Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – until 27th June 2026
Reviewed by Jacqui Radford
4****
If you’re after a night out that blends nostalgia, razor-sharp wit, and the kind of political chaos that feels both timeless and painfully current, I’m Sorry, Prime Minister absolutely delivers. Written by Jonathan Lynn, co-creator of the iconic series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, this production is peppered with the dry humour and bureaucratic bedlam that made those series so loved.
The play drops us back into the world of ex-Prime Minister, Jim Hacker (Robert Kitson). Now older and supposedly wiser, he is dreaming of a peaceful retirement at the tranquil Hacker College, Oxford. Naturally, that peace lasts all of five minutes. When the college committee decides to “cancel” him, Hacker finds himself embroiled in academic politics, public opinion storms, and the sort of administrative absurdity that would make his old Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, giddy.
Sir Humphrey (Clive Francis) is back. Still verbose, still devious, still capable of turning a simple question into complicated debate and long-winded logic. The chemistry between the pair is wickedly funny. Fans of the original shows will feel instantly at home, but newcomers will not be left behind.
The script has been written to adapt the 1980s humour and attitudes that would not land in the same way today. Sophie (Princess Donnough), a Care Worker and Oxford graduate, calls out any outdated attitudes. Crucially, these touches don’t smother the satirical spirit of the original, they sharpen it.
The comedy is characterised by sly digs that feel especially pointed considering recent political events. It is political satire that makes you laugh at the madness rather than despair over it. Every exasperated sigh and every animated exchange land with the same timing as the original sitcom, often rousing the laughter before the punchline even arrives.
This show is an uplifting mix of wit, nostalgia, and political mischief. From start to finish, it is brimming with verbal sparring and the comedy of a world where nothing is ever simple — especially when Sir Humphrey is involved.