I'm Sorry, Prime Minister Review: A Disarmingly Elegiac Finale to the Yes, Minister Saga
Griff Rhys Jones stars in the disarmingly elegiac final chapter of the iconic Yes, Minister saga with I'm Sorry, Prime Minister, a new play by writer-director Jonathan Lynn. Running at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue from February 13 to May 9, 2026, this theatrical follow-up to the 2010 stage rendition and seminal TV satire offers a poignant look at aging and legacy.
Plot and Characters: Old Politicos Face New Realities
Former prime minister Jim Hacker, portrayed by Griff Rhys Jones, is now in his eighties and master of an Oxford College that he bankrolled and bears his name. The story begins as he hires and immediately clashes with Sophie, a Black, working-class care worker and Oxford graduate played by Stephanie Levi-John. Hacker faces attempts by the college populace to oust him after a series of idiotic remarks, leading him to turn to his former permanent secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, played by Clive Francis, for assistance.
While the original TV series and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister targeted British politics, this play shifts focus. It includes some funny takedowns of Brexit and the self-serving nature of modern politicians, but these elements feel more like window dressing. Instead, the play excels in its elegiac tone, warning audiences to be careful of reaping what they've sown.
Performance Highlights: Buffoonery and Manipulation
Griff Rhys Jones delivers an amusing performance as Hacker, blustering with Churchillian delusions of self-importance while surrounded by boxes of his unsold memoirs. Clive Francis, however, steals the show as Sir Humphrey Appleby, a creature of the civil service who finally speaks his mind as inscrutability becomes irrelevant. Francis channels the acidly snobby, guillotine-sharp dryness of Nigel Hawthorne's original portrayal but adds striking flashes of anger and frailty.
The characters are depicted as monstrous in their own quippy ways—Hacker as buffoonish and Humphrey as manipulative, representing privileged political dinosaurs of an extinct era. Yet, they are also old men who have fallen foul of the system they helped create, left friendless and family-less. We learn that Humphrey has been shunted into an institution by his son and daughter-in-law, highlighting contemporary issues like inheritance tax and meagre pensions.
Contemporary Themes and Shortcomings
Where the play struggles is in its attempts to confront Hacker and Humphrey with today's landscape of de-colonisation, no-platforming, and campus protests. Stephanie Levi-John imbues Sophie with passion and a grudging affection for these outdated politicos as she challenges their imperialist worldviews. However, these moments feel less assured, touching on contemporary issues in a stiffly regimented way that lacks the play's usual wit and fluidity.
Event Details and Practical Information
I'm Sorry, Prime Minister runs at the Apollo Theatre, located at 31 Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho, London W1D 7EZ. Tickets are priced from £20 to £120, and the performance lasts 1 hour and 55 minutes. Key dates include:
- Friday, February 13, 2026 at 19:30
- Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 14:30 and 19:30
- Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 19:30
- Additional shows from February 18 to 21, 2026, with matinee and evening performances
For more information, visit the event website at imsorryprimeminister.com. This production offers a unique blend of comedy and reflection, making it a must-see for fans of political satire and theatre enthusiasts alike.
