I’m Sorry, Prime Minister (West End)

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About the Show

Griff Rhys Jones and Clive Francis star in Jonathan Lynn’s final chapter of political satire.

Former Prime Minister Jim Hacker is settling into retirement at Oxford’s fictional Hacker College when the past comes knocking. Hoping for peace and quiet, Hacker instead finds himself unexpectedly “cancelled” by the college committee. What begins as a battle over reputation soon spirals into a farcical clash of ideologies, generations, and bureaucratic gamesmanship.

Griff Rhys Jones takes on the role of Jim Hacker, returning to the world of British political satire with veteran presence. He is joined by Clive Francis as Sir Humphrey Appleby, reprising the quintessentially obfuscating civil servant. The production is written and directed by Jonathan Lynn, the BAFTA Award-winning co-creator of Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.

This new play marks a rare stage addition to the classic political satire franchise, bringing together a cast and creative team steeped in British theatrical and comedic tradition. Lynn’s script continues the franchise’s signature tone, blending formal absurdities with sharply observed institutional critique.

Critic Reviews (11)

“The give-and-take between the two gents is really it for plot in an evening concerned more with striking attitudes and delivering position papers.”
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“Never mind. Comedies are to be cherished and this one delivers its laugh quotient even if, to draw a parallel from musicals, the book lets it down somewhat.”
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“If this swansong is slapdash and indulgent, he’s surely earned the right to it.”
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“While not in the same league as the original, it is an enjoyable, nostalgic coda – oddly topical and surprisingly poignant, too.”
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“Ultimately, this is an affectionate portrait and a fond farewell to the familiar characters in their last years.”
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“It’s undeniably poignant. But ultimately, its directionless satire of woke politics doesn’t just lose the plot – it forgets it was meant to be looking for one.”
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"Where the play works best is the elegiac tone it strikes. Beneath the wit is a warning: be careful of reaping what you’ve sown."
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"It’s an affable evening that many boomers who are no longer working full-time will warm to.”
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