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What a tiring week I've had; meeting after meeting, far reaching decisions on education, nuclear power, party political broadcasts, and French cheese. And what thanks do I get for it? My popularity has slumped!

I was quite sure I acted decisively, and with high Tory motives in reaching a formula on teachers' pay. Whilst actually cutting it in real terms, my method wold have seemed to the electorate to be a far more generous and fairer method of calculating it.

But Sir Humphrey and Bernard threw so many diverse arguments at me, whilst agreeing with absolutely everything I said, that somehow I ended up having to persuade them that I was wrong, and they were right all along!

The trouble with these Civil Service types is that they come up with so many counter arguments for simply everything I propose that isn't what they want to do, that in the end I can't be sure what I have decided, or even if I have made any decisions at all!

I have, of course, been playing the computer version of Yes, Prime Minister, and although all the plots and themes running through it are completely new, it is as faithful to the TV series as possible.

You play me - Jim Hacker, Prime Minister. The objective of the game is to increase your popularity ratings, which, thankfully, are hidden away in a safe in your office. Play is by answering questions, and choosing for a list of possible policies. These are put to you during phonecalls and meetings with Sir Humphrey, Bernard and other characters, like the Chairman on the CEGB, the Foreign Secretary and the Irish Prime Minister. You get a different combination of plots and dilemmas each time you play, which has the advantage of offering something new at the same time as giving you a chance to try a different policy on one of the decisions you fluffed.

This is hardly a real adventure, but as a text-oriented game, it falls within the ambit of The Valley - and jolly pleased I was too, to get the chance of playing it! In the end it comes down to a multiple choice type game, but it is way it is implemented, coupled with a style of script virtually indistinguishable from those on TV. That makes the game a must for Yes Prime Minister addicts!

The only 'real' graphic is the representation of the Prime Ministerial Office, which depicts your desk, a couple of phones, an intercom, a blotter, and a telex machine, among other things.

A pointing hand-shaped cursor is moved about using either joystick or control keys, to select any of the items mentioned if they are 'live'. So that if the left hand phone starts ringing and flashing, selecting it will open up a text dialogue of the conversation.

To attend a meeting, the door handle is selected, and a choice of destinations is offered. A meeting, again, takes the form of text dialogue.

Beside the one picture, there are some very clever 'non-picture' graphics. When a message comes through on the telex, for example, the paper automatically feeds up the screen, as the type-head bounces along the line, printing out each letter.

Comparisons are odious, but this game must inevitably be compared with the Mosaic/Level 9 Mole and Archers games. Yes Prime Minister comes out on top by a long way, since it is the variety in the way the dialogues are presented that helps keep up the interest. The only disappointing feature is the price - a bit over the top for the cassette at £14 odd, I feel.