The Complete Yes Minister

Oct 4, 2024 7:18 PM

Author:Jonathan Lynn,Antony Jay

'We have had diaries from other Cabinet Ministers, but none I

think which have been quite so illuminating... It is a

fascinating diary... It is shorter than Barbara Castle's... and

although it is rather more accurate than Dick Crossman's, it

is distinctly funnier' - Lord Allen of Abbeydale (formerly

Permanent Secretary at the Home Office) in The Times

'It has an entertainment and educational value which is

unique. It is uproariously funny and passes the acid test of

becoming more amusing at every subsequent reading... I will

go so far as to claim that in the characters of Jim Hacker and

Sir Humphrey Appleby, Messrs Lynn and Jay have created

something as immortal as P.G. Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster

and Jeeves' - Brian Walden in The Standard

Reviews

Its closely observed portrayal of what goes on in the
corridors of power has given me hours of pure joy

—— Rt Hon. Margaret Thatcher MP

We have had diaries from other Cabinet Ministers, but none I
think which have been quite so illuminating... It is a
fascinating diary... It is shorter than Barbara Castle's... and
although it is rather more accurate than Dick Crossman's, it
is distinctly funnier

—— Lord Allen of Abbeydale (formerly Permanent Secretary at the Home Office) , The Times

It has an entertainment and educational value which is
unique. It is uproariously funny and passes the acid test of
becoming more amusing at every subsequent reading... I will
go so far as to claim that in the characters of Jim Hacker and
Sir Humphrey Appleby, Messrs Lynn and Jay have created
something as immortal as P.G. Wodehouse's Bertie Wooster
and Jeeves

—— Brian Walden , The Standard

***** Brilliantly observed . . . An excellent cast

—— Heat on Fresh Meat

A first-class opening episode ... Fresh Meat's characters may be a year older, but thankfully, JP, Kingsley et al are showing no signs of evolution ... a witty, sordid delight

—— Metro on Fresh Meat (series 2)

Fresh Meat is back and celebrated its return with a magnificent running joke about old meat. Howard started working at the local abattoir and is jubilant at the main perk of the job: "It's spare meat.. from the loose meat bin... It's all right. It's from animals." ... I'm so looking forward to the new term

—— Independent on Fresh Meat (series 2)

***** The first successful comedy about students for almost 30 years, and judging by the second series opener, it could easily be sustained for a long time yet ... If Jack Whitehall shone during the first series, he positively dazzles here; the boy is clearly destined for Hollywood, or rehab, or both. But his is not the only strong performance; each and every member of the cast is so wondrous that watching Fresh Meat feels like being privy to something special ... Fresh Meat is for anyone who has ever gone to university, and not just for people who happen to be there now. It's also well-crafted, poignant and very, very amusing - let's hope we don't have to wait another 30 years for something just as good

—— Telegraph on Fresh Meat (series 2)

A comedy that's actually funny. It could catch on

—— Guardian

This book's main purpose is to encourage having a laugh, but, like the best laughs, it is based on facts that ring true

—— Evening Standard

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