No More Minister

Sir Antony Jay, the co-writer of TV political comedies Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, has died at 86.

09:09 24 August 2016

Sir Antony Jay has died aged 86 after a long illness, his representative has confirmed. The former broadcaster passed away on Sunday evening surrounded by his wife and family.

 

He began his career in the BBC’s current affairs department where he was a founding member of the Tonight Team. He also wrote the documentaries Royal Family and Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of the Queen.

 

He also penned TV political comedies Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister starting Paul Eddington and Sir Nigel Hawthorne with Jonathan Lynn.

 

However, in his later years, Sir Antony has become an outspoken critic of the BBC. In a 2008 report, he recommended that the corporation be slimmed down to BBC One, Radio 4 and a news department. He also said that BBC is “biased” on climate change and even suggested that staff were “anti-industry” and “anti-monarchy.”