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| BBC 'missed out' on Yes, Prime Minister comeback | BBC 'missed out' on Yes, Prime Minister comeback |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The new series of Yes, Prime Minister was made for a rival channel because the BBC asked its creators to make a pilot episode, it has emerged. | The new series of Yes, Prime Minister was made for a rival channel because the BBC asked its creators to make a pilot episode, it has emerged. |
| Co-writer Jonathan Lynn said the BBC had been given first refusal on the revival out of "courtesy", because it aired the award-winning original. | Co-writer Jonathan Lynn said the BBC had been given first refusal on the revival out of "courtesy", because it aired the award-winning original. |
| But he called the request for a test episode "extraordinary", as "there were 38 pilots available on DVD". | But he called the request for a test episode "extraordinary", as "there were 38 pilots available on DVD". |
| The first new episodes for 25 years will be aired on digital channel Gold. | |
| Lynn told comedy website Chortle that the BBC "said it was policy" to order a pilot episode before commissioning a full series. | Lynn told comedy website Chortle that the BBC "said it was policy" to order a pilot episode before commissioning a full series. |
| "So we said our policy was to not write a pilot." | "So we said our policy was to not write a pilot." |
| In response, the BBC said: "Yes Prime Minister was last on air 25 years ago so it would not be unusual to ask for a pilot as clearly a lot of the elements, including the cast, would be different. | |
| "UKTV was involved in the initiation and development of the project; the BBC decided not to broadcast a new series as it was felt a better use of resources to invest in new comedy, for example Mrs Brown's Boys and Miranda." | |
| Ironically, the BBC's in-house entertainment team was later commissioned to produce the new series by Gold. | |
| Bafta-winner | |
| Yes, Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister were both written and created by Lynn and Antony Jay, with the first episode broadcast in 1980. | Yes, Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister were both written and created by Lynn and Antony Jay, with the first episode broadcast in 1980. |
| They portrayed the struggle between Paul Eddington, as Jim Hacker MP, and Nigel Hawthorne as his permanent secretary. | They portrayed the struggle between Paul Eddington, as Jim Hacker MP, and Nigel Hawthorne as his permanent secretary. |
| Labour MP and ex-minister Gerald Kaufman once described the tales of double-dealing Whitehall mandarins and hapless politicians as "chillingly accurate". It was also said to be Baroness Thatcher's favourite television programme. | Labour MP and ex-minister Gerald Kaufman once described the tales of double-dealing Whitehall mandarins and hapless politicians as "chillingly accurate". It was also said to be Baroness Thatcher's favourite television programme. |
| The new series was filmed last summer and is based on a recent stage production, which launched in 2010. | The new series was filmed last summer and is based on a recent stage production, which launched in 2010. |
| Digital network Gold said the Rt Hon Jim Hacker would return as the leader of a coalition government, with plots focussing on the economic crisis, a leadership crisis with his coalition partners and a Scottish independence referendum. | Digital network Gold said the Rt Hon Jim Hacker would return as the leader of a coalition government, with plots focussing on the economic crisis, a leadership crisis with his coalition partners and a Scottish independence referendum. |
| David Haig will take the lead role, with Henry Goodman as Sir Humphrey. Both have appeared in the stage version of the show. | David Haig will take the lead role, with Henry Goodman as Sir Humphrey. Both have appeared in the stage version of the show. |
| They will be joined by Dame Maggie Smith's son, Chris Larkin, as Bernard Woolley, and Robbie Coltrane as a guest star. | They will be joined by Dame Maggie Smith's son, Chris Larkin, as Bernard Woolley, and Robbie Coltrane as a guest star. |