Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2651 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-11-15
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 660 minutes

Synopsis
Political satire focussing on the career of new minister James Hacker. Features all three series.

DVD Description
Meet the bewildered Rt Hon James Hacker, his scheming and equivocating Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby and of course, Bernard, the piggy-in-the middle. This great value boxed set contains the complete series one, two and three – every single episode until Jim Hacker rises to become prime minister. Easily the sharpest political comedy every written, with clandestine help from real civil servants, this is satire that bites so close to home it sometimes seems more like a documentary. Don’t let the fact that it was Margaret Thatcher’s favourite show put you off, this does the impossible: it makes politics not just fun but hilariously funny.

Customer Reviews

Telling it like it is
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.

Classic
I am a fan of many classic BBC sitcoms such as 'Allo 'Allo and Fawlty Towers. However, the Yes Minister series is the jewel in the crown due to the fact the hilarious and clever script makes more of a mockery of the inner workings of Britain than any journalist could. Dealing with politicians and civil servants 'getting the wheels in motion' in opposite directions from each other, featuring Jim Hacker, the Minister for the Department of Administrative Affairs, Permanent Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby, and, caught between the two, Private Secretary Bernard Wooley.

It is such a pity modern day civil service life is not so entertaining, otherwise walking down Whitehall on a rainy morning would be such a pleasure!

5 stars!

Best Comedy Of The '80s
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.