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Yes Minister - FOUR EPISODES | Audio Book
Enjoy this multi-award winning satirical British sitcom about political life.
Set in the private office in Whitehall of a British government cabinet minister, this two-hour comedy audio book exposes ministerial shenanigans and the influence of civil
servants for all to see.
The shows were so authentic and well acted that they were a firm favourite of Margaret Thatcher, who was Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990.
Written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, the shows were first transmitted by BBC television and radio between 1980 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series.
The series follows the ministerial career of Jim Hacker MP, Minister for Administrative Affairs, played with great style by Paul Eddington.
His efforts to get legislation through parliament or make changes to his department are resisted by the powerful Civil Service.
Hacker tries to understand the system while promoting his own personal agenda, and attempting, not always successfully, to maintain a distance from any dangerous political
situations.
His main adversary is his Permanent Secretary (senior civil servant), Sir Humphrey Appleby, played with sublime authority by Nigel Hawthorne as the embodiment of a system
which never helps, only prevents progress.
Hacker is always coming up with well-meant, helpful policies, which are sunk by Sir Humphrey's machinations.
In doing this, Sir Humphrey would often use convoluted language deliberately designed to cloud the issue.
Hacker's Principal Private Secretary Bernard Woolley, played by Derek Fowlds is a perennial go-between, always caught between Sir Humphrey and Hacker, but more on the side
of Sir Humphrey.
Almost every programme ends with the line "Yes, Minister", most often muttered by a grinning Sir Humphrey as he secretly enjoys winning over his so-called political master.
However, Sir Humphrey doesn't always win, and he sometimes has to murmur "Yes Minister" through clenched teeth at the end of the episodes where he admits defeat.
A massively popular series, it won many plaudits, including several BAFTAs and in 2004 it achieved 6th place in the "Britain's Best Sitcom" competition.
With its portrayal of political deceit and evasion, Yes Minister summed up the early 1980s attitude towards politicians with perfection.
The series looked at political points that are relevant right now, including oil, armaments, and personal records held on computers.
Like Porridge, the sitcom about prison life, Yes Minister shows that comedy can be about serious subjects and deliver powerful, meaningful messages.
This audiobook is a highlight of the mi-vox comedy collection.
If you haven't heard about the mi-vox audiobook before, it is a player and audiobook all in one - simple, portable and pre-loaded - the ultimate for listening on the move.
Pop the tiny lightweight player in your pocket and the earphones in you ears and you're ready to go. Listening pleasure with your hands free to type, cook, shop, commute, sunbathe, anything!
We here at mi-vox are always looking for new and entertaining audiobooks to offer our customers. Do you have any ideas for us about what you'd like to get hold of? Then please get in touch!
Or maybe you've got questions about our audiobooks. Perhaps you're looking for a special gift but you're not sure where to start? Give us a call - we'd be delighted to hear from you and we'll do our best to help you.
Please phone us on 01405 861 951 or write to us on email at admin@mi-vox.com or by post to mi-vox, Carlton Towers, Carlton, North Humberside DN14 9LZ United Kingdom.
