It has been more than 20 years since classic BBC sitcom Yes, Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister were on prime-time TV. But much-loved characters prime minister Jim Hacker and his cabinet secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby are back in a new play by the show’s original writers, Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn.

It stars Michael Fenton Stevens as prime minister, a role he was delighted to be asked to play.

Michael, 55, said: “I grew up watching the TV show, so I was delighted to be asked to take part in the stage version. Jonathan Lynn said to me: ‘Which part would you like to play?’ I said: ‘I want to be the powerful one.’ But they made me PM instead!

“In the TV show and in the play, the prime minister actually has no power at all, since Humphrey runs everything. Occasionally, the prime minister gets the better of him, but essentially he relies on him.”

The play sees Jim Hacker staring disaster in the face as the country is on the brink of financial meltdown and the government’s only apparent salvation is a morally dubious deal with the foreign minister of Kumranistan.

Michael said: “Over the course of one evening, everything goes wrong for the prime minister. It’s very clever writing, but more than just a farce; there are some home truths underneath. Hacker is willing to do anything to stay in power, and you can see that now with David Cameron, who is willing to offer a referendum on Europe just to get re-elected, even though he thinks it is paramount that we stay part of the EU.”

Michael particularly welcomed the opportunity to get involved with the play, due to his own strong interest in politics.

“I have always been interested in politics, though living in Tunbridge Wells I am completely disenfranchised as a Labour supporter,” he said. “There is no chance of ever being represented by my MP. It will remain True Blue for ever!”

But Michael says he wouldn’t like to take on the role of prime minister in real life.

“I would be useless. Stephen Fry once said that everybody who wants to be a politician should not be allowed to be one, and I definitely adhere to that theory.”

The show has been touring the country, so Michael is looking forward to being able to sleep in his own bed for the next week while it is at the Assembly Halls.

He said: “I have lived in Tunbridge Wells since I was 23, and I like to get home as much as possible, so it is marvellous to be able to work there.”

But he won’t be relaxing completely, as the show’s writers like to continually make script changes to keep its content current.

He added: “We are constantly getting emails from Antony and Jonathan, tweaking lines or introducing new ones. But they are such good writers it is a pleasure to perform their work.

“And they have definitely got the political balance right. If audience members are of a Labour tendency, they think Hacker is a Tory, and vice versa. It is very cleverly written and always hard-hitting — basically saying we shouldn’t trust any of our politicians!”

Yes, Prime Minister will be at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells from Tuesday, May 28, to Saturday, June 1. Tickets from £17.50. Call 01892 530613