8.0/10489 votes#1 - Open Government
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 2/25/1980
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
Writer: Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay
8.1/10456 votes#2 - The Official Visit
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 3/3/1980
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
Writer: Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay
8.0/10420 votes#3 - The Economy Drive
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 3/10/1980
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
Writer: Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay
8.8/10455 votes#4 - Big Brother
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 3/17/1980
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
Writer: Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay
8.3/10394 votes#5 - The Writing on the Wall
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 3/24/1980
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
Writer: Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay
8.2/10382 votes#6 - The Right to Know
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 3/31/1980
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
Writer: Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay
8.0/10370 votes#7 - Jobs for the Boys
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 4/7/1980
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
Writer: Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay
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!
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...
Genres:ComedyWar & Politics
Network:BBC Two
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Open Government" is the best rated episode of "Yes Minister" season 1. It scored 8/10 based on 489 votes. Directed by Stuart Allen and written by Jonathan Lynn, Antony Jay, it aired on 2/25/1980. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Official Visit".