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Big Brother (Yes Minister)
Encyclopedia
"Big Brother" is the fourth episode of the BBC
comedy series Yes Minister
and was first broadcast 17 March 1980.
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 UK
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.
When Hacker next meets Sir Humphrey, he demands that certain safeguards in respect of the National Database be enacted immediately. He wants all citizens to be allowed to see their own files and legislation
to prevent unauthorised access. Sir Humphrey is concerned that implementing such complex regulations will take a long time. Hacker points out that the database has been in development since his predecessor's time and that any difficulties must have already been discussed. However, Sir Humphrey's lips are sealed regarding any past conversations. Bernard enters with news of another TV programme, World in Focus, on which the Minister has been invited to talk about the database once more. Again conflicted, Hacker eventually decides to take part.
Later, Hacker chances upon Tom Sargent, the former Minister for Administrative Affairs, and sits down for a chat. Sargent enlightens Hacker as to the nature of Sir Humphrey's stalling technique. This comprises a five-stage plan that will ensure that nothing is achieved at any time between general election
s, while also swamping his Minister with paperwork, thus effecting the desired state of "creative inertia". He specifically tells Hacker to look in the bottom of his fifth red box
that evening to find Sir Humphrey's reasons for not proceeding with the proposed safeguards for the National Integrated Database.
That night, Hacker does indeed discover the memo in question and, at Annie's urging, rings Sir Humphrey to tell him — despite it being 2.00am. He also has in his possession Tom Sargent's original draft proposals.
The next morning, Hacker discusses the proposed safeguards with Sir Humphrey, and is careful to mark down each of his predicted resistance methods as he uses them. Nevertheless, the Permanent Secretary
is stubborn in his refusal to co-operate. As Bernard enters with Hacker's 'announced' diary arrangements, he unknowingly gives his Minister a second line of attack.
As a horrified Sir Humphrey watches on TV, Hacker uses his appearance on World in Focus to inform the nation that the safeguards to the database will definitely be in place.
The next morning, Sir Humphrey (who claims to have been working all night) presents Hacker with a list of his desired recommendations. The Minister then delivers his coup de grâce and surprises Sir Humphrey with Tom Sargent's completely identical set of proposals from the previous government.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy series Yes Minister
Yes Minister
Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC Television between 1980–1982 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran from 1986 to 1988. In total there were 38 episodes—of which all but...
and was first broadcast 17 March 1980.
Plot
Jim HackerJames Hacker
James George Hacker, Baron Hacker of Islington, KG, PC, B. Sc. , Hon. D. C. L. was a fictional British politician. He was the Minister of the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs, and later the Prime Minister, in the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister...
is being interviewed by Robert McKenzie for the TV current affairs programme Topic. The Minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
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 UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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
Humphrey Appleby
Sir Humphrey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO, MA , is a fictional character from the British television series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. He was played by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. In Yes Minister, he is the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Administrative Affairs...
, Bernard
Bernard Woolley
Sir Bernard Woolley GCB is one of the three main fictional characters of the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. He was portrayed by Derek Fowlds.-Character:...
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
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
function in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and the other a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
meeting in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. 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
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. 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.
When Hacker next meets Sir Humphrey, he demands that certain safeguards in respect of the National Database be enacted immediately. He wants all citizens to be allowed to see their own files and legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
to prevent unauthorised access. Sir Humphrey is concerned that implementing such complex regulations will take a long time. Hacker points out that the database has been in development since his predecessor's time and that any difficulties must have already been discussed. However, Sir Humphrey's lips are sealed regarding any past conversations. Bernard enters with news of another TV programme, World in Focus, on which the Minister has been invited to talk about the database once more. Again conflicted, Hacker eventually decides to take part.
Later, Hacker chances upon Tom Sargent, the former Minister for Administrative Affairs, and sits down for a chat. Sargent enlightens Hacker as to the nature of Sir Humphrey's stalling technique. This comprises a five-stage plan that will ensure that nothing is achieved at any time between general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
s, while also swamping his Minister with paperwork, thus effecting the desired state of "creative inertia". He specifically tells Hacker to look in the bottom of his fifth red box
Red box (government)
The term "Red box" informally refers to a ministerial box used by ministers in the British government to carry their documents. Similar in appearance to a briefcase, they are primarily used to hold and transport official departmental papers from place to place.-Ministerial box:The design of...
that evening to find Sir Humphrey's reasons for not proceeding with the proposed safeguards for the National Integrated Database.
That night, Hacker does indeed discover the memo in question and, at Annie's urging, rings Sir Humphrey to tell him — despite it being 2.00am. He also has in his possession Tom Sargent's original draft proposals.
The next morning, Hacker discusses the proposed safeguards with Sir Humphrey, and is careful to mark down each of his predicted resistance methods as he uses them. Nevertheless, the Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
is stubborn in his refusal to co-operate. As Bernard enters with Hacker's 'announced' diary arrangements, he unknowingly gives his Minister a second line of attack.
As a horrified Sir Humphrey watches on TV, Hacker uses his appearance on World in Focus to inform the nation that the safeguards to the database will definitely be in place.
The next morning, Sir Humphrey (who claims to have been working all night) presents Hacker with a list of his desired recommendations. The Minister then delivers his coup de grâce and surprises Sir Humphrey with Tom Sargent's completely identical set of proposals from the previous government.
Episode cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Paul Eddington Paul Eddington Paul Eddington CBE was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s: The Good Life, Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Early life:... |
Jim Hacker |
| Nigel Hawthorne Nigel Hawthorne Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne, CBE was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he won four BAFTA Awards during the 1980s in the... |
Sir Humphrey Appleby |
| Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds is an English actor, known for playing Bernard Woolley in popular British television comedies Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister and Oscar Blaketon in the long-running ITV police drama Heartbeat.... |
Bernard Woolley |
| Robert Urquhart Robert Urquhart (actor) Robert Urquhart was a Scottish character actor who mainly worked in British television during his career.He was born in Ullapool, Scotland on 16 October 1921, educated at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh and made his stage debut in 1947... |
Tom Sargent |
| Robert McKenzie | Himself |
| Frederick Jaeger Frederick Jaeger Frederick Jaeger was a German-born actor who found success working in British television.Jaeger was born in Berlin, but moved to England following Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany. He graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1948, and became a British citizen two years later... |
Godfrey Finch |
| Diana Hoddinott Diana Hoddinott Diana Hoddinott is an English actress. She was born to Winifred Doris, née Dibble and Alan Hoddinott , who married in 1934 in Langport.... |
Annie Hacker |
| Neil Fitzwiliam Neil Fitzwiliam Neil Fitzwiliam is an English actor who has made several appearances in theatre, film and television productions.Credits include the first stage production of the musical, Cats, and a part as a dancer in the film, The Slipper and the Rose. His most notable role was as Frank Weisel in the BBC... |
Frank Weisel |
| Andrew Lane | Topic Floor Manager |
| Sheila Ferris | Topic Director |
| Matthew Roberton | Topic Crew Man |