'Yes, Prime Minister' returning for new series on UKTV Gold
Classic BBC sitcom Yes, Prime Minister is being remade by UKTV's comedy channel Gold.
A new six-episode run of the series, written by the original creators, is being produced by BBC Productions and will feature modern day twists as it follows the day-to-day activities of hapless Rt Hon Jim Hacker.
The Prime Minister's new challenges will include leading a coalition government, European economic turmoil and a Scottish independence referendum.
Hacker's advisors Sir Humphrey Appleby and principal private secretary Bernard Woolley will also return.
In the 1980s original, the late Paul Eddington played Hacker, while Nigel Hawthorne starred as Appelby and Derek Fowlds as Woolley.
UKTV's director of commissioning, Jane Rogerson said: "The political landscape in Britain today is the perfect setting for Yes, Prime Minister to return. I'm thrilled that Gold has enticed Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay to pen a brand new series, and can't wait to see this constitutional treasure back on screens across the country."
Steve North, Gold general manager, added, "Gold is making a great investment into iconic and original British programming and what better place to start than with the timely return of the nation's greatest satire: Yes, Prime Minister. I'm a huge fan of the original and it's a real treat to be able to bring this utterly brilliant series to a whole new generation."
BBC comedy head Mark Freeland said that the success of Yes, Prime Minister theatre tours had proved that the "iconic comedy has lost none of its satirical bite".
Written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, the original Yes Minister aired between 1980 and 1984. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran from 1986 to 1988.
Yes, Prime Minister was named the UK's sixth favourite sitcom of all time in 2004 and was famously rumoured to be the favourite TV show of ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.