Episode guide
Yes Minister
21 episodes · 3 seasons · 1980–1984 · BBC Two
From the desk
How this guide is filed
Civil-service comedy as chess: Paul Eddington's minister, Nigel Hawthorne's Sir Humphrey, and doublespeak so precise that real cabinets quoted it. Yes, Minister, with a knife behind the smile — then Yes, Prime Minister when the pawn gets promoted. Thatcher reportedly loved it, which is either the joke or the warning. Still the smartest workplace sitcom about power.
TV Flash files Yes Minister (1980–1984) on BBC Two as the episode guide: 21 listed hours across 3 seasons, 1980-02-25–1982-12-23 from “Open Government” (S01E01) to “The Middle-Class Rip-Off” (S03E07).
Season
Season 1
7 episodes
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S01E01 Open Government The Rt Hon Jim Hacker, newly appointed Minister for Administrative Affairs, finds his idealism challenged from the start.
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S01E02 The Official Visit Jim receives an African President, who turns out to be a friend from his university days.
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S01E03 The Economy Drive Jim attempts to initiate an economy drive within the Civil Service.
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S01E04 Big Brother Sir Humphrey is concerned about a new National Integrated Database.
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S01E05 The Writing on the Wall Jim Hacker MP is considering the introduction of identity cards.
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S01E06 The Right to Know Sir Humphrey is bothered by the controversy surrounding an endangered badger colony.
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S01E07 Jobs for the Boys Jim seeks help from a banker when a pet project seems near to collapse.
Season
Season 2
7 episodes
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S02E01 The Compassionate Society Minister for administrative affairs Jim Hacker struggles to cut administrative staff in the Health Service.
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S02E02 Doing the Honours Humphrey's old school network come in handy when he wants to scupper Jim's budget plans.
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S02E03 The Death List The minister is shocked to discover that his department is responsible for supplying all of the government's electronic surveillance equipment.
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S02E04 The Greasy Pole Jim discovers that the outcome of scientific reports can be manipulated if needs be.
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S02E05 The Devil You Know The date of a cabinet re-shuffle coincides with Jim's appointment in Brussels.
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S02E06 The Quality of Life Jim's eco-friendly policies are compromised when plans are hatched to turn a city farm into a Civil Service car park.
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S02E07 A Question of Loyalty Hacker and Sir Humphrey are called to appear before a Select Committee looking into government expenditure, and Hacker must choose between toeing the party line and doing what the Civil Service want him to do.
Season
Season 3
7 episodes
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S03E01 Equal Opportunities Jim attempts to instigate a policy of sexual equality in Whitehall, much to Sir Humphrey's disapproval.
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S03E02 The Challenge Jim's efforts to make local authorities financially accountable are thwarted by an interview with Ludovic Kennedy.
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S03E03 The Skeleton in the Cupboard A normally efficient local council is late with some paperwork, and Sir Humphrey wants to make an example of them.
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S03E04 The Moral Dimension Jim's plans to expose bribery are cancelled when Bernard manages to get a valuable vase under-valued, because Mrs Hacker has her eye on it.
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S03E05 The Bed of Nails Jim takes on an unpopular role developing a national transport policy.
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S03E06 The Whiskey Priest Jim faces opposition from all sides when he tries to expose a munitions deal.
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S03E07 The Middle-Class Rip-Off Jim and Sir Humphrey clash over those pillars of British culture: art and football.