I’m Sorry, Prime Minister ★★★ Apollo Theatre | Jan 30 - May 9, 2026


If you approach this latest instalment of the celebrated satire hoping for the familiar skewering of vacuous politicians and the serpentine cunning of civil servants, prepare for disappointment. The targets have shifted, and not always to satisfying effect. Jim Hacker, once the affable and occasionally perceptive dupe of earlier days, is now a retired prime minister in his twilight years, ensconced in the Oxford college he founded. His comfortable existence is abruptly threatened after a series of politically incorrect remarks place him at risk of eviction. In crisis, he summons his former adversary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, for assistance. Yet his true sparring partner is not Appleby but Hacker’s young care worker, a graduate of his college armed with an unmarketable degree in English and impeccable politically correct credentials. She endures the self absorption of both men with indulgent patience, as the comedy trains its fire largely on their antiquated attitudes. This incarnation of Hacker is no longer whimsical. He has hardened into a cantankerous relic, puffed up by memories of his premiership and clinging to past relevance. As Hacker, Griff Rhys Jones has a nicely honed curmudgeonly edge which, coupled with his razor sharp comic timing, makes him utterly absorbing to watch. Clive Francis' Appleby also manages to deliver flashes of the old magic. His delivery of a few gloriously convoluted speeches in full bureaucratic bafflegab is a delight. There are also some pointed barbs aimed at Brexit, and in these moments, the spirit of the original briefly flickers back to life. Elsewhere, the humour leans heavily on age. If a trigger warning were to be invoked for this show, it would probably read "Some audience members may be offended by the blatant ageism." Incontinence, forgetfulness, a stairlift and even the aged Hacker failing to fasten his trousers are treated as easy punchlines. The satire shows little appetite for challenging the contemporary orthodoxies it gestures towards, preferring instead to mock the elderly while leaving modern sacred cows untouched. It feels less like fearless comedy and more like low hanging fruit. The plot does not help matters. It is slender to the point of transparency, building towards a conclusion so predictable that it barely qualifies as one. Fans of the franchise will find occasions to savour, but those who appreciate the unique charm of the original series may wish to revisit it.

Rated: ★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Johan Persson

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7EZ, UK

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