{"product_id":"9781781311899","title":"A Very Courageous Decision: The Inside Story of Yes Minister","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe behind-the-scenes story of one of the most successful and admired sitcoms of the 1980s\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1977 the BBC commissioned a new satirical sitcom set in Whitehall\u003ci\u003e. \u003c\/i\u003eProduction ofits first series was stalled, however, by thedeath throes ofJim Callaghan's Labour government and the 'Winter of Discontent'; Auntie being unwilling to broadcast such an overtly political comedy until after the general election of 1979. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat \u003ci\u003eYes Minister\u003c\/i\u003e should have been delayed by thevery events that helped bring Margaret Thatcher to power is, perhaps, fitting. Over three series from 1980 - and two more as \u003ci\u003eYes, Prime Minister \u003c\/i\u003euntil 1988 - theshow mercilessly lampooned thevanity, self-interest and incompetence of our so-called public servants, making its hapless minister Jim Hacker andhis scheming Permanent Secretary Sir Humphrey two of the most memorable characters British comedy has ever produced. The new prime minister professed it her favourite television programme - a 'textbook' on the State in inaction - and millions of British viewers agreed. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the years since\u003ci\u003eYes Minister\u003c\/i\u003e has become a national treasure: Sir Humphrey's slippery circumlocutions have entered the lexicon, regularly quoted by political commentators, and the series' cynical vision ofgovernment seems as credible now as it did thirty years ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMuch of this success can be credited to its writers, Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, who drew on their contacts in Westminster to rework genuine political folly as situation comedy. Storylines that seemed absurd to thepublic were often rooted in actual events - so much so that they occasionally attracted thescrutiny of Whitehall mandarins.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eA Very Courageous Decision\u003c\/i\u003e acclaimed entertainment historian Graham McCann goes in search ofthereal political fiascos that inspired \u003ci\u003eYes Minister\u003c\/i\u003e. Drawing on fresh interviews with cast, crew, politicians andadmirers, hereveals how a subversive satire captured themood of its time to become one of themost cherished sitcoms of Thatcher's Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurum Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47042770370800,"sku":"9781781311899","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781781311899_p0.jpg?v=1763715432","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781781311899","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}