Sir Humphrey and Jim Hacker live to fight another day
“If there is a God, why doesn’t he run this world like the Home Office?”
Sir Humphrey Appleby
In what must be a stroke of extraordinary good fortune we have opening at the Apollo Theatre a new chapter of the popular show (even Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher liked it) Yes Prime Minister. Unless you live under a stone you cannot fail to be aware of the difficulties currently with British Politics. However, this play, on transfer from The Barn Theatre at Cirencester, sticks to the strengths and traditions of the television comedy.
To come back to earth for those who don’t remember the series, or weren’t born when first broadcast, it featured Jim Hacker (then played by Paul Eddington, now by Griff Rhys Jones) the politician with a determination to do things.
At every turn he is foiled by the Head of the Civil Service Sir Humphrey Appleby (then played by Nigel Hawthorne, now Clive Francis) who uses long words to convey and do nothing other than confuse and maintain the status quo. The great skill in the play is the writing by Jonathan Lynn, who was the original co-writer and co-director with the late Conservative politician Antony Jay, and who now also co-directs with Michael Gyngell.
Time has moved on. Lord Hacker is an honorary don, a Master of Hacker College in Oxford. As often happens every few years, the student population start to revolt about something, and this time Hacker is in their sights for careless remarks, made in private but inevitably recorded. What he needs is a specialist communicator to deal with the problem by so confusing his enemies with words that they give up, so he calls on Lord Humphrey Appleby now reduced to living in a home for those with oncoming dementia.
Playing a major part of the story is Hacker’s carer Sophie ( Stephanie Levi-John) employed at £15 an hour – good rate for a First Class Honours in English, from this College. She is the modern face of society described by Hacker as Young, Gay and Black, he doesn’t understand why she insists on being called his care worker. The clash of generations provokes a significant debate whether classic books should have trigger warnings about certain words that begin with the letter N, but porn references are entirely acceptable.
The set, designed by Lee Newby is Hacker’s Rooms at College untidy, lived in and complete with a stair lift to the bedrooms. Nicknamed the Grim Reaper, is Hacker’s Nemesis, Sir David (William Chubb) whose job it is to get Hacker to resign.
To hold onto his job for life, Hacker offers to approach again the Russian oligarch who funded the new college, as it would again offer the opportunity for large money laundering, on the condition he can have a statue in the main building. Cue all there to cover their ears: hear no evil, say no evil.
I was expecting the sharp quick-witted dialogue that so pleased the fans of the tv shows. I felt in the first half this was a bit lacking in that sequences were sometime slow and laughs irregular. However, after the interval things picked up and the audience were not disappointed with the sharp wit and humour.
This is a good play that sticks to its winning formular brought up to date with the aging and different circumstances of the characters. Sadly, all of the original cast have died, their replacements honour their memory.
Malcolm Beckett has been reviewing theatre since 2017
Production Notes
I’m Sorry Prime Minister
Written by Jonathan Lynn
Directed by Jonathan Lynn and Michael Gyngell
Cast
Starring:
Clive Francis
Griff Rhys Jones
Stephanie Levi-John
William Chubb
Creatives
Director: Jonathan Lynn and Michael Gyngell
Designer: Lee Newby
Lighting Designer: Mark Henderson
Composer and Sound Directors: Ben and Max Ringham
Information
Running Time: Two hours 15 minutes including an interval;
Booking to 9th May 2026
Theatre:
Apollo Theatre
Shaftesbury Avenue
London W1D 7EZ
Box Office: 0330 333 4809
Website:
Tube: Piccadilly Circus
Reviewed by Malcolm Beckett at the Apollo
on 12th February 2026
