Yes Minister | Tellyspotting

Posted July 31, 2020 - No Comment

Leaving the world with a lifetime of laughter to enjoy forever, legendary comedy producer/director, Sydney Lotterby, dies at 93

While we never had the good fortune to speak with Sydney for our any of our PBS specials that featured not only the stars of some of the all-time great British comedy series but also focused on the writers and creators of some of the classics of British comedy, it was through the words of John Cleese, Dame Judi Dench, Geoffrey Palmer, Jenny Funnell, Moira Brooker, Philip Bretherton, Richard Briers, Michael Crawford, Roy Clarke, David Jason, Karl Howman, Bob Larbey and Frank Thornton that we were immediately schooled on the greatness that was Sydney Lotterby.

Posted March 7, 2020 - No Comment

‘Yes Minister’ co-creator/writer, Jonathan Lynn, answers the question — Whatever happened to Sir Humphrey and PM Hacker?

A new stage play, penned by Yes Minister original co-writer Jonathan Lynn will explore the post Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister world of former Permanent Cabinet Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne), and former Prime Minister Jim Hacker (Paul Eddington).

Posted January 18, 2020 - 1 Comment

R.I.P, Derek Fowlds, a.k.a. Bernard Woolley, private secretary in ‘Yes Minister’

Derek Fowlds, best known for starring in Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, has died at the age of 82. Long-time public television audiences in America will remember Fowlds for playing the private secretary Bernard Woolley in the iconic BBC sitcoms opposite Sir Nigel Hawthorne and Paul Eddington.

Posted January 18, 2019 - No Comment

From the Vault: “Yes Minister” proves that life imitates art after Tuesday’s historic Brexit vote

Whether Tuesday’s historic House of Commons vote to reject Prime Minister Theresa May’s current plan to move ahead with Brexit on March 29, 2019 will go down in the history books as a comedy or tragedy remains to be seen. Even with the unheard of/historic vote count of 432-202, one thing is certain, however, is that it […]

Posted December 21, 2018 - No Comment

From the Vault: A ‘Good Neighbors’ Christmas classic

See the clip where Margot shows her disdain for a delivery person who has brought an 8 1/2-foot Christmas tree when she obviously ordered a 9-foot one.

Posted December 7, 2018 - No Comment

From the Vault: When ‘The Prisoner’ transformed primetime TV drama into avant-garde art

At a time when British telly was shot in black and white, the series was shot in color with an eye towards overseas sales in the U.S.

Posted October 2, 2018 - No Comment

Blimey! Tellyspotting turns 9!

Our shared recognition that British comedy and drama are the best telly on telly has made it easy to look forward to year 10 and beyond.

Posted August 25, 2016 - No Comment

R.I.P. ‘Yes Minister’ co-creator/writer, Sir Antony Jay

Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister co-creator Sir Antony Jay has died aged 86. The broadcaster, who (with Jonathan Lynn) created the classic 1980s political TV series starring Paul Eddington and Sir Nigel Hawthorne, passed away earlier this week. His representative said: “Sir Antony Jay CVO CBE died peacefully on Sunday evening after a long illness. He […]

Posted June 24, 2016 - No Comment

‘Yes Minister’ proves, once again, that life imitates art with Brexit vote

Whether Thursday’s Brexit vote will go down in the history books as a comedy or tragedy remains to be seen. One thing for certain, however, it solidifies the sheer brilliance of Yes Minister, the 80s political comedy which continues to prove, once again, that life does imitate art as told by the genius mind palaces of […]

Posted July 13, 2015 - No Comment

Is ‘Brittas Empire’ set for reboot?

Ok, so I might be in the midst of a mild case of ‘good old days’ syndrome when it comes to British comedy but there are days that I look at the current comedy output from the UK and long for the days when a new season of As Time Goes By, Keeping Up Appearances, […]