Humphrey Sets Up A Dinner | Yes Minister | BBC Comedy Greats

Humphrey gets a right old telling off.
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[@CaptXpendable]

Sir Arnold: "I'm not in any sense reprimanding you." Sir Humphrey: (Get's a look on his face like a firing squad just got called in)

[@perperson199]

Would you like a blindfold Sir?

[@iandhr1]

Lol true.

[@iandhr1]

Sir Arnold would offer you a shot of whisky and pistol first though.

[@ruk2023--]

This kind of sleazy management can be seen in a lot of businesses too

[@peterfreeman6677]

Bernard's contribution to Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister tends to be overlooked, but he is essential to the programmes' success. He has a droll and somewhat waspish sense of humour, and being in the middle between Hacker and Sir Humphrey allows him not exactly to mediate between them so much as oscillate between them. You can see he's trying to uphold Civil Service values most of the time, but he is clearly sympathetic to Hacker's views and (sometimes) his policies. A difficult balancing act, which Bernard somehow manages to pull off. Don't forget that in the book published after the series ended, Bernard was said to be *Sir* Bernard Woolley, GCB (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath) and Head of the Civil Service. Obviously Bernard has hidden depths.

[@michaelgrace1298]

I've never heard anyone say he's overlooked

[@magnalucian8]

but is he a high flyer or a low flyer supported by occasional gusts of wind?

[@garymitchell5899]

I've also never heard anyone say he's overlooked.

[@1946nimrod]

Later in his career, I think....!

[@peterfreeman6677]

@@1946nimrod Oh yes. Much later.

[@iandhr1]

"Call me God" "Kindley call me God" "God calls me God." LMAO

[@mscott3918]

I have the CMG for my time in the Diplomatic Service. I don't expect to be called God though.

[@BillinHungary]

A British lawyer once explained to me that each time Parliment begins a new session they go to Westminster Cathedral to get the blessing of it's leader, then Canon of Westminster. He then told me this joke "What's the difference between God, and the Canon of Westminster" Answer: Gd knows that he's not the Canon of Westminster!

[@fgn1232]

The creators of the show said this was lifted directly from the real Foreign Affairs office while they were doing research for it :D

[@magnusm4]

@@BillinHungary But does the Canon of westmonister know that?

[@ds1868]

@@BillinHungary I believe you mean Westminster Abbey. The Canon of Westminster is a member of the Abbey Chapter. Westminster Cathedral is Roman Catholic and plays no part in the British Establishment.

[@iandhr1]

I loved Sir Arnold. He was the only one who scared Humphrey.

[@hoilst]

The man is so oily I'm surprised the US never invaded him.

[@ramibeer2858]

Him and any woman in the Civil Service.

[@peterfreeman6677]

Sir Arnold : smooth, cunning, devious, supremely confident, at the centre of who knows how many webs of influence and power. More than a match for any of his supposed political masters, and an expert at blocking or diluting any policy of which he disapproves. Sir Humphrey might aspire to be as good as Sir Arnold in the post of Cabinet Secretary, but that really is a class act he has to follow.

[@tavernburner3066]

hoilst we considered it throughly.

[@jenniferschmitzer299]

Peter Freeman I spose that’s why Humphrey looks like he’s still in short pants whilst being addressed. 😉

[@philledwith8307]

0:45 "yeees well I'm not in any sense reprimanding you ... but..." == Britspeak for "I am absolutely reprimanding you and your job may be on the line..".

[@samuelfawell9159]

It’s nice to see Humphrey on nervous side for once.

[@BillCameronWC]

Ha ha “I’m not reprimanding you”, followed by the look of horror & shame on Humphrey’s face 😉.

[@Mnogojazyk]

If you think Sir Humphrey is a master manipulator, you haven’t seen Sir Arnold in action.

[@johnking5174]

I have had a boss just like Sir Arnold. He was always softly spoken and polite, but you knew when he was bollocking you, even if he was speaking calm.

[@alisoncooper1421]

@@johnking5174 usually the calmer they are, the worse the bollocking.

[@anbee8127]

There's a saying in my vernacular which goes - the hardest blows are always given gently.

[@ryanalving3785]

How are things at the campaign for freedom of information? Sorry I can't talk about that.

[@stevenr6397]

.....a committee sits on it! possibly the most British joke ever

[@BillinHungary]

This reminds me of a visit to London as an American years ago, a British lawyer told me this joke, but first he had to explain that the head clergyman at Westminster Abbey is called the Canon of Westminster, and he has an exalted position because he has to bless the opening of each session of Parliament. So the joke goes like this: "What is the difference between God and the Canon of Westminster?" Answer: "God knows that he's not the Canon of Westminster....."

[@BrianCuthbertson]

You've told this story twice in this column, first mixing up Westminster Abbey with Westminster Cathedral (in the other post), then replacing the Dean of Westminster with a canon. Actually the service for each new Parliament is in St Margaret's Church, next to the Abbey. But it's true the Dean of Westminster is a coveted position, and some of its holders have been pretty high and mighty.

[@fgn1232]

Wish you'd left in the next part - Bernard explains that Cambridge had only just gotten a highway from London (well after Oxford had two of them) because it had been many years since the Ministry of Transport had a Permanent Secretary who'd been at Cambridge.

[@cradle652]

Sir Arnold is what in Italy is called the Mafia.

[@RahulKumar-ng2gh]

sophistication in behaviour, language. just adore it. I adore Sir Arnold, what a personality.

[@mebsrea]

He’s also the last of the main cast still alive.

[@doyleperkins4916]

Well stated. I'm quite moved by his polish, as well...a polished gentleman of the old guard. I miss them tremendously. They were my teachers.

[@fsdds1488]

Rarely could we see Humphrey being tamed and educated.

[@johan8969]

Humphrey would never allow himself to be educated by others, let alone MPs from LSE. The thought alone is apalling. Simply apalling. He and Hacker is just of a very different breed with a different skillset

[@conservativemike3768]

I hereby request, in an informal yet irresistible manner, that the BBC, in a more sound and sensible moment, strongly consider and bend all energies toward the approval and funding of a series called, “Sir Arnold.”

[@backside060]

The writing of this show is a thing of beauty.

[@gdon12987]

Sir Arnold -- the only man that John Wick calls "Baba Yaga".

[@johnking5174]

John Nettleton who played Sir Arnold here is still alive - he turned 91 back in February 2020

[@thomasobrien4667]

Bernard plays both sides so well

[@charliebrotherston929]

Is it just me or does sir Humphrey look like he's got tears in his eyes when talking with sir Arnold?

[@zyc8198]

Say whatever you like, Arnold as Cabinet secretary is more intimidating and demanding than Humphrey as Cabinet secretary.

[@Account.for.Comment]

Sir Humphrey had only newly been on the job unlike Sir Arnold. It is to be expected. Also, a chance for Hacker not to be too underpowered.

[@janetdiesnis456]

I love every second of the programme. Still relevant today. All the actors were marvellous. We had some good stuff on the telly then!

[@alwynsam5349]

No doubt !

[@wildbikerbill6530]

How far we have fallen, in more ways than one.

[@Tadicuslegion78]

Hacker: And the Order of the Garter, what do they do when initiated? Take it off Her Majesty's Thigh? Hehe. Bernard: No Minister, they have to take it off Prince Philip's thigh.

[@sleepycritical6950]

Ha

[@EK-gr9gd]

Honi soit qui mal y pense!

[@fsdds1488]

When Humphrey became more expressive, you know the things are really out of control.

[@Atomix330]

"I want to make one thing quite clear; Sir Humphrey is NOT God."

[@AlifNurfakhri]

Will you tell him or should I?

[@AlifNurfakhri]

@AS YT no no no. You know me. Actions. NOW.

[@econergyF]

Are you going to tell him or shall I😊😁

[@aananhenderson2689]

never caught the references to Tony Benn (This is the thin end of the wedge: a Bennite solution) who was notoriously loathed by the civil service, RIP a Legend

[@HSMiyamoto]

"Soundness" for a civil service member is like "Courage" for an M.P.

[@K9TheFirst1]

Not quite. For a Civil Servant, Soundness is a measure of how much Trust those with power are willing to place on you. Courage for an MP is a terrible thing that must be avoided at any cost, because you are about to do something that will ruin your career. Either by alienating you from the constituency, your peers, or both.

[@HSMiyamoto]

@@K9TheFirst1 Perhaps i should have said "Lack of Soundness."

[@stevenwebb3634]

They're total opposites.

[@giovanniacuto2688]

@@K9TheFirst1 Sadly, I wasn't sound enough

[@ahmedamine24]

@@K9TheFirst1 One might even say that courage is unsound.

[@linmonash1244]

Delightful to view this again, and great having it accessible to a whole new audience. Acting by all is brilliant and supremely nuanced. Perfect casting mix. Reflecting that Series 1 & 2 ran through '1980 to '88. Subsequently I have worked in / with various Govt. Departments and, Yes, kept running into EXACTLY these characters - albeit with Aussie accents! Kept stopping here mid chortle as it sinks in.. 40 years on just how terrifyingly CURRENT! Educative' to a new generation?

[@gentblue]

Another part of Yes, Minister which is 100% true.

[@danielk5780]

I find it interesting that Bernard knows about the conversation between Sir Humphry and Sir Arnold. They were alone in that room. So who of them talked?

[@sugarnads]

The car drivers mafia. They explain it in another scene.

[@stephenphillip5656]

Humphrey's 3x double brandies to settle his nerves when he got back to his office after that dressing down from Sir Arnold probably gave the game away....

[@andrewbernard8752]

God moves in a mysterious way

[@lauterunvollkommenheit4344]

What a savage scene with Sir Arnold. Like something from the Old Testament.

[@johnking5174]

John Nettleton who played Sir Arnold here is still alive - he turned 91 back in February 2020.

[@lauterunvollkommenheit4344]

@@johnking5174 That's good news, thank you!

[@SamvedIyer]

@@johnking5174 92 now.

[@wildbikerbill6530]

Like something from C.S. Lewis's 'Screwtape Letters'.

[@martybourke2428]

​@@johnking5174Dead at the moment.

[@grantbernes2468]

“Now, if I were a judge, I could whiz old Humpy off to The Scrubs, no problem. Feet wouldn’t touch. Clang, bang, see you in three years time! One-third remission for good conduct.”

[@nnannakalu9423]

"How do they award the thistle?" "A committee sits on it." Ba-dum-tss! 😆😆😆

[@renejean2523]

Nigel Hawthorne acted so brilliantly with his facial expressions. One of the best. John Mahoney who played Martin Crane in 'Frasier' was another. And I'll throw Stan Laurel in there too.

[@koenven7012]

Actually Paul Eddington was way better with facial expressions. He even had lines in the script with behind them: Paul doesn't have to say this if he can do it with his face. And he did... masterly.

[@allenjenkins7947]

I see that the Scottish Nationalists haven't changed.

[@roc7880]

they did. now they run Scotland without real opposition

[@chengmunwai]

They are hell bent on Scottish Independence to enjoy the trappings of statehood, including a grand coronation of "Empress" Sturgeon as PM as Scotland.

[@benjaminclarke7984]

​@@chengmunwai Scotland becoming an independent country is the same as if Wales became an independent country. Some dickhead at the top get's a bigger house, nothing changes for the better and running a country with next to no GDP value means taxes go up exponentially and unsurprisingly, no one takes you seriously because your country becomes a sequel to Ireland.

[@chengmunwai]

@@benjaminclarke7984 Exactly. It's all about personal ambition and a bigger house. They don't give two hoots about the ordinary people at the bottom.

[@andyrob3259]

@@benjaminclarke7984 ahhhh Scotland. The nation with a chip on its shoulder First Minister that wants independence from the U.K. yet immediately wants to give it away to the EU. The fact the Scots are ok with a party that yells ‘independence’ but behind the scenes is willing to give it away very easily for 30 pieces of silver behind their backs and being dominated by the French and Germans rather than being a solid partner in a United Kingdom it shares a long history with demonstrates the levels of education there. That they think they won’t be isolated with a hard border to the south is even funnier.

[@martinsawyer109]

Excellent contribution by the greatly underestimated Bernard. Wish we could have heard more of him!

[@georgebuller1914]

I really love this series: funny; so British - so Accurate! LOL

[@sanjayyashroy5831]

I would have loved seeing more of Sir Arnold

[@tombombadil9123]

Bernard and his puns 😆

[@deesplaylists6941]

How I miss these guys!!!

[@mihirsaksena2727]

They don't make shows like this anymore. I keep re-watching it over and over

[@HSMiyamoto]

Remember, when Hacker becomes P.M. in "Yes, Prime Minister", Arnold retires and Humphrey becomes Cabinet Secretary. Both reach the top of the Greasy Pole, and yet somehow, Britain survives another year. Not that Arnold loses all his power.

[@peterfreeman6677]

The country survives (in this fictional series) because there is a balance of power between the politicians and the Civil Service.

[@HSMiyamoto]

@@peterfreeman6677 Just imagine, if they worked together, they could bring Britain to its knees!

[@peterfreeman6677]

@@HSMiyamoto Which is precisely why the Civil Service should be apolitical and non-partisan, at least in theory. If the senior ranks of the Civil Service were to be filled by political appointees then personal loyalty to, and blindly obeying the orders of, the Prime Minister could easily bring the Civil Service, and perhaps the country, to its knees.

[@HSMiyamoto]

@@peterfreeman6677 In at least one episode, Hacker, MP, speaks glowingly on how the ministers and the civil service work together! Then there's that one episode where Hacker and Humphrey declare that their relation is more like that between a kidnapper and his hostage.

[@HSMiyamoto]

@@peterfreeman6677 I trying to be funny you know.

[@chrismr35]

Absolutely loved this comedy pretty apt for the British government whether it was 30 years ago or current.... could watch it anytime

[@dso2805]

On the same (top) level as Monty Python! Brilliant British humor @ its best.

[@MrHistorian123]

Interestingly, this reference to the Scottish Nationalists is unusual. I cannot recall any other instance where the name of a political party was mentioned in either series. Labour and Conservative were always studiously avoided and I can't remember any reference to the Liberals either.

[@GardEngebretsen]

If by Scottish Nationalists it's a reference to the SNP in particular, then yes, I think so too. Although the SNP was a very small party when this aired. During the run of Yes, Minister it only had two seats in the Commons. In 1987, while 'Yes, Prime Minister' ran, it won one more seat.

[@dehavillandvampire]

Also it's not the SNP in particular but just "Scottish Nationalists" in general, there are also references to "Welsh Nationalists" "Red Terrorists" and so throughout the series, broad stroke names that can always be applied to a multiude of groups.

[@thepeach03]

They didn't mention the SNP, just Scottish Nationalists which can be represented by a myriad of parties I'm sure.

[@ocevicheband502]

It's really ALL TRUE!!!

[@roc7880]

you need a wolf to scare another.

[@cinderball1135]

When I watched this show, it was easy to hate Sir Humphrey, but right now, I find myself wishing for more people like him, to bring the current crop of politicians back under control. What they need, more than anything, is a good bit of house-training! The sad truth is, as this show often hints at (but never says) is that while the Civil Service can be frustrating for politicians to work with, in its prevarication and its circumspection, it actually does bring a great deal of value to the table. The Civil Service is not composed exclusively of men like Sir Arnold and Sir Humphrey - but also has men like Bernard Woolley in it, and while they may not always deliver the policies that a radical government *wants*, they do knock the corners off it, and ensure that anything that reaches Parliament has been properly thought through. Alas, with Cummings now in charge, it seems the Conservatives are racing to do away with any such consideration - they would rather their back-of-envelope musings be rushed straight onto the statute books, without a second thought.

[@stephenburnage7687]

You believe that Cummings isn't trying to do his best for his country?

[@cinderball1135]

​@@stephenburnage7687 Two words for you: Barnard. Castle.

[@peterfreeman6677]

@@stephenburnage7687 I see no evidence of it so far.

[@MrBandholm]

For the British, the Civil Service was/is what has made a lot of their positions great in the past 300 years. There is a very strong case to be made, that the Civil Service was actually what formed British Grand Strategy, and what made sure that even under different governments the same overall goal was kept in focus. The same was seen in the Sweden and Denmark, but to a lesser scale, due to the kings.

[@cinderball1135]

@TheRenaissanceman65 Thank you for expressing this so well. :) Certainly we're getting an object in what results from a government that doesn't listen: projects undertaken by companies with no proper experience and which haven't been vetted - scandal after scandal because obvious and foreseeable disasters are not acted apon (such as the exam results fiasco of this year). When I was younger and first watching this series, I didn't really have the same appreciation for the Civil Service that I have now. It's easy, hopped up on idealism and "democratic values" to oversee the value of long-term experience and non-partisan professionalism. I hope that future governments will take better heed of people like you.

[@hifijohn]

once again the drawers of the desk is facing the wrong way.

[@geridayao8924]

Sir Arnold can be very dangerous and at the same a teddy bear.

[@FGN123]

Sir Arnold is the man Humphrey wishes he himself could be lol

[@jonathanhodgson2142]

Aaaaah. When the BBC made programmes not dross. You kinda didn't begrudge them the licence fee. How times change.

[@qwopiretyu]

what a delightfully British gripe, my thanks

[@jonathanhodgson2142]

@@qwopiretyu my pleasure old chap.

[@imfunatparties9463]

2:05 The look of terror on Mr Appleby's face 😂😂

[@joyghosh8610]

The Saint Bernard to the rescue huh !

[@doyleperkins4916]

I see. Yes, you can count on me.

[@philjamieson5572]

They make it look so easy - this acting lark. I bet there's years of hard work (for the actors, writers, crew etc.) that's made that possible. How unlike the over privileged characters they're portraying.

[@natfailsyoutube8163]

Almost the opposite previously struck me about this show, Bernard is by no means a young man, but in the context of the program he is the junior expected to still be be learning his role, especially by Humprey. Anyway, with regards to appreciating the craft of the actors, I was just now seeing this clip and struck by how bad the green screen looked, and how few of such scenes were in the program when I remembered is was filmed in front of a live audience which likely made a scene like this more difficult and somehwat explains the green screen quality presuming it was a set rushed onto a stage and likely there'd have been compromises with lighting for matting it out. Such moment really reminded me of how difficult it must have been for those actors not just to get the delivery right, but to do so infront of a live audience with the minimum of retakes.

[@Krzyszczynski]

"I'm sure you know what you are doing .... " Translation: "watch it, matey!"

[@porubszkyzoltan1265]

0:23 - but WHAT? scary...

[@criticsatlarge0073]

Totally Bojo going for dinner with the EU😂

[@batterby1]

A wonderful example of glaciation

[@wildbikerbill6530]

What is unfortunate is (a) That these people are gone and (2) How sad they make the current crop of politicians look.

[@TheRip72]

John Nettleton (Sir Arnold) is still with us.

[@bushit123456]

What's a benite solution?

[@chrishampton1981]

It refers to a politician named Tony Benn and came into usage to describe his style of left-wing politics he espoused from the late 1970's. It is mainly used to describe a radical or sweeping left-wing solution

[@1946nimrod]

Arnold the serpent......

[@dubey_ji]

In an episode minister says Humphrey is not god but I guess Humphrey got CMG call me god So Bernard was right 😂 will you tell sir Humphrey ?

[@Krzyszczynski]

There was a bit of conflation going on here, for the sake of keeping up the pace of the show. The Order of St Michael and St George (with its CMG, KCMG and GCMG) is apparently usually reserved for staff of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. In other departments - such as the DAA - one gets honoured with the Order of the Bath, which has an equivalent set of grades. It seems no-one has yet managed to come up with an equally amusing set of meanings for the initials CB, KCB and GCB. If you look at the book, you'll find Sir Humphrey is a KCB hoping to be upgraded to a GCB.

[@neilwoolner1662]

poor humphrey, his poor face

[@KristerAndersson-nc8zo]

So this about titles, what is the problem?

[@johnking5174]

What are you having trouble with?

[@HSMiyamoto]

I love clicking on Trump for President ads. More money for the BBC!

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Gcmg

[@andres983265]

Scottish nationalists and donkeys... same thing, lol! 😂

[@sebastiaanvandoorn3223]

Where is his broad vocabulary all of a sudden?