| "The Bed of Nails" | |
|---|---|
| Yes Minister episode | |
| Episode no. | Series 3 Episode 5 |
| Written by | Antony Jay Jonathan Lynn |
| Original air date | 9 December 1982 |
| Guest appearances | |
| John Nettleton Nigel Stock David Rose Robert East Peter Dennis David Firth | |
"The Bed of Nails" is the nineteenth episode of the BBC comedy series Yes Minister, first broadcast 9 December 1982, in which Jim Hacker unwisely accepts the role of 'Transport Supremo' with a view to developing a 'National Integrated Transport Policy' for the UK. It soon becomes apparent that opposition from various transport interests, the unions, and elements within the Department of Transport itself will make implementation impossible, and the policy is promptly ditched following a number of carefully calculated 'leaks'.
The episode has been credited with introducing the phrase 'Integrated Transport', which is now widely used within UK transport policy circles, and also for describing with some accuracy the dynamics operating within the Department of Transport.