EPISODE DESCRIPTIONS

SERIES 1 | 2

SERIES 1
* Number in parentheses at end of program description is BBCWA library tape number.

1. THE GRAND DESIGN - As Prime Minister, Jim's finger is now on the nuclear button. Confused under some tough questioning, he comes up with a surprising Grand Design for defense. (1)

2. THE MINISTERIAL BROADCAST - As Jim is coached and groomed for a television discussion of his new defense policy, Sir Humphrey is more concerned with what he says than in how he says it. (2)

3. THE SMOKE SCREEN - When Jim decides to champion his Health Minister's plan to abolish smoking through excessive taxation, a horrified Sir Humphrey calls in the tobacco lobby to prevent the move. (3)

4. THE KEY - Sir Humphrey tries to maneuver Jim's political adviser out of her office. Territorial battle ensues and, caught in the cross fire, Bernard considers opposing Sir Humphrey for once in his career. (4)

5. THE REAL PARTNERSHIP - The Government runs into financial crisis just as MPs and top civil servants are due for an increase in pay. Sir Humphrey relies on all his finest skills to push through his own claim. (5)

6. A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY - Called upon to take action to prevent a Commonwealth country from being taken over by Marxists, Jim has his first clash as Prime Minister with the Foreign Office. (6)

7. THE BISHOP'S GAMBIT - One of the PM's duties is to recommend the appointment of bishops to the Queen. Given a choice of two presented by the Church, Jim prefers neither. Sir Humphrey has his own reasons for wanting a third. (7)

8. ONE OF US - As Jim slides down the popularity polls, Sir Humphrey finds himself at the center of a spy scandal. Can the hapless PM and the Machiavellian Mandarin save themselves from public disgrace? (8)

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SERIES 2
1. MAN OVERBOARD - When Jim decides to implement a new plan to reduce unemployment in the North, Sir Humphrey decides that desperate cases call for desperate measures. (9)

2. OFFICIAL SECRETS - The former Prime Minister is writing his memoirs - which have to be submitted for security clearance. It seems as though one chapter in the book will portray Jim in very bad light. (10)

3. A DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT - In order to polish his public image, Jim wants the French to sign the Channel Tunnel agreement. However, the situation becomes sticky when they want to impose all kinds of damaging conditions. (11)

4. A CONFLICT IN INTEREST - A major City crisis seems set to rock the Government. With the Party Conference upcoming, it is time for firm action by a decisive Prime Minister. Sir Humphrey could not disagree more. (12)

5. POWER TO THE PEOPLE - When Sir Humphrey locks horns with the formidable Agnes Moorhouse, leader of a London Council, he finds her a tougher opponent than any of his gentlemanly adversaries in Whitehall. (13)

6. THE PATRON OF THE ARTS - A drastic cut in the Arts Council Grant is due to be announced on the morning of the British Theatre Awards dinner. Jim needs Sir Humphrey's help to avoid a hostile reception, but Sir Humphrey is a patron of the arts. (14)

7. NATIONAL EDUCATION - Under pressure to improve standards of education, Jim devises a plan which presents Sir Humphrey - as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service - with a conflict of interest. (15)

8. THE TANGLED WEB - If the PM gives false information to Parliament, should the Cabinet Secretary support him, or should he tell all? As Sir Humphrey ponders the ethics, he finds that he, too, has something to hide. (16)