Series 1
Overview
Vision, integrity and a ruthless streak are the weapons of the political power. Unfortunately new Prime Minister Jim Hacker has none of these, but he does have the cowardice, desperation and a scheming, pragmatic Cabinet Secretary in Sir Humphrey...
Episodes
1. The Grand Design
1986-01-09
With his finger now on the nuclear button, Hacker plans his first act as Prime Minister to be a radical new defence policy.
2. The Ministerial Broadcast
1986-01-16
Jim is coached in the world of show business as he prepares to address the nation on his defence policy.
3. The Smoke Screen
1986-01-23
Jim favors abolishing smoking through heavy taxation but runs into strong opposition from the tobacco lobby and the Treasury department.
4. The Key
1986-01-30
Office politics take precedence over national issues when Sir Humphrey and Bernard fall out with each other after Jim tries to restrict Sir Humphrey’s access to №10.
5. A Real Partnership
1986-02-06
Sir Humphrey tries to get his scheduled pay raise even though increases for M.P.s have been put on hold for budgetary reasons.
6. A Victory for Democracy
1986-02-13
Jim must take action to avert a Marxist takeover of a Commonwealth island nation despite the efforts of the Foreign Office to keep him ignorant.
7. The Bishop’s Gambit
1986-02-20
Jim has to choose a new bishop but doesn’t like either the Church or Sir Humphrey’s choices.
8. One of Us
1986-02-27
Hacker threatens to place Sir Humphrey on leave while a security inquiry looks into why he cleared a confessed Soviet spy many years earlier, so Sir Humphrey retaliates with a dog in distress on Salisbury plain.