30 min Wooster, a well-mannered dandy who always finds a way to get into trouble, and Jeeves, his penguin-suited valet who always knows how to get him out of said trouble, serve as our optics into the silly world of Britain’s 1930s idle class, which mostly consists of bachelors standing around with Martinis, complaining about the weather, and dodging engagements (both the social and romantic ones). Seven British construction workers escape Britain's ever growing dole queues and travel to Germany to work on a site in Düsseldorf. Eileen Way, John Laurie, TV-MA Marsha Fitzalan, John Le Mesurier, However, if his wife finds out he’s cheating on her with the café’s waitresses, his main problem might not even be war-related at all. Where to stream: Hulu This supremely addictive crime thriller, produced by BBC America, stars Sandra Oh as an intelligence agent obsessed with female serial killers. Ricky Gervais, John Inman, We can’t blame her at times.) Set in the corridors of power and spin, the Minister for Social Affairs is continually harassed by Number 10's policy enforcer and dependent on his not-so-reliable team of civil servants. She meets her match in the mysterious Villanelle, played by Jodie Comer, and their cat-and-mouse game quickly turns into something very twist… | Bob Grant, George Cole, Eric Sykes, Stars: Sidney James, Set in 1920's. Derek Fowlds, The misadventures of club owner Brian Potter who is determined to make The Phoenix Club the best working men's club in Greater Manchester. avg. We love a spontaneous man! Martin Clunes, Stars: Robert Powell, Steve Coogan, Comedy. TV-PG score: 31 of 61 (51%) required scores: 1, 11, 24, 40, 51 list stats leaders vote Vote print comments. Stars: Hyacinth’s husband, bless his heart, somehow deals with all of this nonsense, even if that means conceding to this new surname pronunciation or indulging her frequent dinner parties to impress the neighbors. Richard Wattis. Two perpetually bored and broke flatmates waste their days in a futile struggle to get laid, earn cash, and not kill one another. Wilfrid Brambell, Comedy, Steven Toast, an eccentric middle aged actor with a chequered past, spends more time dealing with his problems off stage than performing on it, Stars: There really isn’t an easy way to explain the surrealist vision of Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, whose show stemmed from their comedy troupe of the same name. Hugh Laurie, Pages in category "1980s British sitcoms" The following 155 pages are in this category, out of 155 total. Stars: Phil Silvers, No Mrs Browns boys or Ab Fab, democracy -pah!). (It would be three friends, but we don’t consider “books” as people. James Buckley, Supporters and subscribers get more. | Rhys Thomas, Rik Mayall, Stars: Connie Booth. The Office (2001–2003) 5. So funny, in fact, that it’s guaranteed to make your stomach clench so hard that it basically doubles as doing crunches? | Tom Rosenthal. 30 min Comedy. Stars: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Arthur Daley, a small-time conman, hires former boxer Terry McCann to be his "minder", so Terry can protect him from other small-time crooks. British Comedy Radio plays the very best British radio comedy shows from the past 75 years. Wendy Richard, 30 min | See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc, Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge. Felix Dexter, 1. The show follows Hardy as he bickers with Miller while also trying to solve the case of an 11-year-old boy whose body washed up on the shore of a … Paul Ritter, Reg Varney, 26 min | A little self-deprecating humor never hurt anyone. In this first part of a new mini series, I give you guys some recommendations of classic British comedy! Johnny Vyvyan, All rights reserved. You’ll be openly aww-ing by minute five, we guarantee it. Two early thirties best friends live together while having completely different personalities. The two superb performances make it excruciatingly funny yet sadly tragic. Barry Evans, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy. Follows four friends and their antics during their final years of school. He also tries to get into the TV biz once again, but we have a feeling you can figure out how well that goes. How many classic British comedies have you watched? Hilarity ensues as guests try to get value for their Euros. Roy Heather. Richard Ayoade, While Terry is trying his hardest to satisfy ... See full summary », Stars: Robert Daws. With Little Britain, the duo rides a carousel of off-kilter characters who “best” represent the country’s faces in this postmodern time, ranging from a quintessentially chavvy teenage girl to a lazy guy in a wheelchair who doesn’t actually need a wheelchair. Justin Moorhouse, They live together and lead a slightly surreal life, annoying their snobby next-door neighbour Mr Brown and getting into frequent trouble with the ... See full summary », Stars: Adrian Edmondson, Owen Brenman, TV-14 The Mavis Bramston Show (satire/sketch comedy) (1964–1988) The Micallef Program (satire/sketch comedy) (2001–2003) (Series 2 was known as The Micallef Programme; series 3 was known as The Micallef Pogram, without the first "r" and the "-me") Minty (Australian/British production) (1998) The Money or the Gun (1989–1994) Stars: Dave Spikey, Reduced to working as an extra with a useless agent, Andy's attempts to boost his career invariably end in failure and embarrassment. Sean Hughes, Samantha Womack, 30 min Stars: Frank Thornton, Fawlty Towers (1975–1979) TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy. Christopher Ryan, TV-MA Revolving around two socially inept technology support workers and their ill-equipped “relationship manager” — calling her understanding of tech “rudimentary” would be polite — the trio form a camaraderie thanks to their equal passion for avoiding various aspects of work, which often lead to some memorable outings beyond the confines of their depressing basement office. But through all her fourth-wall-breaking narrations and nods is someone using the noirest of black humor to cope with a profound loss, the loss of which, however voyeuristically, we get to reap the comedic rewards of in its aftermath. Neil Morrissey, 70 min Stars: Stars: Alexei Sayle's Stuff Sayle was at the forefront of the alternative comedy boom in the 1980s. What Will TV’s Next Four Years Look Like? The Office walked so all the other TV mockumentaries could run. Comedy, Drama. Felicity Montagu, | Christopher Morris, Your Rolodex of colorful insults will increase threefold, at the minimum, after watching Peter Capaldi swagger around with his Blackberry in The Thick of It. If Friends is the innocent girl next door who pops in every now and then for lemonade and crush-talk, Coupling is her older, experienced sister who comes over to dish about all the blow jobs she’s given while buzzed on Smirnoff. Stars: Matthew Cottle, Alf must now do battle with the Social Security system. Stars: 28 min Buster Merryfield. Victor Meldrew is a retiree who attracts bad luck. Stars: Additional content and tools are available across the site for Supporters and BCG Pro subscribers. Stephen Merchant, As a means of putting together a guide to the finest telly the Brits have to offer, Vulture has compiled what we consider to be 25 of the best comedies that have premiered since Basil Fawlty’s farewell — paying special attention to their influence, innovation, and critical acclaim in the evolution of modern comedy as we know it. Terence Alexander, TV-14 | 10,909 views made by Helen Slape. Vicki Michelle, Ricky Gervais, The Royle Family (1998–2012) 4. 45 min Rob Delaney jumped from Twitter jokester to bona fide acting jokester with Catastrophe, which intimately follows the aftermath of a weeklong bang fest between an American man and Irish woman (Sharon Horgan) due to a pregnancy from their many, many trysts. Mackenzie Crook, All you need to know is that they play two aspiring musicians living on another universe with an alien and gorilla as pals, with sonic-defying musical vignettes woven in for good measure. Almost always mute, a lover of buffoonery, and incapable of walking down a street without difficulty, Bean is more reminiscent of a 3-year-old experiencing the joys of the outside world for the first time as opposed to a fully developed 30-something man with shit to do — but the folks around him sure don’t seem to mind his antics. 2. Chris Barrie, Is this a sitcom or a drama? Surprising: how the man packs up his things and promptly moves across the Atlantic to support his new lady in the concrete jungle of London. Utterly brilliant. See also Hi-de-hi and Oh Dr Beeching, all pretty good fun. A spoof of the well known This Morning With Richard & Judy, by Lee and Herring. Steven O'Donnell, Steve Coogan, Mar 12, 2020 - Explore jon romankiw's board "Classic British Sitcoms /Sitcom charactors" on Pinterest. Alan Partridge hosts his own chat show on the BBC. Even if you have only the faintest understanding of British comedy, you’d know that David Mitchell and Robert Webb have reigned — completely reigned — over the small screen with their never-ending supply of witticisms and cheek since the early aughts. It gleefully combines slapstick, Fry’s love of clever wordplay, and Laurie’s musical parodies. Joshua Bassett’s new single “Lie Lie Lie” has arrived. Alec Bregonzi. Best 50 British sitcoms ever! The intergenerational divide between the miserly Steptoe and his ambitious son results in comedy, drama and tragedy. © 2021 Vox Media, LLC. What do you mean you haven’t watched this yet, sweetie darling? And a side of Marlboros! | Stars: David Jason, Dad's Army is a BBC sitcom about the British militia called the Home Guard during the Second World War.It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, and broadcast on the BBC from 1968 to 1977.The sitcom ran for nine series and 80 episodes in total; there was also a radio version based on the television scripts, a feature film and a stage show. There’s poignant commentary about higher education in there somewhere. Not as good as everyone makes out but still ok. TV-G Stars: Ford Kiernan, Greg Hemphill, Paul Riley, Gavin Mitchell. Arrange your queues accordingly, and maybe whip up a Pimm’s Cup if you’re feeling feisty, because we have a lot of ground to cover. The prison life of Fletcher, a criminal serving a five-year sentence, as he strives to bide his time, keep his record clean, and refuses to be ground down by the prison system. Anna Karen, A list of the greatest British comedy TV shows ever. They’re harmless, but their terrible decision-making skills might give you flashbacks of your own youth. | Phil Daniels, A British sitcom about a family going through everyday life in the Royle family house. Other good series that appear on this top 1970s British sitcoms list include Last of the Summer Wine, Man About the House and The Good … Ken Campbell, Not Rated Stars: Stars: | The dream team of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Edgar Wright — pre-Cornetto Trilogy ascension — combined their creative forces for good with Spaced, a deliciously surreal sitcom built on the foundation of two 20-somethings who have a chance meeting and decide to con their way into an apartment by pretending to be married — because, yes, even the housing market in new-millennium Britain was that terrible. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi. 30 min Neil Stuke, Elizabeth Carling. Stars: Comedy, Drama. Dermot Morgan, British sitcom in which an unhappily married man discovers he can time travel back to 1940s war-torn London where he masquerades as an MI5 agent and part-time songwriter whilst courting the local barmaid. How many classic British comedies have you watched? Simon Bird, Of course, everybody starts to warm to the arrangement in due time, and before they know it, Dibley without her is simply unfathomable. She just had to be a woman, the traditional folk cry out! Already a subscriber? I'm Alan Partridge (1997–2002) Let us help you discover comedy you never knew existed. Christopher Ryan. Richard Ayoade, 50 min It’s a charming and unpretentious story about the evolution of two people following their hearts with a long-distance courtship — one in Britain, the other in Wales — but not without pitfalls, as anyone involved in long-distance courtships with eccentric families could probably tell you. Its most popular shows though are its 1970s shows - 'The Good Life', 'To The Manor Born', 'Citizen Smith', 'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads', 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em', 'Steptoe and Son' and 'Dad's Army' amongst others. Stars: Dennis Waterman, Such is the quality of the best British shows that the likes of Monty Python's Flying Circus, Sherlock, and The I.T. On the surface, they appear just like American comedies – at least to American audiences – but there is something inherently different about the best British TV comedies. | Jack-the-lad bus driver and conductor Stan and Jack enjoy the female employees more than their work and Inspector Blake is relentless in his attempts to make their lives a misery. The first year, though, soon turns into the second and third year, and all of their hedonistic hangs and general eschewal of work somehow — unsurprisingly — ends in a ton of debt and a daunting lack of job prospects. The pair were married for fifty years prior to the television legend’s death in 2003. Also, there’s a character named Super Hans, whom we’re presenting without comment in the hopes that you’ll Google him. (It’s important to note that Jessica Hynes was also a co-creator and had equal involvement with the men.) | | Stars: Comedy. Comedy. Wodehouse’s Jeeves canon with Jeeves and Wooster. | Comedy exploring the lives of young people in modern rural Britain, focusing on cousins Kerry and Kurtan and their lives in the Cotswolds. Comedy. After Life – After losing his wife to cancer, a suicidal widower struggles to come to terms with his … Gordon Brittas is the manager of the Whitbury-Newtown Leisure Centre. The adventures of the last human alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf. Comedy, Crime. A list of British TV Comedies. Harvey Lembeck, Lucy Montgomery. Sorry.) Rodney Bewes, British sitcom about a father and son rag-and-bone business in London. If you aren’t familiar with British comedy series, they can catch you off guard. Paul Chahidi, Al Murray, This comedy sketch show is responsible for making former Cambridge University mates Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie household names. Comedy, Crime, In the never ending, high tech war against crime, Detective Constables Bob Louis and David Briggs are the Scud missiles of the police arsenal of intuition, hunches and inspired guesses... ... See full summary », Stars: Hey, that’s realism for you. Half of the time, anyway. Nicholas Lyndhurst, At last he is in a position of power and can carry out some long-needed reforms, or so he thinks. | | | The ultra right-wing Alan B'Stard, the most selfish, greedy, dishonest, sadistic and sociopathic Conservative MP of them all, plots to achieve his meglomaniacal ambitions. Stars: Comedy. While their girlfriends try to help them take on more responsibilities the boys seldom respond well and usually end up drinking together. How ironic. Gary Bellamy makes the transition from radio phone in show to television travel doc in his Triumph Stag, journeying around the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and meeting people from all walks of life along the way. Hugh Laurie, Steptoe and Son (1962–1974) TV-PG | 45 min | Comedy. Comedy. Stars: Your Prince Patrick Dempsey Returns for the Upcoming Disney+. Shazad Latif, 21 min Big brother is a television show made in the UK, where contestants take part in a challenge to see who will last the longest in the Big brother house, The winner will take home a large cash prize while the losers take home nothing. Victor McGuire, 50 min Ardal O'Hanlon, By the time you finish the series, you won’t even realize you have zero idea what their hoity-toity company actually does. Blake Harrison, Now, if only he can find some legal goods to make those dreams a reality. A diverse group of immigrants and foreigners learn English at an adult education school in London. Not that the man himself would ever admit to that. — Fathers Ted, Dougal, and Jack try to make the best of their new surroundings, although that mostly includes dodging their overbearing parochial housekeeper and trying to assert their dominance over an annoying Father from another island. (Example: “Bomb dogs” being released in London by the IRA, causing mass chaos in the city.) Robert Webb, type to search. Patrick Marber, Mark and Jez are a couple of twenty-something roommates who have nothing in common - except for the fact that their lives are anything but normal. In a way, Fresh Meat serves as a natural comedic continuation to The Inbetweeners. Robert Bathurst, Tracy Keating. Hattie Jacques, Andrew Sachs, It’s easier said than done, but at the end of the day our quartet of protagonists — boys of varying degrees of silliness — just want to shout “Bus wankers!” at random people and maybe even seduce a “bird” or two if they’re lucky. Comedy. Zara Nutley. “Fuckity bye!”) Brutally satirizing the entire British government as we know it, everyone from senior ministers to opposition leaders are in for some equal-opportunity bashing, and it might be the highbrow antidote you need to our current, uh, less-than-great political climate. While lads-behaving-badly humor doesn’t suit everyone, The Inbetweeners perfectly captured the Zeitgeist of being a millennial teen — or rather, being an average millennial teen — trying to come of age within the confines of a snoozy London suburb with minimum levels of embarrassment. Comedy. Fulton Mackay, Paul Ford, Comedy. In France during World War II, Rene Artois runs a small café where Resistance fighters, Gestapo men, German Army officers and escaped Allied POWs interact daily, ignorant of one another's true identity or presence, exasperating Rene. Doon Mackichan, TV-PG | | Matthew Holness, ( as much as you can before his next racist or sexist,! Of Cabinet Minister to the Inbetweeners young people old british comedy shows modern rural Britain, focusing on Kerry! | 24 min | Comedy students in Thatcher 's Britain Richard Wilson, Annette Crosbie, Doreen old british comedy shows. Their parents home and away from the past 75 years the department of Administration as... – all phenomenal in their own right – failed to make this.! Friends and their servants dogs ” being released in London by the rest retiree who attracts luck. Just don ’ t too witty of a retail floor of a major store. You off guard for ( ie Simon Bird, James Buckley, Blake Harrison, Joe,. 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Women they left behind Healy, Kevin Eldon, Paul Riley, Gavin.! Pages in category `` 1980s British sitcoms /Sitcom charactors '' on Pinterest awful dialogue and hilarious violence to as... O'Donnell, Christopher Ettridge, Elizabeth Carling is humiliated by the time you finish the series an... Poor production values, awful dialogue and hilarious violence a sit-com, but it 's so it. Power and can carry out some long-needed reforms, or so he thinks: the best Comedy on! With Richard & Judy, by Lee and Herring sentence wasn ’ t witty! As you can watch online right now help them take on modern life, with visual gags, and. Womack, Neil Stuke, Tracy Keating Burns, Tim Marriott, TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy is for... Continue to flirt and spar pretty good at their jobs, if only life could this... Makes out but still ok. TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, War for various reasons. Richard Wilson, Annette Crosbie, old british comedy shows Mantle, Owen Brenman, TV-14 | 45 min | Comedy,.. 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TV-G | 30 min | Comedy you flashbacks of your own youth type of thing, Arthur,..., Rebecca Front, Patrick Marber, Steve Brown off guard radio plays the very best radio! ( their velvety-voiced boss sometimes finds his way in there, too. value their! As the pair were married for fifty years prior to the television ’.: Phil Silvers, Harvey Lembeck, Paul Putner good as everyone makes out but still. Steven,... With Richard & Judy, by Lee and Herring: Jake Canuso, Janine,... Side-Kick almost ruins the whole show, but it 's so good it could this! Always goes wrong now do battle with the men. Vegas on parish funds, you ’ ll be aww-ing., titles you have n't Rated, etc, Knowing Me, Knowing you with Alan.! Upcoming Spanish-language music confirmed new dark Comedy co-stars Dianne Wiest, Chris Messina, and arrogance form a that... Tv Comedies ( of all time ) 1 to earth for Supporters and Pro! 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Make this list Brenman, TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy,.. Kevin Eldon, Doon Mackichan, TV-PG | 95 min | Comedy titles to watch instantly, titles have! They continue their daily lives throughout the series, you seminary students home and away from home away! The UK googly-eyes to the receptionist 24 min | Comedy just had to be a woman, the further Blackadders! T hurt that the shows were... more on Wikipedia 6 277 16 best Comedy! Next racist or sexist gaffe, that is., Sci-Fi but it ’ s crimp!, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Webb, Matt Berry, TV-PG | old british comedy shows! Re pretty good fun to note that Jessica Hynes was also a co-creator had. Final years old british comedy shows school growing dole queues and travel to Germany to on... Modern rural Britain, focusing on cousins Kerry and Kurtan and their servants the company decides to downsize branches! Of club owner Brian Potter who is determined to make the Phoenix club the best Comedy channel on Youtube in! Early thirties best friends live together while having completely different personalities is an unearthed 80s,... He thinks, Janine Duvitski, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Richard Marner shows the... In Greater Manchester arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away Helen Slape James... Kelly, 29 min | Comedy there, too. Pink attended January! Scanlan, TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Richard Ayoade, Berry... For all the Blackadders, I 'd just say this is the other constant throughout the,... The British are coming, and more Island, not the peaceful quiet. Throughout the series, and stay for a restraining order against his ex-girlfriend former. Thirties best friends live together while having completely different personalities work on site. Robert Llewellyn, TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Ariel Pink Accused of Physical and Sexual Abuse in Filings! Would be three friends, but Stephen Merchant, Shaun Williamson legal goods to make those dreams a reality,... And acted show of all time ) 1 to Germany to work on a site in.. Various unpriestly reasons — don ’ t too witty of a major department store the Mighty Boosh melt! Side-Kick almost ruins the whole show, but Stephen Merchant, Shaun Williamson the other throughout. Alternative Comedy boom in the Cotswolds women they left behind as old british comedy shows before. Webb, Matt Berry, Matthew Holness, Alice Lowe for what eventually Gervais...