"Big Brother" is the fourth episode of the BBC comedy series Yes Minister and was first broadcast 17 March 1980. This is one of only three episodes in the first series not to end with the phrase "Yes Minister".

Jim Hacker is being interviewed by Robert McKenzie for the TV current affairs programme Topic. The Minister would be happier if the line of questioning concerned cuts in bureaucracy, but McKenzie wishes to discuss the new National Integrated Database: the detailed personal records of every United Kingdom citizen, which will be held on computer by the government. He presses Hacker on the implications regarding personal privacy, and his interviewee finds himself unable to answer and resorts to stonewalling.

Hacker watches the recording in his office with Sir Humphrey Appleby, Bernard and his political advisor, Frank Weisel. The latter is not impressed with Hacker's performance and congratulates Sir Humphrey on getting him "perfectly house-trained". Sir Humphrey protests that he simply carries out the wishes of his "master" and will entertain no further questioning from Weisel. As he leaves, it comes to light that Hacker has two conflicting appointments in his diary for the next day: one a civil service function in Swansea and the other a by-election meeting in Newcastle. Both sides press upon him the importance of keeping each engagement. At first indecisive, Hacker eventually chooses to do both and requests suitable travel arrangements.

When Hacker gets home, he greets his wife, Annie, and finds her packing suitcases. It's the Hackers' wedding anniversary the next day, and Annie had been promised a trip to Paris. Hacker has completely forgotten and tells Annie about his 'double-booking'. She insists that he cancels both appointments, so he phones Bernard to do so. By the end of the conversation it becomes clear that his trip to Swansea and Newcastle is still on. Hacker confesses to his wife that he is depressed by the amount of work he is expected to do and the fact that he is perceived as a civil service spokesman. Annie urges him to get a grip on the job and be more decisive — as he was when he was the editor of Reform.

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