Episode
Yes Minister: The Writing on the Wall
Overview
A rumour starts that Jim’s department is about to be axed. So with help from Sir Humphrey, they try and defeat the Prime Minister’s plans.
Details
- Series
- Yes Minister
- Season
- Season 1
- Episode
- Episode 5
- Air date
- 1980-03-24
- Runtime
- 30 min
Episode context
The Writing on the Wall is Episode 5 in Series 1 of Yes Minister. It aired on 1980-03-24. The runtime is 30 min.
Previous / Next
Episode 4: Big Brother
When the Government is planning to introduce a national database, Jim wants to bring in safe guards, but Sir Humphrey stalls until with some help from the opposition, Jim gets his way.
Episode 6: The Right to Know
Jim faces rebellion at home and in the office over the removal of protected status from a badger habitat, while he tries to circumvent Sir Humphrey’s efforts to keep him ignorant of things.
More episodes from this season
Episode 3: The Economy Drive
Jim Hacker is determined to reduce the Civil Service, but he is frustrated by Sir Humphrey, and the only numbers he can alter are the numbers of tea ladies.
Episode 7: Jobs for the Boys
Jim goes on radio to support the Solihull project a Government, union and private enterprise building scheme, that he has inherited from the last administration, but unknown to him the project is close to bankruptcy, Sir Humphrey hopes to save the deal by offering a quango to the director of the bank involved
Episode 2: The Official Visit
When the leader of an African country is killed in a coup, his successor, who is an old friend of Jim’s, comes in his place. They negotiate a £50 million deal to help buy oil exploration equipment.
Episode 1: Open Government
Jim Hacker retains his seat in the election and is given a cabinet post in the new government He meets the permanent secretary for his department Sir Humphrey Appleby but Jim decides to change the way things are done in the civil service so Sir Humphrey sets out to stop him