Yes, Prime Minister - New Series

[Frutos]

It seems that, on the 15th January, GOLD will start airing a brand new series of Yes, Prime Minister based on the stage adaptation of the original and featuring Jim Hacker (played by David Haig) and Sir Humphrey Appleby (played by Henry Goodman) in their familiar roles but dealing with 21st century political issues - coalition governments, economic crises, Scottish indepedence and the like.

I love the original series (both Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister) and I'm just not sure that it'll work in a new version with different actors, especially since you can watch the originals and still see things which apply now. I also can't think of anything that's been revived like this after so long and actually worked, so I'm pessimistic to say the least.

Thoughts?

 

[Biscuit]

I also can't think of anything that's been revived like this after so long and actually worked, so I'm pessimistic to say the least.

Thoughts?

Doctor Who? Red Dwarf?

 

[Brovion]

I know what you mean, I loved the originals too so I'm reserving judgement until I've seen it. It may be a bit too 'gentle' for today's climate given all the other political satires that have been done since then. And is Bernard in it btw?

 

[Manx Shearwater]

I think The Thick Of It has done this subject so well now that any attempt to cover it from a nice comfy jolly sit-com standpoint will pale into insignificance next to it.

I did like Red Dwarf though.

 

[Simster]

I don't think it'll work either. Surely YM/YPM has had it's day?

 

[Frutos]

Doctor Who? Red Dwarf?

I see what you mean, but I'm not sure that neither of those really compare - Red Dwarf came back with the same actors playing the same parts they always did and was never really dependent on being 'topical' given the setting, and with Dr Who the frequent cast changes were part of the furniture long before RTD turned up so the programme basically changed every few years anyway. In this case they seem to be just trying to replicate the original with different actors and some topical content.

I know what you mean, I loved the originals too so I'm reserving judgement until I've seen it. It may be a bit too 'gentle' for today's climate given all the other political satires that have been done since then. And is Bernard in it btw?

I've not seen any mention of him, and he's not in the advert that's been shown. I would assume he must be though, shirley?

 

[Official Old Man]

No leave a classic program alone. Cant remember the name of the prog but that one with lots of swearing in it, is that not a modern version.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

No leave a classic program alone. Cant remember the name of the prog but that one with lots of swearing in it, is that not a modern version.

Yeah, that was the The Thick of It.

Redoing the classic Yes Prime Minister is a bit like redoing The Fall and Rise of Reggie Perrin. Pointless.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

It seems that, on the 15th January, GOLD will start airing a brand new series of Yes, Prime Minister based on the stage adaptation of the original and featuring Jim Hacker (played by David Haig) and Sir Humphrey Appleby (played by Henry Goodman) in their familiar roles but dealing with 21st century political issues - coalition governments, economic crises, Scottish indepedence and the like.

I love the original series (both Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister) and I'm just not sure that it'll work in a new version with different actors, especially since you can watch the originals and still see things which apply now. I also can't think of anything that's been revived like this after so long and actually worked, so I'm pessimistic to say the least.

Thoughts?

It's just wrong. The original is one of the best comedy series ever made, and while it looks a bit dated now, most of the humour is still topical. Making a new one can only be worse - why bother.

 

[The Spanish]

Yeah, that was the The Thick of It.

Redoing the classic Yes Prime Minister is a bit like redoing The Fall and Rise of Reggie Perrin. Pointless.

i thought people were unneccesarily harsh on the Martin Clunes Reggie Perrin. Any reworked comedy classic is bound to come in for the harshest criticism imaginable, as this thread proves and the thing hasn't even aired yet. If it was a stage production no one would bat an eyelid.

 

[Titanic]

i thought people were unneccesarily harsh on the Martin Clunes Reggie Perrin. Any reworked comedy classic is bound to come in for the harshest criticism imaginable, as this thread proves and the thing hasn't even aired yet. If it was a stage production no one would bat an eyelid.

We went to the stage production of YPM in Chichester Festival Theatre. I loved the originals and watch them when they come up on Dave/Gold/whatever etc.

I did enjoy the stage show, and think there is probably mileage in a new series... but it will obviously face harsh comparisons with the originals and The Thick of It.

It will come down to the quality of the scripts and acting, but I will definitely give it a go!

 

[trueblue]

Went to the stage show in London and it didn't really grab me, though I used to love the series back in the day. I think it had its moment really.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

You might as well update Dad's Army to Afghanistan.

 

[Frutos]

Starting in a few minutes on Gold. Anyone else watching?

 

[Frutos]

What an utter heap of shite.

Eddington and Hawthorne must be spinning in their respective graves.

 

[martyn20]

I quite like it, very much like the original, you can't replace the original stars of course

 

[Beach Hut]

Very poor, no good at all in fact gave up

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Awful is being kind

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Why bother trying to redo something soooooooo good. Eddington and Hawthorne were incomparable in the originals. Why redo Reggie Perrin, why remake the Ladykillers or the Italian Job.

 

[simmo]

I think that just goes to show how good Paul Eddington and Nigel Hawthorne were. The actor playing Sir Humphrey was just so poor and totally unconvincing (compared to Nigel Hawthorne).