British comedy writer Antony Jay dies aged 86

Antony Jay, the co-creator of the beloved British television political satire Yes Minister, has died aged 86.
Jay, who drew on his experience working as a current affairs producer for the BBC in the 1950s and 60s when writing the hit 1980s comedy with filmmaker Jonathan Lynn, passed away on Sunday (21Aug16) after a long illness.
A representative for the writer told Britain’s The Guardian newspaper: “Sir Antony Jay CVO (Commander of the Royal Victorian Order) CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) died peacefully on Sunday evening after a long illness. He was surrounded by his wife and family.”
Yes Minister first aired on U.K. TV in 1980, and followed the rise of minor British government minister Jim Hacker, played by Paul Eddington.
The show, which became Yes, Prime Minister for final three series from 1986 to 1988 when Hacker became the leader of a fictional U.K. government, satirised the relationship between politicians and their officials.
In particular, the show depicted the fractious dealings between Hacker and his top civil servant Humphrey Appleby, played by Nigel Hawthorne.
Yes Minister inspired similar comedies around the world including Israeli, Indian, Canadian and Dutch versions. In 2006 the British public voted it their sixth favourite sitcom of all time in a BBC poll.
In 2010 it was revived as a stage play starring Four Weddings and a Funeral actor David Haig and Captain America: The Winter Soldier star Henry Goodman.
As well as creating the hit show, Jay enjoyed a distinguished career in broadcasting and as a management and public relations guru. He was knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in 1988.