Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister

FREE YES MINISTER & YES PRIME MINISTER - THE COMPLETE AUDIO COLLECTION: THE CLASSIC BBC COMEDY SERIES PDF

Audible Premium Plus. Cancel anytime. Through the ages of Britain, from the 15th century to the 21st, Edmund Blackadder has meddled his way along the bloodlines, aided by his servant and sidekick, Baldrick, and hindered by an assortment of dimwitted aristocrats. By: Ben Eltonand others. A rollicking collection of six acclaimed dramatisations of P. By: P. Set in the Machiavellian world of modern PR, Absolute Power introduces us to London-based 'government-media relations consultancy' Prentiss McCabe, whose partners Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe are frequently embroiled in the machinations of the British political system. By: Mark Tavener. It is Tom Good's 40th birthday, and he feels thoroughly unfulfilled. If only he can discover what 'It' is, and if he can, will his wife Barbara agree to do 'It' with him? By: John Esmondeand others. Welcome to Fawlty Towers, where attentive hotelier Basil Fawlty and his charming wife Sybil will attend to your every need - in your worst nightmare. With hapless waiter Manuel and long-suffering waitress Polly on hand to help, anything could happen during your stay - and probably will. By: John Cleeseand others. By: Oscar Wilde. Three series were broadcast between andwith episodes adapted from their TV counterparts by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles. By: David Croftand others. In the BBC adapted its hit wartime TV series for radio, featuring the original television cast and characters. Three series were broadcast between andwith episodes adapted by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles. After a lifetime spent in public relations, one-woman dynamo Agatha Raisin struggles to adapt to life in a Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series country village - but she soon finds that there is murder and mayhem aplenty to keep her busy. By: M. James' acclaimed mysteries, plus P. James in Her Own Words. Now you can enjoy once again these unique recordings, with a supporting cast including John Laurie, Arnold Ridley and Ian Lavender. By: Jimmy Perryand others. Whose Body? Clouds of Witness finds Wimsey investigating murder close to home, and in Unnatural Death he investigates the suspicious demise of an elderly woman. First broadcast on BBC radio in the s and presented here in their entirety, these full-cast adaptations are admired by fans of the genre worldwide. By: Dorothy L Sayers. A bumper collection of classic fun and games from one of BBC Radio 4's best-loved and most enduring comedy panel games. The inimitable Humphrey Lyttelton is in the chair for these 36 hilarious editions, collected together for the first time. Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series plays, set in the glittering world of high society in which he lived, are much admired and have remained in the popular theatre repertoire to this day. This collection brings together the very best radio adaptation. By: Noel Coward. This witty and unexpected show brings you toponyms, abbreviations, euphemisms, old words, new words, cockney rhyming slang and Greek gobbledegook. Find out the meaning of words like giff-gaffknock-knobbler and buckfitches ; the difference between French marbles, French velvet and the French ache; hear the glorious poetry of the English language, as practiced from writers varying from William Shakespeare to Vanilla Ice; and spend time laughing and learning with some of the finest Wordaholics in the business. By: Jon Hunterand others. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the young, feisty, devastatingly acute Horace Rumpole in this collection of cracking cases, also starring Timothy West as the older Rumpole. Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders : It is the '50s, and two war heroes have been shot dead. Defending the suspect is deemed hopeless, so the case is handed to a novice. But the novice's superiors didn't count on the tenacity and wit of the young and hungry Horace Rumpole. By: John Mortimer. An irresistible family saga of love, money and betrayal, The Forsytes: The Complete Series encompasses four acclaimed BBC Radio 4 productions of Galsworthy's perennially popular epic, spanning 50 years from to By: John Galsworthy. For the first time in one audio collection, all 16 Yes Minister radio episodes plus six further TV episodes, 14 Yes Prime Minister episodes and two bonus sketches. Helped - and hampered - by his diligent Permanent Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby Nigel Hawthorne and his Principle Private Secretary Bernard Woolley Derek FowldsHacker and his department became synonymous with government bureaucracy and administrative double dealing. Presented here, for the first time in one collection, are the complete radio series of Yes Minister and the complete BBC television soundtracks of Yes Prime Minister. This wonderfully witty, clever and beguilingly cynical look at British politics made perfect television when originally made, and it works just as well as an audiobook. Those familiar with the series will be very pleased by the chance to re-encounter Jim Hacker, Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley, and those unfamiliar are in store for a real treat. Download it as soon as you can - you certainly won't regret it! The best comedy series ever. Can't get enough of it after all these years. Masterpiece in all aspects :scriptperformance, screenplay. As a fan of the series, you really can't go wrong there. The one caveat here is the audience volume in the Yes, Prime Minister portion of this audiobook - it is so loud that it almost drowns out the actor's voices, or atleast makes it very annoying. This caveat does not apply to the Yes,Minister part of the audiobook. It's still a great buy, but I wish they had fixed reduced the audience volume issue before releasing it. This is a great series and one I will listen to again and again. It's farcical banter and beaurocratic nonsense has made me laugh out loud on my commute many any times. Such good fun! This wasn't a laugh-out-loud experience for me, but I enjoyed the way I was taught the machinations of politics in a humorous way. It is a good thing I am not a school teacher because I would try to get kids to learn more "how the world really works" beyond the accepted school curriculum - and this comedic audio has many good examples of how human ideals, egos, hunger for power, and sneaky machinations collide. Listening to this audio book Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series the same time as watching a series called "Borgen" gives an immersive experience of humans and politics - at least as portrayed by the entertainment industry. And amazement as to why anyone would want to be in politics. The audio issue here needs to be discussed. The voices are sometimes a bit hollow and distant, requiring the volume be turned up. However, the audience laughter a laugh track? This uneven sound quality is not great for someone who uses earbuds, but if you listen to audio books on a speaker may not be an issue. I think I laughed out loud only a few times, but the audio version was still an enjoyable experience - and I learned something about how our world works and people behave too. Regardless of the original production date, this series remains funny because it is still relevant. This is one that I can listen to repeatedly. The characters are interesting, funny, and knowable. The topics are real, the situations all too familiar, and you just know this is what really goes on in government, doubtless no matter the country. Yes Minister and the follow-up Yes Prime Minister are just funny- plain and simple. Such great satire, it'll change the way you think about politics. I didn't realise it wasn't current, all the issues are so familiar. Hilarious and engaging!! I Loved every minute of it both times I listened to it. While from the 80's- it is still fun to listen! Witty, humorous, Never silly! Just great! This is the most wonderful political comedy. As fresh now as it was when I first watched the TV series in the 's. Most enjoyable is the great writing and sparking performances. This hard to compare. It's a brilliant British radio play and completely different to anything else that I've seen on Audible. How does this one compare? No, I haven't. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? I listened episode by episode overall few weeks. Any additional comments? An excellent political satire still relevant today. The acting is wonderful and the plot lines clever. Well worth listening too. Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series will have you laughing out loud at times. What can I say about this phenomenal series that hasn't already been said a thousand times before? If like me you loved the television series then there's no reason why you won't like these audio versions, since they use the same amazing scripts adapted for radio and star the same original cast indeed even many of the minor characters are played by the same actors. Not only that but they also manage to convey all of the fun and spontaneity that was present in the TV series which lifted it from merely "good" to "truly great". Buy it, you will not be disappointed. Review: 'Yes, Prime Minister' gets lost in British politics - Los Angeles Times

Split over three seven-episode series, it was first transmitted on BBC2 from to A sequel, Yes, Prime Ministerran for 16 episodes from to All but one of the episodes lasted half an hour, and almost all ended with a variation of the title of the series spoken as the answer to a question posed by Minister later, Prime Minister Jim Hacker. Several episodes were adapted for BBC Radio ; the series also spawned a stage play that led to a new television series on Gold in Set principally in the private office of a British Cabinet minister in the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs in WhitehallYes Minister follows the ministerial career of Jim Hackerplayed by Paul Eddington. His various struggles to formulate and enact policy or affect departmental changes are opposed by the British Civil Servicein particular his Permanent SecretarySir Humphrey Applebyplayed by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. The sequel, Yes, Prime Ministercontinued with the same cast and followed Jim Hacker after his unexpected elevation to Number 10 upon the resignation of the previous Prime Minister. The series opens in the wake of a general election in which the incumbent government has been defeated by the opposition party, to which Jim Hacker MP belongs. His party affiliation is never stated, and his party emblem is clearly neither Conservative nor Labour. While Appleby is outwardly deferential towards the new minister, he is prepared to defend the status quo at all costs. Woolley is sympathetic towards Hacker but as Appleby reminds him, Woolley's civil service superiors, including Appleby, will have much to say about the course of his future career i. Many of the episodes revolve around proposals backed by Hacker but frustrated by Appleby, who uses a range of clever stratagems to defeat ministerial proposals while seeming to support them. Other episodes revolve around proposals promoted by Appleby but rejected by Hacker, which Appleby attempts by all means necessary to persuade Hacker to accept. They do occasionally join forces in order to achieve a common goal, such as preventing the closure of their department or dealing with a diplomatic incident. As the series revolves around the inner workings of central government, most of the scenes take place in private locations, such as offices and exclusive members' clubs. Lynn said that "there was not a single scene set in the House of Commons because government does not take place in the House of Commons. Some politics Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series much theatre takes place there. Government happens in private. As in all public performances, the real work is done in rehearsal, behind closed doors. Then the public and the House are shown what the government wishes them to see. At the time of the making of the series, television cameras were not allowed in the House of Commons and had only recently been introduced into the House of Lordsso it was not unusual to a British audience to have no scenes from there. He spent a good deal of time in Parliament on the Opposition benches before his party won a general election. Hacker received his degree from the London School of Economics graduating with a Thirdfor which he is often derided by the Oxford-educated Sir Humphrey who attended "Baillie College", a thinly-veiled reference to the real Balliol Collegegraduating with a First in Classics. Before long, Hacker begins to notice that Civil Service tactics are preventing his planned changes being put into practice. As he learns, he becomes more sly and cynical, using some of the Civil Service ruses himself. While Sir Humphrey initially held all the aces, Hacker now and again plays a trump card of his own. Throughout Yes Minister, Hacker, at his worst, is portrayed as a publicity-seeking bungler who is incapable of making a firm decision. He is prone to potentially embarrassing blunders, and is a frequent target of criticism from the press and stern lectures from the Chief Whip. However, he is also shown to be relatively politically savvy, and he slowly becomes more aware of Sir Humphrey's real agenda. In Yes, Prime Minister, Hacker becomes more statesmanlike. He practises more grandiose speeches, dreams up his "Grand Design" and hones his diplomatic skills. Nearly all of these efforts land him in trouble. In a Radio Times interview to promote Yes, Prime MinisterPaul Eddington stated, "He's beginning to find his feet as a man of power, and he's begun to confound those who thought they'd be able to manipulate him out of hand. He is appointed Cabinet Secretary just as Hacker's party enters a leadership crisis, and is instrumental in Hacker's elevation to Prime Minister. He is committed to maintaining the status quo for the country in general and for the Civil Service in particular. However, although presenting an outward appearance of supreme confidence and competence, Sir Humphrey is not immune to making miscalculations or outright blunders. When such blunders occur, he relies on the Civil Service bureaucracy to save him. And can I see if he's reading it from an idiot board Loquacious and verbose, he frequently uses both his mastery of the English language and his grasp of Latin and Greek grammar both to perplex his political master and to obscure the relevant issues. In a Radio Times interview to promote the second series of Yes, Prime Ministerproducer Sydney Lotterby stated that he always tried to give Eddington and Hawthorne extra time to rehearse as their scenes invariably featured lengthy dialogue exchanges. While in theory he is personally responsible to Hacker, it is in practice Sir Humphrey who writes his performance reviews and influences his Civil Service career. He usually handles these situations well, and maintains his reputation in the Civil Service as a "high flier" as opposed to a "low flier supported by occasional gusts of Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series. Woolley is always quick to point out the physical impossibilities of Sir Humphrey's or Hacker's mixed metaphorswith almost obsessive pedantry. He can occasionally appear rather childlike, by making animal noises and gestures or by acting out how such an analogy cannot work, which sometimes annoys his Minister. Woolley tends to side with Hacker when new policies are announced, because they seem radical or democratic, only for Sir Humphrey to point out the disadvantages to the status quo and the civil service in Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series. To sway Bernard, Sir Humphrey uses phrases such as "barbarism" and "the beginning of the end". In a retrospective, Armando Iannucci commented that Fowlds had a difficult task because he had to "spend most of his time saying Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series but looking interested in everyone else's total and utter guff" but "his one line frequently had to be the funniest of the lot. Lynn joined the Cambridge Union in his first year at the University of Cambridge because he thought that he might like to enter politics. They were all behaving as if they were on the government front bench, and twenty years later they all were: Michael Howard ; John Selwyn Gummer ; Kenneth Clarke. I thought at that point that the only way that I could ever contribute to politics is making fun of the politicians. The series, then, intended to satirise politics and government in general, rather than any specific party. The writers placed Hacker at the centre of the political spectrum, and were careful to identify his party headquarters as "Central House" a combination of Conservative Central Office and Labour's Transport House. The terms " Labour " and " Conservative " are scrupulously avoided throughout the series, favouring terms such as "the party" or "the Government" and "the opposition". The one exception to this neutrality occurs very briefly in " The National Education Service ", when Sir Humphrey explains to Bernard how the policy of comprehensive education is retained through successive governments, using different arguments according to which party is in power. Even there, Humphrey does not reveal which party Jim Hacker represents. Despite this, the overall thrust was towards government reduction rather than expansion. The episode " Jobs for the Boys ", for example, rejected corporatism. Although Lynn comments that the word " spin " has "probably entered the political vocabulary since the series," [6] Iannucci suggests that the show "taught us how to unpick the verbal tricks that politicians think they can get away with in front of the cameras. This is particularly evident in the episode " The Ministerial Broadcast ", in which Hacker is advised on the effects of his clothes and surroundings. The episode " A Conflict of Interest " humorously lampoons the various political stances of Britain's newspapers through their readers although this material was not original : [15]. 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. Bernard: Sun readers don't care who runs the country, as long as she's got big tits. Adam Curtisin his three-part TV documentary The Trapcriticised the series as "ideological propaganda for a political movement", [16] and claimed that Yes Minister is indicative of a larger movement of criticism of government and bureaucracy, centred upon public choice economics. Jay himself supported this:. The fallacy that public choice economics took on was the fallacy that government is working entirely for the benefit of the citizen; and this was reflected by showing that in any [episode] in the programme, in Yes Ministerwe showed that almost everything that the government has to decide is a conflict between two lots of private interest — that of the politicians and that of the civil servants trying to advance their own careers and improve their own lives. And that's why public choice economics, which explains why all this was going on, was at the root of almost every episode of Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. Jay, however, has elsewhere emphasized that he and Lynn were interested first and foremost in the comical possibilities present in government and bureaucracy and that they were not seeking to promote any agenda: "Our only firm belief on the subject was that the underlying conflicts between ministers and ministries were better brought out into the open than kept secret". The writers were inspired by a variety of sources, including sources inside government, published material and contemporary news stories. Jay has written that as early ashe had been induced by developments in the Timothy Evans case to wonder about an "inverted alchemy" operating in Whitehall, capable of frustrating the most impassioned campaigner. Some situations were conceived as fiction, but were later revealed to have real- life counterparts. The episode " The Compassionate Society " depicts a hospital with five hundred administrative staff but no doctors, nurses or patients. Lynn recalls that "after inventing this absurdity, we discovered there were six such hospitals or very large empty wings of hospitals exactly as we had described them in our episode. In a programme screened by the BBC in earlypaying Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series to the series, it was revealed that Jay and Lynn had drawn on information provided by two insiders from the governments of Harold Wilson and James Callaghannamely Marcia Williams and Bernard Donoughue. The episode entitled " The Moral Dimension ", in which Hacker and his staff engage in the scheme of secretly consuming alcohol on a trade mission to the fictional Islamic state of Qumran, was based on a real incident that took place in Pakistaninvolving Callaghan and Donoughue, the latter of whom informed Jay and Lynn about the incident. That's why it was so funny. Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series couldn't think up things as funny as the real things that had happened. Fusing inspiration and invention, Lynn and Jay worked on the story "for anything from three days to two weeks," and only took "four mornings to write all the dialogue. After we wrote the episode, we would show it to some secret sources, always including somebody who was an expert on the subject in question. They would usually give us extra information which, because it was true, was usually funnier than anything we Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series have thought up. For security purposes, the arrangements of the rooms were altered, and the views from the windows were never shown, to conceal the layout of the buildings. The opening titles were drawn by artist and cartoonist Gerald Scarfewho provided distinctive caricatures of Eddington, Hawthorne and Fowlds in their respective roles to represent distortion. The sequence ended with the title of the episode superimposed on a facsimile of an edition of the House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin. Scarfe created a second set of graphics for Yes, Prime Ministerincluding a different title card for each episode. Derek Fowlds wanted to buy an original drawing but was unable to afford it. The typeface used in the credits is Plantina common typeface used in the British press at the time. The show title is set in bold condensed and the credits are in bold. The theme music was composed by Ronnie Hazlehurst and is largely based on the Westminster Quarters : the chimes of Big Ben. When asked in an interview about its Westminster influence, Hazlehurst replied, "That's all it is. It's the easiest thing I've ever done. The final version of the titles and music had yet to be agreed, and both differ substantially from those used for subsequent instalments. The opening and closing title Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series cards feature drawings of most of the cast, but are less exaggerated than those of Scarfe, while the unaccredited music is a more up-tempo piece for brass band. The Scarfe and Hazlehurst credits were used for some repeat broadcasts of the first episode, but the original pilot credits were retained for the DVD release. The different ideals and self-interested motives of the characters are frequently contrasted. Whilst Hacker occasionally approaches an issue from a sense of idealism and a desire to be seen to improve things, he ultimately sees his re-election and elevation to higher office as the key measures of his success. Accordingly, he must appear to the voters to be effective and responsive to the public will. To his party and, in the first incarnation of the series, the Prime Minister he must act as a loyal and effective party member. Sir Humphrey, on the other hand, genuinely believes that the Civil Service, being politically impartial, has the most realistic idea of what "good governance" means, and therefore knows what is best for the country — a belief shared by his bureaucratic colleagues. Hacker sees the job of government as one of "doing good", [26] or more specifically reforming the country according to his own party's policies: which, more often than not, means the initiation of departmental reforms and economies, a reduction of the level of bureaucracy and reduction of staff numbers in the Civil Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series. Yes, Minister, The Complete Collection on iTunes

First-class political satire and a worldwide favourite seen in over 80 countries, Yes Minister is well-known for being closer to the truth than those in the political arena would like to admit. Re-live the exploits of the amiable and honourable Jim Hacker and his permanent Secretary, the urbane but evasive Sir Humphrey Appleby as they balance the intricacies of government bureaucracy. View in iTunes. He has landed the job of Cabinet Minister to the Department of Administration and he has revolutionary plans for Open Government. The Minister has a plan to turn an official visit by the President of Buranda to party political advantage. He wants to move the President's meeting with the Queen to Scotland to coincide with the local elections. The Permanent Secretary dislikes the plan, especially when it precipitates an unforeseen crisis. Pruning the civil service is a great political platform for the Minister but the idea is deeply upsetting to Sir Humphrey Appleby. He explains that the civil service measures its success by the size of its staff and budget. Perhaps he can find a way to make the Minister abandon the policy. Jim Hacker is having some problems with decision making at the same time as he sets out to protect people's right to privacy. He meets with stiff resistance from Sir Humphrey and learns that secrecy is as sacred an observance for Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series servants as silence is for Trappist monks. While battling one another on the civil service reduction issue, the Minister and Sir Humphrey learn of a plan that would adversely affect them both. Their own department is now facing closure. They must work together for the first time if they are to prevent it. Are there occasions when a Minister should be kept in the dark? Sir Humphrey seems to be holding back important information about how the department operates. The question takes on new meaning when the Minister's daughter joins a group protesting his plans for administration of the countryside. The Minister is puzzled by Sir Humphrey's evasion of questions about a departmental construction project in the Midlands. When the awful truth is revealed, the Minister finds himself implicated as well. Sir Humphrey must try to rescue the project without attracting publicity. A newly built hospital has a full administrative staff but no patients due to a government imposed reduction in the recruitment of medical staff. For some reason, Sir Humphrey does not want this particular boat rocked. He explains that they should measure success by activity, not by results. At the Ministry the conflicts of interest continue when the Minister is asked to approve the departmental recommendations for the honours list, and Sir Humphrey tackles government policy on the tuition fees of overseas students. Maybe a boozy dinner will help Jim come to a decision about what he should do. The Minister is shocked to learn that his department is responsible for supplying all the government's electronic surveillance gear. After all, his campaign was based in part on his opposition to bugging and phone Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series. Jim is later shocked to hear his name is on the International Freedom Army death list. The British Chemical Corporation, with the backing of Sir Humphrey, intend to produce a dangerous chemical at their Merseyside factory. When the people protest Jim must arrive at an appropriate compromise. Can he find a way to get round Sir Humphrey? The Minister is upset at rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle. Jim considers a move to work in Europe, something he previously considered nothing more than a gravy train. Sir Humphrey is equally worried because if the Minister should go, there might be a move to have the Permanent Secretary replaced. The Minister is having a particularly good day and even enjoys media coverage from the BBC on a trip to a children's city farm. However, one must never underestimate the manipulative skill of Sir Humphrey. The key to getting a Minister's signature on an order is to catch him when he's in a hurry. The conflict between politicians and civil servants takes centre stage when the Minister and Sir Humphrey appear before a select committee scrutinizing the functions of the Department of Administrative Affairs. The Prime Minister wants budget cuts, but Sir Humphrey is against them. Where do Jim's loyalties lie? The Minister decides there should be more women occupying top jobs in the Civil Service, which raises some eyebrows at the Ministry - particularly those of Sir Humphrey. In the reorganisation of government administration, the Minister is tasked with reducing local government bureaucracy. During a radio interview, it becomes apparent that he does not realise just how daunting this task will be. Sir Humphrey wants a local authority disciplined because they have omitted some required paper work. The Minister does not wish to comply, as the local authority is one of the most efficient in the country. The Minister leads a delegation to the Persian Gulf with Sir Humphrey on hand as his guide, where he learns the difference between a bribe and an 'extra-contractual payment'. The Minister is given the job of implementing an integrated national transport policy. Sir Humphrey endeavours to protect him from the potential nightmare of such a task. The Minister is in possession of some embarrassing information on the sale of British arms to Italian terrorists, and it takes all of Sir Humphrey's skill to convince him not to do anything foolish with it. The Minister is keen to rescue a struggling football club in financial difficulties, but Sir Humphrey believes that subsidies are only for art and culture - not for a form of entertainment that people actually want. Episode 3 Series 1, The Economy Drive Pruning the civil service is a great political platform for the Minister but the idea is deeply upsetting to Sir Humphrey Appleby. Episode 4 Series 1, Big Brother Jim Hacker is having some problems with decision making at the same time as he sets out to protect people's right to privacy. Episode 5 Series 1, The Writing on the Wall While battling one another on the civil service reduction issue, the Minister and Sir Humphrey learn of a plan that would adversely affect them both. Episode 7 Series 1, Jobs for the Boys The Minister is puzzled by Sir Humphrey's evasion of questions about a Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series construction project in the Midlands. Episode 8 Series 2, Compassionate Society A newly built hospital has a full administrative staff but no patients due to a government imposed reduction in the recruitment of medical staff. Episode 9 Series 2, Doing the Honours At the Ministry the conflicts of interest continue when the Minister is asked to approve the departmental recommendations for the honours list, and Sir Humphrey tackles government policy on the tuition fees of overseas students. Episode 10 Series 2, The Death List The Minister is shocked to learn that his department is responsible Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series supplying all the government's electronic surveillance gear. Episode 14 Series 2, A Question of Loyalty The conflict between politicians and civil servants takes centre stage when the Minister and Sir Humphrey appear before a select committee scrutinizing the functions of the Department of Administrative Affairs. Episode 15 Series 3, Equal Opportunities The Minister decides there should be more women occupying top jobs in the Civil Service, which raises some eyebrows at the Ministry - particularly those of Sir Humphrey. Episode 16 Series 3, The Challenge In the reorganisation of government administration, the Minister is tasked with reducing local government bureaucracy. Episode 17 Series 3, The Skeleton in the Cupboard Sir Humphrey wants a local authority disciplined because they have omitted some required paper work. Episode 18 Series 3, The Moral Dimension The Minister leads a delegation to Yes Minister & Yes Prime Minister - The Complete Audio Collection: The Classic BBC Comedy Series Persian Gulf with Sir Humphrey on hand as his guide, where he learns the difference between a bribe and an 'extra-contractual payment'. Episode 19 Series 3, The Bed of Nails The Minister is given the job of implementing an integrated national transport policy. Episode 20 Series 3, The Whisky Priest The Minister is in possession of some embarrassing information on the sale of British arms to Italian terrorists, and it takes all of Sir Humphrey's skill to convince him not to do anything foolish with it. Episode 21 Series 3, The Middle Class Rip-Off The Minister is keen to rescue a struggling football club in financial difficulties, but Sir Humphrey believes that subsidies are only for art and culture - not for a form of entertainment that people actually want. More Seasons in Series See All. Yes Minister, Series 2. Yes Minister, Series 1. Yes Minister, Special: Party Games. Yes Minister, Series 3. Viewers Also Bought See All. Yes, Prime Minister Blackadder Goes Forth. Fawlty Towers, Series 2. The Thick of It, Series 4. Top Comedy Programmes See All. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 7. Modern Family, Season Modern Family, Season 8. Modern Family, Season 9. Schitt's Creek, Season 1. Schitt's Creek, Season 6.