The Writing on the Wall (Yes Minister)
Encyclopedia
"The Writing on the Wall" is the fifth episode of the BBC
comedy series Yes Minister
and was first broadcast 24 March 1980. In this episode, the final ' Yes Minister ' is uttered by Sir Humphrey Appleby.
is engaged in a verbal battle with his Permanent Secretary
, Sir Humphrey Appleby
(with contributions from Bernard
, his Principal Private Secretary
) regarding the third draft of a policy review relating to overmanning in the civil service
. Hacker seeks a phased reduction of around 200,000 staff and, despite Sir Humphrey's assertions to the contrary, he is unhappy that this is the translation of the "totally unintelligible" report that he has received. Hacker is concerned that Sir Humphrey does not share his views on the matter and presses him for a straight "yes or no" answer. Sir Humphrey gives his usual ambiguous reply, which vexes the Minister
.
Sometime later, Sir Humphrey invites Bernard for an informal chat. He has not yet seen the Minister's redraft of the policy review and wonders why. At first, Bernard is tightlipped, reminding Sir Humphrey that he is the Minister's Principal Private Secretary. His superior does not like this approach and points out that ministers come and go, whereas Bernard would be hoping for a long career in the civil service. Bernard takes the hint and asks Sir Humphrey if he had a duty to inform him if — to take a purely hypothetical example — a minister and his political advisors had decided to redraft a report between them and then submit it to committee at the last moment, before it could be amended by anyone else. Sir Humphrey tells him that he should not, particularly if such information was given in confidence. However, he is now sufficiently pleased to offer Bernard a drink.
Sir Humphrey confronts Hacker over the report and firmly requests that he be allowed to see the Minister's draft. At first Hacker brushes him off but eventually comes clean and informs him that he is happy with his own version and the report needs no further amendment. He tells Sir Humphrey that he has done nothing but stand in his way ever since he came into office and he is now determined to push this through. His Permanent Secretary remains implacably opposed and when Hacker demands a simple explanation, Sir Humphrey is uncharacteristically blunt, telling him, "If you're going to do this damn silly thing, don't do it in this damn silly way."
While the Minister is in a Cabinet meeting, Sir Humphrey and his colleague Sir Frederick Stewart wait outside. Also there is Daniel Hughes, the Prime Minister's
senior policy advisor. He lets slip to the two civil servants that the PM has decided to take on the overmanning problem himself and is favourable to the abolition of the Department of Administrative Affairs.
Now Hacker and Sir Humphrey are of one mind and agree that they are appalled. They know they have to work together to save their careers, and try to formulate a plan. They enlist the help of Frank Weisel, Hacker's political advisor, and ask him to mobilise the backbench
MPs
, but he is pessimistic. Bernard then brings up the controversial policy of the Europass
: the introduction of a Europe
-wide identity card, which is set to be the last piece of legislation
supervised by the DAA. Sir Humphrey explains that no other department wanted to handle it and expands on the reasons for Britain
going into the Common Market. (Apparently because the civil service was opposed to it — on the grounds that a disunited Europe has always worked in the past, and if they were on the inside, they stood a better chance of disrupting it.) Hacker is paranoid that he has only been chosen for the job so the PM can be certain that he needs to be removed. He, Weisel and Sir Humphrey decide to visit Martin, the Foreign Secretary
.
They learn that the Prime Minister is in the running for the Napoleon Prize, which is awarded for making the greatest contribution to European unity. However, he doesn't want any mention of the Europass before the ceremony for fear of rocking the boat. When they are joined by Daniel Hughes, Hacker obliquely threatens to table a question in the House of Commons
, asking the PM to make an unequivocal commitment to the policy — which would infuriate either the British or the rest of Europe, depending on his answer — unless the plan to dismantle the DAA is abolished.
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 24 March 1980. In this episode, the final ' Yes Minister ' is uttered by Sir Humphrey Appleby.
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 engaged in a verbal battle with his 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...
, 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...
(with contributions from 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:...
, his Principal Private Secretary
Principal Private Secretary
In the British Civil Service and Australian Public Service the Principal Private Secretary is the civil servant who runs a cabinet minister's private office...
) regarding the third draft of a policy review relating to overmanning in the 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...
. Hacker seeks a phased reduction of around 200,000 staff and, despite Sir Humphrey's assertions to the contrary, he is unhappy that this is the translation of the "totally unintelligible" report that he has received. Hacker is concerned that Sir Humphrey does not share his views on the matter and presses him for a straight "yes or no" answer. Sir Humphrey gives his usual ambiguous reply, which vexes 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....
.
Sometime later, Sir Humphrey invites Bernard for an informal chat. He has not yet seen the Minister's redraft of the policy review and wonders why. At first, Bernard is tightlipped, reminding Sir Humphrey that he is the Minister's Principal Private Secretary. His superior does not like this approach and points out that ministers come and go, whereas Bernard would be hoping for a long career in the civil service. Bernard takes the hint and asks Sir Humphrey if he had a duty to inform him if — to take a purely hypothetical example — a minister and his political advisors had decided to redraft a report between them and then submit it to committee at the last moment, before it could be amended by anyone else. Sir Humphrey tells him that he should not, particularly if such information was given in confidence. However, he is now sufficiently pleased to offer Bernard a drink.
Sir Humphrey confronts Hacker over the report and firmly requests that he be allowed to see the Minister's draft. At first Hacker brushes him off but eventually comes clean and informs him that he is happy with his own version and the report needs no further amendment. He tells Sir Humphrey that he has done nothing but stand in his way ever since he came into office and he is now determined to push this through. His Permanent Secretary remains implacably opposed and when Hacker demands a simple explanation, Sir Humphrey is uncharacteristically blunt, telling him, "If you're going to do this damn silly thing, don't do it in this damn silly way."
While the Minister is in a Cabinet meeting, Sir Humphrey and his colleague Sir Frederick Stewart wait outside. Also there is Daniel Hughes, the Prime Minister's
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
senior policy advisor. He lets slip to the two civil servants that the PM has decided to take on the overmanning problem himself and is favourable to the abolition of the Department of Administrative Affairs.
Now Hacker and Sir Humphrey are of one mind and agree that they are appalled. They know they have to work together to save their careers, and try to formulate a plan. They enlist the help of Frank Weisel, Hacker's political advisor, and ask him to mobilise the backbench
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
MPs
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, but he is pessimistic. Bernard then brings up the controversial policy of the Europass
Europass
Europass is a European Union initiative to increase transparency of qualification and mobility of citizens in Europe...
: the introduction of a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
-wide identity card, which is set to be the last piece of legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
supervised by the DAA. Sir Humphrey explains that no other department wanted to handle it and expands on the reasons for Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
going into the Common Market. (Apparently because the civil service was opposed to it — on the grounds that a disunited Europe has always worked in the past, and if they were on the inside, they stood a better chance of disrupting it.) Hacker is paranoid that he has only been chosen for the job so the PM can be certain that he needs to be removed. He, Weisel and Sir Humphrey decide to visit Martin, the Foreign Secretary
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a senior member of Her Majesty's Government heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and regarded as one of the Great Offices of State...
.
They learn that the Prime Minister is in the running for the Napoleon Prize, which is awarded for making the greatest contribution to European unity. However, he doesn't want any mention of the Europass before the ceremony for fear of rocking the boat. When they are joined by Daniel Hughes, Hacker obliquely threatens to table a question in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, asking the PM to make an unequivocal commitment to the policy — which would infuriate either the British or the rest of Europe, depending on his answer — unless the plan to dismantle the DAA is abolished.
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 |
| Daniel Moynihan | Daniel Hughes |
| Tenniel Evans Tenniel Evans -Family:Walter Tenniel Evans was born in Nairobi, Kenya. His middle name derived from the illustrator Sir John Tenniel, a distant relation. His daughter, Serena Evans, is an actress, and his son, Matthew, is a television director.... |
Martin |
| John Savident John Savident John Savident is a British actor, best known for playing the part of Fred Elliott in the soap opera Coronation Street from 1994 to 2006. And also was a frequent guest on Soccer AM alongside fellow actor Jack 'The Rigger' Spooner.... |
Sir Frederick Stewart |
| 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 |