The 1989 omnibus paperback editions published by the BBC – the editions I own
(17) ANTHONY JAY & JONATHAN LYNN –
YES, MINISTER / YES, PRIME MINISTER (1989)
The other special mention entry that originated from television series screenplays subsequently adapted as books – and again where I read the books first.
It might be surprising that a series so defined by its performances – particularly that of its leading trio – would adapt so well to books but writers Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn did a sterling job, arguably improving on their scripts by adding further detail.
The TV series of Yes, Minister (1980-1984) was a political satire that revolved around the trio of cabinet minister of the Department of Administrative Affairs (the bureaucracy’s bureaucracy), Jim Hacker (played by Paul Eddington), the permanent secretary who really runs the department, Sir Humphrey Appleby (played by Nigel Hawthorne), and Hacker’s Private Secretary Bernard Woolley (played by Derek Fowlds).
“The episodes focus on Hacker determinedly attempting, for political and occasionally idealistic reasons, to rock the bureaucratic boat by introducing some popular (and occasionally necessary) change, with Sir Humphrey just as determined to make sure that nothing comes of it.”
“Hovering between them is Bernard Woolley…Hacker’s still idealistic and ingenuous Private Secretary, torn between his loyalty to Hacker (his political master) and his loyalty to Sir Humphrey (his civil service superior)”. When asked by Hacker whose side he’s on when the chips are down, Woolley memorably replied that it’s his job to make sure the chips stay up.
The TV series of Yes, Prime Minister (1986-1988) obviously involved all three being promoted, with Hacker ascending to Prime Minister. The book adaptation drily includes an editor’s note – to an observation of one of the characters that there’s been a less qualified candidate for that position than Hacker – that extensive research suggests they must have been referring to the Marquis of Bute.
The book adapts the scripts by adopting the device of being the published diaries of Jim Hacker – supplemented by additional civil service memoranda, correspondence, file notes and interviews for scenes from the TV series not involving Hacker.