# Favourite British comedies? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 19, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286 "2003-08-19T20:57:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/1 "2003-08-19T20:57:59Z")
Although I am Canadian, I absolutely love British comedies (so much so that I bought a multi-region DVD player just to be able to play R2 discs!). I see that the BBC are doing a “favourite British comedy survey” (at [http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/vote.shtml](http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/vote.shtml) ). I was wondering about the Dopers here that enjoy British humour. What are your favourite British comedies? My favourites, in no particular order would be : One foot in the grave Spaced Black Books Father Ted (okay, it’s set in Ireland, but it is one of my favourite shows of all time) Steptoe and son The League of Gentlemen Are you being served? (I know, it’s so tacky, but I grew up with it and regard it fondly) Blackadder Only fools and horses Red Dwarf The fall and rise of Reginald Perrin The Young Ones Okay, so that’s twelve, but I really can’t eliminate any more from the list. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/2 "2003-08-19T20:59:41Z")
Absolutley Fabulous and anything else done by French and Saunders. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Plankton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@David\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/3 "2003-08-19T21:08:16Z")
DAD’S ARMY - Nuff said ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/4 "2003-08-19T21:17:23Z")
Blackadder! * * * “That depends on whos playing ‘Macbeth’.”-- Baldrick ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/5 "2003-08-19T21:28:49Z")
I am an AbFab-aholic. Love those women. Also, Coupling, Are You Being Served, Fawlty Towers, Manchild, and of COURSE, Monty Python. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/6 "2003-08-19T21:34:35Z")
Monty Python Blackadder ---
**Author:** ![skeptic\_ev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@skeptic\_ev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skeptic_ev)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/7 "2003-08-19T22:20:04Z")
Monty Python, of course, and Are You Being Served (tacky, as **Ultraviolet** said, but so fun anyway), and Keeping Up Appearances. I love Hyacinth Bucket/Bouquet; I can’t help it. I must add that as I watch very little TV (haven’t actually turned it on in four months or so), my exposure’s been quite limited. So … I like every British comedy I’ve seen (except for Benny Hill) so far. (I cannot say the same for American sitcoms.) ---
**Author:** ![jeanster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@jeanster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeanster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/8 "2003-08-19T22:28:24Z")
Blackadder Mr. Bean Jeeves & Wooster The Thin Blue Line ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/9 "2003-08-19T22:32:24Z")
Fawlty Towers Ab Fab I only saw a few episodes of ‘Fools and Horses’, but thought it hiliarious. The guy with the fil-o-fax trying to pick up women was a riot. Is it shown in the U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/10 "2003-08-19T22:32:44Z")
Did **A Bit Of Fry & Laurie** ever cross the Atlantic? Should appeal to Python fans, although IMO it’s much better. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/11 "2003-08-19T23:02:08Z")
I’m not sure if A bit of Fry & Laurie was ever shown, I’ve got it on tape, quite excellent, but I love both of them. that said, I love Blackadder(obviously) Father Ted The Young Ones Are You Being Served(yeah it’s gooby, hasn’t stopped me before) Oddly though I absolutely love Blackadder, I can’t stand Mr. Bean. I don’t think I’ve gotten through a full episode. -Lil ---
**Author:** ![Maple\_Leaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Maple\_Leaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maple_Leaf)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/12 "2003-08-19T23:08:14Z")
I loved “The Fast Show” and anything with Harry Enfield in. All the old classics as well, Dad’s Army, Steptoe and Son, Monty Python, Benny Hill. Some great TV. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/13 "2003-08-19T23:37:39Z")
Not technically a sitcom, but **Teachers** has some downright hilarious moments. I always look for what’s going on in the playground behind the main characters; it’s usually something bizarre. **The Royle Family** took a long time to grow on me (long enough that I started watching it in earnest shortly before it went off the air - poo), but it’s definitely a quality program. And, of course, **The Office** , if only for Ricky Gervais’s dance. \<_err-er-er-er-er-errrr…_\> ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/14 "2003-08-19T23:52:12Z")
Of course! The fast show! I must add it to my (huge) list at the top. I forgot about it (how could I!). I find Ted and Ralph inexplicably touching and laugh so hard at Colin Hunt. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/15 "2003-08-19T23:55:00Z")
It doesn’t look like Only fools and horses is shown on BBC America, but it is on every day on BBC Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Necromancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@Necromancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromancer)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/16 "2003-08-19T23:55:31Z")
My faves are probably: Father Ted Red Dwarf Glam Metal Detectives I’m Alan Partridge The Office Blackadder Vicar Of Dibley The League Of Gentlemen The Kumars At Number 42 Goodness Gracious Me Monty Python The Young Ones ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/17 "2003-08-20T00:02:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* > Not technically a sitcom, but **Teachers** has some downright hilarious moments. I always look for what’s going on in the playground behind the main characters; it’s usually something bizarre. > > **The Royle Family** took a long time to grow on me (long enough that I started watching it in earnest shortly before it went off the air - poo), but it’s definitely a quality program. > > And, of course, **The Office** , if only for Ricky Gervais’s dance. \<_err-er-er-er-er-errrr…_\> Good choices. Did you see _Early Doors_ (Craig Cash’s follow up to _The Royle Family_)? Another slow burner, but that was its charm. Even at a technical level, they way they used lighting and a slow pan to compress about fourteen hours into twenty seconds in the “Big Boys’ Day Out” episode was outstanding, and not something comedy usually cares about. Look out for it if he does a second series. Most of my favourites have been mentioned already, but _Brass Eye_ and some of the _Alan Partridge_ stuff was good. I’d be surprised if they export _Have I Got News For You_ because it’s too topical and UK-centric, but maybe the format would work elsewhere? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/18 "2003-08-20T00:22:36Z")
Monty Python The Good Life Solo Rising Damp Yes Minister Yes Prime Minister Red Dwarf Blackadder The Young Ones Shelly ---
**Author:** ![Optihut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/edb3f5/32.png) [@Optihut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Optihut)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/19 "2003-08-20T00:44:24Z")
Oh hands down Blackadder. It´s a shame that Blackadder isn´t as popular as Mr. Bean, but I guess that´s due to Mr. Bean being funny, even if you don´t speak English, whereas Blackadder relies heavily on playing with words and such. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/20 "2003-08-20T00:53:55Z")
Hall of Fame: _Monty Python’s Flying Circus_ _Yes, Minister_ _Yes, Prime Minister_ _Red Dwarf_ _Blackadder_ _Mr. Bean_ _Coupling_ _Fawlty Towers_ Under consideration: _One Foot in the Grave_ _People Like Us_ (I’ve only caught two episodes, but there’s definite potential here. It’s possibly the most deadpan humor I’ve ever seen.) Special Awards of Merit: _Murder Most Horrid_ (This was an anthology show with Dawn French playing a different role in every episode. As the title suggests, people tended to get killed. A lot. It was hysterical. The episode with Amanda Donohoe as the assassin contains the single funniest line I have ever heard on television.) _The Games_ (Australian, not British, mockumentary about the organizing of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. It was sort of a cross between “Sports Night”, “This is Spinal Tap” and “Cops”. The funniest complete series I have ever seen.) If anyone else has even seen **Murder Most Horrid** or **The Games** , would you let me know. I’ve always thought these shows deserved to be much better known, at least among brit-com fans in the States. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286.md?page=2)