There's nothing new under the sun..... 'Yes minister' was broadcast from 1980 to 1984 and was written by Anthony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. According to Jay "We often had to write months ahead of transmission … it means you can’t put in little topical jokes that will be funny tomorrow but meaningless months later. Our jokes were about permanent things rather than temporary things and they stayed relevant.”
@@geraldashton8589 Yes, I very much think our senior civil service (and the vast majority of our politicians) were very pro EU. It was always a VERY potential nice earner to go and work in Strasbourg or Brussels - revolving doors? That would be the cynical perspective.. :-o
A Australian politician told a story of how he was in hospital and his chief of staff was visiting to keep him up to date, and Yes Minister was on so they both watched it together. And after a while he realised that they were both laughing at different parts - that it was _that accurate._
Sadly, shows like this have disappeared from British TV, that was classy writing with wonderfully high standards from Yes Minister to Yes Prime Minister, great casting too!
Couldn't agree more. I'm in the States now and I remember those brilliant comedy shows with hilarious nostalgic memories, a.k.a. Fawlty, Some Mothers, Yes Minister, The Fall and Rise. Can never be repeated with the same innocent humour.
Dear old Humpy!! God bless him!! - Nigel Hawthorne CBE, was a brilliant actor. His superb acting, faultless mastery of complex passages of dialogue, and eloquent pronunciation brought Sir Humphrey Appleby so much to life that "Appleby" is now a part of the language!! R.I.P. Nigel - and thank you!!
A. Cat* I would call this kind of diplomacy a bad diplomacy and very unreliable diplomats. If the UK joined the EU to achieve the objectives expressed in this section of the "Yes Minister" series, it would be better if they had never joined the EU.
hugh scott If you take into account the goal of a one world order, Britain leaving would be a huge set back, so I still am not convinced they will actually leave. I expected the leave vote would win by a narrow margin, demonstrating how divide the underlying approach was, and then would experience all of the negative aspects befor they actually left, resulting in a decision to stay with a far more commited population.Just a variation of reverse psychology for the masses.
Yes Peter M.Adamson, YES MINISTER is one the greatest series ever. Also YES PRIME MINISTER. I bought both series plus Rumpold of the Bailey - another brilliant series. The British, arguably, make the best comedies and dramas. BTW, I'm an Aussie - of Indian origin LOL !!
Did he? That's hilarious. I love the idea of the imposing looking Gorbachev laughing at this. Wonder if he got his version translated or spoke English fluently himself. I imagine it would be quite hard to translate comedy effectively but either way, interesting comment!
That might be my favorite Humphrey scene. He’s rarely so enthusiastic and so honest. Usually it usually takes some successful scheming to get him in such a good mood but here he’s just genuinely happy about this ridiculous state of affairs and that makes it all the more hilarious.
@@tacramerutube ...and you were convinced said minister was a nitwit that no one took seriously which happened to be true. [This is why he became the compromise Prime Minister later on in the series.]
@Janet McWilliams It's rubbish. Brendan O'Carroll has never been funny. I learned this as a kid being forced to watch Hot Milk and Pepper. Mrs Browns Boys is essentially blackface for the people of places like Ballyfermot and Crumlin. Worse than this, it plays to the lowest common denominator. As for the English not getting humor, remember they gave us Monty Python, Billy Connolly, Spike Milligan (even if he was partially ours), The Two Ronnies, Only Fools, Last of the Summer Wine and not to mention Alan Partridge and the work of Armando Iannuci. They also allowed us to have Father Ted realised and allowed Dara O'Brain to have a career in comedy.
I regret that this series has only few seasons and few episodes in each season, what great shame! RIP Sir Humphrey. No one could have done a better job!.
How Government works....not only in Britain, but in many other countries as well.....absolutely brilliant TV series! Witty, great actors and highly accurate. Still as relevant in 2019 as it was in the 1980's .....
funny that as I was studying politics and government at the time and it truly was the best way of learning and understanding it!! in a fabulous British way!
From the U.S. Love Sir Humphrey! one who could tell you to 'go to hell' in such a polite and correct manner that you may actually look forward to the trip!...love the Brits!..and whether you leave or stay in the E.U., you have millions of fans here in this godforsaken backwater!
What many haven't worked out is that the establishment wanted us, as described by Sir Humphrey, to remain. But "the people" spoke. Much as they did about Trump. At least you got a second shot.
@Fnord Fnordington What's wrong with that? The middle class have been screwing the common working class and the other end of the spectrum the aristocracy for years! It's the middle classes the bourgeois Bohemians that they are with their arraogant moral obligation superiority complex as to why our island is falling into ruin and decay! Bloody liberal do-gooders!
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams..................
This how it is which is why this series was and is so brilliant. I wish we could produce in the UK a new version set in today. It would not be expensive to produce as there are not a lot of scene changes.
Hafnium Half-life The man who plays the Minister sometimes acted out scripted outlines just using his expressions. You just need to watch this show so carefully to really get the gags. It’s not one you can zip off to the kitchen and get back to.
this show was brilliant even though it was satire it was all so true ,smoke and mirrors mixed in with a bit of corruption lies a deceit , that's what government is all about , ohh and also feathering ones nest.
Actually, Brexit marks the end of this 500-year British grand strategy. With the UK out, Germany (with its French sidekick) shall dominate Europe. Sir Humphrey would have been appalled...
Jack, I don't think, if you'll excuse my bluntness, that you've quite captured Humpy's train of thought. He doesn't care what happens to Europe. He doesn't even care what happens to England*. He cares only about as much power as possible remaining in the hands of civil servants rather than politicians... or, God forbid... the people! (As he said in another episode: "Diplomacy is about surviving into the next century. Politics is about surviving the next election!") *: Generally speaking. He does care about little bits of England, like Harrod's.
The US dominates Europe. It didn't want sanctions on Russia but got them anyway. The US doesn't want or need Russia nat gas. With Germany out of nukes, its either nat gas or coal.
The BBC brought out the whole of Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister on DVD a few years ago. If anyone is interested I think they're still available on Amazon and Ebay.
Ah, so our decision to join to destroy the EU made us leave it... And our determination to make the rules and build up trade made us give that all up? Perhaps you haven't thought this through. Brexit was a mistake.
Actually, this explains why the foreign office is horrified by Brexit (if you listen to what he actually says, which I believe is true). Brexit is Very Good News for the European Project.
f the EU is a fragile mess, then it Needs More than Ever to get Rid of the Brits. They have brought it nothing but trouble, from Thatcher's tantrums up to the present day. It's just as Sir Humprhrey says.
You seam to forget that most of the heavy british industry has been bought by among other the Germans and also India - the car industry is the real example, not much is actually left on british hands. And would those companies not have been bought, they would simply have vanished. They where bought because the brands had a great heritage to build on, but no real initiative, technology and investment power to remain on par with other producers. Rolls Royce and Mini is owned by BMW, Bentley by VW Group and so on. If the London money market goes and it gets more difficult for students to come into Britain and the universities then one must ask what big wheels is left to drive the british economy?. Not to forget that both Oil and Coal are in steep decline, but at least the latest british investments in Wind energy is a positive sign. I´m not saying the Britain is not capable - it is and also a reason why several productions have stayed in Britain even after being bought by foreign investors - But does that not say it all more or less, that no country in these times can do it all by it self.
One of the best shows I enjoyed in the 80s.. Very relevant even today. The English spoken in this show is the best and any non English speaking person too can learn speaking correct English!!!
There's still "The News Quiz", "The Now Show" and "The Skewer" on Radio 4, if you want political satire. I'm not sure what's on the telly these days as I prefer the radio because the pictures are better.
No. This was great scriptwriting, portrayed by 3 SUPERB comedy actors. The 'Thick of it' was badly written by lazy scriptwrters. Using a constant stream of foul language doesn't make anything funny.
@@karenblackadder1183 I disagree. The writing in 'The Thick of It" was carefully crafted, to be delivered at light-speed, and many of those involved were fine actors, though not necessarily comedy actors. 'Yes, Minister' was in part the story of the Minister's plans being continually crushed by the soggy, overbearing, inertia of the public service. 'TTOI' was about the Minister's plans (and everyone else's) being crushed by the overbearing bullying of the Party 'fixers' reacting to Press coverage. The foul language was, to a large extent, a requirement of that speed of delivery and the atmosphere of intimidation. As I think Malcolm explained once to a new Minister "I sometimes express myself with a little thing I like to call _violent sexual innuendo_ and I just wanted to check you'd be okay with that?"
I'm currently listening to the complete collection on Audible and nothing has changed in politics. These conversations are exactly the same as today's.
brexit has actually taught many europeans the value of the eu. the eu never managed to do that, especially during the brexit voting.. "leave and take back control" vs "no, better don't do it, who knows what will happen". i'm not surprised about the outcome
NOt really, the big difference between the Uk and the rest of Europe is that most Europeans, especially younger ones, see the EU as a guarantor of democracy and their rights. They have a strong emotional attachment. N the UK we never really saw it as anything other than a trading relationship. Most European nations have been run by fascist dictatorships or been dominated fascistic countries. Britain has groped its own way to democracy over a period of about 900 years, we had a bill of rights and habeas corpus in the 17th century and a powerful and separate judiciary almost as long. We don't feel the need for the EU to protect our rights and indeed ted to view it as eroding our rights. So personally I dont see any other European nation leaving the EU in any foreseeable future.
I've been telling people for years that the EU is like a carrier bag full of housebricks: The more (bricks / countries) you jam in, the sooner it falls apart.
Loved this show, watched it almost contemporaneously while in college (took 2-3 years to get on US PBS). Double major political science/history, summa cum laude - ivy law school after ... so I always admired Humphrey, but I silently rooted for Jim. Which might be why I never landed in government service or even as a practicing attorney.
Nigel Hawthorne as Sir Humphrey Appleby, genius. My favourite was big data. Best political show of all time. I was too young originally but replayed on 2 a few years ago and still stands up today especially when in 2015 big data was as much of an issue as it was in the early 80's. Jay and Lynn fantastic writing. As crisp as Fawlty Towers. New version awful by comparison.
Every word he said is true it isn't a joke for us Indians British did use divide and rule in India by dividing people in cast language region and religion and Pakistan is result of that policy.
And before Britain there were no divisions? A unitary India was a British creation out of the morass of kingdoms and princely states they found there. Jinnah demanded a separate state, not Britain.
The Dutch people have voted against membership of the EU during a EU sanctioned petition. That's why no more EU sanctioned petitions will be held anymore.
I love the book. Still have it; still enjoying it with every re-read. Sir Humphrey's smug conviction is superbly portrayed and every bit as I imagined it to be. So pleased this verbalization of the preponderant Zeitgeist, that of cynical, perpetual self-interest, was retained word for word. 👍😂
Fantastic show that aged so very well unlike most. (BBC would never commission or broadcast such a thing now, unless it’s well left of centre to pursue the bbc biase of recent decades. Sad it’s allowed itself to trash its long earned and respected impartial reputation, throwing it away like some worthless coat they now despise.)
left of center with Farage and Boris lovers everywhere, I doubt that. The BBC is dictated to by whichever party is in power at the time so BBC has been right of center for 10 plus years Brexxit is a far-right idea btw being right of the BBC doesn't make the BBC left-wing there are tories at the very top of the BBC organisation google it
There's nothing new under the sun..... 'Yes minister' was broadcast from 1980 to 1984 and was written by Anthony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. According to Jay "We often had to write months ahead of transmission … it means you can’t put in little topical jokes that will be funny tomorrow but meaningless months later. Our jokes were about permanent things rather than temporary things and they stayed relevant.”
And relevant today....
Surprisingly appropriate explanation for current events.
christian gibson I thought that scene was from Prime Minister.
@@hrearden6993
"yes minister" tv series, 1980-1984.
www.imdb.com/title/tt0080306/
Brilliantly put...
"The foreign office Is pro Europe, because It´s really anti-Europe". Glorious words by Sir Hump.
Loved this series. Very clever writing and performances. I think though our mandarins were all for the eu. The people said they thought otherwise.
@@geraldashton8589 Yes, I very much think our senior civil service (and the vast majority of our politicians) were very pro EU. It was always a VERY potential nice earner to go and work in Strasbourg or Brussels - revolving doors? That would be the cynical perspective.. :-o
@@geraldashton8589 What do the people think now?
Politicians of the time said that this show was more of a documentary than a satirical comedy.
Thatcher agreed, and even did a skit with the cast as a special.
More of a video guide really.
I would guess it still is.
Brilliant show.
@@martin4374 it wasnt a special, it was at a small awards ceremony
A Australian politician told a story of how he was in hospital and his chief of staff was visiting to keep him up to date, and Yes Minister was on so they both watched it together.
And after a while he realised that they were both laughing at different parts - that it was _that accurate._
Sadly, shows like this have disappeared from British TV, that was classy writing with wonderfully high standards from Yes Minister to Yes Prime Minister, great casting too!
_The Thick of It_ is a pretty good more recent take.
The real thing is the comedy now
@@korakys the difference here is you still like all the charactors, even after they have done the dirty on each other
@@quentinvaughan7640 just see all of them completely.
You've got Boris leading your country, it doesn't get funnier than that 😂😂
Best sitcom this country ever produced. Brilliantly written, acted, and still stands the test of time even now😁😁😁😁
Couldn't agree more. I'm in the States now and I remember those brilliant comedy shows with hilarious nostalgic memories, a.k.a. Fawlty, Some Mothers, Yes Minister, The Fall and Rise. Can never be repeated with the same innocent humour.
Best sitcom I think any country has ever produced! One of the few sitcoms you could describe as great art.
Agreed, but I'd say also that this is the best sitcom any country has ever produced.
Idk, Blackadder is also pretty damn good.
@@TheJrbdog Yeah but Blackadder isn't a sitcom. It's more of a parody like "Airplane!" or "Blazing Saddles".
Dear old Humpy!! God bless him!! - Nigel Hawthorne CBE, was a brilliant actor. His superb acting, faultless mastery of complex passages of dialogue, and eloquent pronunciation brought Sir Humphrey Appleby so much to life that "Appleby" is now a part of the language!! R.I.P. Nigel - and thank you!!
I'm finding myself agreeing more and more with Humphrey on everything!
Humpy is a total legend. R.I.P. Nigel and Paul.
Henry Ford Also Antony Jay
@@alexsmyth17 Derek too
Derek died last year too
“we call it diplomacy minister” 😂
ua-cam.com/video/Hpt3FC_rBxs/v-deo.html legalizing offshore whaling ? 🐋
Probably too true to be funny. ;-)
@@womanofsubstance8735 darkly, sadly funny, albeit
A. Cat* I would call this kind of diplomacy a bad diplomacy and very unreliable diplomats. If the UK joined the EU to achieve the objectives expressed in this section of the "Yes Minister" series, it would be better if they had never joined the EU.
Brilliant and possibly true (LOL). One of the greatest TV Comedy's of all time.
Peter M. Adamson it is very funny but not in anyway true. We ignored the initial setup and realised our mistake and wanted in
Thanks. I only said possibly because it was a comedy.That's why I put~( LOL) but thanks for the insight.
hugh scott If you take into account the goal of a one world order, Britain leaving would be a huge set back, so I still am not convinced they will actually leave.
I expected the leave vote would win by a narrow margin, demonstrating how divide the underlying approach was, and then would experience all of the negative aspects befor they actually left, resulting in a decision to stay with a far more commited population.Just a variation of reverse psychology for the masses.
Comedy .....COMEDY??? This is very serious... in a comical way LOL
Yes Peter M.Adamson, YES MINISTER is one the greatest series ever. Also YES PRIME MINISTER. I bought both series plus Rumpold of the Bailey - another brilliant series. The British, arguably, make the best comedies and dramas. BTW, I'm an Aussie - of Indian origin LOL !!
Sir Hump spot on as allways
Duck of death Yeah? Wait and see what happens after the Brits back out.
Yep they are already falling out with each other.
not back out, get out. FUCK the EU dictators.
his character is mocking those who believe what he believes though. at least much of the time
We will never see the likes of these guys again, fantastic, god bless you where ever you are and thanks for all the laughs.
Certainly not. They are all apart from Jonathan Lynn and Derek Fowlds aka Bernard, dead.
Alex Morgan And as you probably know, Derek Fowlds died in January 2020.
The most intelligent /funny political show on TV I've seen. I still watch it
I love every nuance of every actor. Not one wasted word or one wasted look. Perfect.
“ why should we change now” absolutely superb
Mikhail Gorbachev's favourite series not forgetting 'Spitting Image' where he had a starring role. Aides used to find him roaring with laughter.
Did he? That's hilarious. I love the idea of the imposing looking Gorbachev laughing at this. Wonder if he got his version translated or spoke English fluently himself. I imagine it would be quite hard to translate comedy effectively but either way, interesting comment!
That might be my favorite Humphrey scene. He’s rarely so enthusiastic and so honest. Usually it usually takes some successful scheming to get him in such a good mood but here he’s just genuinely happy about this ridiculous state of affairs and that makes it all the more hilarious.
Sir Humphrey is a total legend👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤣🤣👍👍
True, but the real "Humphrey" would not have explained this to a minister.
Oh yes you would if you truly believed you were in control and none could wrest it from you.
@@tacramerutube ...and you were convinced said minister was a nitwit that no one took seriously which happened to be true. [This is why he became the compromise Prime Minister later on in the series.]
It’s called “gloating”. Or in The Incredibles they call it “monologueing”.
..unless he saw benefit in doing so...
We went from comedies like this to shyte like Ms Browns Boys.
sadly yes.... utter shyte
Like the Roman Gladiatorial games. Just feed the plebs “entertainment” whilst getting away with anything.
True,
@Janet McWilliams Rubbish. Father Ted was massively successful in the UK.
@Janet McWilliams It's rubbish. Brendan O'Carroll has never been funny. I learned this as a kid being forced to watch Hot Milk and Pepper. Mrs Browns Boys is essentially blackface for the people of places like Ballyfermot and Crumlin. Worse than this, it plays to the lowest common denominator. As for the English not getting humor, remember they gave us Monty Python, Billy Connolly, Spike Milligan (even if he was partially ours), The Two Ronnies, Only Fools, Last of the Summer Wine and not to mention Alan Partridge and the work of Armando Iannuci. They also allowed us to have Father Ted realised and allowed Dara O'Brain to have a career in comedy.
I regret that this series has only few seasons and few episodes in each season, what great shame! RIP Sir Humphrey. No one could have done a better job!.
An everlasting gem of a show that never loses relevance, comedy at it's best😂
One the Best Shows the Brits ever came up with, Truly genious and to this day rarely matched.
If Sir Humphrey could only see Boris Johnson now; he'd be appalled! 😱
I’m appalled, Bernard, what do you think ?
How Government works....not only in Britain, but in many other countries as well.....absolutely brilliant TV series! Witty, great actors and highly accurate. Still as relevant in 2019 as it was in the 1980's .....
Brilliantly written series. So poignant in so many ways.
Art imitating life. Brilliant satire. British comedy at it's finest.
Gosh but that show got it SO right every time!
Nigel Hawthorne was a great actor.
how I miss those good old series. Wonderful scripts, well delivered. do miss wily Humphrey.
Fantastic series. Sadly writing of this calibre simply doesn't exist anymore.
Words of prophecy written over forty years ago.
So, so true.
Except he prophesied us remaining. Leaving has brought the EU closer together.
Err - it's an arguement for staying in the EU. So, not prophetic at all.
Unbelievably the best school for understanding Politics, should be mandatory in High School.
funny that as I was studying politics and government at the time and it truly was the best way of learning and understanding it!! in a fabulous British way!
Thats my thought exactly
From the U.S. Love Sir Humphrey! one who could tell you to 'go to hell' in such a polite and correct manner that you may actually look forward to the trip!...love the Brits!..and whether you leave or stay in the E.U., you have millions of fans here in this godforsaken backwater!
Oh, we're definitely leaving mate! By hook or by crook!
🇬🇧🇺🇸
we are bloody well leaving mate, or Doris can get ready!!!.
Leave
Surely this show must be revived post Brexit!!!
What many haven't worked out is that the establishment wanted us, as described by Sir Humphrey, to remain.
But "the people" spoke. Much as they did about Trump.
At least you got a second shot.
Best documentary on TV
This has to be the best written series of all time.
Margaret Thatcher loved this show.
@Fnord Fnordington What's wrong with that? The middle class have been screwing the common working class and the other end of the spectrum the aristocracy for years! It's the middle classes the bourgeois Bohemians that they are with their arraogant moral obligation superiority complex as to why our island is falling into ruin and decay! Bloody liberal do-gooders!
Great
Perhaps because she was delighted that it depicted politicians as doing their best to get things done and being obstructed by the Civil Service.
Brilliant. The writing , humphrey & jim
Watch the episode ‘The Key’ from the ‘Yes Prime Minister’ series. That had me weeping with laughter. In fact watch any of them!
I have always loved Sir Humphrey. Great acting, great writing.
Nothing thought me more about politics then this show. Top class.
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams..................
Classic yet so current and relavent at the same time.
More relevant today than ever before....brilliant writing and delivery
Absolute comedy gold. Also, a documentary 🤣🤣👏 British comedy is the best
This how it is which is why this series was and is so brilliant. I wish we could produce in the UK a new version set in today. It would not be expensive to produce as there are not a lot of scene changes.
There was a new series, a couple of years ago. It was... not very good.
This scene could have aired yesterday and will still be relevant
I muted the audio and just watched the facial expression and body languange of Sir Humphrey. It was a joy nonetheless!
Hafnium Half-life The man who plays the Minister sometimes acted out scripted outlines just using his expressions. You just need to watch this show so carefully to really get the gags. It’s not one you can zip off to the kitchen and get back to.
Except now it's 27 against 1 .
this show was brilliant even though it was satire it was all so true ,smoke and mirrors mixed in with a bit of corruption lies a deceit , that's what government is all about , ohh and also feathering ones nest.
There's an element of truth in every joke ;-)
Absolutely brilliant. Thanks.
"Now that we're inside we can make a complete pig's breakfast of the whole thing!" 0:58 XD lmfao
This would have been a good argument to remain in the EU. 😂
Why isn't this wonderful and topical and dare I say it, humorous show not being shown today?? Ratings winner
Actually, Brexit marks the end of this 500-year British grand strategy.
With the UK out, Germany (with its French sidekick) shall dominate Europe.
Sir Humphrey would have been appalled...
Jimmy Rustled However, ze Chermans have finally learned patience. Seduction appears to be succeeding where rape failed...
Complete and utter xenophobic tbullshit
Jack, I don't think, if you'll excuse my bluntness, that you've quite captured Humpy's train of thought. He doesn't care what happens to Europe. He doesn't even care what happens to England*. He cares only about as much power as possible remaining in the hands of civil servants rather than politicians... or, God forbid... the people! (As he said in another episode: "Diplomacy is about surviving into the next century. Politics is about surviving the next election!")
*: Generally speaking. He does care about little bits of England, like Harrod's.
The US dominates Europe. It didn't want sanctions on Russia but got them anyway. The US doesn't want or need Russia nat gas. With Germany out of nukes, its either nat gas or coal.
"US dominates Europe" - That's why Trump complains about the trade deficit with Germany because Germans don't want to buy crappy American cars.
The BBC brought out the whole of Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister on DVD a few years ago. If anyone is interested I think they're still available on Amazon and Ebay.
This clip has taken on a whole new meaning since 23rd June 2016.
Ah, so our decision to join to destroy the EU made us leave it...
And our determination to make the rules and build up trade made us give that all up?
Perhaps you haven't thought this through.
Brexit was a mistake.
Sir Humphrey bang on target again..
OMG! Absolutely effing brilliant ... and sadly all too true.
That was when the beeb made decent comedy.
Now it try’s to tell jokes so politically correct that they now are publicly incorrect.
OH this is a GEM! never watched it as a kid because I thought the gags would go over my head. /regret
The best serial ever and this part is true. why shoudl we change now when it worked, so well..
Nice Machiavellian perspective, Sir Humphrey.
Actually, this explains why the foreign office is horrified by Brexit (if you listen to what he actually says, which I believe is true).
Brexit is Very Good News for the European Project.
Maybe, but nearly all of the establishment now is violently pro-Remain.
Nonoatfirst I wouldn't be so sure if that. The EU is already a fragile mess, losing Britain is a serious problem for them.
f the EU is a fragile mess, then it Needs More than Ever to get Rid of
the Brits. They have brought it nothing but trouble, from Thatcher's
tantrums up to the present day.
It's just as Sir Humprhrey says.
They have brought it nothing but trouble = billions of pounds.
You seam to forget that most of the heavy british industry has been bought by among other the Germans and also India - the car industry is the real example, not much is actually left on british hands. And would those companies not have been bought, they would simply have vanished. They where bought because the brands had a great heritage to build on, but no real initiative, technology and investment power to remain on par with other producers. Rolls Royce and Mini is owned by BMW, Bentley by VW Group and so on. If the London money market goes and it gets more difficult for students to come into Britain and the universities then one must ask what big wheels is left to drive the british economy?. Not to forget that both Oil and Coal are in steep decline, but at least the latest british investments in Wind energy is a positive sign. I´m not saying the Britain is not capable - it is and also a reason why several productions have stayed in Britain even after being bought by foreign investors - But does that not say it all more or less, that no country in these times can do it all by it self.
One of the best shows I enjoyed in the 80s.. Very relevant even today. The English spoken in this show is the best and any non English speaking person too can learn speaking correct English!!!
Political Satire has gone from our screens sadly . Is it because they think people only wants gormless celebrities or reality shows , .?
There's still "The News Quiz", "The Now Show" and "The Skewer" on Radio 4, if you want political satire. I'm not sure what's on the telly these days as I prefer the radio because the pictures are better.
Hawthorne was brilliant. Saw him on Broadway in Shadowlands. I wish he had done The Madness of George III over here but at least he did the film.
Bang on old boy! ;)
How very Courageous of you Minister !
“The Thick of It” is a close successor to this amazing series.
No. This was great scriptwriting, portrayed by 3 SUPERB comedy actors.
The 'Thick of it' was badly written by lazy scriptwrters.
Using a constant stream of foul language doesn't make anything funny.
@@karenblackadder1183 I disagree. The writing in 'The Thick of It" was carefully crafted, to be delivered at light-speed, and many of those involved were fine actors, though not necessarily comedy actors. 'Yes, Minister' was in part the story of the Minister's plans being continually crushed by the soggy, overbearing, inertia of the public service. 'TTOI' was about the Minister's plans (and everyone else's) being crushed by the overbearing bullying of the Party 'fixers' reacting to Press coverage. The foul language was, to a large extent, a requirement of that speed of delivery and the atmosphere of intimidation. As I think Malcolm explained once to a new Minister "I sometimes express myself with a little thing I like to call _violent sexual innuendo_ and I just wanted to check you'd be okay with that?"
Such great writing, such great acting...
I love how the Minister seems to have no idea of what is going on! Hilarious ..
I'm currently listening to the complete collection on Audible and nothing has changed in politics. These conversations are exactly the same as today's.
Why can't we have Sir Humphrey around today? He'd sort out Brexit in 5 minutes.
Sir Humphrey was, and remains, a humble civil servant.
So true, even 30 plus years ago
Prophetic! This was when the BBC did comedy!
The best secrets are kept in plain sight, where no one will believe them.
Re: letting the Greeks in : 'a sea of red... '
Prophetic
30 + years later and Sir Humphrey's still ring true.
brexit has actually taught many europeans the value of the eu. the eu never managed to do that, especially during the brexit voting.. "leave and take back control" vs "no, better don't do it, who knows what will happen". i'm not surprised about the outcome
NOt really, the big difference between the Uk and the rest of Europe is that most Europeans, especially younger ones, see the EU as a guarantor of democracy and their rights. They have a strong emotional attachment. N the UK we never really saw it as anything other than a trading relationship. Most European nations have been run by fascist dictatorships or been dominated fascistic countries. Britain has groped its own way to democracy over a period of about 900 years, we had a bill of rights and habeas corpus in the 17th century and a powerful and separate judiciary almost as long. We don't feel the need for the EU to protect our rights and indeed ted to view it as eroding our rights. So personally I dont see any other European nation leaving the EU in any foreseeable future.
That's a very courageous policy, minister...
I've been telling people for years that the EU is like a carrier bag full of housebricks: The more (bricks / countries) you jam in, the sooner it falls apart.
The sad part is we have a bag for life.
Yes! Like the USA. ( wait a minute..)
TBirdNeil Yes
Loved this show, watched it almost contemporaneously while in college (took 2-3 years to get on US PBS). Double major political science/history, summa cum laude - ivy law school after ... so I always admired Humphrey, but I silently rooted for Jim. Which might be why I never landed in government service or even as a practicing attorney.
It seems Britain is finally uniting Europe by leaving the EU. What remains is part of an island on its own.
Nigel Hawthorne as Sir Humphrey Appleby, genius. My favourite was big data. Best political show of all time. I was too young originally but replayed on 2 a few years ago and still stands up today especially when in 2015 big data was as much of an issue as it was in the early 80's. Jay and Lynn fantastic writing. As crisp as Fawlty Towers. New version awful by comparison.
I feel like this will be included in one of Adam's Curtis future documentaries about Europe.
Every word he said is true it isn't a joke for us Indians British did use divide and rule in India by dividing people in cast language region and religion and Pakistan is result of that policy.
And before Britain there were no divisions? A unitary India was a British creation out of the morass of kingdoms and princely states they found there.
Jinnah demanded a separate state, not Britain.
Yes, Minister never gets old!
Unfortunately it appears that the EU has closed ranks for the upcoming negotiations. Which does not bode well for my dear island home.
Take heart. The EU is basically a prison that doesn't work.
Gumardee : What? You mean "kith and kin" kith me arse? You damn colonials ought to know your place --- LOL!
What do you expect. You can't leave a golf club or community association and expect to enjoy exactly the same benefits outside as inside.
The Dutch people have voted against membership of the EU during a EU sanctioned petition. That's why no more EU sanctioned petitions will be held anymore.
The only referendum in the Netherlands was about an EU deal with Ukraine, not Dutch membership.
Brilliant show!!
Brilliant!
I've been saying this from the very begging and people look at me like I am crazy.
Love it! Love it! Love it!
By leaving, nobody can defend the UK's interests within the EU.
I love the book. Still have it; still enjoying it with every re-read.
Sir Humphrey's smug conviction is superbly portrayed and every bit as I imagined it to be. So pleased this verbalization of the preponderant Zeitgeist, that of cynical, perpetual self-interest, was retained word for word. 👍😂
What book if I may ask?
I vote to include the box set of Yes Minister to be included on the school’s curriculum
I absolutely love this, so true 😂
Most brilliant sitcom ever! Miss those days...
Fantastic show that aged so very well unlike most. (BBC would never commission or broadcast such a thing now, unless it’s well left of centre to pursue the bbc biase of recent decades. Sad it’s allowed itself to trash its long earned and respected impartial reputation, throwing it away like some worthless coat they now despise.)
What delusional bollocks.
left of center with Farage and Boris lovers everywhere, I doubt that. The BBC is dictated to by whichever party is in power at the time so BBC has been right of center for 10 plus years Brexxit is a far-right idea btw being right of the BBC doesn't make the BBC left-wing there are tories at the very top of the BBC organisation google it
Bollocks typical nutcase probably right wing. Many toured believe this show was left wing. You just can’t please numpties like u
What a fantastic show. Much missed!