvelous, the writing was witty, and the tension between them all made for a great production. Bless them all.

[@evamerritt9308]

I love British comedy💕

[@iangascoigne8231]

Rip Mr Derek.

[@davidmorrison2739]

In far away Australia it was very well-received. We have all the DVDs and a couple of my grandsons loved to watch them with me in their early teens. .

[@bigshort9296]

Pure genius and timeless.

[@briancomley8210]

One of the top best shows.

[@MartinBaldock]

Wonderful, and still relevant... and still very funny!!!

[@Sandedoremi]

The absolute best series ever... Ever... Ever.

[@mathewpryor82]

The writing, wordplay and acting is phenomenal. It’s so witty and precisely delivered it surpasses time yet still holds a certain level of nostalgia which brings warmth to seemingly flat subject matter. Excellent tv.

[@Wol747]

‘Allo ‘Allo, Cheers, Dad’s army, Frasier, Yes minister - all brilliant comedy. But the last two are pure genius, and in the same way: they are intelligent. Binge watch them - the way the characters develop and their personas are woven into the scripts is comedy magic.

[@BillSmith-ed4jg]

Frasier is good Not at the top Try Barney Miller

[@MurrayJoe]

While Two and a Half Men may not seem dignified, it’s very funny with Charlie Sheen in it, it’s the only American show I’d watch as much as Yes Minister & YPM.

[@kirstieoconnor1054]

Can't agree with allo allo, in no way does it deserve to be part of this list.

[@Wol747]

@@kirstieoconnor1054 Sure, it's different - more like farce, but the way they organised the accents was very clever when you think of how English speakers listen to foreigners speaking amongst themselves. Each to his/her own, natch!

[@Bejaardenbus]

@@BillSmith-ed4jg lol. Frasier is the top, actually. There's no series that has won that many awards during its run. But as you are comparing it to BM.. not surprising you aren't aware of that.

[@peterlombard2292]

'All tiem comedy gold. YM/YPM are up there with the very best of sitcoms. They combine superb writing with perfect comedic acting.

[@anthealibby3571]

and I still love to watch the episodes! And laugh a lot! So absolutely right and wonderful script! Best comedy show......EVER!

[@fatheranthony4pope]

It's a real shame it ended so abruptly without a proper finale. The whole last season was building up to an election. It should have at least finished with the election. That's my only complaint with an otherwise brilliant 5 seasons.

[@NorrisHistoryCorner]

Everyone wanted to continue but sadly Paul was very ill. You'll notice in the last series he's sitting down a lot.

[@daveleggdrivertraining]

The only show that comes close to Yes Minister is the West Wing in my opinion and they did finish with an election

[@mareky1234]

Fair Point. But! At least Jim Hacker won at the very end. That last episode had to be one of the best, especially when he’s “told”, that he told a lie. My second favourite episode “The Key” actually had a small part shown here. Even in Oz, we loved it. It was similar enough to how things worked in Australia, that we actually “understood” the comedy gold that this truly is. And Bernard was comedy Gold. They all were, so it’s hard to pick a favourite as it simply wouldn’t have worked if any one of them wasn’t in it. As I can’t see it working with any other actors.

[@DeirdreMcNamara]

Paul was ill...

[@stoyanfurdzhev]

Genius British satire

[@paulcasey5204]

Scarily close to the current situation in Australia with Scotty from Photo Ops in charge.

[@perkinsg1000]

In the late 70s, my father's cousin came to stay who was an MP here in New Zealand, We were all outside enjoying a summer evening and yes minister came on, we all went inside except Dads cousin, I went out and said are you coming in, he stated that it was far too close to the realities of government for him to find it amusing.

[@GM-fh5jp]

Great video...Sir Humphrey was divine. My favorite TV character ever.

[@jeremyhaines3847]

I love yes Minister I have these on DVDs

[@rejyable]

Yes, Yes, Yes, Amazing, Creative , Funny, Thank you !!!!!!!!!!!

[@Mike20216]

So much Genius in this show, great acting and great writing, god bless them all for giving us this comedy classic

[@robertdora7026]

26:25 An amazing comedic skill that Paul had (particularly visually), and I’m so glad that that otherwise generally underrated quality of his was so aptly highlighted in this documentary!! Yes Nigel Hawthorne had immense skill and deservingly won various awards for portraying Sir Humphrey, but surely Paul also deserved some too for portraying Jim.

[@marquonuk]

I still see things every day that remind me of one episode or another! It's completely timeless with themes that recur again and again, and you realise that nothing changes in politics! The dialogue is also absolutely spot on every time, and delivered perfectly. I will never tire of watching it. :-)

[@milesnixon9554]

Genius, up there with the best.

[@tomgreene2282]

Wonderful episodes .. those were the days...memories of watching in hotel lounges when "on the road 40 years ago.

[@GeoffMorrisdrive]

Got the box set for Christmas and will watch it over and over again, love it

[@johnmccann1960]

I loved it then and still love it today. Genius writing, impeccable comedy acting and exquisite directing never ever gets old. For me it could never be remade with other actors. How can you replace the perfection of Paul, Nigel and Derek who are the holy trinity of the series.

[@BunyanaRed1958]

Great comedy. Wonderful scripts and brilliant acting.

[@LilyGrace95]

"who fixed it for Jim" oof now there's a reference that dates this episode.... Doubt the BBC would reference Saville anymore 😅

[@duncankowable]

can't beat the actual comedy now ongoing in the House of Commons

[@sampuatisamuel9785]

The current politicians are more of a tragedy than a comedy

[@bobcosmic]

@@sampuatisamuel9785 A Greek tragedy within British democracy !

[@grainneocarroll6427]

I first watched the entire run about 15 years ago, and love catching an individual episode still. And there is still an air of truth to it…

[@BillSmith-ed4jg]

Phenomenal show

[@djr3386]

Thanks for uploading this 🙏

[@Ben_Kirkham]

Thank You for uploading this. A superb series, one of the crowning jewels in British Television.

[@Hr-sd5sd]

Excellent series- both of them. Favourite joke/theme: "We must do something. This is something, therefore we must do it'. As an ex public servant, manys the time this was true.

[@fyabun]

Wouldn't have watched this in my 20's, but now in my 60's it's pure gold.

[@Seagull6819]

Spot on with readers of The Guardian as regards “Who reads the papers”.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Spot on for 'em all!!! And I'm a Sun reader! 😜🤣🤣🤣

[@29brendus]

The amazing thing about this series was that it was 'politically incorrect', thankfully. The comedy won over so well because of he characters, while the 'politics' were just a stage.

[@TheLazyGamer42]

An absolute masterpiece that's stood the test of time. I'm so glad the bbc filmed this interview to explain the journey of the cast before, during and after the show. It's interesting to see the process they went through to create this comical genius of a show

[@barbarastewart8066]

Thank you just absolutely brilliant.

[@franl155]

Thank you for this. These characters have entered British folklore and legend; everyone will know what's meant as soon as their names are mentioned. There was an audiobook "How to beat Sir Humphrey" - narrated, naturally, by Derek Fowlds - on how to beat officialdom when it's being obstructive. it might still be around in book or audio format.

[@EnglishLawyer]

Just so clever and fabulous!

[@banksterkid5930]

THE SMUGNESS on Nigel's face was so authentic its really really hard to understand why he struggled 30 yrs to get his big break. They could have taken him much earlier in other films and shows

[@DeirdreMcNamara]

Sir Nigel was South African, so, not "one of us...?"

[@JoeBlac]

Clever point. Antony Jay and John Cleese went into business together specialising in funny training films. 4:08 "All training films had been really boring, hitherto, because they show people how to do a job right. And Tony realised the way to make them entertaining was to show them how to do it wrong." 21:40 "Yes Minister is a series of training films for politicians. It's 'How Not to Run the Government'. If they would only view it in that light, we might generally all be better off."

[@mavisemberson8737]

I thought the two series poked fun at the Civil Service not the politicians . We never knew which Party was in power in Yes Prime Minister.

[@tinkpotty]

Love this show !

[@cajintexas7751]

Everyone was so good in this show, but Nigel Hawthorne was just breathtaking. He was enthralling in every scene he appeared in.

[@tedandrews405]

Quite simply a magnificent programme!

[@1bert719]

It's hard to believe the British people could be disillusioned with politician's! In retrospect it wasn't nearly silly enough!

[@cgulljbravi8264]

Perhaps it is one of the best documentary series ever produced by the BBC.

[@ukphil6734]

Wonderful share, thank you

[@stavrosk.2868]

I worked for 7 years in the 90's in various capacities for a minister and vice prime minister (advisor,press and translator) and the show was spot on, depresssingly so. At first viewing, I was more quiet than laughing. To the annoyance of my wife, I Often hit the pause button explaining that these things DID and DO happen. Now 20 of 30 years later, I still watch the series. Timeless quality and eternally real. And extremely funny.

[@Rasscasse]

I really enjoyed watching this. Thank you Ben.

[@rainblaze.]

A true work of genius. And proves the point, along with fawlty towers and the second series of black adder, that most works of genius are the products of more than the single life experince of just one mind. Which goes a long way in enforcing the idea that shakespeare was more than just one man

[@Account.for.Comment]

Shakespeare often had collaborations and many plays of his are remakes of previous stories. He did not seem to be a man who is too proud or poccessive of his work.

[@parnashish1910]

Thanks for posting.

[@tomhaskett5161]

Paul Eddington was in some Benny Hill shows as well.

[@Allblackdavid11]

One of the best comedy’s I have ever seen

[@thomasm1964]

"The country's most unlikely Prime Minister" - now THERE'S a comment whcih has not aged well in 2022!

[@ManxAndy]

Without doubt , one of the greatest shows ever to be written, superb in every aspect…👍. Closely followed by “ The New Statesman, starring Rick Mayall 😉

[@BillSmith-ed4jg]

It's 10 times worse now Especially in the USA

[@gilleschercuitte4255]

One of my favorite series ever. Lol

[@trojanthedog]

This series enabled me to understand modern government.

[@timrobinson3562]

(Heavy sigh!)...Yes, Prime Minister, Fawlty Towers, and Mister Bean. Far and away some of the best comedy the world has EVER known!

[@geoffreyrichardson8738]

A brilliant series

[@sharon339]

Brilliant show.

[@NickJay]

I absolutely loved all 5 series of this show ... I still do. Brilliantly acted and awesome scripts. Bernard definitely deserved his K, too! 😊

[@NeilPatton1962]

One wonders if, word for word, these scripts have had more influence, given more pleasure and are more respected than any other texts in the English language. They're certainly in the cream of the crop through the ages and likely to ever remain so.