If the right people don't have power - Yes, Prime Minister - BBC

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  • čas přidán 28. 04. 2010
  • Bernard and Humphery discuss the disasterous possibility of a local government scheme. Classic clip from the political sitcom Yes, Prime Minister. Watch more high quality videos on the new BBC Worldwide CZcams channel here: / bbcworldwide
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Komentáře • 937

  • @Gorboduc
    @Gorboduc Před 3 lety +815

    As an Oxford man Humphrey is being very broad minded to acknowledge a second university.

    • @nandi7772
      @nandi7772 Před rokem +11

      Is Oxford better than Cambridge aur whatever is the second best?

    • @555pontifex
      @555pontifex Před rokem +15

      @@nandi7772 They are equals

    • @kyriakos232
      @kyriakos232 Před rokem +91

      @@nandi7772 in terms of raising KGB spies the second is the obviously better one.

    • @adamwelch6217
      @adamwelch6217 Před rokem +20

      Hull?
      Sorry, wrong sitcom

    • @vaopr1012
      @vaopr1012 Před rokem +8

      @@adamwelch6217 it wasn’t a sitcom but a reference to the Cambridge Five

  • @lordchipmonk1
    @lordchipmonk1 Před 10 lety +3215

    "The Universities. Both of them." I Rolled up. XD

    • @lordchipmonk1
      @lordchipmonk1 Před 10 lety +475

      ***** The two oldest (and arguably most prestigious) universities in the country and Oxford and Cambridge, with many people referring to the bulk of British Universities as "Redbricks" (often built/received their charters in the 1950/1960s) and looking down on them. This is a reference to that snobbery and elitism.

    • @lordchipmonk1
      @lordchipmonk1 Před 10 lety +19

      ***** No probs. :)

    • @lordchipmonk1
      @lordchipmonk1 Před 10 lety +41

      ds1868 You're quite right. I know many people who attended Oxbridge myself, and there is sometimes an interesting rivalry and of course, yes Oxford was established first etc. I must admit that this hadn't occurred to me when I first watched it, but good points. Glad you raised them. :) So many layers of academic elitism. :P I on the other hand went to a mere "redbrick" ;)

    • @andrewshaw1571
      @andrewshaw1571 Před 9 lety +90

      lordchipmonk1 Dont forget there are other universities that aren't part of the oxbridge elite but are too old to be seen as redbricks. Edinburgh, St Andrews, Glasgow and Aberdeen are seen as the Scottish universities while Durham is seen as Oxbridge rejects. All of them together, including oxbridge are seen as the ancient universities but dont share the same levels of prestige.

    • @lordchipmonk1
      @lordchipmonk1 Před 9 lety +5

      Andrew Shaw True enough, true enough.

  • @bradleyjamieson7718
    @bradleyjamieson7718 Před 6 lety +141

    The delivery for "The universities .... both of them ......" is just pure perfection.

  • @oliverclarke9891
    @oliverclarke9891 Před 7 lety +1855

    "This is a BRITISH democracy Bernard!" I cracked up :D

    • @kalakritistudios
      @kalakritistudios Před 6 lety +5

      Oliver Clarke I loved that.

    • @dsistudios8446
      @dsistudios8446 Před 4 lety +33

      And that sums up Brexit.
      😂

    • @monkeylee4818
      @monkeylee4818 Před 4 lety +45

      Oliver Clarke it reminds me of what I always hear. “it's socialism with Chinese characteristics! “

    • @misterjei
      @misterjei Před 4 lety +30

      American Democracy. Those with the deepest pockets wins.

    • @anuradhainamdar8967
      @anuradhainamdar8967 Před 4 lety +1

      " This the British Democracy Bernard" rightly observed.

  • @guguigugu
    @guguigugu Před 10 lety +1044

    "precisely. months of fruitful work." -- best joke on youtube :D

    • @Halbared
      @Halbared Před 4 lety +3

      guguigugu they and, ‘I’m a locksmith, and, I’m a locksmith.’.

  • @TerryTheNewsGirl
    @TerryTheNewsGirl Před 2 lety +87

    I like this conversation from a bit later in the same scene: Humphrey: "Do you want the National Theatre turned to a carpet warehouse?" Bernard: "Well it looks like one actually!" Humprey: "We gave the architect a knighthood, so no-one would ever say that!"

    • @guguigugu
      @guguigugu Před měsícem +1

      it is now recognized as one of the finest projects of its time

  • @Crallux
    @Crallux Před 2 lety +317

    As a non-native speaker, these kind of comedies (satire) really educate on the mindset of UK citizens about politics. They are subtle and intelligently written. And the performance of the actors just adds another layer to its beauty.
    It has become a rare gem nowadays unfortunately. Better treasure these brilliant pieces of art!

    • @irelandaintreal2945
      @irelandaintreal2945 Před 3 měsíci +4

      christ, english isn’t your mother tongue? i don’t speak as well as you do in my native language as you in your second language.

  • @grantdrummond
    @grantdrummond Před 8 lety +750

    "Both of them." Genius.

    • @guoqiangwang4867
      @guoqiangwang4867 Před 4 lety +10

      LSE????我不做人啦。

    • @PcyTrail
      @PcyTrail Před 4 lety +23

      @@guoqiangwang4867 Even LSE is not totally against education!

    • @dzmitryv.krukau4327
      @dzmitryv.krukau4327 Před 3 lety

      Gosh "Radio 3 Universities" 1001 Knight

    • @VersusARCH
      @VersusARCH Před 2 lety

      666 likes. Don't spoil it. The Order commands...

    • @LamZL1
      @LamZL1 Před 2 lety +1

      @@guoqiangwang4867 sorry to be obvious, but both of them refers to Oxford and Cambridge.. showing how Humphrey is a true snob

  • @jradetzky
    @jradetzky Před 12 lety +790

    this is not a parody, but a documentary

    • @aaronlopez717
      @aaronlopez717 Před 4 lety +3

      jradetzky Yes a parody a great instrument to creat a scenario of layers of human mystery to put Us to work, they can comfortably life A parody, comedy that open something in our conciseness !
      Laugh kind of my ignorant mind trying to wake up !

    •  Před 4 lety +3

      @@aaronlopez717 Fucking junkie.

    • @alicea1445
      @alicea1445 Před 4 lety +3

      jradetzky yes, this is a documentary. The real governments are a parody!

  • @michael200927
    @michael200927 Před 2 lety +185

    When I started working as a civil servant for the Dutch government 28 years ago, the HR departement showed these to us as an introductory as a kind of warning. Het 5 years on, we were all like sir Humphrey. What he says is hard but true

    • @christianweibrecht6555
      @christianweibrecht6555 Před 9 měsíci +1

      With such a small country, how powerful can regional governments become?

    • @michael200927
      @michael200927 Před 9 měsíci +13

      @@christianweibrecht6555
      You would be surprised.. we have a national government but also provincies al and long cal governments. Above that we have a shitload of quangos who have devolved authority on a huge amount of subjects like energy, waterways health and safety, finances, public domain, checks and balanc s, maar notities.
      And of course we have regional cooperation structures with some German states/ bundesländer, and Belgian regional government,
      And we have the EU directorates which issue ' guidelines ' and hundreds of bilateral and multilateral agreement with other countries

    • @JB-yb4wn
      @JB-yb4wn Před 7 měsíci

      @@christianweibrecht6555
      Our provinces in Canada are very powerful, but we are more of a Confederacy than a single state.

    • @Nomadith
      @Nomadith Před 5 měsíci +2

      I don't blame you, I laughed hard at that too - and I work in Dutch health system (specifically working with the electronic systems for crisis centres and ensuring everything goes well on the technical side). It involves a lot of wrangling different Regions or the UK version of counties together, which is... sometimes painful

  • @doyleperkins4916
    @doyleperkins4916 Před 4 lety +298

    "The universities...BOTH of them." Dead pan reference to the cultural primacy in the UK of Oxford/Cambridge, the oldest British universities, to the exclusion of all others. Brilliant.

    • @weepingangel6805
      @weepingangel6805 Před 3 lety +15

      Yeah I think we got that Lee. Or should I say, Captain Obvious.

    • @doyleperkins4916
      @doyleperkins4916 Před 3 lety +15

      @@weepingangel6805 Who is we? Do you have a mouse in your pocket? Obviously.

    • @doyleperkins4916
      @doyleperkins4916 Před 3 lety +8

      @@weepingangel6805 I've burned you somehow. I had simply written that comment as a general observation and, as you can see, nobody else came back with a trite expression like "Captain obvious." Yes, I've burned you. You need to develop thicker skin.

    • @jamescollins738
      @jamescollins738 Před 3 lety +11

      @@weepingangel6805 Least Lee has a name and isn't hiding behind Weeping fucking angel.

    • @weepingangel6805
      @weepingangel6805 Před 3 lety +2

      @@jamescollins738 Lmao Lee got his bender boy James to come on YouTuibe and back his boy lmfaooo you guys are fucked

  • @bradleyjamieson7718
    @bradleyjamieson7718 Před 10 lety +1071

    Just love the way he delivered the line "The universities ... both of them," ROFL. Absolutely love Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, probably one of if not the best comedy programs around and it actually educates you about British politics too.

    • @guguigugu
      @guguigugu Před 10 lety +49

      politics in general, i'd even say

    • @sunshine280261
      @sunshine280261 Před 6 lety +7

      IMHO the best thing there has EVER been on the telly...

    • @ZnenTitan
      @ZnenTitan Před 4 lety +8

      But he is such an endearing posh snob isn't he?

    • @SubTroppo
      @SubTroppo Před 4 lety

      Don't you anocracies?

    • @hungkieu666
      @hungkieu666 Před 4 lety +1

      sorry, i dont quite understand this one. What does it imply ?

  • @BillConk
    @BillConk Před 2 lety +15

    "Bernard, come and sit down."
    The fulcrum of each episode.

  • @johnking5174
    @johnking5174 Před 7 lety +305

    "The universities .... both of them" - lol

  • @andrewphillips8341
    @andrewphillips8341 Před 4 lety +298

    I love their relationship. That of learned master and slightly terrified student

    • @ivantamayoromero1668
      @ivantamayoromero1668 Před 2 lety +12

      The siths always come in pairs.

    • @rewrose2838
      @rewrose2838 Před 2 lety +7

      @@ivantamayoromero1668 😂 Bernard is less to Humphrey here, than what Humphrey was to Arnold

    • @ivantamayoromero1668
      @ivantamayoromero1668 Před 2 lety +1

      @@rewrose2838 it is cannon that Bernard eventually rose to Arnold's position as he'd of the civil service.

  • @ERobbs101
    @ERobbs101 Před 7 lety +254

    "But aren't they supposed to in a democracy?"
    "This is a British democracy, Bernard!"
    Love it xD

  • @michaelodonoghue7464
    @michaelodonoghue7464 Před 5 lety +27

    I was an Officer of the Crown for 15 Years.
    My workload went from 100% to 0% in less than an afternoon.
    My next 3 Years were spent with a Desk, a Computer, a Telephone, but No Duty Statement, No IN Box, No OUT Box, No Work.
    3 Years of getting Paid to do absolutely nothing, then I Retired.

    • @fatpotatoe6039
      @fatpotatoe6039 Před 3 lety +1

      What a lad. Why does the job exist? What do you supposedly do?

    • @mscott3918
      @mscott3918 Před 3 lety +1

      I was an officer of the Crown for over 30 years. Busy all the time. Were you at MAFF possibly?

    • @michaelodonoghue7464
      @michaelodonoghue7464 Před 3 lety +7

      M Scott Sorry no. My time was spent embedded in the Military, as a Special Placement Officer specialising in Military Planning and Operational Logistics.

  • @terryharris516
    @terryharris516 Před 10 lety +538

    The guy playing Sir Humphrey is a brilliant actor.

    • @fasteddyuk
      @fasteddyuk Před 10 lety +134

      Sir Nigel Hawthorne RIP.

    • @ZnenTitan
      @ZnenTitan Před 4 lety +16

      @@fasteddyuk Sadly so.

    • @Johnny-sj9sj
      @Johnny-sj9sj Před 4 lety +74

      He was once telephoned by the Daily Mail, or the Sun, I forget which - some sort of intellectual broad sheet, and the conversation went along these lines:
      “So, Mister Hawthorne, rumour has it you’re about to come out as a homosexual. Have you any comment on this?”
      “Come out as a homosexual? But listen dear boy, I have never even been in! I have been happily married to my gentlemen partner for twenty-five years!”
      “Oh ...”

    • @fred8691
      @fred8691 Před 4 lety +25

      Terry Harris To be fair, everyone participated in that show was marvellous.

    • @BlueAxeRacer
      @BlueAxeRacer Před 4 lety +2

      Who said it was a guy?

  • @AMRPK
    @AMRPK Před 4 lety +65

    Derek Fowlds 1937 - 2020 RIP

    • @Herman47
      @Herman47 Před 4 lety +5

      Sad to learn about that. Some people don't understand how essential he was to Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. I watched a newer version of Yes, Prime Minister that did not feature him, and in watching this newer version, I was able to fully appreciate how great Derek Fowlds was.

  • @RtB68
    @RtB68 Před 4 lety +447

    The reason it’s still funny in 2019 is that essentially, nothing has changed.

    • @RtB68
      @RtB68 Před 4 lety +19

      EDIT ...or, viewed differently, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

    • @TM-wm7om
      @TM-wm7om Před 4 lety +4

      And it will always be like this.

    • @JesusJuenger
      @JesusJuenger Před 4 lety +31

      Not true. The civil service has been completely changed since the days of Yes, Minister. For one thing, under Blair, power was massively taken away from civil servants and put in the hands of politically-appointed "special advisers" (spads). Also the Civil Service is now obsessed with equality and diversity in its recruitment so you would never get any of the stuff like you see in the episode where they're talking about how they can't get more women as senior Civil Servants. Or, as another example, when applying to most Civil Service jobs you can't even *say* which university you attended, so that they can't favour Oxbridge over others.
      (N.B. I'm not commenting on whether any of that is good or bad, just saying you are factually inaccurate to say it nothing has changed.)

    • @brunokoch672
      @brunokoch672 Před 4 lety +3

      Yes Minister failed in the end. 40 years later and nothing has really changed.

    •  Před 4 lety

      @@brunokoch672 You stupid fucking animal.

  • @George-ph6qo
    @George-ph6qo Před 4 lety +95

    It still remains one of Britain's finest exports and still absolutely relevant. Brilliant in so many ways. I doubt this kind of genius will ever grace TV again.

  • @365techtips
    @365techtips Před 4 lety +139

    Made during the golden years of the BBC, so much good content back then.

    • @martinjenkins5471
      @martinjenkins5471 Před 4 lety +6

      We have the same here in Australia with the ABC. Was great in the 70s, utter rubbish now. One eyed labour sentiment now.

    • @maxmustermann9587
      @maxmustermann9587 Před 3 lety +3

      Since we're right into the Information Era it is of utmost imortance for the ruling body to stay in the shadows. For this the common people have to be kept busy with brain numbing entertainment to stop them from even thinking about thinking for themselves.
      And if you take a look at the US - it works.

    • @ivorbiggun710
      @ivorbiggun710 Před 2 lety +2

      And so little now.

    • @365techtips
      @365techtips Před 2 lety +1

      @@ivorbiggun710 agreed. hopefully it will stop being a mandatory tax soon.

    • @hamishf7444
      @hamishf7444 Před 2 lety

      @@365techtips or maybe we pay a little more, mandate the BBC to educate and entertain the nation in a manner which doesn’t rot our collective brains.
      Imagine if the BBC held power to account again, wouldn’t that be womderful

  • @Szaam
    @Szaam Před 8 lety +278

    YM and YPM are possibly the best ways of helping people understand Britain.

    • @rorybone100
      @rorybone100 Před 7 lety +35

      It used to help the British understand Britain. Now they are happy to ingest X Factor and Jeremy Kyle until their brains rot.

    • @JonatasMonte
      @JonatasMonte Před 5 lety +2

      And the civil service as a whole.

    • @santiagoflores4913
      @santiagoflores4913 Před 5 lety +16

      Hear, hear!!....although, I would not only circunscribe it to Britain, though. Taking into account regional and local nouances and customs, I dare say that it could be relevant to many societies...sorry...many governments around the world. Most certainly my own Chile...for, as Isabel Allende so aptly put it, we took from the British only 2 things: bad teeth and class consciousness, and believing, as we do, that we are to be the "English of South America" (for unfathomable as it might seem) our politicians subscribe entirely to the types of charades masterfully portrayed on this series.

    • @phillipkerfoot2389
      @phillipkerfoot2389 Před 5 lety +1

      And the thick of it its better with more swearing and more up to date.

    • @robertjohnston8531
      @robertjohnston8531 Před 5 lety +1

      And New Zealand, even now. Things like Humphries definition of a clarification hold true even now decades later.

  • @ForestKicks
    @ForestKicks Před 7 lety +55

    The look Nigel Hawthorne gives at 0:09 is absolute genius

  • @nikhilsingh2475
    @nikhilsingh2475 Před 3 lety +122

    I always find Sir Humphrey's talks on democracy and power of the government so relatable and identical to that of India's situations. The things said on YM and YPM are valid not just for the UK but for my country India too. Afterall we did inherit the 'Indian democracy' from the British.

    • @noneimportant5951
      @noneimportant5951 Před 3 lety +9

      Same here in Pakistan although we went through the sharia phase in 80s

    • @DieFlabbergast
      @DieFlabbergast Před 3 lety +10

      At the deepest level, much of these shows is valid for all societies and all ages.

    • @mandar9000
      @mandar9000 Před 2 lety +2

      @@noneimportant5951 no it's not same you have military, maulana

    • @firdausariff
      @firdausariff Před 2 lety +1

      Same for Malaysia too. 😂

    • @amilasuwa110
      @amilasuwa110 Před 2 lety

      Valid for Sri Lanka.

  • @danieldickson8591
    @danieldickson8591 Před rokem +7

    The look Humphrey gave Bernard was more eloquent than a hundred words. What brilliant acting.

  • @lunaremus
    @lunaremus Před 12 lety +108

    "This is a Britsh democracy" always makes me laugh

    • @aaronlopez717
      @aaronlopez717 Před 4 lety +2

      lunaremus ....me too ! Laugh ! It , laugh when something real happens Open my ignorant pre- established thought , that I create! Laugh an emotion that is a little help to observe were I am ! Or like stoicism !
      In Spanish language “ tonto , tonto , pero Observó ! “

  • @Tadicuslegion78
    @Tadicuslegion78 Před 3 lety +16

    The brilliance of the show is you never know what political party anyone is, and it takes enough from both the left and right to properly mock both and yet never be obvious in its biases

    • @rewrose2838
      @rewrose2838 Před 2 lety +5

      There are no parties, civil service owns the country.

    • @WorldWar2freak94
      @WorldWar2freak94 Před 4 měsíci +2

      At the end of the day, as the show demonstrates, it does not matter which party is in charge. As long as the Civil Service had its influence and power, only a small amount of policy got implemented effectively.

  • @naly202
    @naly202 Před 7 lety +122

    I've never found this TV show to be funny. it's wonderfully witty, enjoyable, a true masterpiece.
    you feel like laughing your head off, but... then you realise the matters discussed are real, true and very somber...

    • @simonmorris4226
      @simonmorris4226 Před 4 lety +11

      Satire of the highest order!

    • @heliotropezzz333
      @heliotropezzz333 Před 3 lety +2

      It was never totally real. It's a parody of reality but there are enough real elements to make it funny.

    • @TerryTheNewsGirl
      @TerryTheNewsGirl Před 2 lety +1

      @@heliotropezzz333 Actually some of it was. The thing with the orange juice communication room in the Kumran embassy actually happened in, I believe, Pakistan.

    • @heliotropezzz333
      @heliotropezzz333 Před 2 lety

      @@TerryTheNewsGirl I must look that one up.

    • @anaussie213
      @anaussie213 Před 2 lety

      It's funny if you aren't English and don't have to suffer it (although our antipodean equivalent would undoubtedly be worse).

  • @ManuelMangani
    @ManuelMangani Před 5 lety +19

    Nigel Hawthorne and Derek Fowlds: great comic actors. Both of them :) .

    • @RasheedKhan-he6xx
      @RasheedKhan-he6xx Před 5 lety

      I know what you meant to write. You meant to say "the cast of Yes Minister are such great comic actors. Both of them." But you were too kind. ;)

  • @brunokoch672
    @brunokoch672 Před 4 lety +19

    In the end, Sir Humphrey was right. Sad, but true.

    • @tolep
      @tolep Před 3 lety +1

      He wasn't completely wrong.

  • @michaelvidal1971
    @michaelvidal1971 Před 3 lety +8

    What I found ammusing was how Sir Humphrey merely looked at Bernard and he started backtracking.

    • @TerryTheNewsGirl
      @TerryTheNewsGirl Před 2 lety +1

      He is a gentle soul and has trouble standing up to bullies. When he finally stands up to Humphrey in The Key, it's the best thing in the world!!

  • @sas2300
    @sas2300 Před 4 lety +15

    Bernard was definitely the most underrated character in this series, but Humphrey and hacker were both brilliant as well. Frankly every character was brilliant lmao

    • @wanwandokko
      @wanwandokko Před 2 lety

      He was! Actually it wasn't intended for Bernard to get into the 3some in the first series, but he was that good they wrote more plots into the 2nd series for Bernard to enjoy

    • @davidberan9612
      @davidberan9612 Před rokem +2

      Derek said in a documentary (I believe in one about Nigel) that both leading actors (Nigel and Paul) went to the writers after the first series aired, and asked them to give more lines to him. Such great people they were.

  • @blaugranisto
    @blaugranisto Před 2 lety +7

    Comedy's golden age! Not a single swear word! Just pure genius!

  • @amkaen
    @amkaen Před 8 lety +41

    "Gosh!" So much summed up in that one word.

  • @zhubotang927
    @zhubotang927 Před 2 lety +26

    I should have watched this show before receiving my university education in England. It would help me understand the country immensely.

  • @arunabhalahiri4931
    @arunabhalahiri4931 Před 4 lety +51

    I actually agree with sir Huphrey. In India we have local govt and what Sir Humphrey says is true....

    • @pazil888
      @pazil888 Před 4 lety +8

      Maybe you should keep an eye to the barbarians , then ! They are coming to take your precious operas ! Both of them ...

    • @allovdem
      @allovdem Před 3 lety +5

      India is just a shit hole though, it's near impossible comparing the two nations.

    • @maxmustermann9587
      @maxmustermann9587 Před 3 lety +5

      @@allovdem
      No, it is not.
      On the contrary: It is quite educational to compare things not identical.

    • @mirzaahmed6589
      @mirzaahmed6589 Před 3 lety +2

      You need to protect the IITs and the IIMs.

    • @shivanshtyagi3254
      @shivanshtyagi3254 Před 2 lety +1

      @@mirzaahmed6589 and the cultural centers that barbarians would never appreciate

  • @sporkfindus4777
    @sporkfindus4777 Před 2 lety +13

    This series is perfection, like a jewel of writing, acting and production. Imagine the satisfaction in being involved in its creation. The Rolls Royce of sitcoms.

  • @1946nimrod
    @1946nimrod Před 4 lety +7

    No wise person would even THINK of trying to ring Mrs. Thatcher when this was on!

  • @kc9602
    @kc9602 Před 4 lety +21

    A simple look from Sir Humphrey and even the sternest crumble to dust.

  • @dorkmax7073
    @dorkmax7073 Před 4 lety +73

    Honestly: I agree with Humphrey's ideas about government. Not his general snobbery, but the principle that most people aren't qualified to govern. I don't think its anti-democratic to say that I don't trust the people. But I do trust their aspirations. I trust their desires, and I put my faith in the things they want.

    • @LookBackHistory
      @LookBackHistory Před 4 lety

      Humphrey's*

    • @wanwandokko
      @wanwandokko Před 2 lety +8

      Spot on. Parliamentary democracy is placed to make the decisions, not based on consensus rather experience. That experience makes better decision making in the long run. Endless consultations with the public leads to entrenched positions. We should trust the establishment, thats why they're there

    • @Spinnermist
      @Spinnermist Před 2 lety +11

      The problem is Humphrey believes his ideas that too - but he doesn't recognise that while you need to think long term, the entire country isn't based on specifically prioritising the things he wants and the other civil servants in his in group. That's just the status quo at the moment so he can hide behind that even to himself. Which is why at least the consideration of alternate viewpoints and perspectives is needed, as long as you don't get bogged down trying to please every person.

    • @Mediumal
      @Mediumal Před rokem

      That's why the Americans have a Constitutional Republic and not a democratically elected Federal Government based on direct majority rule. Lots of checks and balances were built-in to it because the Founding Fathers never in fact quite trusted the people to always come to sensible and workable solutions. Pity the Democrat Party have forgotten this and are trying to undermine their whole system now because it puts blocks in their way of achieving total and absolute totalitarian power. Modern politicians of all stripes nearly always it seems tend to base their decisions on short-term expediencies, whereas more sober calculating minds in the past with a thought to the future and who were acutely aware of the vagaries of human nature tended to have a longer perspective on such matters.
      Here in Britain we have of course, largely because of our long and turbulent history, carefully constructed an illusory democratic system that basically gives us every four or five years what amounts to a Hobson's Choice for those who can be bothered to vote that is. We tend to elect one or the other of the "Westminster Parties" that our real unelected masters deem acceptable for a period. Sir Humphrey was in fact speaking the candid truth of the elitist entitled class here. By way of an illustration of his point, look what a dog's dinner and complete mess Devolution has wrought the UK for instance. The script writer knew his stuff and the dangers of meddling with traditions.
      And look what the European Referendum in 2016 and its aftermath have bequeathed to the country also. Nothing but division and strife because that ill-advised clown Cameron in his haste to placate Ukip and save his Party from electoral collapse decided to give the people a true democratic choice based on a simple majority vote wins. True democracy based on such naive notions as simple majorities often gives unwelcome outcomes to those who believe they should always be in charge. No wonder the UK Civil Service had kittens when the result was announced. I bet they rued the day they allowed him to call (what for them now was) his "wretched Referendum". It screwed up forty years of certainty and their cosy management of our country with their fellow beurocrats in Brussels you see.

    • @dr.feelgoodmalusphillips2475
      @dr.feelgoodmalusphillips2475 Před rokem

      ​@@Spinnermist It's a slipperly slope and it's hard to keep the balance on it.

  • @darylcheshire1618
    @darylcheshire1618 Před 3 lety +13

    My favourite line in the first episode “The people have the right to be ignorant”

  • @wholeNwon
    @wholeNwon Před 7 lety +82

    "The average person is too easily swayed by superficiality."

    • @ordenax
      @ordenax Před 4 lety +5

      Truer words have never been spoken.

    • @maxmustermann9587
      @maxmustermann9587 Před 3 lety +4

      Well educated, well informed, self thinking individuals are nowhere welcome in our society.

    • @mscott3918
      @mscott3918 Před 3 lety +2

      @@maxmustermann9587 Exactly. Which is a convincing argument against universal suffrage

    • @maxmustermann9587
      @maxmustermann9587 Před 3 lety +4

      @@mscott3918
      You're misinterpreting me.
      It is a statement about how rotten our society is and not about elections.
      Regarding _universal suffrage_ :
      For me, universal suffrage is just the first step.
      Right now the upper 10%, the ruling body, do profit by keeping the masses stupid. Only when the whole society is permeated by *universal suffrage and public participation,* when the upper 10% can not avoid being affected by stupid decision of the masses anymore, then _"well educated, well informed, self thinking individuals"_ will be welcomed in our society. That, I think, is what will lead to democracy and justice.

    • @blackhammer5035
      @blackhammer5035 Před 3 lety

      Unfortunately a flawed argument. The problem with universal suffrage is that history shows the mob will support whoever promises what they want over those who plan for what they actually need.

  • @psidhu1979
    @psidhu1979 Před 6 lety +6

    "The University..both of them" brilliant!!

  • @terraincognita3749
    @terraincognita3749 Před 10 měsíci +5

    The older I get, the more I realize how true many of the jokes in this series are. And not just in the UK!

  • @ewanfraser
    @ewanfraser Před 9 lety +61

    Omg this show is unparalleled. Good stuff.

  • @jester-j8073
    @jester-j8073 Před 3 lety +15

    First thought hilarious cheered me up in these COVID times
    Second thought why am I laughing this is bloody true Depression sets in

  • @ZorbaTheDutch
    @ZorbaTheDutch Před 4 lety +113

    Now we know why the Brexit will take more than "seven years of fruitful work!".

    • @Sewblon
      @Sewblon Před 3 lety +8

      Think of all the new trade deals that need to be drafted. The new border agreement that they will need to draft with the Republic of Ireland. New immigration policies that need to be drafted and implemented. The British civil service will need to increase its ranks by 1/3, and they will still be working their fingers to the bone.

    • @narendrapanse7844
      @narendrapanse7844 Před 3 lety +8

      @@Sewblon Hey, you forgot the policies that need to be redrafted from the redraft of the draft.

    • @Sewblon
      @Sewblon Před 3 lety +2

      @@narendrapanse7844 You are right. The civil service will need to employ the whole of Great Britain, plus all of Iceland to get this done.

    • @narendrapanse7844
      @narendrapanse7844 Před 3 lety

      @@Sewblon Well, on the upside at least there will be no cod-war.

    • @Sewblon
      @Sewblon Před 3 lety

      @@narendrapanse7844 How do you figure?

  • @JonatasMonte
    @JonatasMonte Před 5 lety +4

    The way he looks at him is priceless!

  • @chrislyne377
    @chrislyne377 Před 4 lety +8

    I can't help it, I agree with Humphrey 😂

  • @Alan-Cummins
    @Alan-Cummins Před 4 lety +40

    Such a great show! How did the BBC lose it’s way?

    • @philiposborne982
      @philiposborne982 Před 3 lety +5

      They tried to match ITV programmes, forgetting ratings are less important than quality. Especially when they don't even have adverts so don't even need the big ratings. Basically more stupid people in charge of the BBC for the last two decades.

    • @lc9245
      @lc9245 Před 3 lety +1

      Philip Osborne why did they tried to, and successfully shut Top Gear down then, when it’s at the forefront of low brow mass media? Isn’t that where they want to go? Weren’t Top Gear one of the few profitable shows by the BBC? They even have a tour and a live show. It’s puzzling. I don’t know what the BBC really wants anymore.

    • @East_Anglian
      @East_Anglian Před 3 lety +12

      '..the wrong people got into power'.

    • @IamGrimalkin
      @IamGrimalkin Před 3 lety +2

      @@lc9245
      The BBC didn't want to get rid of Jeremy Clarkson (which wasn't the same thing as 'getting rid of Top Gear'), the 'incident' happened at an inopportune time as the BBC was heavily trying to crack down on 'workplace bullying' at the time, and Clarkson handled the incident very badly, from what I understand: he didn't really go to the people in the BBC on his side and let the narrative be controlled by people who disliked him.
      I don't think the BBC actually wanted to fire Clarkson, but they felt they had to: whether they actually had to is a matter of debate.

    • @lc9245
      @lc9245 Před 3 lety +1

      @@IamGrimalkin In the interview with Mr Producer, he claimed that the BBC didn't like them and once they had the opportunity, those who disliked them pushed for Clarkson's removal and it got through. He might be exaggerating their beef with the BBC, but I can certainly see why the BBC executives dislike Top Gear constant controversy, huge expenses and even had to share profits with Mr Producer and Clarkson.

  • @Levelworm
    @Levelworm Před 5 lety +29

    I watched this series over and over, I'll probably watch it before I die. Marvelous, timeless...

  • @edcampion3998
    @edcampion3998 Před 7 lety +13

    BOTH OF THEM BRILLANT

  • @pauliejay4161
    @pauliejay4161 Před 3 lety +4

    "This is a British democracy..." - damn, what a magnificent line!

  • @sophisticat7673
    @sophisticat7673 Před 4 lety +6

    It's the writing that's the key...wonder what Jay and Lynne would have to say today?

  • @984francis
    @984francis Před 11 lety +13

    "....the Universities - both of them!"

  • @CommissarKane
    @CommissarKane Před 5 lety +3

    I've worked for three different government departments in my time and I can you now its spot on, the vast majority of work isnt work its just to keep you busy or rather make the department look like its busy.

    • @giovanniacuto2688
      @giovanniacuto2688 Před 4 lety

      Having worked for 3 government departments. a quango and the House of Lords, I don't necessarily agree with you.

  • @tharos
    @tharos Před 4 lety +12

    It's funny how I've gone from thinking that this is a funny representation of the problem to actually being a funny representation of why the system works.

  • @jonnnyren6245
    @jonnnyren6245 Před 2 lety +2

    I tell you the delivery of the lines in this series by these people are just astoundingly amazing.

  • @andyrob3259
    @andyrob3259 Před 2 lety +3

    We’ve seen how well regional government has gone. Divided the nation and wastes even more money with another layer of government and public servants. Hooray.

  • @nnannakalu9423
    @nnannakalu9423 Před 3 lety +4

    "If the right people don't have power, do you know what happens? The WRONG people get it!"
    😂😂😂😂

  • @hogemoh
    @hogemoh Před 11 lety +13

    This is a British democracy!!!

  • @Johnny-dz6vl
    @Johnny-dz6vl Před 2 lety +1

    2021 Needs sir Humphrey 😎

  • @tosca8472
    @tosca8472 Před 5 lety +8

    This show is absolutely fabulous. It's always good for a laugh. 😂😂😂

  • @muffinspuffinsEE
    @muffinspuffinsEE Před 8 lety +9

    This clip is the best I have ever encountered XD!!

  • @mikegeeguitarman8991
    @mikegeeguitarman8991 Před 4 lety +3

    Cleverist funniest comedy ever written. Pure genius and oh so so true, sir Humphries was a masterpiece!

  • @donikajorgo5612
    @donikajorgo5612 Před 3 lety

    A trumpets playing and continues listening. Same thing. One go next comes. Trumpet playing no note at all. 😂

  • @gentoffire
    @gentoffire Před 3 lety +1

    I hope the bbc can spend sometime restore this drama and turn into HD. I will buy it

  • @khurmiful
    @khurmiful Před 3 lety +4

    As long as the universities are here, both of them, this joke will never get old

  • @Relaxe
    @Relaxe Před 12 lety +3

    Haha, I used to watch Yes Minister when I was a kid in Portugal, and even though I liked it I didn't fully comprehend it, now that I'm old(er) I can appreciate it so much more, the Yes Ministers series are great.

    • @AboveAvgMan
      @AboveAvgMan Před 11 měsíci

      I was a college student in Virginia when I used to watch it. Always thought it was funny even though a lot of the political humor was over my head. I thought the butt kissing was hilarious.

  • @starlight7499
    @starlight7499 Před 7 lety +2

    This was one of greatest tv shows ever , sooo underrated ...

  • @MrMarkshortt
    @MrMarkshortt Před 5 měsíci

    What amazing actors, what an amazing script. I think we all view with eyes and ears of appreciation and this elevates it even further. The BBC at it's dizzy heights.

  • @marconatrix
    @marconatrix Před 7 lety +73

    Brilliant! Everything you ever need to understand about UK government in a nutshell. It's all still largely true, and so after you've done laughing, just have a little think for a moment ...
    Should be compulsory viewing for all school leavers, indeed all voters for that matter.

    • @telvanniretainer2274
      @telvanniretainer2274 Před 4 lety +1

      * Any goberment

    • @giovanniacuto2688
      @giovanniacuto2688 Před 4 lety

      It did a great job in influencing the British public against the EU and against the European nationals in their midst. How many people are aware that one of the scriptwriters, Sir Anthony Jay, was also a speechwriter for Margaret Thatcher. No wonder it was her favorite TV programme.

    • @guoqiangwang4867
      @guoqiangwang4867 Před 4 lety

      @@giovanniacuto2688 说的太过真实,现实的冰冷带给我们麻木不仁。

    • @zincwing4475
      @zincwing4475 Před 3 lety

      @@telvanniretainer2274 Some larger businesses as well, tbh.

    • @telvanniretainer2274
      @telvanniretainer2274 Před 3 lety

      @@zincwing4475 True, megacorps are huge

  • @pix046
    @pix046 Před 7 lety +42

    This should have been watched before they set up the Scottish parliament.

    • @gsmiley7449
      @gsmiley7449 Před 4 lety

      I am sure you can manage a Deniroesque half-laugh-half-lament...

    • @Epicrandomness1111
      @Epicrandomness1111 Před 4 lety +4

      As if the Highlanders have any power, all there is are a bunch of bourgeois Anglo-Scots who feel held back by the awful reactionary English. Oh what a shame. Hell I'd like to see the clans restored to greatness, but it won't be done by the SNP.

    • @RonJohn63
      @RonJohn63 Před 3 lety

      @George Job "Keep the Highland hordes at bay ??" Yes.
      "We can rule ourselves and the sooner the better .." A bunch of drunk Glaswegians?

    • @davesy6969
      @davesy6969 Před 3 lety

      I always thought regional parliaments were a bad idea, little did i know Sir Humphrey thought so too, and for the same reasons.

    • @Divedown_25
      @Divedown_25 Před 3 lety

      Enlighten me why England, Scotland, Wales, and NIrl in any shape, sense or form shall be treated as if they were own independent countries in a union with each others like former Yugoslavia or USSR were if not for claiming the right to participate under own flags in Euro football.

  • @jacquerowe5948
    @jacquerowe5948 Před 4 měsíci

    Are you still enjoy watching yes prime minister because it's amazing how they can manipulate words to justify whatever they are discussing full stop it is a real eye opener and it's fun to watch

  • @bluecadillac
    @bluecadillac Před 3 lety +1

    Thanks. Absolutely brilliant send up of the way things must be. Hilariously funny and sadly true, all at the same time.

  • @brunokoch672
    @brunokoch672 Před 8 lety +33

    Both of them! Roooofl

  • @beckyanderson2504
    @beckyanderson2504 Před 6 lety +6

    Enjoyed this so much. It's funny because it's true.

  • @alanjenkins6768
    @alanjenkins6768 Před 3 lety +2

    The universities... both of them. The greatest in line the history of British television.

  • @nickjung7394
    @nickjung7394 Před 2 lety +1

    Brilliant!

  • @ABC_DEF
    @ABC_DEF Před 6 lety +4

    "Months of fruitful work!" !!!

  • @ianmurray250
    @ianmurray250 Před 4 lety +8

    BREXIT is an example of what happens when you give power to the people - disaster, and then to the politicians - calamitous disaster. But the civil service, regrouped, understood, and have turned this catastrophe into a winning situation - they have taken on an extra 15,000 staff (aka unelected bureaucrats) to do the work that the EU used to do for the UK, and in the process given themselves even more power having successfully advised that the huge extra workload for ministers can be handled by extra civil servants who will make all the small, medium & large decisions for them allowing the ministers to focus on the really big issues, like their popularity and photo opportunities. 40 odd years later, nothing has changed..

  • @ianjthompson4715
    @ianjthompson4715 Před 4 lety +2

    This is superb.

  • @chiragpatel2423
    @chiragpatel2423 Před 3 lety +1

    This should be under the educational category of CZcams.

  • @robertkubrick3738
    @robertkubrick3738 Před 7 lety +5

    Both of them!

  • @patrickjarvis3834
    @patrickjarvis3834 Před 5 lety +14

    Still so relevant today: shows how little politics has changed.

  • @MLaak86
    @MLaak86 Před 2 lety +2

    It's scenes like this that have always, personally, been demonstrative of how complicated it is to balance long term policy thinking, political cycles and (arguably) popularist sentiments in the public. Cause imo Humphrey or Arnold, Hacker and someone speaking for the public all have valid points

  • @alanjenkins2203
    @alanjenkins2203 Před 2 lety

    One of the best scenes ever recorded for TV anywhere.

  • @sinogarcon
    @sinogarcon Před 4 lety +4

    He's right though. Look at what the Devolution did to the Union. To the nationalist/successionist, devolution is merely a way to seek independence. They are always hungary for more powers. And even if Britain somehow manages to establish a true federal structure, the current powers devolved governents have won't get taken back even if it makes the governance of the whole Kingdom sound and stable.

  • @as368uk
    @as368uk Před 3 lety +3

    My favourite episode of both YM and YPM is when Jim has to pick a new Bishop. Perfectly illustrates the absurdity of an established church and the status of the CofE as just another cultural institution of the upper-middle class and upper class of England.

  • @yaronkl
    @yaronkl Před 4 lety +2

    Humphery is The Man.

  • @Dogboy73
    @Dogboy73 Před 2 lety +2

    Such a brilliant show. Ahead of it’s time and spot on.

    • @dubey_ji
      @dubey_ji Před 2 lety

      Not ahead of its time time moved people didn't 😂

  • @shankysays
    @shankysays Před 4 lety +10

    British democracy and everywhere British colonization happened. The Commonwealth democracy is the appropriate word now.

    • @navyreviewer
      @navyreviewer Před 3 lety +2

      You really think it's just "british colonization?" This is government in general. This is bureaucracy. Mechanically speaking a "governor" is something put in place to restrain, control, or inhibit free operation to a way that part decides is preferable. "My truck has a governor that prevents it from going over 65mph."

  • @ianchapman6254
    @ianchapman6254 Před 4 lety +14

    This explains Brexit right there.

  • @kitty6720
    @kitty6720 Před 2 lety

    "The universities....both of them" 🤣🤣! Golden!

  • @troygrindley3793
    @troygrindley3793 Před 2 lety +1

    I have a feeling I need to see this.

  • @strgazr
    @strgazr Před 11 lety +12

    The way he says barbarians makes me laugh every time.

  • @mark-shane
    @mark-shane Před 4 lety +4

    Bernard gone to join the sir humphrey and minister in the other place

    • @rickremco6275
      @rickremco6275 Před 4 lety

      No longer "yes, minister" - now "Yes, Almighty ...but..."

  • @michaelgoff4504
    @michaelgoff4504 Před rokem

    Humphrey's "Some might indeed, Bernard." is delivered just perfectly.

  • @adamowen6226
    @adamowen6226 Před 2 lety +1

    A British democracy Indeed! You might very well think that, but I couldn't possibly comment