TV series
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.
Availability
Yes Minister premiered February 25, 1980. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
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.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
When 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.
Directed by Peter WhitmoreWritten by Jonathan Lynn, Antony JayGuest stars John Barron, Stephen Tate, Norman Bird
Episode 2
When 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.
Directed by Peter WhitmoreWritten by Jonathan Lynn, Antony JayGuest stars John Nettleton, Frank Middlemass, William Fox
Episode 3
When 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.
Directed by Peter WhitmoreWritten by Jonathan Lynn, Antony JayGuest stars Diana Hoddinott, Ivor Roberts, Graeme Garden, Michael Keating
Episode 4
Jim 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.
Directed by Peter WhitmoreWritten by Jonathan Lynn, Antony JayGuest stars Jerome Willis, Brenda Blethyn, Geoffrey Toone, Freddie Earlle
Episode 5
When 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.
Directed by Peter WhitmoreWritten by Jonathan Lynn, Antony JayGuest stars Diana Hoddinott, John Nettleton
Episode 6
Sir 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.
Directed by Peter WhitmoreWritten by Jonathan Lynn, Antony JayGuest stars Richard Vernon, Peter Cellier, Sue Lawley
Episode 7
Jim 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.
Directed by Peter WhitmoreWritten by Jonathan Lynn, Antony JayGuest stars Nigel Stock, Judy Parfitt
Episode information updated Sep 17, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match Yes Minister.
Paul EddingtonJim Hacker
Nigel HawthorneSir Humphrey Appleby
Derek FowldsBernard Woolley
John NettletonSir Arnold Robinson
John Savident
Frederick Jaeger
Richard Vernon
BBC TwoUnited Kingdom
BBCUnited Kingdom
