The Best Episodes of Yes Minister Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.0/10(535 votes)

   #1 - Open Government

   S1:E12/25/1980

   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

   Director:Stuart Allen

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn

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   Director:Stuart Allen

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn
2. 

   8.1/10(499 votes)

   #2 - The Official Visit

   S1:E23/3/1980

   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.

   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn

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   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn
3. 

   8.0/10(462 votes)

   #3 - The Economy Drive

   S1:E33/10/1980

   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.

   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn

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   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn
4. 

   8.8/10(497 votes)

   #4 - Big Brother

   S1:E43/17/1980

   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.

   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn

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   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn
5. 

   8.3/10(433 votes)

   #5 - The Writing on the Wall

   S1:E53/24/1980

   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.

   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn

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   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn
6. 

   8.2/10(420 votes)

   #6 - The Right to Know

   S1:E63/31/1980

   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.

   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn

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   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn
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7. 

   7.9/10(409 votes)

   #7 - Jobs for the Boys

   S1:E74/7/1980

   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

   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn

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   Director:Sydney Lotterby

   Writers:Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn