Friday, 3. April 2026
City of Westminster, London
For Mum’s birthday, I got tickets to the theatre to see I’m Sorry, Prime Minister at the Apollo Theatre (near Piccadilly Circus) in London.
We went with Lou, Mum’s friend from hockey, and I drove them down to London in my car on the afternoon of the play. A fairly clear run along the M4, then in to Central London to park in the underground car park at Oxford Circus, we got there in good time and had time for a meal beforehand.
The hustle and bustle of Central London is a totally different world compared to the quiet, sleepy Cotswolds. That difference was incredibly noticeable because we drove straight in to Oxford Circus by car, then stepped straight out of the car park on to the very crowded Oxford Street. There’s certainly no shortage of things to do in London on a Saturday evening – all the pubs and bars were packed!
We went to The Real Greek in Soho. We shared a starter with dips and flatbread, then I had an absolutely massive pastitsio (the Greek version of lasagna): For me that is proper comfort food – rich, filling, and exactly what I enjoy before a theatre show.
Then it was off to the theatre. We were up in the balcony seats, right at the top โ which did mean a slightly restricted view, but it was still very enjoyable.. I had previously seen the play at its press launch in Cirencester a few years ago – and I’m a massive Yes, Minister / Yes, Prime Minister fan.
Griff Rhys Jones had the starring role – Jim Hacker, no longer Prime Minister but in his post-politics retirement and Master of his own College at Oxford. The play, in terms of its production – is actually very simple – same set throughout – and the majority of the dialoge is with Griff, and also Clive Francis playing Sir Humphrey.
The audience were clearly full of Yes, Minister fans – lots of knowing laughs throughout, especially at the classic Sir Humphrey-style exchanges. Plenty of people the same side of 40 years of age as I am – it wasn’t all people old enough to have watched the originals on TV!
Lee Newbyโs capacious set โ hugely inviting for all its visual disorder โ opens onto Griff Rhys Jonesโs terminally dishevelled Hacker announcing on the phone, โIโm not dead; Iโm in the House of Lords.โ Thus defiance is established early on as a motif that will sorely test this onetime Prime Minister: it seems the Oxford University grandeeโs perch is at risk due to some avowed beliefs that have put Paul Eddingtonโs original creation at risk of cancellation.
Matt Wolf, London Theatre
‘I’m Sorry, Prime Minister’ review โ Griff Rhys Jones and Clive Francis are wonderful sparring partners in this witty comedy
Overall, it was a really enjoyable evening: Good company, good food, and a chance to see a show I already love – but brought to life in a completely different way on stage. Definitely one to remember.
I’m Sorry Prime Minister, the final chapter of Yes, Minister, is currently showing at the Apollo Theatre until May 2026.
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