Bernard is possibly the most genuine, relatable, and 'nicest' character in the show. While all around him contrive and scheme and plot, all he tries to do is a good job. To not give him the very best lines would be like kicking a puppy. 🐕🥾😲 His best lines follow his character too. Never overly oritorical like Sir Humphry, or political/self serving like Jim Hacker. Just insightful and clever and witty, and a little bit naive. It's a shame in a way he wasn't given more to say. But then why would he be? He's just trying to do a good job...
Yes, as the series went on, Hacker began to get Appleby's number. It was an excellent way to grow the characters, and was also possibly a quite realistic portrayal of how ministers grow into the job.
"Well notwithstanding the fact that your proposal could conceivably encompass certain concomitant benefits of a certain marginal peripheral relevance, there is a countervailing consideration of infinitely superior magnitude involving your personal complicity and corroborative malfeasance with the consequence that the taint and stigma of your former associations and diversions could irredeemably and irretrievably invalidate your position and culminate in public revelations and recriminations of a profoundly embarrassing and ultimately indefensible character." Appleby in his finest. 🤣
But then, unforeseen problems always happen. That there will be an unforeseen problem is foreseeable; what's unforeseeable is the details, and that's what trips you up every time.
it might sound funny, but it's a perfectly logical way of thinking. fir example, i work in quality assurance, when we discuss implementing a new feature in our product we are prepared for issues to arise in certain areas that are affected by this feature, even if we can't predict what those issues might be.
@@Delightfully_Witchy It didn't work because Hacker is acclimated to Humphrey's tactics by now. But this show is a gold mine of witty, piercing lines to undercut whoever you're arguing with.
The producers of the show later claimed those convoluted speeches left him almost insane. Which was wonderful because he went on to play King George III afterwards.
Doesn't quite get it right at 2:40. Then again, the right words don't always come out of everyone's mouth all of the time, so it could just be put down to another piece of superb 'acting'.
@@grimupnorth As I understand it, that slight stutter is intentional. Sir Humphrey is taken aback by how his opening attack is parried with such ease -- he expected it to have some effect at least. It takes but a moment for him to compose himself once again and launch into his second point.
My sincerest condolences. It seems that, in the course of your advancements in comprehension of the formal speech of aristocrats, born and made, you have sent yourself on a path that could be considered destructive to the mind and body, one that requires forsaking all friendship and maidens. You may, in time, and with much despair, be launched into that career which is odious to any pretensions of loyalty and, conversely, secrecy; that of the civil servant.
Sir Humphrey is my role model; he's mastered the art of saying a lot that actually means very little, how to obfuscate everything On second thought, I'd rather be Bernard who still seems to have a conscience
The thing is, if you follow Humphrey carefully everything he says is coherent and logical. Unlike so many people who throw out meaningless word salad to try to confuse people, Humphrey always knows exactly the point he's making.
Nigel was a superbly trained actor. He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, so he had a vast experience of learning copious amounts of complicated dialogue.
What he was saying was that notwithstanding the fact that Hacker's proposal could conceivably have encompassed certain concomitant benefits of a certain marginal peripheral relevance, there was a countervailing consideration of infinitely superior magnitude involving Hacker's personal complicity and corroborative malfeasance with the consequence that the taint and stigma of his former associations and diversions could irredeemably and irretrievably invalidate his position and culminate in public revelations and recriminations of a profoundly embarrassing and ultimately indefensible character. Perfectly clear.
Surely the funniest/ learning TV program in the history of mankind ? Does anyone know of any comedy in the world that can touch this? It's teaching about the British political machine with laughs. Oscar winners should watch these actors with the jaws dropping on the ground.
Indeed, one could argue that the problems are not unforeseen, because I have foreseen them. However, they remain unforeseen as I cannot foresee what they are, thereby remaining unforeseen though I can still foresee that they are unforeseen.😜
And 20 years later Donald Rumsfeld gave us this little beauty, the similarities are ridiculous.: Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns-the ones we don't know we don't know. And if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tends to be the difficult ones.[1]
Sir Humphrey is one of my favourite characters and love to watch his mastery of machiavellian techniques, but I would have despised him if I had to work with him.
...and 20 years later, all this came *true.* ... Smoking banned in enclosed spaces, no tobacco sponsorship (sorry, *advertising)* at/of sporting events, plain cigarette cartons, huge rise in tobacco taxes, cigarettes locked in shuttered cabinets at point of sale.....
And one of the unforeseen problems was that it caused hundreds , probably thousands of pubs to close their doors permanently . My takings halved virtually overnight because people do not want to stand out in the cold to have a cigarette . We were all told there were hordes of non-smokers waiting to go into our pubs , in actual fact many of them left because their friends , the smokers , weren’t coming . So many pubs then ceased being economically viable .
@@steveosborne2297 And a great many of us started going to pubs we couldn't go to before because of the intolerable stench of tobacco and the need in many case to go through the smoking area to get to the non-smoking section (if there was one). So many pubs were unusable in the old days. Now, it is wonderful to be able to go into formerly intolerable places and have a meal. No shortage of other people eating out either.
They are not nonsense. If you see the script and context there is an internal logic to them. It is just mangled and then hidden in puff and language. It is exquisite writing.
Donald Rumsfeld - "There are known knowns and known unknowns. Then there are the unknown unknowns". If only Sir Humpty had forseen this, then the USA wouldn't have had to deal with the unforseen in 2003, but alas the unforseen forseen descended on the unforseen unforseen.................what am I talking about? I forsee now that I think I need a unforseen nap.
When entire nation has mentality of petty peddlers, any attempt at taking away even the slightest portion of their earnings will be perceived as a heinous crime. If you really think about it, the good old US of A were conceived because of dispute over money and their birth nearly bankrupted two superpowers of the age.... Fate certainly possesses twisted sense of humour.
@@kreb7 True, on the other hand if not for the Americans, the French would retain their monarchy for substantially longer than they did. Every coin has two sides, I guess...
@@kreb7 In politics something like a coincidence doesn't exist, my friend. War expenses had to be covered by new taxes, levied mainly on the middle and low classes of French society {aristocracy was perfectly happy to wage wars as long as they didn't had to pay for them} which was one of the main causes for French Revolution.
The Aussi government realise nothing but delivery legislation from outside investors, or bribers, to change your life in their benefit. Go protest brother Danzig, against those drones seeing your face in the streets, you are few that still have a voice.
@Kirrily - remember the future You should have the right to be an Idiot. The right to be lunatic or the right to be what you see fit to your own mindset. Who decides where the line goes? Most people will never use DMT, mushrooms or Ayuaska and keep being sad humanoids, aren't these restrictions enought?
@@juliosalgado956 This 'line' you refer to, it should be drawn when your actions negatively affect other people. And smoking, using mind-altering drugs, drinking (ESPECIALLY driving under the influence of alcohol) and a myriad of other things do have an adverse effect on other people. Thus, in my opinion, they shouldn't just be heavily taxed, they should be outright banned! You may think it's your right to smoke and drink, but what about MY right to breath clean air, and not get killed by some drunk dickhead running a red light!
@Johann Sebastian Bach Well if we are being that way on a comment thread about a comedy program, then I would say my comment was too short to be able to provide a full and complete answer on the matters in question, how ever while it’s accuracy can be questioned nor was it fully inaccurate. Or if the first question in my 2nd comment is correct then my 1st comment may merely be a typo.
Paul Eddington's hair style did change especially in series two of Yes Prime Minister. This was down to his illness. He had been suffering from skin cancer for many years, and by 1987 when he was recording the second series of Yes Prime Minister, he had to restyle his hair due to problems with the skin on his scalp starting to become infected with the cancer. It would eventually spread to all of his face by around 1994 and when he appeared on his final TV interview in 1995 he looked very very different to what we see here.
@@Blackcomanche Hi, I only just noticed this problem with that comment from Melody. You are right, he never appeared in it. I just commented on his hair style, due to his poor health and cancer treatment.
The foreseeble result of banning smoking. Is that non smokers will pick up increased taxes themselves. As the lost billions of tax money recieved from smokers, will be then distributed across the rest of society.
@@alan-sk7ky of course i like roads, there are private roads but thats besides the point. you can recognise that the more money you take from the public, the less money they have to spend freely, while still recognising that some level of taxation is necessary. taxation is theft but its a necessary evil.
The green is need but the army away time to alliw errors ensuee they tax thier joy esoecialky in wilds. Thw insects ryebriws raise to the rifht left riggt and tgere itgers
"Your word is my co-operation" - as always Bernard has the best line
Bernard is possibly the most genuine, relatable, and 'nicest' character in the show.
While all around him contrive and scheme and plot, all he tries to do is a good job.
To not give him the very best lines would be like kicking a puppy. 🐕🥾😲
His best lines follow his character too. Never overly oritorical like Sir Humphry, or political/self serving like Jim Hacker.
Just insightful and clever and witty, and a little bit naive.
It's a shame in a way he wasn't given more to say. But then why would he be? He's just trying to do a good job...
Humphrey = best speeches.
Jim = best facial expressions.
Bernard = best one-liners.
And very rarely the writers flipped this around to great effect.
brilliant
Fell out of my chair
Yes, as the series went on, Hacker began to get Appleby's number. It was an excellent way to grow the characters, and was also possibly a quite realistic portrayal of how ministers grow into the job.
…then the next election comes and they’re out.
I practice Sir Humphrey’s lines to overcome my speech impediment.
thats fascinating and wholesome
Excellent
Has it helped?
Lol, doing so will probably worsen it
Same in all honesty
"Well notwithstanding the fact that your proposal could conceivably encompass certain concomitant benefits of a certain marginal peripheral relevance, there is a countervailing consideration of infinitely superior magnitude involving your personal complicity and corroborative malfeasance with the consequence that the taint and stigma of your former associations and diversions could irredeemably and irretrievably invalidate your position and culminate in public revelations and recriminations of a profoundly embarrassing and ultimately indefensible character." Appleby in his finest. 🤣
Translation: "You've worked with the people you're now working against, and if people find out you're in trouble."
'I foresee all sorts of unforeseen problems'😂😂😂
But then, unforeseen problems always happen. That there will be an unforeseen problem is foreseeable; what's unforeseeable is the details, and that's what trips you up every time.
it might sound funny, but it's a perfectly logical way of thinking. fir example, i work in quality assurance, when we discuss implementing a new feature in our product we are prepared for issues to arise in certain areas that are affected by this feature, even if we can't predict what those issues might be.
We can handle the known unknowns, it's the unknown unknowns that will trip us up...
🤣
I really like how Hacker has the edge over Sir Humphrey here. For once, he’s on the front foot and in control of the situation
At this time this is probably the third or fourth time he's had Humpy on the ropes, but probably the first without help.
Sir Humphries monologues were wonderfully delivered
"I foresee all sorts of unforeseen problems."
Ahh something for me to use during meetings when things are not going my way.
But it didn't work...
@@Delightfully_Witchy It didn't work because Hacker is acclimated to Humphrey's tactics by now. But this show is a gold mine of witty, piercing lines to undercut whoever you're arguing with.
It’s amazing how Nigel Hawthorn leaned those long complex speeches and could rattle them off in one take
The producers of the show later claimed those convoluted speeches left him almost insane. Which was wonderful because he went on to play King George III afterwards.
Doesn't quite get it right at 2:40. Then again, the right words don't always come out of everyone's mouth all of the time, so it could just be put down to another piece of superb 'acting'.
@@grimupnorth As I understand it, that slight stutter is intentional. Sir Humphrey is taken aback by how his opening attack is parried with such ease -- he expected it to have some effect at least. It takes but a moment for him to compose himself once again and launch into his second point.
@@grimupnorth Indeed
I foresee all sorts of unforeseen problems!
Just love the sentence structure!
Great! Really great!!!
Love the way Sir Humphry drolls out the words "Prime Ministaahh..!"
Oh dear. I actually understood every word of Humpy's long speech I'm doomed!
One has to take a break every so often, to avoid being Humphrenized.
My sincerest condolences. It seems that, in the course of your advancements in comprehension of the formal speech of aristocrats, born and made, you have sent yourself on a path that could be considered destructive to the mind and body, one that requires forsaking all friendship and maidens. You may, in time, and with much despair, be launched into that career which is odious to any pretensions of loyalty and, conversely, secrecy; that of the civil servant.
Humphrey has total command of his word vomit. There's always a logical point in it if you pay attention.
@@vulpes7079 You're absolutely right, Arnold, as always.
Why did I need years and years to pass to realise just how good this comedy was?
With age our understanding of humor gets more sofisticated.
Because you're thick?
@Robert Moore Socrates was dense I guess.
Hacker may not have Sir Humphry on the run in this clip, but he certainly got him on a brisk walk!
Love how Humphrey really wasn't expecting Hacker to be okay with it. So satisfying to see him speechless XD
Nobody did big speeches better than Hawthorn 😊
Ah yes, the unforeseen problems. I have foreseen those. They are very very... unforeseeable..
Baffles me why the BBC aren't showing this like they show Dad's bloody Army. This would be a ratings winner
Bloody hell, the Woke would have a fit.
@@slots1407 why? I’m pretty woke and I think it’s hilarious. Just to be clear this is a genuine question.
@@kuigghu You have my deepest sympathies
@@kuigghu *"I’m pretty woke"* Was the lobotomy painful?
@@dewiowen1 thank you but that does not answer my question.
Sir Humphrey is my role model; he's mastered the art of saying a lot that actually means very little, how to obfuscate everything
On second thought, I'd rather be Bernard who still seems to have a conscience
When did you acquire this taste for luxuries?
@@KosherCookery 😀👍
The thing is, if you follow Humphrey carefully everything he says is coherent and logical. Unlike so many people who throw out meaningless word salad to try to confuse people, Humphrey always knows exactly the point he's making.
How on earth did Nigel Hawthorne remember the lines for those complex long-winded comments? Brilliant stuff
Nigel was a superbly trained actor. He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, so he had a vast experience of learning copious amounts of complicated dialogue.
And isn't it curious how this gag, no matter how long the show ran for, somehow never stopped being funny?
Sublime writing!
_"I mean 'obey my commands!'...That's what "cooperate" means when you're Prime Minister."_ Indeed. But...not _solely_ when one is Prime Minister.
"I foresee all sorts of unforeseen problems" reminds me of the "unknown unknowns" from our side of the pond a few years later.
I can see that Boris has learnt a word or two from Sir Humphrey!
For 30 years I still don't understand what Sir Humphrey was saying but I still love it
What he was saying was that notwithstanding the fact that Hacker's proposal could conceivably have encompassed certain concomitant benefits of a certain marginal peripheral relevance, there was a countervailing consideration of infinitely superior magnitude involving Hacker's personal complicity and corroborative malfeasance with the consequence that the taint and stigma of his former associations and diversions could irredeemably and irretrievably invalidate his position and culminate in public revelations and recriminations of a profoundly embarrassing and ultimately indefensible character. Perfectly clear.
Could I have a precis of that?
@@dhk7986 There's nicotine on Hacker's hands.
Humpy had contrived for Hacker to go to a sports event paid for one of the big tobacco companies.
I am perhaps amongst the rarer chaps who could understand what he was on about.
That actor who portray's Sir Humphrey, large intellect, probably
a real beast when it came to English literature at University too...
When ever I think of this show I think of the episode where "Wiesel" and weisel " came into play.
Jim really had the cards here
Surely the funniest/ learning TV program in the history of mankind ? Does anyone know of any comedy in the world that can touch this? It's teaching about the British political machine with laughs. Oscar winners should watch these actors with the jaws dropping on the ground.
Yes Minister?
The British Civil Service and the way they govern whatever the Political party in power
more yes minster clips please
I have a feeling that Sir Humphrey might have been a better adviser to the Scruffy Liar than Dominic Cummings ever was.
PERFECT 🤣🌟🤣🌟🤣
Very nice!
The Iron Lady loved this programme
Funniest Political show ever.
More a documentary!
@@Telcontarnz I began my career in the Foreign Office in the seventies. I'd call this a training video.
Well if I. ... could see the unforeseen problems, they wouldn't be unforeseen.
Indeed, one could argue that the problems are not unforeseen, because I have foreseen them. However, they remain unforeseen as I cannot foresee what they are, thereby remaining unforeseen though I can still foresee that they are unforeseen.😜
@@gilliankingspeaks 😁😁💕
@@gilliankingspeaks it's obviously easy to foresee that there will inevitably be unforeseen problems
Is there a written (on-line) edition of these VDOs or conversations, please?
"perhaps I could have a priest" - why does that get a big laugh
The line is "perhaps I could have a precis" - a summary.
And 20 years later Donald Rumsfeld gave us this little beauty, the similarities are ridiculous.:
Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns-the ones we don't know we don't know. And if one looks throughout the history of our country and other free countries, it is the latter category that tends to be the difficult ones.[1]
Funny i watched this episode last night
did you foresee this YT video?
@@monsters8730 certainly did
Sir Humphrey is one of my favourite characters and love to watch his mastery of machiavellian techniques, but I would have despised him if I had to work with him.
Indeed. Someone may be reprehensible, but we can admire how effectively they go about it.
...and 20 years later, all this came *true.* ...
Smoking banned in enclosed spaces, no tobacco sponsorship (sorry, *advertising)* at/of sporting events, plain cigarette cartons, huge rise in tobacco taxes, cigarettes locked in shuttered cabinets at point of sale.....
And one of the unforeseen problems was that it caused hundreds , probably thousands of pubs to close their doors permanently .
My takings halved virtually overnight because people do not want to stand out in the cold to have a cigarette .
We were all told there were hordes of non-smokers waiting to go into our pubs , in actual fact many of them left because their friends , the smokers , weren’t coming .
So many pubs then ceased being economically viable .
@@steveosborne2297 And a great many of us started going to pubs we couldn't go to before because of the intolerable stench of tobacco and the need in many case to go through the smoking area to get to the non-smoking section (if there was one). So many pubs were unusable in the old days. Now, it is wonderful to be able to go into formerly intolerable places and have a meal. No shortage of other people eating out either.
Nigel Hawthorn did these long-winded nonsensical speeches so well
They are not nonsense. If you see the script and context there is an internal logic to them. It is just mangled and then hidden in puff and language. It is exquisite writing.
@@Chaddlee sorry poor choice of word brilliantly written and acted which ever term you prefer
Not nonsensical. Listen carefully :-)
Surely the most important 'unforeseen' problems are that Sir Humphrey might lose out on hospitality from tobacco companies :)
And, this is a prime example as to why most British comedy is far superior to American "comedy"... In so many ways....
A TV series made in 2013 is evidence of that...today? Really?
@@trooperdgb9722 'yes, minister' is from the 80s
Donald Rumsfeld - "There are known knowns and known unknowns. Then there are the unknown unknowns". If only Sir Humpty had forseen this, then the USA wouldn't have had to deal with the unforseen in 2003, but alas the unforseen forseen descended on the unforseen unforseen.................what am I talking about?
I forsee now that I think I need a unforseen nap.
what does the PM say in response to Humphrey's speech? 'Can I get an appraisee of that'? Is that the line?
a précis, that is a summary
Can you imagine a modern actor delivering these lines? No, didn't think so
Jim Person
"Well, depends on how big the tax raise is.."
Quite subtle but a touche nonetheless.
Greatx
But you CAN foresee them Humphrey, because you’ve just stipulated that you CAN foresee some unforeseen problems!
Much more functional than Boris & Co.!
"Does every tax rise represent a blow against freedom?"
Why don't you ask the colonies that question - their answer may surprise you~
When entire nation has mentality of petty peddlers, any attempt at taking away even the slightest portion of their earnings will be perceived as a heinous crime. If you really think about it, the good old US of A were conceived because of dispute over money and their birth nearly bankrupted two superpowers of the age.... Fate certainly possesses twisted sense of humour.
@@gratius1394 if it wasnt for the French the Americans still would have the queen
@@kreb7 True, on the other hand if not for the Americans, the French would retain their monarchy for substantially longer than they did. Every coin has two sides, I guess...
@@gratius1394 France would be France but USA would be a colony. Plus that was by coincidence.
@@kreb7 In politics something like a coincidence doesn't exist, my friend. War expenses had to be covered by new taxes, levied mainly on the middle and low classes of French society {aristocracy was perfectly happy to wage wars as long as they didn't had to pay for them} which was one of the main causes for French Revolution.
In Australia, the government realised taxing cigarettes was an excellent way to tax the poor.
The Aussi government realise nothing but delivery legislation from outside investors, or bribers, to change your life in their benefit.
Go protest brother Danzig, against those drones seeing your face in the streets, you are few that still have a voice.
You could always choose not to pay that particular 'tax'... Stop smoking, like the heavy tax is trying to get you to do!
@@Chris-hx3om I don’t smoke. I prefer cocaine, like most politicians.
@Kirrily - remember the future You should have the right to be an Idiot. The right to be lunatic or the right to be what you see fit to your own mindset. Who decides where the line goes? Most people will never use DMT, mushrooms or Ayuaska and keep being sad humanoids, aren't these restrictions enought?
@@juliosalgado956 This 'line' you refer to, it should be drawn when your actions negatively affect other people. And smoking, using mind-altering drugs, drinking (ESPECIALLY driving under the influence of alcohol) and a myriad of other things do have an adverse effect on other people. Thus, in my opinion, they shouldn't just be heavily taxed, they should be outright banned!
You may think it's your right to smoke and drink, but what about MY right to breath clean air, and not get killed by some drunk dickhead running a red light!
Cutting taxes almost always INCREASES revenue.
Humphrey is so loathsome.
Gentke mustakes quick down to equal but timebmustakes is hapoiness
In the end.....civil servants are in power.
In the beginning as well - they run the elections process!!
@Johann Sebastian Bach
So that would be civic servants then?
Are the rules made centrally or locally?
@Johann Sebastian Bach
Well if we are being that way on a comment thread about a comedy program, then I would say my comment was too short to be able to provide a full and complete answer on the matters in question, how ever while it’s accuracy can be questioned nor was it fully inaccurate.
Or if the first question in my 2nd comment is correct then my 1st comment may merely be a typo.
@Johann Sebastian Bach
Merely a typo.
At 2 minutes and 3 seconds there's a glitch in the sound where a female voice quickly chirruping "hello" can briefly be heard.
lol
If systems are obvious to nit when truth to water is denied then check wifi
Not cpu screem but wifi
Haha
I always hated how they changed his hair to match his Star Wars look. Still one of my favourite shows of all time
Paul Eddington's hair style did change especially in series two of Yes Prime Minister. This was down to his illness. He had been suffering from skin cancer for many years, and by 1987 when he was recording the second series of Yes Prime Minister, he had to restyle his hair due to problems with the skin on his scalp starting to become infected with the cancer. It would eventually spread to all of his face by around 1994 and when he appeared on his final TV interview in 1995 he looked very very different to what we see here.
Did Paul Eddington appear in Star Wars? I don't think so...
@@Blackcomanche Hi, I only just noticed this problem with that comment from Melody. You are right, he never appeared in it. I just commented on his hair style, due to his poor health and cancer treatment.
Agaha
The foreseeble result of banning smoking. Is that non smokers will pick up increased taxes themselves. As the lost billions of tax money recieved from smokers, will be then distributed across the rest of society.
Subtle humour
"does every tax raise represent a blow against freedom?" me: YES!
That’s what they are also implying in the clip.
Dont you like roads then? public order, water supplies, food standards... 😊
@@alan-sk7ky of course i like roads, there are private roads but thats besides the point.
you can recognise that the more money you take from the public, the less money they have to spend freely, while still recognising that some level of taxation is necessary.
taxation is theft but its a necessary evil.
what jibirish 😅
Try uae the wsll pplug for devjces we in okld need to kniw foe criss refweence
The green is need but the army away time to alliw errors ensuee they tax thier joy esoecialky in wilds. Thw insects ryebriws raise to the rifht left riggt and tgere itgers
The sudden dessert microscopically clear because dragon preferentially bang besides a equal sponge. cautious, alive teaching