Yes Prime Minister If you are of a certain age, no matter how hard you try it is about the most difficult thing in the world to think of either Yes, Minister or Yes, Prime Minister without Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, and Derek Fowlds in the lead roles.

Indeed, some might say it is pure folly to try and update such a stalwart of British comedic history, especially without the original cast members. And yet it is this unenviable task that the original creators, Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, take on with the adaptation of Yes, Prime Minister playing at the Grand Theatre in Leeds this week.

I must admit I was somewhat sceptical that the writers, director, and actors could pull it off. But I was at least partially willing to give the new cast, headed by Simon Williams as Sir Humphrey Appleby and Richard McCabe as Jim Hacker, a fighting chance. As it turns out, I was not too disappointed with McCabe, who came over very well as the PM and also Chris Larkin as Woolley, the Principal Private Secretary, but Simon Williams as Sir Humphrey did not have the right amount of voice projection to be heard at all times (and we were only in the Dress Circle) and on occasions even fluffed his lines.

However, the writers have done a good job of concocting a scenario that is applicable to modern-day British government, and the cast brought interpretations of their roles somewhat different from those of their predecessors, but pleasing never-the-less.

In conclusion, classic comedy brought up-to-date with a modern twist. It runs at the Grand until Saturday.