Playback is currently unavailable for S2 E1 · The Compassionate Society. Episode details remain available below.
Yes Minister
Satirical sitcom set in the office of a UK Cabinet minister, Jim Hacker MP, who struggles with Civil Service bureaucracy and political machinations as he tries to get on with government business.
- Created by:
- Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay
- Cast:
- Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds
- Language:
- English
- Country:
- United Kingdom
- Network:
- BBC Two
Episode guide
Seasons
Series 2
Episodes
E01
Episode 1
The Compassionate Society
1981-02-23 · 30mWhen Jim learns that a brand new hospital still has no medical staff, but hundreds of civil servants working there, he proposes that half of the civil servants be sacked and use the money saved to open wards with medical staff.
Current episode
E02
Episode 2
Doing the Honours
1981-03-02 · 30mWhen Jim learns that he can block civil servant’s honours, he blackmails them into cutting their budgets, but when he hears that he might be in line for an honorary degree, he has to back down.
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E03
Episode 3
The Death List
1981-03-09 · 30mWhen Jim learns that when in opposition he was bugged by the secret service, he decides to bring in legislation to kerb the bugging, only to find out that he is on the death list of a group of terrorists, and the best way to find them, is by bugging phone lines.
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E04
Episode 4
The Greasy Pole
1981-03-16 · 30mJim has the chance of creating jobs, and saving a chemical company, when they are offered the chance to manufacture a highly dangerous chemical, but when the news gets out that it might be too dangerous, he has to back down.
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E05
Episode 5
The Devil You Know
1981-03-23 · 30mWhen Jim is betrayed by a Cabinet colleague over his plans to bring in jobs for British workers, he thinks about leaving Westminster and becoming a European Commissioner, But when Sir Humphrey learns who his replacement will be, he tries to change Jim’s mind.
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E06
Episode 6
The Quality of Life
1981-03-30 · 30mSir Humphrey uses Jim’s promise to keep a popular city farm project open to get special permission for an additional nine floors on a proposed skyscraper.
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E07
Episode 7
A Question of Loyalty
1981-04-06 · 30mJim and Sir Humphrey pass the buck to protect each other when they appear before a select committee investigating charges of waste in Hacker’s ministry, until Jim’s higher loyalties are called upon.
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Paul Eddington
Jim Hacker
Nigel Hawthorne
Sir Humphrey Appleby
Derek Fowlds
Bernard Woolley
