Mr Haig calling - Yes Minister - BBC comedy

[boffinboy100]

Wish there was Humphrey's scene/message. The soviet ambassador for you, a Mr Smirnoff.

[BuckshotLaFunke1]

Absolutely great. Pity we don't have the entire scene, with Mr Ballantine (a word in your ear, Sir) and of course Napoleon.

[MrDGLees]

@hatrickp yes! i think so too!

[hatrickp]

I can't help feeling the guy in the background knows exactly what's going on in the Communications Room the whole time, he's absolutely loving it every time someone comes over with a message for someone :D

[moppettshow]

The best line, later... 'Napoleon!"



[Gorboduc]

Bernard has such a way with women.  (Or in this case, honorary men.)

[AMRPK]

Minister a message from the british embassy compound a delegation of teachers

[Randomcorpse]

You've cut out the best bit, he comes out later a little too drunk and tells someone that Napoleon is on the phone.

[chullbulli]

I can't vote up any comment i like ..why????

[Fugsy07]

This is awesome. The extra threatens to ruin it though, standing grinning at them in the background.

[MrDGLees]

@Fugsy07 I think the implication in him grinning behind them is that he knows what is going on?

[Fugsy07]

Wasn't there more of this kind of thing in the episode? Someone needs to upload them all!

[rlmendoza]

@Fugsy07 "The Soviets are on the line, a Mr. Smirnoff."

[HMservant]

Can anyone give me the airing stats (S-E- etc) for this episode?

[Athenian888]

Brilliant and quality comedy !

[bilden2]

its very funny but wouldnt they have smelled the alcohol on their breath??

[spaceoreo]

@bilden2 Although this storyline mirrored an actual happening, when it comes to some comedy situations you have to suspend your disbelief. There's no real laugh if the Qumranis bust them...the comedy lies in the act itself, not how it would play out if they were caught. That's low farce, not exactly Yes Minister material. More Man About the House-style.

[bilden2]

@spaceoreo i agree- tv shows and movies can take al sorts of liberties -but in the actual event

wouldnt they smell the alcohol on thier breath????

[khanorama]

it cant be Pakistan because alcohol was legal in Pakistan till General Zia in the 80s and the show is from before that.

Alcohol is still served at official receptions in Pakistan.

[DaniMajor]

The funniest thing is that this actually happened.!

[skristoferu]

Thank you for posting. My favorite TV show.

This episode is based on atrue story during PM Wilson in the 60's & the Islamic country is Pakistan.

[bedsitter1982]

Yes, right. One of the writers confirmed, that the story of this "secret comunications room" has really happened.

[james8789]

a honourary man for the evening....

[lincsposter]

One of the best series the BBC produced! Great acting! Brilliant script the only joke missing was VAT at 69! Oh and Teachers?

[alcockell]

Au contraire. From memory, one of them was called in as the VAT man was asking about the '69 results.

And a delegation of Teachers wanted to talk as well..

[lincsposter]

@alcockell I agree, but they were not heard on this clip - hence my comment!

[Frollo84]

Yes! The writers received tips from Civil Servants and people in Government. They did make up the story about the empty hospital full of administrators, but later found out that there had been three empty hospitals when the episode was broadcast!

[drgalious]

check out "in the thick" by ianucci, ianucci was a great fan of 'yes minister' and 'in the thick' i kind of a modern version of it.

of course its different, but try it, maybe you'll like it :)

[FSMaxmotives]

An awful cool clip!

[chris00nj]

They could never make this clip today. It would be deemed offensive and politically incorrect. Heck, it might even start a riot.

[JimSting]

@chris00nj Yes. A sad indictment of modern society. We've all lost our sense of humour, it seems.

[Mullahgrrl]

@chris00nj It is politically correct in as much as that it correctly portrays a political ocurrence.

[agemangirl1919]

@chris00nj

Well, very few people understand the beauty of insult and self degradation these days. Mixture of arrogance, insult, irony, overstatement, understatement, etc, make up the British sense of humour which is so rich, witty and sometimes even elegant.

[MrCCollins1993]

@chris00nj Then they SHOULD do it again, just to make a point. Point to the past and say to the P.C rioters "We did it then and nobody said anything or has said anything about it since, so fuck off."

[haimtoeg]

Mr John Walker, from the Scotch office....

[damidob]

Most hilarious TV series ever! Have watched all episodes to death and never get bored.

[capricious71]

"It's the Russian embassy on the line... a Mr Smirnov"

[capricious71]

Wish they'd put more of this scene on here. :)

[adrian993]

Apparently this actually happened! The writers/creators admitted as much, but obviously couldn't identify the Minister or the Government involved for diplomatic/security reasons.

[JohnNy2cz]

Johnny Walker? Yes, from the scotch office.

LOL :-D

[nahsirhc]

One of my favourite episodes from one of the best tv shows ever.

But can someone explain what "with the dimples" means? thanks

[whu58]

Yeah, the `dimples` means the unusual shape bottle of that brand (`Haig` whiskey)

[nahsirhc]

Alright thanks!

[jlim2397]

@whu58 No, it's a reference to Dimple Blended Scotch

[xshadowx324]

yeh i think this was based on an actual event. the episode is called moral dilema if u didnt no its in the third series

[bubunsrac]

From the scotch office :-)

[HiveMistress]

Cool! Gigglefest!

[josecher]

I love Yes Minister but I've never seen this episode - but this scene is hilarious. I love the concept of the prime minister and his cabinet secretary deciding to get drunk at a convention in an islamic country. The innuendos in the names of the callers are also very clever.

[steelgear]

Message from Johnny Walker ^_^

LOL

[docwho9]

Apparently, the entire business with the whisky was based on an actual event at an official gathering in Pakistan.

[RMGLUCK]

Shame it doesn't have the bit at the end about Napoleon.

[joliecide]

Lovely stuff, all that trouble for a li'l drinkie

[hugotipple]

My name is Haig...

[klactv]

Brilliant episode!

[sahajad]

Super comdey . Real intellectual stuff !

[davethegaffer]

genius