Frank Gordon
Encyclopedia
Sir Frank Gordon was the Assistant Secretary to the Treasury
and later the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury
on the 1980s British sitcom
Yes Minister
and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister. He was portrayed by Peter Cellier
.
Sir Frank makes his first appearance in the Yes Minister episode "The Quality of Life
," gleefully listening to Sir Humphrey Appleby's machinations against the latter's minister, Jim Hacker.
Sir Frank makes more frequent appearances in Yes, Prime Minister, and in doing so, appears as both an ally and competitor with Sir Humphrey. As allies, in the Yes, Prime Minister episode of "A Real Partnership
," Sir Frank conspires with Sir Humphrey to push through a civil service
pay increase in a time of financial stringency. As competitors, Sir Frank attempts to undermine Sir Humphrey by suggesting that he would be able to take Humphrey's role in heading half of the British Civil Service ("The Key
"). Indeed, it is their roles as de facto joint heads of the Civil Service (Sir Humphrey as Cabinet Secretary and Sir Frank as Permanent Secretary of the Treasury) that brings them most often into conflict.
Both Sir Frank and Sir Humphrey share many things in common, not the least being an aim to increase Civil Service pay and prestige at the cost of others, an extraordinary command of the English language, fine dining, and a superb ability to manipulate and advance their own interests.
Permanent Secretary to the Treasury
The Permanent Secretary to the Treasury is the most senior civil servant at HM Treasury. The post originated as that of Assistant Secretary to the Treasury in 1805; that office was given new duties and renamed in 1867 as a Permanent Secretaryship....
and later the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury
Permanent Secretary to the Treasury
The Permanent Secretary to the Treasury is the most senior civil servant at HM Treasury. The post originated as that of Assistant Secretary to the Treasury in 1805; that office was given new duties and renamed in 1867 as a Permanent Secretaryship....
on the 1980s British sitcom
British sitcom
A British sitcom tends, as it does in most other countries, to be based on a family, workplace or other institution, where the same group of contrasting characters is brought together in each episode. Unlike American sitcoms, where twenty or more episodes in a season is the norm, British sitcoms...
Yes Minister
Yes Minister
Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC Television between 1980–1982 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran from 1986 to 1988. In total there were 38 episodes—of which all but...
and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister. He was portrayed by Peter Cellier
Peter Cellier
Peter Cellier is an English actor who has appeared in film, stage and television. He is perhaps best known for his role as Sir Frank Gordon in Yes Minister and then Yes, Prime Minister in the 1980s.-Biography:...
.
Sir Frank makes his first appearance in the Yes Minister episode "The Quality of Life
The Quality of Life (Yes Minister)
"The Quality of Life" is the thirteenth episode of the BBC comedy series Yes Minister and was first broadcast 30 March 1981. In this episode, the final ' Yes Minister ' is uttered by Sir Humphrey Appleby.- Plot :...
," gleefully listening to Sir Humphrey Appleby's machinations against the latter's minister, Jim Hacker.
Sir Frank makes more frequent appearances in Yes, Prime Minister, and in doing so, appears as both an ally and competitor with Sir Humphrey. As allies, in the Yes, Prime Minister episode of "A Real Partnership
A Real Partnership
“A Real Partnership” is the fifth episode of the BBC comedy series Yes, Prime Minister and was first broadcast 6 February 1986.- Plot :Jim Hacker goes back to his apartment above 10 Downing Street after a Cabinet meeting that has not gone well. He explains to Annie, his wife, that there is a...
," Sir Frank conspires with Sir Humphrey to push through a civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
pay increase in a time of financial stringency. As competitors, Sir Frank attempts to undermine Sir Humphrey by suggesting that he would be able to take Humphrey's role in heading half of the British Civil Service ("The Key
The Key (Yes, Prime Minister)
“The Key” is the fourth episode of the BBC comedy series Yes, Prime Minister and was first broadcast 30 January 1986.- Plot :Jim Hacker is in the Cabinet Room in 10 Downing Street and is visited by his political advisor, Dorothy Wainwright. She is unhappy that she has been moved from her office,...
"). Indeed, it is their roles as de facto joint heads of the Civil Service (Sir Humphrey as Cabinet Secretary and Sir Frank as Permanent Secretary of the Treasury) that brings them most often into conflict.
Both Sir Frank and Sir Humphrey share many things in common, not the least being an aim to increase Civil Service pay and prestige at the cost of others, an extraordinary command of the English language, fine dining, and a superb ability to manipulate and advance their own interests.