"In politics you have to learn to say things with tact and finesse, you berk!" the perfect encapsulation of British parliamentary decorum where you must follow arcane rules of order but apart from that are free to insult the opposition in any way you want.
@@MacMcCaskill Because people do not say ugly things about their adversaries anymore, right? Grow up, will you? If anything, the decorum and relative restraint in speech of past ages look more like a snowflake's dream come true than anything we have seen in decades.
I used to watch this as a kid. It still so good after all these years. It is sad that all the 3 main actors are no longer with us today. May they rest in peace.
"In politics you have to learn how to say things with tact and finesse you berk!" For any non-native Brits watching this, berk is Cockney rhyming slang, fully Berkeley Hunt, I'm sure you can guess what for.
Was it Margaret Thatcher who said? : The public think this is a comedy. The civil service thinks this is a documentary. The government think this is a tragedy.
@@christophercook723 And, the USA earned the right to remove the letter U from any word they choose to as soon as they rebelled, sent you scurrying home in defeat, and became a far more powerful nation than yours in the centuries since.
The insecurity of ministers is so funny. In a big parliament such as in the UK, a PM with a big majority has so many to choose from. So relevant even in 2020. Perfect clips to watch if you're sick of Covid news.
What CoVID news? I never watch the propaganda cum hype that is the news. I remember that scene in "Bridge of Spies" before the spy swap when Tom Hanks's character asks Mark Rylance's character (the Russian spy): Aren't you worried? The reply: Would it help?
I really should watch all of these again. I watched em as a kid and got a few laughs but I'm afraid most of the best stuff prob went right over my head. Brilliantly written show. Today's TV could learn a hell of a lot from it.
There are books of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister episodes still available . Look on line. The DVDs should also be available if you can play them.
Oh I wouldn't be to sure. There's episode four of Series 1, with the Big Brother Database where he didn't suspect Hacker had a trap for him when he was going on TV. There's the finale of Series 2, where he got caught up in a counter-conspiracy to expose Government Waste, then there's the infamous Key situation from the first series of Yes, Prime Minister where he failed to see that he *wasn't* going to get away with constantly walking all over Hacker anymore.
MyYTwatcher Sadly those files were lost in an unfortunate flooding incident and so alas we are no longer in the position to confirm the involvement of any potential member or members of her majesties civil services participation in such disreputable affairs.
@@lauterunvollkommenheit4344 I think, you should have answered the question in the spirit of the programme - and said "That information is confidential."
@@johnking5174 That's what I meant by highlighting that he was naive. If you compare it to how he is when he's PM he's really got a grasp of the Civil Service, not that he can get the better of them.
Luckily for him, he learned over time and managed to get a few victories now and then. Even when he was defeated, he would make it perfectly known that he conceded reluctantly.
@@WorldWar2freak94 but what prizes did he really win? Not disciplining South Derbyshire? Dropping Transport Supremo job? The sovereignty of St.George's Island?
Minister Hacker you have been fined one pound for violation of the political secrecy declaration. I keep thinking of Demolition Man every time Sir Humphrey speaks.
@@pressureworksI'm not sure slang expressions have a 'correct' spelling, but if so, the word Berk is an abbreviation of Berkeley Hunt, Berkeley being a village in Gloucestershire. Regardless of the fact that 'berk' is pronounced as in Edmund Burke the village is pronounced roughly as if it were spelled 'bark-lee'. Berkeley Hunt is rhyming slang for something better described as "begins with C, four letters, essentially feminine"!
The role of the political advisor Frank Wiesel is played by Neil Fitzwiliam. The chief whip Vic Gould in this episode and a few others is played by Edward Jewesbury.
@aon 1003 This series is a comedy. The current workings of the WH are so ridiculous they would be dismissed as absurd if suggested by any script writer, whether they were to be in a drama or a comedy.
Watch even more Yes Minister right here: bit.ly/ComedyGreatsYesMinister
No thanks. I'm not paying for a 40 year old show that was free. Remember free? 🙄
@@deesplaylists6941 the link is just a collection of the clips. No charges...
@@deesplaylists6941 Actually it was not free for us who paid TV Licence
"In politics you have to learn to say things with tact and finesse, you berk!" the perfect encapsulation of British parliamentary decorum where you must follow arcane rules of order but apart from that are free to insult the opposition in any way you want.
These days there'd be an outcry from the ❄️❄️❄️ about "bullying"! 😂
@@MacMcCaskill Because people do not say ugly things about their adversaries anymore, right? Grow up, will you? If anything, the decorum and relative restraint in speech of past ages look more like a snowflake's dream come true than anything we have seen in decades.
Jim isn't even the opposition, the Chief Whip is his own party.
I used to watch this as a kid. It still so good after all these years. It is sad that all the 3 main actors are no longer with us today. May they rest in peace.
I can't believe the future prime minister died twenty five years ago!
Also sad because I didn't know Derek Fowlds had died in January of this year.
But John Nettleton is still going strong at 91.
The idea that Sir Arnold would outlive all his juniors seems strangely unsurprising.
"In politics you have to learn how to say things with tact and finesse you berk!"
For any non-native Brits watching this, berk is Cockney rhyming slang, fully Berkeley Hunt, I'm sure you can guess what for.
Huh?
@@kingstarscream320 what rhymes with Hunt?
@@LennyCole96 "It is the one word we c*n't say on TV" - Jeremy Clarkson
wow, i never realised it was such a strong insult, i thaught i meant "you oaf!" or something
"In politics you have to learn to say things with tact and finesse, you Berk!". Very succinct :)
It's a good thing YT doesn't know what "berk" means!
@@TankEnMate in respect to the aforementioned word are you referring to an affectionate sense by any chance?
then there is Trump
@@TankEnMate I'm a non-native English speaker; could you please explain
@@ahwabanmukherjee5065 If I said what "berk" meant on YT it would be removed. It is cockney rhyming slang for a very rude word.
Was it Margaret Thatcher who said? :
The public think this is a comedy.
The civil service thinks this is a documentary.
The government think this is a tragedy.
@Rad Derry I think its brilliant. And idealistic compared to today.
@@MrThorfan64 Really? I think it still very apt.
@Rad Derry Is it possible for the public to be 'out of touch'?After all, we ARE the country (or at least should be)
Now it is my study book, LoL. World-class writing and performance!
It wasn't Thatcher who said that.
Humphrey saying "Yes, minister" and slowly shaking his head in big "NO".
"What about our commitment to open government?!"
"Wel Minister, this seems to be the 'closed season' for Open Government..."
Love how Bernard sternly berates Hacker using Humphrey as a proxy
@Scooby Doo Right
I've always loved British humor, and their comedies.
@@christophercook723 Then why you don't go write this book instead of pointlessly and bitterly whining on TH-cam?
@@christophercook723 And, the USA earned the right to remove the letter U from any word they choose to as soon as they rebelled, sent you scurrying home in defeat, and became a far more powerful nation than yours in the centuries since.
@@princesnowblood6263 does that mean we can decide how words in Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian and German are all spelt then?
Is this a comedy - or a documentary ?
@@peterwest5525, yes!
The insecurity of ministers is so funny. In a big parliament such as in the UK, a PM with a big majority has so many to choose from. So relevant even in 2020. Perfect clips to watch if you're sick of Covid news.
What CoVID news? I never watch the propaganda cum hype that is the news. I remember that scene in "Bridge of Spies" before the spy swap when Tom Hanks's character asks Mark Rylance's character (the Russian spy): Aren't you worried? The reply: Would it help?
As far as I know they're not talking about any virus (the show)
can't be many to choose from these days or we wouldn't have the current useless lot.
@@neonwired4978As the saying goes, the odds are good, but the goods are odd.
I really should watch all of these again. I watched em as a kid and got a few laughs but I'm afraid most of the best stuff prob went right over my head. Brilliantly written show. Today's TV could learn a hell of a lot from it.
There are books of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister episodes still available . Look on line. The DVDs should also be available if you can play them.
@@mavisemberson8737 Did you even hear about torrents, you boomers?
"in politics you have to learn how to say things with tact and finesse you berk!"
lol
Old is Gold.
Sir Humpfrey always in control lol
They look so young!
Nothing changes.😄
Staggering the extent to which it applies in November 2021
poor man. He is naive. And all his efforts to do things honestly he falls prey to the scheming wickedness of the real politicians.
Oh, he's plenty wicked himself.
Was 'hushing up' the speech, rather than taking responsibility and resigning, doing things honestly?
"You can be open or you can govern"...
It works the same in sex. One can be open but the other has the control.
Best documentary ever
Humpfree says we all do, but he doesn't make mistakes
Oh I wouldn't be to sure. There's episode four of Series 1, with the Big Brother Database where he didn't suspect Hacker had a trap for him when he was going on TV. There's the finale of Series 2, where he got caught up in a counter-conspiracy to expose Government Waste, then there's the infamous Key situation from the first series of Yes, Prime Minister where he failed to see that he *wasn't* going to get away with constantly walking all over Hacker anymore.
@Bulb Flowers: Humphrey, not Humpfree.
You havent heard about scottish military base, right? Or espionage investigation, right? :-)
MyYTwatcher Sadly those files were lost in an unfortunate flooding incident and so alas we are no longer in the position to confirm the involvement of any potential member or members of her majesties civil services participation in such disreputable affairs.
@@Denseus Was 1967 a particullay bad winter?
This is a sample of the Greatest Television FACT bonanza ever...far far more important than the BBC's Savile show.....
Every voter should have to watch this show
This is available on TH-cam but it's extremely difficult to actually find. It generally pops up on pirated clips as a buy option.
At some point youtube will just randomly recommend it to you.
You can get app called dailymotion, it's on there. Full episode. TH-cam is cheap it's only clips.
perfect example of self interest. free and open govt goes by th way side when ones neck is on th chopping block
"In politics you have to learn to say things with tact and finesse you berk!" 😂😂😂
Finest!
This is the bedst !!!. Why do television not come up with this kinds of intelligent TV any more. Every body who participate are FANTASTIC actors.
This should also be on Hits TV.
Love it
Aww, when they had hair.
And when they were alive
Sir Humphrey's mea culpa w/breast strike. Almost missed it. He certainly was an unmentionable.
As if ...
... Oh!!!
Masterly
Absoluten quality.
Back when a week and a half was a record short time in cabinet...
Love what you did with this! Hit us back!
You berk !
Vic Chief Whip 👌
Which episode is this ?
Season 1, Episode 1.
@@lauterunvollkommenheit4344 I think, you should have answered the question in the spirit of the programme - and said "That information is confidential."
@@millomweb I believe in open government!
@@lauterunvollkommenheit4344 It is perennially closed season for open government.
Ah he's so naive here, can't see how he's being played in to complying in the system.
This was from the very first episode, when he was only made a minister, in fact only a minister for a week and a half.
@@johnking5174 That's what I meant by highlighting that he was naive. If you compare it to how he is when he's PM he's really got a grasp of the Civil Service, not that he can get the better of them.
@@nightw4tchman Yes, it takes time to understand the opposition - we all think it is the political party out of power, in fact it is the civil service
Luckily for him, he learned over time and managed to get a few victories now and then. Even when he was defeated, he would make it perfectly known that he conceded reluctantly.
@@WorldWar2freak94 but what prizes did he really win? Not disciplining South Derbyshire? Dropping Transport Supremo job? The sovereignty of St.George's Island?
I'm starting to understand the English English apparently I only understand American English
Anything you need explained?
Careful you don’t confuse English English with political English which is the same around the world.
Minister Hacker you have been fined one pound for violation of the political secrecy declaration.
I keep thinking of Demolition Man every time Sir Humphrey speaks.
Explains the current state of the government 😂
You Burke ! Or is that Berk ?
how would burke make any sense?
zarni000 just asking how it's spelt, Gimboid . Or is that Gimboyd.
@@pressureworksI'm not sure slang expressions have a 'correct' spelling, but if so, the word Berk is an abbreviation of Berkeley Hunt, Berkeley being a village in Gloucestershire. Regardless of the fact that 'berk' is pronounced as in Edmund Burke the village is pronounced roughly as if it were spelled 'bark-lee'. Berkeley Hunt is rhyming slang for something better described as "begins with C, four letters, essentially feminine"!
I wanna go back to the 70s. When we had good TV shows.
Who plays the two men? Not Jim, Humphrey, Bernard or Arnold. The other two?
The role of the political advisor Frank Wiesel is played by Neil Fitzwiliam.
The chief whip Vic Gould in this episode and a few others is played by Edward Jewesbury.
Appeared on my recommended. Wonder why..
@ Jeremy tan. If you can't work that out, there's no hope for you.
This series explain why UK is totally disfuncctional.
@aon 1003
This series is a comedy. The current workings of the WH are so ridiculous they would be dismissed as absurd if suggested by any script writer, whether they were to be in a drama or a comedy.
@@feelesh house of cards
1st to comment
First to like.
@@barbarabagaric2942
Nice one
Neither first nor last not to give a toss
The testy rowboat radiologically telephone because drizzle intrestingly rhyme qua a bustling sprout. shallow, general gentle week
Rubbish
Why?
@@alexscott7226 His name says enough.