The Complete Yes Minister - Collector's Boxset [1980]

We can hear the usual, irritating studio laughter in the background, just as if we were watching, say, 'I Love Lucy' or 'On The Buses'. But is 'Yes, Minister' really nothing more than a 'situation comedy'? Uniquely perhaps, I think it is not. Just think of the gibberish our politicians have been coming out with for decades, whether Labour, Conservative or Liberal Democrat. I'm also tickled by the fact that my wife and I receive a Christmas card each year from a real life 'Bernard', one of her chums at university, containing some fatuous message or other.Well: it's marvellous really. Paul Eddington may not be as endearing here as he was in 'The Good Life' (with his randy chuckle every time he pictured Briers bonking Kendall), but he's wonderful. He always was. Same goes for Nigel Hawthorne. But I really, really enjoy Derek Fowlds as the often hapless Bernard - underrated, understated.And just to think, I used to watch him as a youngster doing his stuff with Basil Brush.It's up there with the greats: 'Dad's Army', 'Steptoe And Son', 'Porridge', 'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?', 'Fawlty Towers'.

What can you say? The BBC's finest moment? Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister are political comedy that do not grow old. You can ignore the brown suits and the interiors, and still feel that the themes and issues are as relevant today as ever. You cannot feel anything but fondness for this brilliantly scripted, witty, sharp and gloriously acted classic.Jim Hacker is a minister of the crown in a newly elected government. Reliant on his private secretary, Bernard Wooley, for help navigating the complexities of government. Hacker grows into the role, developing the occassional Churchillian conceit, but always remains an affectionate character, even in the depths of his pollitical paranoia. Wooley evolves through these series from a lamb, barely able to help himself never mind his minister, to a wolf cub: still young but growing teeth. The master is of course the cabinet secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, one of the greatest characters ever to appear on TV. Sir Humphrey is machiavellian and delights in the exercise of power. Slowly though the unthinkable evolves, Hacker, with tacit aid from Wooley (who has dual allegiances), begins to exert some measure of authority. The man who studied Classics at Oxford gradually realises that the minister, who studied at London School of Economics, which is almost as bad as Essex University, is worthy of respect.

My set did include the Party Games special. Good in parts - the ones when Jim stands up for himself.

My boss told me about this series and gave an example of the fully staffed hospital with no patients. I wasnt disappointed by the series and it taught me alot about office dynamics especially for a new comer and the difficulty in pushing through any reform agenda. I hope this series can be part of a taught course at Harvard's, Kennedy School of Government or Ecole Nationale D'Administration. Ofcourse we dont expect the scholars to learn from Sir Humphrey!! I work for a public sector organisation and there are so many similarities in the way busines is done,it is uncanny. I loved the humour too...I almost took notes. I like the Bernard character as He is really about your average person in the office caught between a rock and a hard place. How do you make an impact when you are not a major player and when you are between two antagonists..It aint an easy balance. I find Mr Hacker being cast as abit too daft, unrealistically so. So his rise to PM is rather abrupt for me as he hasnt matured sufficiently. I have ordered Yes Prime Minister and I hope it will not disappoint.

can enjoy rewatching them over and over again

Though a few of the jokes grate to our 2020s ears the overall messages are just as relevant and there is plenty of wit and guile in the script. Recommended to all who are interested in understanding our political system while they laugh!

Britain has for decades produced really top class satire and it hits an absolute peak with Yes Minister. Each episode centres around Jim Hacker, a minister, and his two main support staff, Sir Humphry Appleton his permanent secretary and Bernary Wooley, his private secretary.The first episodes and indeed the first series Hacker is green to the job and somewhat inept with the civil servants continually getting one over him. That trend continues throughout, though in later series on occasions the minister does beat the civil servants. It's an excellent demonstration of just who holds the power in government and it's easy to believe it to be true.The series have all aged well and it's as relevant today as it was when first released. I'm told that it was Thatchers favourite show, though don't let that put you off!Any fans of satire will love this.

As a previous reviewer touched on what strikes the viewer most with this series is just how up to date it remains 25 years on.I have just finished the first disk - I guess I was just about old enough to see a couple first time round - and the pieces about European identity cards and failing public-private partnerships are right out of the Blair era, never mind the early Thatcher days.One is left in no doubt that this is how it is, painful though it is to accept the fact. Painful politically, but I laughed out loud on many an occasion during each episode.Politics and the civil service may still be much like this today - what a shame that television is not.