List of Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister episodes
Thirty-eight episodes of Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister were made in total, running from 1980 to 1988. A one-hour special aired in 1984; all other episodes were a half-hour in length. The dates listed below are when a particular episode was first transmitted on BBC2.
Hacker is made Transport Supremo — and soon wonders if it is a title worth having.
20
6
"The Whisky Priest"
16 December 1982 (1982-12-16)
Hacker faces a moral dilemma when he learns that British bombs are ending up in the hands of Italian terrorists.
21
7
"The Middle-Class Rip-Off"
23 December 1982 (1982-12-23)
Sir Humphrey is incensed that Hacker plans to subsidise his local football club by selling a local museum.
Christmas Sketch (1982)
A two-minute Christmas-themed sketch, featuring only Eddington, Hawthorne and Fowlds, was aired on BBC1 as part of a 1982 Christmas special titled The Funny Side of Christmas.
No.
Title
Original air date
1
"Christmas at the Ministry"
27 December 1982 (1982-12-27)
Sir Humphrey has a special end-of-year message for the Minister, delivered in, even by his standards, an especially circumlocutory style. His message was later transcribed and printed in The Utterly Utterly Merry Comic Relief Christmas Book.
Christmas Special (1984)
No. overall
Title
Original air date
22
"Party Games"
17 December 1984 (1984-12-17)
The unexpected resignation of the PM prompts a race for the succession, and, as Party Chairman, Hacker is in a key position—and the Civil Service, now headed by Sir Humphrey, has its own agenda. (Special hour-long episode.)
Yes, Prime Minister (1986–1988)
Series 1 (1986)
No. overall
No. in series
Title
Original air date
1
1
"The Grand Design"
9 January 1986 (1986-01-09)
With his finger now on the nuclear button, Hacker plans his first act as Prime Minister to be a radical new defence policy.
2
2
"The Ministerial Broadcast"
16 January 1986 (1986-01-16)
Hacker is groomed for his first television broadcast as PM, but Sir Humphrey is more concerned with the content.
3
3
"The Smoke Screen"
23 January 1986 (1986-01-23)
Hacker uses his Health Minister's plan to eliminate smoking as a bluff against the Treasury.
4
4
"The Key"
30 January 1986 (1986-01-30)
The PM decides to clip Sir Humphrey's wings when he engages in a territorial battle with Hacker's political advisor.
5
5
"A Real Partnership"
6 February 1986 (1986-02-06)
Sir Humphrey has to get through a civil service pay claim while at the same time discrediting its proposer.
6
6
"A Victory for Democracy"
13 February 1986 (1986-02-13)
Hacker has difficulty discovering if the Foreign Office is there to carry out government policy or vice versa.
7
7
"The Bishop's Gambit"
20 February 1986 (1986-02-20)
A troubled British nurse in Qumran and a vacant bishopric combine to provide an opportunity for Sir Humphrey.
8
8
"One of Us"
27 February 1986 (1986-02-27)
The former head of MI5 is revealed to be a spy (despite Sir Humphrey clearing him), while a dog strays onto Salisbury Plain. Featuring Michael Aldridge.
Series 2 (1987–88)
No. overall
No. in series
Title
Original air date
9
1
"Man Overboard"
3 December 1987 (1987-12-03)
Sir Humphrey fights the Employment Secretary's plan to relocate service personnel to the North of England by casting doubt over the Minister's loyalty.
10
2
"Official Secrets"
10 December 1987 (1987-12-10)
Hacker attempts to suppress an unflattering chapter of his predecessor's memoirs that has been leaked to the press.
11
3
"A Diplomatic Incident"
17 December 1987 (1987-12-17)
The death of Hacker's predecessor provides a chance for some negotiations with France over the Channel Tunnel at his state funeral.
Hacker can avoid a City scandal if he appoints a Bank of England Governor whose honesty is not beyond reproach.
13
5
"Power to the People"
7 January 1988 (1988-01-07)
Sir Humphrey and the leader of Houndsworth Council become strange bedfellows when Hacker tries to reform local government. This episode gave rise to the Politician's syllogism.
14
6
"The Patron of the Arts"
14 January 1988 (1988-01-14)
Hacker's invitation to the British Theatre Awards dinner becomes a hot potato when the size of the Arts Council grant is revealed. Features John Bird.