# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/41 "2003-08-20T07:06:20Z")
In order of preference, and counting best seasons only for some: Fawlty Towers Blackadder Yes (prime) minister Red Dwarf Bottom One foot in the grave The young ones Not the 9 o’clock news Brittas Empire KYTV The detectives Canned Carrot A bit of Fry and Laurie Alas Smith and Jones The vicar of Dibley Dads army Allo allo I assume Have I got News for you? does not qualify - otherwise it would be verrrrry high. AbFab doesn’t do it for me. And MP has not aged very well. IMHO of course. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/42 "2003-08-20T07:23:15Z")
Allo Allo Are You Being Served? Faulty Towers The Vicar of Dibley Absolutely Fabulous Keeping Up Appearances ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/43 "2003-08-20T07:23:15Z")
Allo Allo Are You Being Served? Faulty Towers The Vicar of Dibley Absolutely Fabulous Keeping Up Appearances ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/44 "2003-08-20T07:23:15Z")
Allo Allo Are You Being Served? Faulty Towers The Vicar of Dibley Absolutely Fabulous Keeping Up Appearances ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/45 "2003-08-20T07:53:23Z")
_The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin_ is the top, absolutely. (I used to have a sort of absurd belly-shirt that I had printed with an approximation of the _GROT_ logo. I only wore it outside a half-dozen times or so – I’m not sure that anyone got it.) There’s something to be said for _Rising Damp_, too, but it’s obviously not in the same league. Dozens of my favourites have been mentioned already, so I’ll try to keep the redundancy down by just mentioning things that haven’t come up yet. _Spitting Image_ – Featuring, among other great things, some of Chris Barrie’s finest work. Best Reagan impersonation ever. Kind of weird picturing that voice coming out of “Rimmer,” though. Nobody’s mentioned BBC Radio comedies yet? _Acropolis Now_ is freaking brilliant. _Saturday Night Fry_, particularly the earlier incarnation. _Little Britain_. _A Very Bloody History of Britain_. _Tales From the Mausoleum Club_. (Brilliant parodies of various gothic horror tales.) _The Mighty Boosh_ – Kind of like what would happen if Hunter Thompson and Douglas Adams collaborated on a show about a couple of slackers who work in a zoo. Very strange. _Allen Partridge_ – dear God, my sides hurt and my pants are ruined. There’s a show I’m having a hard time remembering, where the main character is a ‘nicey’ somewhat insecure woman, and the supporting characters are a senile old neighbor lady, a live-in builder that mainly just consumes all her tea, and a west-indian cab driver. Episodes revolved around mundane tasks like going to the Tesco’s to get a new sweeper, and invariably devolved into total anarchy. What was the name of this show? I want to say the author/star’s name was Susan Smith, but I know that’s not quite right. Funny as hell, though, that show. ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/46 "2003-08-20T08:10:21Z")
My votes go to; Blackadder The Office The Young Ones The Comic Strip Presents … Yes Minister Yes Prime Minister Red Dwarf Absolutely Fabulous with honorable mentions to Mr Bean and Only Fools And Horses up to the point where Grandad died. I think it has got steadily worse since then, and should have been cancelled at least 5 years ago. For whatever reason, I completely fail to see the appeal or humour in; Benny Hill Dads Army Are You Being Served Keeping Up Appearances The Good Life Monty Python (Dead Parrot/Ministry of Silly Walks excepted) League of Gentlemen Father Ted Royle Family Allo Allo Britas Empire One Foot In The Grave ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/47 "2003-08-20T09:51:57Z")
The only shows I can think of that have gone as yet unmentioned are: **Trigger Happy TV. Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps. Men behaving Badly.** Any of those make it stateside? ---
**Author:** ![Galanthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Galanthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galanthus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/48 "2003-08-20T09:55:44Z")
Not one mention of “It ain’t halh hot mum” … I have fond memories of that from the early 70’s ---
**Author:** ![Zweistein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/54ee81/32.png) [@Zweistein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zweistein)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/49 "2003-08-20T10:10:51Z")
Not one mention: You Rang, M’Lord? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/50 "2003-08-20T10:36:43Z")
The Office Mony Python Fawlty Towers Blackadder Trigger Happy TV Father Ted (made with Irish talent and British money) Comedy panel shows: Never Mind the Buzzcocks Have I Got News for You Shooting Stars ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/51 "2003-08-20T10:41:11Z")
Monty Python Mr. Bean Are You Being Served Yes, Prime Minister Danger Mouse (well it was funny and British) Young Ones The Comic Strip Presents Favorite of all time:Red Dwarf (could watch it over and over and over) Ones I never got into: Absolutely Fabulous (maybe it was just that awful theme song) BlackAdder (although I only saw a couple episodes) Benny Hill ---
**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 20, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/52 "2003-08-20T11:13:25Z")
If we’re talking favorite lines, I have to mention my all-time favorite from _Black Books_: > [@](#): > > I ate all your bees! A must-watch series. ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/53 "2003-08-20T11:46:40Z")
Open All Hours Porridge Only Fools and Horses Hmmm, do I like anything that David Jason _wasn’t_ in? Oh yes: Red Dwarf Blackadder Fawlty Towers The Royle Family Early Doors Coupling - the Madam Butterfly vs Spiderman episode especially ---
**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, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/54 "2003-08-20T14:10:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ultraviolet \* > \*\* 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!). > \*\* It was a great, though short show (only 6 episodes). It wasn’t really like the X-files, more a grritty british cop show - with vampires. It’s available as a [US release](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005KA70/qid%3D1061389059/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-8594671-7600050), or I could lend you my copy if you like. ---
**Author:** ![fizzygoodmakefeelnice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@fizzygoodmakefeelnice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizzygoodmakefeelnice)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/55 "2003-08-20T14:39:27Z")
Black Books! Other people who’ve seen Black Books! Hello! My obsession with this most excellent series is echoed in both my username and my signature. Deary me. Favourite line has to be “Why do you have to make the bacon so curly?” I recently saw Dylan Moran performing stand up and he is smashing. I’ll go now. ---
**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, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/56 "2003-08-20T14:51:40Z")
I forgot all about Chef! Thats right after red dwarf for me. Also, the one where ‘Rimmer’ from red dwarf ownes a health club. Id love to come to this Austin Dopefest. Whats the details? ---
**Author:** ![Planet\_of\_the\_Shapes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Planet\_of\_the\_Shapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Planet_of_the_Shapes)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/57 "2003-08-20T15:01:19Z")
I can’t believe noone except the OP mentioned Spaced - absoluetely brilliant comedy, quite surreal at times, about these 20 somethings in London. That makes it sound like Friends or Coupling, but it couldn’t be more different. Well it could if it was about Martians invading the earth i suppose, but you know what i mean. I imagine it wouldn’t really appeal to non UK people though - they’d probably miss a lot of the references… ---
**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, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/58 "2003-08-20T15:39:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MDM. President \* > \*\*I’d love to come to this Austin Dopefest. Whats the details? \*\* September 13th. Probably at [Chuy’s](http://www.chuys.com/) on Barton Spring Road. Details [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=3867930#post3867930). ---
**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, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/59 "2003-08-20T15:41:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > \*\* > _Saturday Night Fry_, particularly the earlier incarnation. > \*\* I’ve…acquired…copies of four of the first six episodes of Saturday Night Fry, and they’re brilliant. I mean, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Plus guests! 'Nuff said. If anyone can help me get the rest, that’d be lovely. And, **Ultraviolet** , thank you for the Black Books DVD info. I’ve been looking at getting a new DVD player, and I will now, in all seriousness, get a multiregion player specifically so I can get those. ---
**Author:** ![RAWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@RAWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RAWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286/60 "2003-08-20T16:06:34Z")
I have to add my hearty recommendation for BlackAdder. Also, The Good Life, AKA Good Neighbors If you like that, you’d like Ever Decreasing Circles, starring Richard Briers from Good Neighbors. For a gentle comedy, look for After Henry, starring Prunella Scales (Sybil Fawlty) and Joan Sanderson, Mrs. Richards, the deaf woman from Fawlty Towers. I also need to follow up with Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. Possibly the best television comedy anywhere, anytime. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favourite-british-comedies/196286.md?page=4)