Griff Rhys Jones 'honoured' by Yes, Prime Minister role
Griff Rhys Jones has entertained the nation for five decades. He is best-known for his comedy sketches as a regular on Not The Nine O'Clock News and the iconic series Alas Smith and Jones. But now Cardiff-born Rhys Jones will step into the shoes of beloved character Jim Hacker as I'm Sorry, Prime Minister heads to the West End. "The great TV series, and latterly the plays, are part of my architecture of British comedy," said Rhys Jones.
Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, ran from 1980 to 1988. Set in the private office of a British cabinet minister in the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs in Whitehall, the show follows the ministerial career of Hacker, played by Paul Eddington. Rhys Jones said he was "delighted and honoured" to be taking on the role for the "final, funny and poignant episode of [Hacker's] long career". "They have always been the first and last word on the shenanigans that we call politics. "Sorry, Prime Minister is as acute and apposite as ever. It will be a hoot," he said. Speaking on his love of the show, Rhys Jones said Yes, Minister had the basis of a great play, especially a comedy. "It is one of the greatest comic inventions of the last 50 years. It manages to be human and satirical, and full of character, charm and insight. "You never left an episode without going 'oh that's really fascinating'," he said.
'I love making people laugh'
The stage adaptation of Yes, Prime Minister premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre in May 2010.The final chapter of the series, I'm Sorry, Prime Minister, will head to the West End next year following runs at The Barn Theatre in Cirencester, Theatre Royal in Bath and Cambridge Arts Theatre. "The great thing about this play was I read it and it made me laugh. The truth is, I love being onstage and making people laugh. It's a joy to do," he said. I'm Sorry, Prime Minister follows Hacker as he hopes for a quiet retirement from government as the master of Hacker College, Oxford. Instead he finds himself facing the ultimate modern crisis: cancelled by the college committee. Enter Sir Humphrey Appleby, played by Clive Francis, who has lost none of his love for bureaucracy, Latin phrases, and well-timed obstruction.While rehearsals for the play start in January 2026, Rhys Jones said he had started thinking of inspiration for the role. "I have been studying older people and prime ministers that date from that period because I don't want to try and do an imitation of Paul Eddington."But there's a little of John Major and there's little bit of David Cameron. "There's a little bit of everybody in there."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Kate Middleton's £10,000 keepsake honouring her love story with Prince William
Though the Princess of Wales owns one of the most famous engagement rings in history, she has recently been seen without it at several public appearances. Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton in 2011 with a dazzling heirloom: a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire encircled by 14 solitaire diamonds, designed by the esteemed London jeweller Garrard. The ring, originally purchased by Prince Charles for Princess Diana in 1981 for £28,000, is now valued at over £300,000. Given its significant value and delicate design, it's understandable that Kate occasionally opts not to wear it - especially during informal outings or active engagements, such as her recent appearance in a Scouts promotional video. Comfort and practicality are likely considerations as well. Kate has been known to remove her engagement ring during hospital visits, presumably due to health and safety protocols. In its place, Kate has adopted a more understated but equally meaningful look - a stack of eternity rings that express her personal style and love for her family. Jewellery experts at Steven Stone estimate her stack to be worth close to £10,000. Maxwell Stone told MailOnline: 'Kate's choice of rings suggests that she values subtlety and meaning over grandeur, while still maintaining an air of elegance and sophistication. 'Though her engagement ring has been seen less frequently, her continued display of commitment to Prince William through her eternity rings speaks to her desire for personal and understated expressions of love.' Mr Stone added that the rings reflect her preference for sentimental jewellery: 'The rings showcase her affinity for classic, timeless pieces that reflect her role as both a mother and wife - they've been carefully chosen to be meaningful rather than overtly luxurious, which aligns with her image of grace, modesty and a strong connection to family.' Traditionally, royal jewellery is passed down through generations, with engagement and wedding rings serving as treasured heirlooms. Kate's sapphire engagement ring and Welsh gold wedding band follow this custom. However, her eternity rings mark a quiet evolution in royal jewellery - favouring modern, personal symbolism over formality. Here's a breakdown of the rings that now make up Princess Kate's signature stack. Sapphire and diamond band - estimated value: £4,700 Kate's Cartier 'Étincelle' band features 19 brilliant-cut diamonds, totalling 0.24 carats, alongside 19 matching sapphires, totalling 0.34 carats. First seen in 2024, it's believed to be a thirteenth wedding anniversary gift from William. The more subtle alternative to her engagement ring, it reflects Kate's enduring love for sapphire jewellery. Slim diamond band - estimated value: £1,000 While its origin remains a mystery, this white diamond band brings understated elegance to Kate's ring stack, capturing the attention of fans and jewellery enthusiasts alike. Mr Stone notes that the delicate design is 'a thoughtfully chosen piece, complementing her other rings while maintaining a refined simplicity.' Diamond eternity ring - estimated value: £1,500 Gifted by William following the birth of Prince George, this pave-set ring from Annoushka's Eclipse collection is crafted from 18-carat white gold and hand-set with 0.23 carats of diamonds. Kate has worn the piece both with and without her sapphire engagement ring and Welsh gold wedding band. Sentimental value plays a major role in Kate's jewellery choices, making this a fitting favourite in her collection. Wedding band - estimated value: £2,300 Crafted from Welsh yellow gold, Kate's wedding ring is part of a royal tradition, shared by the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II. While its gold content may not hold high retail value, Mr Stone explains, 'considering the nugget of gold it was made from, and the legacy of the lady who wears it, it is likely to be worth a lot more in the coming years.'
The Guardian
33 minutes ago
- The Guardian
US-China trade talks to resume; UK jobs market ‘weakening' as payrolls tumble
Update: Date: Title: Introduction: US-China trade talks resume in London Content: Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. Trade talks between the US and China are set to resume in London today, as officials push for a breakthrough over shipments of technology and rare earth elements. After more than six hours of talks on Monday, negotations will resume at Lancaster House later this morning. Investors are hopeful of a breakthrough that could continue to ease tensions between the two economic superpowers. President Donald Trump has indicated that the first day of talks were encouraging. He told reporters that 'We are doing well with China. China's not easy….I'm only getting good reports.' The US are unhappy that China has not released crucial rare earth minerals, and magnets, as rapidly as hoped since the two countries agreed an initial trade pact in Geneva a month ago. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent told reporters in London they had a 'good meeting', Bloomberg reports, while commerce secretary Howard Lutnick called the discussions 'fruitful.' 7am BST: UK labour market report 10.15am BST: FCA CEO Nikhil Rathi and FCA chair Ashley Adler testify to Treasury Committee 2.30pm BST: World Bank to release latest economic forecasts Update: Date: 2025-06-10T06:23:19.000Z Title: UK payrolls fall 'notably' in May Content: Newsflash: The number of people on payrolls across the UK has fallen notably, in a sign that the jobs market is weakening. The latest labour force statistics, just released, show that payrolled employment decreased by 109,000 employees (0.4%) in May, compared with April. On an annual basis, there were 274,000 fewer employees last month, compared with May 2024, pulling total payrolls down to 30.2 million. The Office for National Statistics does caution that these estimates are more uncertain than usual; if they're accurate, though, it indicates that demand for workers at British firms is cooling. The revised estimate of employees on the payroll in April 2025 was down 55,000 on the month. The provisional estimate for May 2025 was down another 109, more about this release ➡ The largest decrease was in the accommodation and food service activities sector, a fall of 124,000 employees in the last year, while health and social work added 62,000 employees. ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown says: 'There continues to be weakening in the labour market, with the number of people on payroll falling notably. Feedback from our vacancies survey suggests some firms may be holding back from recruiting new workers or replacing people when they move on. Update: Date: 2025-06-10T06:22:54.000Z Title: Introduction: US-China trade talks resume in London Content: Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. Trade talks between the US and China are set to resume in London today, as officials push for a breakthrough over shipments of technology and rare earth elements. After more than six hours of talks on Monday, negotations will resume at Lancaster House later this morning. Investors are hopeful of a breakthrough that could continue to ease tensions between the two economic superpowers. President Donald Trump has indicated that the first day of talks were encouraging. He told reporters that 'We are doing well with China. China's not easy….I'm only getting good reports.' The US are unhappy that China has not released crucial rare earth minerals, and magnets, as rapidly as hoped since the two countries agreed an initial trade pact in Geneva a month ago. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent told reporters in London they had a 'good meeting', Bloomberg reports, while commerce secretary Howard Lutnick called the discussions 'fruitful.' 7am BST: UK labour market report 10.15am BST: FCA CEO Nikhil Rathi and FCA chair Ashley Adler testify to Treasury Committee 2.30pm BST: World Bank to release latest economic forecasts
BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
Hull youth centre reopens after £1.9m refurb
A youth project has officially reopened following a £1.9m Warren Youth Project in Hull provides support for young people including mental health counselling, creative arts programmes, and advice on housing and refurbishment of its base on Queens Dock Avenue was funded by the Youth Investment Fund and includes a fully equipped music recording studio, mental health and well-being zones, a youth theatre and dance space, kitchen facilities, and a rooftop terrace. Ryan Miller, 25, who uses the service, said: "Having a space like The Warren has legitimately saved my life on more than one occasion. It's a place where you can be unapologetically yourself." The Warren has been operating in Hull since 1983. In the past year alone, it supported more than 1,400 young people and delivered over 18,000 of its work is to support young people who struggle to thrive in traditional education settings or feel disconnected from mainstream society. The new features were proposed by the young people themselves to inspire creativity and help them pursue their Warren also provides free meals to anyone in Executive JJ Tatten told BBC Radio Humberside: "They tell us what they need – and we provide it. That means what we do is more likely to be successful and have a real impact, because it's what young people actually want."This is a space where young people can create for themselves." Cricket, 18, who uses the centre, said: "I've only been here a couple of months and it has already made a massive impact on my life."The centre is open Monday to Friday from 13:00 to 19:00 offering drop-in support, one-to-one mentoring and group workshops.A full programme of creative events is planned for the Tatten said: "The Warren brings people together. It brings people from different backgrounds and cultures into a non-judgemental space. There should be a charity like this in every city in the country." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
