# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/21 "2003-08-20T00:58:33Z")
I also liked Murder Most Horrid. It was shown on WTN (the Women’s Network, now simply W) here in Canada. I’ve always been fond of Dawn French, although did not like her latest Wild West at all. It was terribly boring - I don’t think I even laughed once. Murder Most Horrid had an interesting premise, where Dawn French would play a different character that commits a murder each week. There were also many interesting guest stars, like IIRC, Hugh Laurie and Jim Broadbent. ---
**Author:** ![Rabid\_Squirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Rabid\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rabid_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/22 "2003-08-20T01:02:05Z")
Red Dwarf - Only decent sci-fi comedy series made besides the Hitch-Hiker’s Guide (the book, not the BBC version). Father Ted (1st series only) - Back in the days were people would laugh at Catholic Priests. The Office - Annoying yet funny. Black Books - Great writing and good performances Blackadder - Great series, the likes of which we shall never see again :sniff: Fawlty Towers - Short run but still good. See? The British can do physical comedy! Goodness Gracious Me - Finally, a good Asian comedy show. ---
**Author:** ![Mdm.President](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@Mdm.President](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdm.President)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/23 "2003-08-20T01:03:27Z")
My faves in order: Coupling Red Dwarf That show where its just a family, usually around a TV, the dads overweight and a bit of a brute, the daughter is preg. and getting married, the son is in highschool… Blackadder Only Fools and Horses Im in Texas and I dont know another soul who knows of these shows. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/24 "2003-08-20T01:20:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rabid\_Squirrel \* > \*\*Red Dwarf - Only decent sci-fi comedy series made besides the Hitch-Hiker’s Guide (the book, not the BBC version). > \*\* That would be the book based on the original BBC radio series? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/25 "2003-08-20T01:26:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MDM. President \* > \*\*That show where its just a family, usually around a TV, the dads overweight and a bit of a brute, the daughter is preg. and getting married, the son is in highschool… > > I’m in Texas and I don’t know another soul who knows of these shows. ☹ \*\* That would be **The Royle Family**. Why not come on down to the upcoming Batdope in Austin? ---
**Author:** ![Toddly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/26 "2003-08-20T02:02:30Z")
I have not seen a lot of the British shows that were mentioned above but my all time favorites are: Monty Python Fawlty Towers Keeping Up Appearances Mr. Bean ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Xadium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed655f/32.png) [@Dr\_Xadium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Xadium)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/27 "2003-08-20T02:48:36Z")
(In Decreasing order of, for lack of a better word, favouriteness–) Red Dwarf Are you Being Served? (I even kind of like the sequel series… so sue me) Mr. Bean Chef! - I WANT to see the third season! Waiting for God Keeping Up Appearances Blackadder - would be higher but I need to see more of it so I can pit it against Red Dwarf. The Millennium Special was hilarious! The last season… ouch. Absolutely Fabulous - I need to see more before I can rank it. Shelly - I wish I could see more of this. Need to see more Absolutely Fabulous ---
**Author:** ![Necromancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@Necromancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromancer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/28 "2003-08-20T03:15:23Z")
I forgot all about the show Coupling. I used to really enjoy that show. I think the episode where Richard Coyle (Jeff) strips off during the surprise birthday party in the boardroom was one of the funniest damned things I’d seen in a long time. Black Books is a good comedy too. I actually started watching it because it starred Bill Bailey. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/29 "2003-08-20T03:39:36Z")
Monty Python Fawlty Towers Red Dwarf Yes, Minister Father Ted Blackadder Are You Being Served? The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy The Young Ones The League of Gentlemen Keeping Up Appearances Doctor Who (Season 17) ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/30 "2003-08-20T03:46:22Z")
Well, Red Dwarf, obviously. I own the following on DVD or video: \*Monty Python’s Flying Circus (all 14 DVDS) \*Fawlty Towers \*Red Dwarf (the two seasons that have been released so far) \*Blackadder \*Young Ones I caught several episodes of Black Books on Comedy Central very late at night back in February or so, and laughed my head off. I’d KILL to get those on DVD. Ditto A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Back when I was about fifteen or so, my local PBS station played the whole run of that show, and I could still kick myself for not taping them. I have the “Best of” tape, which seems to be all that’s available commercially, but that’s only two episodes, and leaves out a lot of their best stuff. I can’t stand Absolutely Fabulous for some reason, but I love French & Saunders’ movie parodies. Their LOTR one is especially good. I’ll also admit to having a soft spot for Are You Being Served? Lesse, am I missing any? Oh, Mr. Bean is hilarious the first time you see it, when you don’t know where he’s going with it, but after that, it’s pretty blah. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/31 "2003-08-20T03:49:02Z")
A couple of people have mentioned “Shelly”. Can anyone tell me a bit about it? I can’t find any info on the net about it. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/32 "2003-08-20T04:30:17Z")
Did you know that **Ultraviolet** was a British TV show? Not a comedy, but about vampires ‘n’ stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Necromancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@Necromancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromancer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/33 "2003-08-20T04:48:21Z")
Yeah, it had Jack Davenport in it, from the comedy Coupling that’s been mentioned here a few times. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/34 "2003-08-20T04:56:10Z")
I didn’t get where I am today without agreeing with **Ultraviolet** that _The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin_ is super (great)! ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/35 "2003-08-20T05:13:24Z")
Although it’s not where my username came from, **Tapioca Dextrin** , I have heard of the show Ultraviolet, is it any good? I imagine it to be a bit like X-Files. I was thinking of buying the DVD, but since I have never seen it before, I didn’t want to spend the money (UK DVDs are so expensive!). And **LilyoftheValley** , it’s great to see someone else who loves Reggie Perrin. I found that show so ahead of its time. Although it’s from the 70s, I first saw it maybe 5 years ago and found the issues it addressed were still very relevant (not to mention I laughed so hard I thought I might have to be hospitalized!). ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/36 "2003-08-20T05:23:19Z")
**Smeghead** if you can play Region 2 PAL DVDs, the first season of Black Books is available on DVD. I am thinking of ordering it from [Amazon.co.uk](http://Amazon.co.uk). The eps have a cast commentary feature and everything! Do you also like Father Ted? One of the Father Ted writers (Graham Linehan, I think) co-wrote at least the first season of Black Books, and some of the humour, especially the surreal stuff, is similar. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/37 "2003-08-20T05:26:33Z")
**Murder Most Horrid!** I see **Robot Arm** and **Ultraviolet** have already mentioned it, but it’s the best show ever. My favorite episodes are “Smashing Bird” and the one where Tony Slattery plays the actor that gets murdered on stage. Great great great show. Our local PBS used to air it a few years ago, and I used to have a few of the episodes on tape. I need to dig them up–other than _The Simpsons_, it’s probably my favorite TV comedy ever. I also catch a few episodes of **The Vicar of Dibley** every so often, but it’s usually the same ones. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/38 "2003-08-20T05:29:15Z")
Blackadder One foot in the grave Fwlty Towers The Office (is there only one season of this?) Mr. Bean ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/39 "2003-08-20T05:37:50Z")
> [@](#): > > The episode with Amanda Donohoe as the assassin contains the single funniest line I have ever heard on television.) Spoil it for me. \ You’ll get my Monty Python DVDs when you pry them from my cold, dead hands. ---
**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, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/40 "2003-08-20T06:54:42Z")
I’ll do my best, but the description really won’t do it justice. It needs a bit of a setup. And as the MPAA would say, “Contains mature themes.” [SPOILER]Dawn French (frumpy, naive, despondent) is about to kill herself in a seedy hotel room when Amanda Donohoe (sexy, worldly, forceful) bursts through the door and aims a sniper rifle out the window. She looks like she stepped out of one of Ian Fleming’s wet dreams; wearing tight black leather and with an assortment of gadgets. After an awkward conversation, Dawn accidentally foils Amanda’s plan to kill the head of the company whose office is across the street. On to Plan B; Amanda straps explosives to Dawn and will blow her up unless she carries out the mission. (Did I mention this is a comedy?) Dawn is fully kitted out, leather jacket, poison dart gun strapped to her wrist, and a hidden, two-way radio so Amanda can give her instructions as she infiltrates the office. And the excitement and sense of purpose has actually cheered her up, for the rest of the episode she is perky and innocent as only Dawn French can be. Dawn crosses the street, goes into the lobby and sees a guard at the front desk. She asks Amanda (over the radio) how to get past him. “Oh, just tell him you need to use the bathroom or something.” **Dawn:** (to guard) “Could you tell me where the bathroom is?” As he is pointing down the hall, Amanda comes on the radio again. “He’s just a stupid security guard, the only thing they all need is a blow job.” **Dawn:** (to guard) “What you need is a blow job.” Dawn starts down the hall toward the bathroom, and the guard follows a few yards behind her with a very eager look on his face. She checks in again over the radio. **Dawn:** “What’s a blow job?” **Amanda:** (with mild astonishment) “You’re a grown woman and you don’t know what a blow job is?” **Dawn:** (anxiously) “No. What is it?” **Amanda:** “That’s oral stimulation of the genitals.” **Dawn:** (clearly amazed) “Really!” (looks over her shoulder at the guard, then back to the radio.) **Dawn:** “You wouldn’t think he could reach!”[/SPOILER] I’d love to see that episode again. The body count must be about a dozen, which is not bad for a half-hour show. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286.md?page=3)