Humphrey Appleby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sir Humphrey ApplebyGCB, KBE, MVO, MA (Oxon) |
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|---|---|
| First appearance | "Open Government" |
| Last appearance | "The Tangled Web" |
| Portrayed by | Sir Nigel Hawthorne |
| Information | |
| Occupation | Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Secretary |
| Title | Sir |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Appleby |
Sir Humphrey Appleby is a very clever and funny character from two popular British TV shows, Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. He was played by a famous actor named Sir Nigel Hawthorne. Sir Humphrey is known for using lots of complicated words to avoid giving a straight answer. He is a top government official who tries to keep things running the way they always have, even when politicians want to make big changes.
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Who is Sir Humphrey Appleby?
Sir Humphrey Appleby is a fictional character who works in the British government. He is a very important civil servant. A civil servant is someone who works for the government but is not an elected politician. Their job is to help the government run smoothly, no matter which political party is in charge.
His Role in Government
In the TV show Yes, Minister, Sir Humphrey starts as the Permanent Secretary for a made-up part of the government called the Department of Administrative Affairs. A Permanent Secretary is the most senior civil servant in a government department. They advise the minister and make sure the department's work gets done.
Later, in the last episode of Yes, Minister, Sir Humphrey gets an even bigger job. He becomes the Cabinet Secretary. This is the most senior civil servant in the entire British government. As Cabinet Secretary, he advises the Prime Minister and helps coordinate all the different government departments.
The TV Shows: Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister
Sir Humphrey Appleby is a main character in the British comedy series Yes, Minister and its follow-up, Yes, Prime Minister. These shows are about the funny struggles between politicians and civil servants. The shows often highlight how difficult it can be to make changes in government. Sir Humphrey often tries to stop the minister from doing things he thinks are bad ideas, using clever arguments and confusing language.
The Actor Who Played Him
The brilliant actor who brought Sir Humphrey Appleby to life was Sir Nigel Hawthorne. He was so good at playing this character that he won many awards. Sir Nigel Hawthorne won the BAFTA Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance four times. He won these important acting awards in 1981, 1982, 1986, and 1987.
