Open Government (Yes Minister)
| "Open Government" | |
|---|---|
| Yes Minister episode | |
Episode title card
|
|
| Episode no. |
Series 1 Episode 1 |
| Written by |
Antony Jay Jonathan Lynn |
| Produced by | Stuart Allen |
| Original air date | 25 February 1980 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
John Nettleton
Diana Hoddinott
Neil Fitzwiliam
"Open Government" is the first episode of the BBC comedy series Yes Minister, first broadcast 25 February 1980. In this episode, the final ' Yes Minister ' is uttered by Sir Humphrey Appleby.
The episode begins with a short pre-title sequence showing Jim Hacker being re-elected as MP for his constituency at the general election. However, his party is now no longer in opposition and the next day he is at home with his wife, Annie, awaiting a phone call from the Prime Minister. He eventually learns that, having previously been the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, he has been given the job of Minister for Administrative Affairs.
He and his political advisor, Frank Weisel, are driven to Whitehall, where he meets the civil servants responsible for helping him to 'run' the department: Sir Humphrey Appleby (the Permanent Secretary), and Bernard Woolley (his Principal Private Secretary).
Hacker is eager to make a big impression and immediately informs Sir Humphrey that he wishes to act on his party's manifesto promise to streamline the department and "cut through the red tape". To that end, the department has already prepared a white paper entitled "Open Government". However, Sir Humphrey is less than keen that Frank Weisel should share the Minister's office space but Hacker intervenes.
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