Yes, Prime Minister

Jim, a senior civil servant, seeks to suppress portions of a memoir written by a former prime minister that depicts him unfavourably, highlighting bureaucratic absurdities and the tension between government and the press. The series is presented as a political comedy.

Official Secrets is a television programme presented as a single episode, classed within the political comedy genre. It delivers a satirical look at the machinations of power, positioning humour against the backdrop of governmental intrigue. The central storyline follows a character called Jim, who sets out to suppress a portion of a book written by a former prime minister. The excerpt in question paints Jim in an unflattering light, prompting him to intervene and try to keep that material from reaching the public. His attempt at censorship forms the core of the episode’s comedic conflict. The show leans heavily on its political satire, using the premise of a high‑level attempt to control the narrative as a springboard for humour. By exaggerating the lengths to which a public figure might go to protect his reputation, the episode highlights the absurdities inherent in bureaucratic self‑preservation. The cast brings the material to life, with Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne and Derek Fowlds taking the principal roles. Their performances underpin the comic tone, delivering the script’s wit and timing with the kind of delivery that makes the episode’s satire feel both pointed and entertaining.