The BEST episodes of Yes, Prime Minister season 1

Every episode of Yes, Prime Minister season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Yes, Prime Minister season 1!

Yes, Prime Minister is the sequel to the popular British series Yes Minister. It aired from 1986 to 1988 and is the story of the continuing battles between Jim Hacker, who is now Prime Minister, and Sir Humphrey, who has been promoted to Cabinet Secretary.

Last Updated: 10/15/2025Network: BBC TwoStatus: Ended
The Key
star
8.76
191 votes

#1 - The Key

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/30/1986

Office politics take precedence over national issues when Sir Humphrey and Bernard fall out with each other after Jim tries to restrict Sir Humphrey's access to No 10.

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The Ministerial Broadcast
star
8.60
164 votes

#2 - The Ministerial Broadcast

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/16/1986

Jim is coached in the world of show business as he prepares to address the nation on his defence policy.

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The Grand Design
star
8.39
254 votes

#3 - The Grand Design

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/9/1986

Jim Hacker considers cancelling the Trident programme after discovering some interesting facts about the UK's defence system.

Directors: Sydney Lotterby
Writer: Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn
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A Victory for Democracy
star
8.38
201 votes

#4 - A Victory for Democracy

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/13/1986

Jim must take action to avert a Marxist takeover of a Commonwealth island nation despite the efforts of the Foreign Office to keep him ignorant.

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A Real Partnership
star
8.16
154 votes

#5 - A Real Partnership

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/6/1986

Sir Humphrey tries to get his scheduled pay raise even though increases for MPs have been put on hold for budgetary reasons.

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One of Us
star
8.06
142 votes

#6 - One of Us

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/27/1986

Hacker threatens to place Sir Humphrey on leave while a security inquiry looks into why he cleared a confessed Soviet spy many years earlier, so Sir Humphrey retaliates with a dog in distress on Salisbury plain.

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The Bishop's Gambit
star
8.01
141 votes

#7 - The Bishop's Gambit

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/20/1986

Jim has to choose a new bishop but doesn't like either the Church or Sir Humphrey's choices.

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The Smoke Screen
star
7.24
208 votes

#8 - The Smoke Screen

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/23/1986

Jim favors abolishing smoking through heavy taxation but runs into strong opposition from the tobacco lobby and the Treasury department.

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