# British comedy - recommend me some **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351 "2011-07-17T15:23:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/81 "2011-07-19T11:13:41Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Holiday camp? Is that like a camping ground? Ours don’t come with entertainers, just wildlife. > > [edit–] > > Having done a bit of googling … Wow, we don’t have anything like that here … a fenced-in resort full of drunken vacationers … So a holiday camp is something like a carnival as executed by the Third Reich? Think of it like the holiday resort in Dirty Dancing, but much MUCH more down market. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/82 "2011-07-19T11:14:04Z")
Ooh…how about **Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace**? It’s like watching horror made by Stephen King’s retarded brother. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/83 "2011-07-19T11:26:53Z")
I now read that Lee Mack was indeed briefly a “bluecoat” (equivalent of a redcoat at Butlins’ arch-rival Pontins). He got sacked for calling audience members “cunts” during a routine. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/84 "2011-07-19T11:29:23Z")
[Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace](http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/garth_marenghis_darkplace/) [Sorry I’ve Got No Head](http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/sorry_ive_got_no_head/) ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/85 "2011-07-19T11:36:08Z")
The New Statesman The Young Ones Bottom ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/86 "2011-07-19T11:40:29Z")
Fawlty Towers Blackadder Yes minister Red dwarf One foot in the grave Bottom The Brittas Empire that would be my top 7. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/87 "2011-07-19T12:17:47Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > [Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace](http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/garth_marenghis_darkplace/) > > [Sorry I’ve Got No Head](http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/sorry_ive_got_no_head/) SIGNH is brilliant. It is a kid’s show, but I love it. It’s twisted and a bit Little Britain, without being overtly rude or disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/88 "2011-07-19T12:42:55Z")
> [@scruffycat](#): > > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightingales](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightingales) > > Nightingales, possibly the best UK sitcom ever and almost completely forgotten now. Nobody here but us Chickens… ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/89 "2011-07-19T12:46:00Z")
> [@Fourtyfold](#): > > Heh, Agreed. If you can sit through series 1, episode 4 without breaking up, you’ve died. > > A couple of others: The Goodies, and Spitting Yarns. Surly its Ripping Yarns? ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/90 "2011-07-19T12:54:55Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Ctrl+F didn’t find it, so I’m gobsmacked to post _**[Coupling](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBSnlADrbyY)**_- it’s a scream, they tried an American version here, it flopped. First 3 series a must - after Jeff left - it went down hill. Spiderman episode was the best ever. ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/91 "2011-07-19T12:57:09Z")
Scottish Comedy at its best - [Chewin’ The Fat](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0224464/) and don’t forget [Still Game](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0281491/). Good Brit comedy - [Hyperdrive](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481449/) ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/92 "2011-07-19T14:17:19Z")
> [@Hogfather65](#): > > Surly its Ripping Yarns? It is, and don’t call me Shirley. One Foot In The Grave Keeping Up Appearances Last of the Summer Wine ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/93 "2011-07-19T14:29:42Z")
Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister are must-sees. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/94 "2011-07-19T15:13:49Z")
I’m Alan Partridge Brass Eye The Day Today Phoenix Nights League of Gentlemen Trigger Happy TV ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/95 "2011-07-19T16:00:43Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > • Green Wing – one of my all-time favorites. At least in the top 10, probably the top 5. Top 2. I love this show, and always happy to see someone else loving it also. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/96 "2011-07-19T16:07:13Z")
On radio, has no-one yet mentioned _Round the Horne_ (widely considered a classic, especially og gay comedy) and its slightly inferior, but still good, precursor, _Beyond Our Ken_? If you like vintage _double entendres_ you will love these. (Kenneth Horne is nominally the star, but Kenneth Williams gets most of the laughs.) For more modern, slightly “edgy” radio, try _Lionel Nimrod’s Inexplicable World_ (they had Tom Baker for their crazy announcer before _Little Britain_ stole the idea, but don’t worry, otherwise it is not like _Little Britain_ at all). ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/97 "2011-07-19T16:24:49Z")
In jest, I was going to suggest Monty Python, but I see at least 4 other posters have beaten me to it. People, he’s been watching British comedy religiously for 20 years and you suggested the single biggest troupe in British Comedy ever. I dunno. Maybe it’s me but I’d take him seeing MP as a given. It would be akin to me walking into a bookstore, saying I’m a priest and asking for a recommendation on some good religious texts and the guy’s response is “oh hey, have you heard of The Bible? You should totally check that out!” ETA: have you checked out the old radio tapes of Douglas Adams, particularly the Hitchhiker’s show? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/98 "2011-07-19T20:41:43Z")
Sorry I haven’t responded properly - it’s been a busy couple of days. I’ll do another list of responses as soon as I get some time. ---
**Author:** ![Fourtyfold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Fourtyfold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fourtyfold)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/99 "2011-07-19T20:42:26Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > ETA: have you checked out the old radio tapes of Douglas Adams, particularly the Hitchhiker’s show? That reminds me - there was a [TV version](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy_%28TV_series%29) of HHGG made 30 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Fourtyfold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Fourtyfold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fourtyfold)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351/100 "2011-07-19T21:14:38Z")
Oh, and another thought - given a news story getting a lot of airtime at the moment, how about _Drop The Dead Donkey_? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-comedy-recommend-me-some/589351.md?page=6)