Yes, Prime Minister arrives in Dorset this week

In a world of spin, BlackBerrys and ‘sexed up’ dossiers, the PM is staring disaster in the face. The country is on the brink of financial meltdown and the Government’s only apparent salvation comes from a morally dubious deal with the Foreign Minister of Kumranistan.

Will Jim Hacker and his team of advisors be able to rescue the country from the edge?

The original writers of the classic BBC series, Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, reunited for this anniversary production, which stars Graham Seed as Prime Minister Jim Hacker and Michael Simkins as his Cabinet Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby.

“It does help that the show was successful in the West End and is pretty faultless in any case,” said Michael. “Also, a lot of stage versions of successful TV shows are not written by the people who wrote the series so the play is a completely different beast, but what’s original about this is that the same team wrote the TV series and the play. It’s an absolute classic.”

The greatest hurdle Michael had to overcome was taking on a role immortalised in the public’s mind by actor Nigel Hawthorne. “A lot of people have asked me what it’s like taking over a role done so fabulously on television by Nigel Hawthorne,” said Michael.

“A lot of people have asked me what it was like taking over the role played by Nigel and it felt fine. I did wonder what it would be like, but I saw the play in the West End before I joined the cast and the curious thing is that I didn’t sit there thinking ‘where is he?’ “It is a role – they both are roles – that could be played by any actors so I don’t feel at all haunted by him.”

Yes, Prime Minister is at Lighthouse, Poole from March 20 to 25. Call 0844 406 8666 for full details and bookings.