Yes, Minister:Cameron is not the first PM to love the programme

Spooks and a period drama: PM reveals his TV habits

Spooks and a period drama: PM reveals his TV habits

By politics.co.uk staff

The prime minister has revealed the entertainment on offer in the Cameron household, with praise for classic drama and a sly dig at Lord Alan Sugar.

The Labour peer was branded a 'turnoff' by the prime minister, who also had little time for BBC comedy Outnumbered and even long-running BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers.

Outlining his fantasy Christmas TV, the prime minister said: "I'd have a Spooks reunion episode with all the old characters back from the dead: Adam Carter, Ros Myers, Ruth Evershed.

"Then one of those great costume dramas like Jane Eyre or Bleak House, then a film – Goldfinger or The Sound of Music, which I still love watching."

Mr Cameron's tastes were surprisingly old-fashioned, given he had previously proved more modern when discussing his musical and TV tastes.

River Cottage, Inspector Morse and even Yes, Minister, a favourite of Margaret Thatcher, were mentioned.

"The Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, is a huge fan of Yes, Minister and was amused when I told him it's basically true," Mr Cameron told Radio Times.

The prime minister hinted he wanted a copy of Danish detective series The Killing for Christmas. Chancellor George Osborne had previously mentioned he is a big fan of the show.

"I love Sarah Lund (and her jersey)," he said.

He named England cricket captain Andrew Strauss sportsman of the year.

"Sam [Cameron] won't let me anywhere near [the Christmas tree]," the prime minister said.

"In fact one year she made me remove the lights I’d strung up and start again. We always check out what’s on TV.

"Watching James Bond on Christmas Day was a ritual when I was small and it's beginning to become one for my children, too. And yes, the television's on at three on the dot for the Queen's speech."