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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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
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.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
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.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
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!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
YES MINISTER
An excellent series, still fresh and still extremely funny. The word-play is clever, the acting superb and the duplicitous nature of politics and of the civil service hilarious. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Anna English
So Few, So Good, Never Out Of Date, A Truely Great Comedy
I Purchased this box set of one of the best ever British Comedies. It was a comedy marvel all three yes minister and two yes prime minister, that relied on the skill of the writer... Read more
Published 6 months ago by N. M. Thorogood
Yes Minister dvd
As my review for One Foot, it will appeal to people who have seen the original, and hopefully some new viewers as it's now very topical...
Published 11 months ago by A. S. Bruce
Politics never changes...
Having seen all the original TV series, there wan't anything that I needed to know in advance of purchase. Read more
Published 20 months ago by artybeetle
Good Comedy
Easy family viewing. Plenty of good dry wit all round as one person constantly tries to outdo the other.
Published 22 months ago by arty
A comedy classic.
A brilliant comedy, an absolute classic!
The series gives a wonderful best of British comedy birds-eye portrayal of the relationships between civil servants and... Read more
The series gives a wonderful best of British comedy birds-eye portrayal of the relationships between civil servants and... Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2010 by D. Waugh
The Complete Yes Minister
This series of BBC programmes is as funny now as when it was first screened, over twenty years ago.
I frequently laughed out loud, even when watching it alone. Read more
I frequently laughed out loud, even when watching it alone. Read more
Published on 15 Aug 2009 by Margo Fulten
A truely timeless classic
I bought this box set for my father on the occasion of his 65th birthday as I remembered him enjoying the series the first time around in the 80's. And it did not disappoint. Read more
Published on 30 July 2009 by Mr. Mark L. Vickery
Compulsory viewing
25 years old, and the only thing dating this series is the dress code. Watching an episode of Yes Minister just before the News at Ten is at times a surreal experience. Read more
Published on 11 April 2009 by Schlodde
Making the Case for Closed Government
What a delightful comedy series this is even after almost 30 years. The financial calamity engulfing the world at present has exposed much of the machinery of government as... Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2009 by Junglies
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