Yes, Prime Minister is a TV series starring Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, and Derek Fowlds. James Hacker was propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of politics – Number 10.
Release Date: January 1986
10. The Bishops Gambit
Air Date: 20 Feb. 1986Season 1, Episode 7
P.M. Hacker is to appoint a new bishop, and Sir Humphrey may secure a cushy appointment on retirement if he can convince Hacker to appoint the current Dean to the bishopric.
9. A Victory for Democracy
Air Date: 13 Feb. 1986Season 1, Episode 6
The Foreign Office is having problems with the PM who is starting to question their advice in favour of a more pro-US line. In question is the political situation in St. Georges’ island where Marxist guerrillas are posing a threat and am impending vote at the UN to condemn Israel. Sir Humphrey and his Foreign Office counterpart connive, of course, to ensure that the PM sees things their way. The PM, however, sets about to outwit them.
8. The Grand Design
Air Date: 9 Jan. 1986Season 1, Episode 1
The new Prime Minister is preoccupied with defense issues as he begins to learn some of the details, such as the Russians having six times as many nuclear weapons as the UK or that the armed forces could withstand a conventional attack for 72 hours at best. As only Jim Hacker can do, his “Grand Design” is less than practical and it is left to Sir Humphrey, now Cabinet Secretary, to inject a dose of realism. The PM also wants a cook for 10 Downing St., but wants the government rather than himself to pay.
7. The Tangled Web
Air Date: 28 Jan. 1988Season 2, Episode 8
The Prime Minister finds himself in a bit of a pickle when he flatly denies in the House that the government has bugged MP’s telephones. It turns out the government was and Sir Humphrey was aware of it. The PM wants Sir Humphrey to back him, but he refuses to participate in a cover-up. The shoe is on the other foot however when Sir Humphrey makes unwise comments to a radio interviewer thinking that the tape recorder has been turned off. The PM agrees to help him, for a price.
6. The Ministerial Broadcast
Air Date: 16 Jan. 1986Season 1, Episode 2
Jim Hacker plans to introduce his “Grand Design” to the British public during his first broadcast as the new P.M. However, Humphrey continues to try to convince Hacker to hold off, planning to let it die.
5. Man Overboard
Air Date: 3 Dec. 1987Season 2, Episode 1
The Employment Secretary wants to move army regiments to north England to save money, so Sir Humphrey leads P.M. Hacker to believe the Employment Secretary is after the P.M.’s job.
4. A Diplomatic Incident
Air Date: 17 Dec. 1987Season 2, Episode 3
When the French hold out for primacy over a sub-Channel tunnel, P.M. Hacker uses the info that they planted a bomb in their own embassy to obtain more favorable terms.
3. The Smoke Screen
Air Date: 23 Jan. 1986Season 1, Episode 3
Sir Humphrey opposes P.M. Hacker’s plan to cut taxes, so Hacker steers the Minister for Health into campaigning against smoking as a diversion.
2. The National Education Service
Air Date: 21 Jan. 1988Season 2, Episode 7
On the advice of his political adviser, P.M. Hacker plans to eliminate the National Education Service and let parents choose the schools their children will attend. Horrified, Humphrey must prevent the precedent being set of eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy.
1. One of Us
Air Date: 27 Feb. 1986Season 1, Episode 8
When the Director General of MI5 informs the Prime Minister that his predecessor was a Soviet agent, Jim Hacker learns that he had been thoroughly investigated some years previously by none other than Sir Humphrey and given a clean bill. Needing to regain the upper hand over Hacker, Sir Humphrey suggests that he order the rescue of a dog that has wandered onto an artillery range. While the ploy to get positive publicity works, it also provides Sir Humphrey with valuable leverage.