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The Best Episodes of Yes Minister Season 1

Every episode of Yes Minister Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Yes Minister Season 1!

Binge this in 3h 30mPeaking at 8.8/10

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.

Airs on

Seasons3

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Yes Minister Season 1 Episode 1 - Open Government
    8.0/10(535 votes)

    #1 - Open Government

    S1:E1

    Jim Hacker retains his seat in the election and is given a cabinet post in the new government He meets the permanent secretary for his department Sir Humphrey Appleby but Jim decides to change the way things are done in the civil service so Sir Humphrey sets out to stop him

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  2. Yes Minister Season 1 Episode 2 - The Official Visit
    8.1/10(499 votes)

    #2 - The Official Visit

    S1:E2

    When the leader of an African country is killed in a coup, his successor, who is an old friend of Jim’s, comes in his place. They negotiate a £50 million deal to help buy oil exploration equipment.

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  3. Yes Minister Season 1 Episode 3 - The Economy Drive
    8.0/10(462 votes)

    #3 - The Economy Drive

    S1:E3

    Jim Hacker is determined to reduce the Civil Service, but he is frustrated by Sir Humphrey, and the only numbers he can alter are the numbers of tea ladies.

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  4. Yes Minister Season 1 Episode 4 - Big Brother
    8.8/10(497 votes)

    #4 - Big Brother

    S1:E4

    When the Government is planning to introduce a national database, Jim wants to bring in safe guards, but Sir Humphrey stalls until with some help from the opposition, Jim gets his way.

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  5. Yes Minister Season 1 Episode 5 - The Writing on the Wall
    8.3/10(433 votes)

    #5 - The Writing on the Wall

    S1:E5

    A rumour starts that Jim’s department is about to be axed. So with help from Sir Humphrey, they try and defeat the Prime Minister’s plans.

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  6. Yes Minister Season 1 Episode 6 - The Right to Know
    8.2/10(420 votes)

    #6 - The Right to Know

    S1:E6

    Jim faces rebellion at home and in the office over the removal of protected status from a badger habitat, while he tries to circumvent Sir Humphrey’s efforts to keep him ignorant of things.

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Yes Minister

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  8. Yes Minister Season 1 Episode 7 - Jobs for the Boys
    7.9/10(409 votes)

    #7 - Jobs for the Boys

    S1:E7

    Jim goes on radio to support the Solihull project a Government, union and private enterprise building scheme, that he has inherited from the last administration, but unknown to him the project is close to bankruptcy, Sir Humphrey hopes to save the deal by offering a quango to the director of the bank involved

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Open Government" is the best rated episode of "Yes Minister" season 1. It scored 8/10 based on 535 votes. Directed by Stuart Allen and written by Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, it aired on 2/25/1980. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Official Visit".