How's the environment? - Yes Minister - BBC comedy

[@bluesborn]

I don't know that I've ever seen another show --British or American-- that is as well conceived and written as "Yes Minister" and Yes Prime Minister". The acting is as flawless as the wit is brilliant.I am forever recommending it to friends who follow politics as it is as good a primer on the subject as you will find anywhere.It also holds up very well and is so layered that one discovers new things upon repeated viewings.

[@MLaak86]

I don't think there is another show that has ever understood and explained the realities of a political system as well as YM and YPM.

[@Jaxck77]

In the Thick of It dude.

[@bozm9961]

Flawless is the key 🔑 word here 🙌

[@damienkramer]

Australian shows “The Hollowmen” and “Utopia” come the closest I think

[@CMOT101]

Certainly not an American one

[@vallurirajesh]

"Subsidising self-indulgence" I lost it when he said it at the end while stuffing his face with food.

[@hobbiesofstefs7085]

Fancy imported cheeses no less.

[@johnking5174]

@@hobbiesofstefs7085 It was actually smoked salmon, as just before this bit started, Sir Humphrey asked the waiter for some nice smoked salmon along with their drinks.

[@hobbiesofstefs7085]

@@johnking5174 Sorry, Hard to tell with pixels that large.

[@EroOtaku]

Broke up with my ex-gf using a Sir Humphrey-like line. I don't get why she's still mad at me. I heavily stressed the complacent nature of this decision which, not to put too fine of a point on it, with all things being considered and making all possible allowances was in the best interest of both parties involved in the said-partnership.

[@rascallyrabbit717]

Gilbert Silversteen political speak for "we should see other people ", hope you did.

[@JohnJ469]

It's been 7 years...Are you still alive?

[@ansenabella6904]

Maybe the epistemological spectrum of the aforementioned individual apropos of the influential field of thorough scrutiny of semantic hyperelementary plethoric approaches may slightly slide on the assurance of harmonious reconcilliation of the individual understanding of what clarity may implied to the highest degree of interpretation.

[@HauptgefreiterB]

@@ansenabella6904 Huh?

[@markfox1545]

@Nicholas Millington - nice. 😉

[@tightcamper]

I used to work for one of the UK paging operators in the late 80s. I was trying to bury some bad news using very veiled speech that I had learnt from Yes Minister. The MD told me I sounded like a politician. I considered that a great compliment.

[@NickHand-c9l]

Or like a civil servant?

[@raphaelalexandreyensen6291]

humphrey, living proof that English is a unique language in that there are so many words to say nothing at all.

[@jsteinman]

Raphael alexandre yensen oi, thats how some of us make a living!

[@ProfessorSyndicateFranklai]

Whereas French is a language where there aren't enough words to say what you mean to say at all.

[@connorharding3369]

Francis Lai 😂😂😂

[@boatfaceslim9005]

Say nothing at all? No, much more subtle. You can appear to be saying one thing while actually communicating a different subtext, while the other person can appear to disagree with you while actually agreeing with your subtext. See 0:24

[@tachikomakusanagi3744]

i think he said rather a lot here

[@Alfaduk]

People could learn so much about the actual workings of government, by watching this series. The writing and acting was excellent, entertaining and educational.

[@stephentrout7879]

ironically roughly 25 years later money was taken out to rebuild wembley stadium.

[@iMaajid]

+Kolin Salados That's not ironic.

[@fp9556]

+iMaajid True, it's rather tragic.

[@MihaiViteazul100]

Appalling...

[@hagamapama]

But fitting.

[@pradyu109]

Problem my friend is that football is no longer the game of the masses. Thanks to the popularity of the premier league, the little guy has been priced out. It is not ironic or tragic, it is still very prescient.

[@jim15215]

My wife works on staff at our local city government. As we watch this series, we're rollin' on the floor laughing and I always ask her: "is that what's happening here, too?" Answer is always: Yes. A 30 year old series and nothing's changed... is it any wonder that people don't trust the government?

[@rascallyrabbit717]

jim15215 gov't can't change --only the people on the take do

[@tachikomakusanagi3744]

amusingly, when it was made 40 years ago, it was inspired by the fact that nothing had changed in the previous 30.

[@andreww2098]

@@tachikomakusanagi3744 sort of the point really, politicians come and go, the civil service remains forever!

[@xsu-is7vq]

tachikoma kusanagi never mind 30 years, China have had a bureaucratic system like the civil service for more than a thousand years, and similar things were well known to have happened throughout that thousand year history.

[@TS-jm7jm]

@@xsu-is7vq for example?

[@ruberthablackman3949]

For ordinary people to enjoy themselves. Simply the best acting all round.

[@Levelworm]

Timeless, after so many years~~I'm sure this will still be relevant after centries.

[@dmd8552]

Until Prime Minister Google gets elected in a landslide 100% popular vote once online voting is put in place.

[@amardave84]

"We shouldn't let him out on the weekends!" Lol!

[@johnking5174]

The great John Barron here is Sir Ian Whitworth permanent secretary to the Department of the Environment. Such a great actor. He was superb as CJ in the Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.

[@applejuice5272]

I didn't get where I am today without being the Permanent Secretary to the Department of the Environment!

[@TeaTimePhilosopher]

@@applejuice5272 oh jeez. I was going to bed, now I've got to watch some CJ....

[@applejuice5272]

@@TeaTimePhilosopher Sorry! ☹️

[@acxezknightnite1377]

AppleJuice lol! I didn’t realise that was him! I loved him in TFARORP. I need to find some on KZbin now!!

[@johnbamford9394]

He played the part of the dean in gas & gaiters. Could be a bit of a handful for the bishop to handle. Cannot recall who played the bishop, however Derek nimmo played the part of the most junior cleric.

[@deadfreightwest5956]

The Romans understood bread and circuses.

[@KenjaTimu]

Do you? Not having people starve to death is good. Should we have them eat cake instead?

[@readsomebooks666]

Your pathetic attempt at a straw man argument is noted. Also, you are a low class chav, regardless of what continent you’re on. Stop breeding.

[@epiendless1128]

@@readsomebooks666 Your pathetic attempt at ad hominem is noted. Please take your own advice.

[@readsomebooks666]

@@epiendless1128 It wasn't ad hominem, I was simply insulting him.

[@19MAD95]

Why indulge in beard and games when giving the smallest bit of cheese is good enough?

[@flaggerify]

When tv was made for adults

[@sdprz7893]

Nah it's when Adults weren't idiots

[@flaggerify]

Freedom Lover - Woke.

[@Jchathe]

Freedom Lover haha true (for me, at any rate!) 🤣

[@MyLittleMagneton]

Now you've got superhero movies, lol.

[@abhijitoka]

"Subsidizing self-indulgence"

[@Levelworm]

While eargly putting one's fingers into the plate of smoked salmon sandwiches.

[@j.m.s.5901]

@@Levelworm triggered

[@1PaulG1]

“Money taken for the arts and given to ordinary people to enjoy themselves” haha

[@saffsuff]

1:34 he deserves an award just for the delivery of that line 🤣🤣🤣 It funny how now we need to take money from football to hospitals To TREAT OURSELVES

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Absolutely love the subtleties of the British people ...subtleties in their art 🎨 😊

[@PommeFrite]

This was my favorite series. I like Nigel. Thank you for posting, BBC.

[@NibberKSmooth]

Truly ahead of its time and criminally overlooked.....

[@williamdrijver4141]

World class skill in all aspects, this series was the benchmark. And still is.

[@pacificostudios]

"Thin edge of the wedge" --- That the phrase for which I was waiting. Just like the overuse of "slippery slope" in the States.

[@Flagfalls]

Such intelligent & witty comedy. The writing is truly masterclass. I like Humphrey's style of talking. That drawl is unique.

[@mrpeel3239]

Loved John Barron as CJ in 'Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin'.

[@DyleneC]

I love how smart British television is--breath of fresh air. :-)

[@Blayze]

Was.

[@petyrkowalski9887]

I didnt get where I am today by giving out planning permission.

[@andrewparsons7432]

I didn't get where I am today without recognising CJ when I see him!

[@countOfHenneberg]

Do you think of me as a monster, Reggie?

[@bimmjim]

Two retired government employees have told me that this show was very accurate.

[@tiffles3890]

I actually agree with this. Also, mass popular stuff doesn't need government funding.

[@piratebri]

British comedies are so much more linguistic than American ones. I like it. :)

[@0ceanicify]

I didn't get where I am today without knowing about the Environment!

[@SuperEverton1976]

' I didn't get where I am today by allowing ordinary people to enjoy themselves '

[@BRADAGA]

Best most intelligently written TV show ever agree with you

[@10kingstreet]

@TalesOfWar Hurrah for BBC content you can access outside of the UK! Love, the colonies :)

[@rascallyrabbit717]

10kingstreet greetings from Canada . yea

[@blxtothis]

Finely observed, beautifully crafted, superbly scripted, wonderfully cast and seemingly documentary like. Nothing of this quality has hit the UK sit com screens in decades.

[@Levelworm]

It is so unique...very sad.

[@guguigugu]

i actually agree. football players get paid millions and you're telling me there isn't enough money in football for a fresh coat of paint on the stadium every few years? honestly...

[@beezlbobdestraint6869]

LOCAL football club.

[@guguigugu]

well let the LOCALS pay for it then

[@beezlbobdestraint6869]

Why not say the same about any other cultural institution?

[@guguigugu]

i dont really think you can compare culture and sports. and i am not anti-sport or a culture snob. it just doesn't make sense to me that every time one is mentioned, the other is thrown in as well. therefore, i also don't apply the same logic and principles to both.

[@beezlbobdestraint6869]

KingDT2007 America has a stupid system for something shock.

[@skfarouk]

There was an art gallery in West Bromwich like this

[@allovdem]

You mean the one that was turned into a college eventually? Art and West Bromwich are two words which don't belong in a sentence together. Even your neighbours down the road in Walsall made good use of a decent art gallery.

[@U2QuoZepplin]

He forgot to say " I didn't get where I am today by .............." Lolz

[@slight909]

wonderful> thanks Auntie Beeb!

[@Arnon_Har_Lev]

Always spot on. 👌

[@tobyruncorn2]

The funniest thing is that it is all true.

[@msinvincible2000]

I completely agree with them in this one.

[@sean2val]

fantastic stuff

[@hornetobiker]

With hindsight this seems more like a documentary.

[@clickrick]

To those who worked in the Civil Service at the time, there was no hindsight involved in that observation.

[@8DX]

Subsidising self-indulgence! hahaha

[@leftcoaster67]

Brilliant script as they are having drinks and stuffing their faces.

[@wholeNwon]

The staging of the last line is just perfect.

[@samlee5549]

My favourite part here is that the other civil servant isn’t pressed about the Art Gallery going itself- he says himself he’s destroying loads of them, and was even shocked that the Art Gallery was expected to stay in the first place. The only appalling thing about the plan to him is that the money from the Art Gallery would go to Sport. All this talk about culture, and they’re not even committed to protecting it!

[@blainoneill5861]

Civilization versus barbarism!😂

[@TalesOfWar]

To those going on about the advertisements on this channel. This is BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm. This is NOT funded for by the TV license, it's a private company funded privately via commercial means, hence this material being available around the world for starters rather than limited to UK IP addresses.

[@degrelleholt6314]

C.J.! He didn't get where he is today by knocking down art galleries in the Midlands!

[@Jchathe]

Degrelle Holt 🤣

[@ericrawson7669]

Brilliant!

[@patrickwright1]

Support the Arts!

[@MCshlthead]

Thatcher was a fan of this series. she said it was VERY lifelike, after her term in office was over.

[@somethinglikethat2176]

Both Blair and Cameron also spoke positively about it.

[@motaltockery5191]

I'd never missed old Sir Humphrey Applebum until he was gone... Was he a contributing writer? ~ He sure knew what to smile at ;-)

[@motaltockery5191]

@Qwfwq66 Duh, it's "WE" don't think so...

[@motaltockery5191]

@Qwfwq66 Woo yeah, and 'WE' are not amused...

[@RD19902010]

Hilarious how back then football and stadios were seen as primitive and unimportant. Once the mony arrived, corruption and political interest followed.

[@lettucegod]

@Ardentor I concur sir.

[@HMservant]

'... taken from the Arts and given to ordinary people... to enjoy themselves!'

[@JuanPretorius]

thank you!

[@deesplaylists6941]

Love how actors pretend to drink by holding the cup up to their lips and that's it lol.

[@peterlee6374]

Money taken from the arts and given to the ordinary people...... TO ENJOY THEMSELVES 😂😂😂😂

[@RockyDave]

That's the thin end of the wedge! Whatever next?

[@WoodyLivesOn]

@CalyxAsgard There is. It's called The Thick Of It. Little bit more swearing though!

[@celestinekhasatsili9814]

So what do you want me to fix😆

[@drh365]

The amazing thing is that this series (after 20 years?) is more relevant than ever, now that No. 10 spin has become totally out of control!

[@simtill]

What would you say about No. 10 now, in 2020, given Brexit, Corona and Boris Johnson's daily circus?

[@bloggsie45]

​@@simtillCompletely psychotic.

[@mikewibberley2380]

Brilliant...

[@lionsroar9811]

And so it goes on so true to real politics

[@ihathtelekinesis]

At 1:48 I kept expecting Not Humphrey (sorry, can't remember that character's name) to say "I didn't get where I am today taking money from the arts and giving it to ordinary people to enjoy themselves!"

[@nickbryars6022]

ihathtelekinesis The character was CJ from the fall and rise of Reginald Perrin. It was the same actor, but different show.

[@philnashbroker5460]

Ha.. who will get that connection

[@dansaunders1655]

Everyone suggesting that British television has dropped off in quality in recent years, please watch Iannucci's "The Thick of It".

[@MrLego3160]

ah yes, that recent classic., its only *checks notes* a decade ago.

[@eleSDSU]

Nice, thanks for the recommendation, I loved "In the loop" and "The death of Stalin" and don't even get me started on "Veep".

[@x--.]

While I love The Thick of It, I'm not sure it is of the same caliber, really. I love it for taking absurdist ideas and attitudes to extremes and then squeezing them. _Yes, Minister_ does take things to extreme but with the taste of truth, it's easy to imagine this conversation being lifted verbatim by the political class showing the duplicity so often in politics (The "oh we would never be so crass as to 'fix it' by bribing and threatening when we can manipulate the desperate and wanting into doing our dirty work for us"). So yes, it is quality but not of the same quality as Yes, Minister which indicts the political class for the things they really do, not extreme and exaggerated (to delicious absurdity) versions of their actions.

[@eleSDSU]

@@x--. yeah, you are spot on. Watched "The thick of it" and it feels like a proof of concept for the other mentioned, specially "In the loop" for obvious reasons, but is still great to see how Iannucci progressed and refined his idea and style. Yes Minister has a quality of dialogue rarely found and even rarer paired with good performances, actors and directing

[@hdholl9696]

For all those aspiring to move in higher circles one day: watch carefully how Sr Humphrey hands over a bank note to the bar tender. Not keeping it firmly and miserly between thumb and forefinger, leaving the taker in doubt whether you really want to part with it and will loosen your grip so that he can indeed take it, but fishing it elegantly out of your wallet stuffed with money, holding it loosely between forefinger and middle finger and flipping it dexterously towards the bartender, as if you were a croupier distributing cards at the poker table. Money is not the evidence of hard work, it is a commodity possessed in abundance and exhibited to the lesser mortals as a token of your success. How much of this subtle symbolism is lost in the contactless payments in this digital age.

[@johnking5174]

People like Sir Humphrey as permanent secretaries earned far more in salary and expenses than any MP or peer would. It is the same situation today in 2021. The basic MP salary before taxes in 2021 is £81,932. The basic salary before tax for a Permanent Secretary currently stands at a whopping £160,000 and that is a conservative estimate.

[@patrickpaganini]

I didn't get where I am today, talking about the environment!

[@schokoladeroeschen]

I absolutely agree with you

[@alistairbarclay3116]

Why oh why are the two complete series not shown again on Dave or somewhere?

[@Levelworm]

Because it's too relevant?

[@ronwilliams4184]

The thing is, I totally agree.

[@amoral_minority]

Funny thing - they were knocking it down anyway, but decided against it just to avoid subsidizing sport

[@NoosaHeads]

Many a true word spoken in jest.

[@Carinthium]

@soundslave I meant the claim that the BBC is centrist. But it's worth pointing out that the US (for all its rhethoric) seperates church and state, and that's easy to end racial segregation when the populations of minority races are insignificant.

[@ledichang9708]

Jaime MacDonald woulda thrown a fit at this.

[@soundslave]

@lima33ful that response proves me wrong and wins the argument...how?

[@Zik2]

I like it :D

[@JohnDoe-ts5gl]

But how good and clever was this series written and why don’t they learn from this nowadays

[@JasonJason210]

The environment guy is CJ...

[@VitasVarnas]

It's ironic how in Australia, the conservative government would rather take the money from the arts to put into sports.

[@adamwelch6217]

I didn't get to where I am today by letting arts money go to football

[@cestrian5294]

Sir Humphrey talking to CJ.

[@rossnolan4650]

Wnat episode was this? Got the box set and can't recall it.

[@johnking5174]

"The Middle Class Rip Off" - Yes Minister, Series 3 from 1982. Hope this helps?

[@DraculasHenchwoman]

@CalyxAsgard If only another Sir Humphrey existed! Alas!

[@123haninhk]

He looks disgusted when he found out that the money would go to the ordinary people.

[@MCshlthead]

i liked the bit when you said your arse is shaped like the grand canyon, dunno about the rest

[@Tokyorosebiz]

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE PARTY OF SLEAZE BY TOKYO ROSE

[@EmaiaE]

Tony Blair should play Humphrey now that he isn't PM

[@HeroSquadComedy]

Come check out our pokes at environmental issues!

[@gregb6469]

Why doesn't the BBC just post the full shows? It's not like putting them on youtube will keep people from watching them on TV, since they aren't broadcasting these shows.

[@rescyn1190]

They still sell them. All the series are on Netflix UK for example.

[@gregb6469]

Well, there are quite a few of us who are not in the UK, so how about letting us see them here!

[@priceless1995]

@@gregb6469 why would the BBC give a fuck about giving free shit to people outside the UK?! You're not German are you? If thats the case they may consider it.

[@priceless1995]

@@gregb6469 why would the BBC give a fuck about giving free shit to people outside the UK?! You're not German are you? If thats the case they may consider it.

[@KINGMJ1990]

@@priceless1995 I am from India. Lot of people around the world love this show. We will just download it illegally. Nobody gives a shit about Netflix.

[@gracehowell.]

Arts money always bloody goes to sports. I'm on the 'dark' side for this one.

[@billse10]

@CalyxAsgard - changes? No .... 'Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis Except .. we don't have to change much for this to be relevant today. Especially the Yes PM opinion polls bit ...

[@Carinthium]

@soundslave I'm not an American, but I do know that the doctrine of seperation of Church and State is a source of frustration to many conservative groups in the United States, has been cited in numerous Church decisions, and is formalised in the First Amendment.

[@Hannodb1961]

This was long before Wembley stadion was demolished and revamped.

[@RJSRdg]

I think they have a point though - if the football system can afford to pay people £500K a week to kick a ball around for 90 minutes, it doesn't need subsidy.

[@JonatasMonte]

They sound like romans... oh wait

[@sweetrensarmientorenee]

Like a DfT meeting

[@ruberthablackman3949]

Only intelligent people will get and appreciate this series. Even the supporting acts were in a league of their own. I love Nigel Hawthorn he owned this role.

[@ruberthablackman3949]

So very true

[@ArchibaldBagge]

The greater truth is only intelligent people can spell his name correctly. But it was an amusing attempt my dear.

[@ruberthablackman3949]

Thanks for the insult shows your character have a good one

[@ruberthablackman3949]

Oh well I guess I should be taken out back and beaten for not being able to spell or maybe I just hit enter really quick after typing. Either way it did not merit an insult but this is the age of insult from behind a keyboard. i still think the humor(American spelling ) was ahead of its time and relevant today.

[@U2QuoZepplin]

sir Humphrey Applby is Nigel Hawthorne's greatest legacy and memorial. No one can improve on the guy nor should they try.

[@homerthegreat46]

@Meldrew2008 same happens if u type in stephen fry !!!!!!!