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The Official Visit

"The Official Visit"
Yes Minister episode
Yesminister2.jpg
Episode title card
Episode no. Series 1
Episode 2
Written by Antony Jay
Jonathan Lynn
Produced by Sydney Lotterby
Original air date 2 March 1980
Guest appearance(s)
Episode chronology
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List of Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister episodes

Tenniel Evans
John Savident
Antony Carrick
Thomas Baptiste

"The Official Visit" is the second episode of the BBC comedy series Yes Minister and was first broadcast 2 March 1980. This was the first episode to feature the animated title sequence designed by Gerald Scarfe, and the theme music composed by Ronnie Hazlehurst.

Having now settled into his Ministerial routine, Hacker is becoming buried in the amount of correspondence he has to deal with. Bernard explains to him that he doesn't actually need to examine any of it: it's as simple as transferring it from the in-tray to the out-tray, as the civil service will take care of all of it. When Hacker then questions the reason for his existence, Bernard replies that the Minister is there to make policy decisions... from time to time.

Sir Humphrey Appleby arrives with news of an official visit to the United Kingdom by the president of Buranda, who will be met by The Queen. Hacker initially derides Buranda as a "TPLAC" — "tin pot little African country" — but Sir Humphrey admonishes him and explains that in a few years it will be a key provider of oil. Hacker now decides that the visit will take place in Scotland, at Holyrood Palace — ostensibly to save Her Majesty a trip to London, but in reality to aid his party's chances in three Scottish by-elections, all of them in marginal seats, which he now intends to hold immediately after the visit. Sir Humphrey criticises his Minister for using the situation for political purposes, but then concedes that the reason for the visit is to hopefully secure a contract for off-shore drilling equipment. Hacker indicates that the best places to see such facilities are in the likes of Aberdeen and Clydeside and pointedly remarks that they are unlikely to be found in Haslemere. Against Sir Humphrey's wishes, he is determined on his plan. After Sir Humphrey leaves the office, Bernard confides in Hacker that his superior was looking forward to the London embassy dinner, which now in all likelihood won't be happening. He also reveals that Sir Humphrey has a KBE in the pipeline.


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