# What British Series Should I Watch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895 "2011-09-01T22:33:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/1 "2011-09-01T22:33:45Z")
OK I just finished watching the DVDs of Steptoe and Son. I loved it. It was much darker than the American counter part Sanford and Son. Of course I’ve seen Fawlty Towers, Ab Fab and Keeping up Appearences, which I like. Benny Hill and Monty Python I don’t care for. What else is there? ---
**Author:** ![monkeylucifer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@monkeylucifer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monkeylucifer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/2 "2011-09-01T22:43:13Z")
[I’m Alan Partridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_Alan_Partridge) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/3 "2011-09-01T22:49:16Z")
Have you seen “Are You Being Served”? I think PBS still shows some episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/4 "2011-09-01T22:53:05Z")
[Coupling](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coupling_%28UK_TV_series%29) [The Office](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Office_%28UK_TV_series%29) ---
**Author:** ![LaurenIpsum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@LaurenIpsum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LaurenIpsum)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/5 "2011-09-01T22:56:58Z")
I’ve never seen it myself, but I’ve heard good things about Blackadder. ---
**Author:** ![monkeylucifer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@monkeylucifer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monkeylucifer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/6 "2011-09-01T22:59:29Z")
If you like Scifi comedy then you check out [Red Dwarf](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dwarf). ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/7 "2011-09-01T23:07:53Z")
[League of Gentlemen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_League_of_Gentlemen) [Father Ted](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Ted) ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/8 "2011-09-01T23:11:56Z")
[Survivors](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivors_(2008_TV_series)) the first two seasons are on Watch Instantly (yeah they’re only 6 episodes each but still). ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/9 "2011-09-01T23:12:33Z")
[Gavin and Stacey](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gavin-Stacey-Complete-BBC-DVD/dp/B000VA3J52) is a warm, funny, ridiculous, recent British comedy series that I really enjoyed. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/10 "2011-09-01T23:19:41Z")
Second the recommendation for Coupling - it’s an excellently written sitcom, and if you liked Fawlty Towers, you’ll probably like it. Not that it’s particularly similar, but it has brilliant awkward moments, great dialogue and situations and engaging characters. Spaced is another sitcom, from the same stable as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. The Mighty Boosh is good, but if you didn’t like Monty Python, you might not like it, as it’s a bit surreal. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/11 "2011-09-01T23:22:11Z")
My favorite is [As Time Goes By](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_Time_Goes_By_(TV_series)) ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/12 "2011-09-01T23:52:00Z")
You’re more likely to get good relevant responses if you can narrow down a bit what you’re looking for or what you like. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/13 "2011-09-01T23:56:21Z")
Indeed, I don’t know whether to suggest “The Hancock Half Hour” or “Little Britain” … actually both. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/14 "2011-09-02T00:31:00Z")
“Doc Martin” – Aspergersesque surgeon develops a fear of blood, so he becomes a GP in a tiny Cornish village. Quirky character-driven comedy. I romped through all four seasons available so far very quickly – the fifth season is supposed to start airing in the UK soon, I hope it comes to the US soon after. ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/15 "2011-09-02T00:41:31Z")
[The Young Ones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Young_Ones_%28TV_series%29) [Jekyll](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jekyll_%28TV_series%29) ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/16 "2011-09-02T00:52:57Z")
[To The Manor Born](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_The_Manor_Born) UT ---
**Author:** ![Sigmundex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@Sigmundex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmundex)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/17 "2011-09-02T00:53:48Z")
Easy Question. There are two shows that are just hilarious, at least to my juvenile male (I’m 44, really) psyche - The Inbetweeners, a show about four kids that don’t fit into any cliques at school, really, but always get into funny situations and Peep Show, about two roommate dudes that are opposites, sort of an Oscar/Felix combo. But it’s got some hilarious moments. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/18 "2011-09-02T01:10:22Z")
> [@wedgehed](#): > > [Jekyll](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jekyll_%28TV_series%29) I second that. Lots of flaws in that series but definitely worth a look (really really really good dialogues). I rather liked the original “Queer as folk”. I believe it was a British series (bit old now, must be more than ten years). ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/19 "2011-09-02T01:38:56Z")
[This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=616660) thread I started recently should give you some idea of just how vast your options are. And that was just comedies. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895/20 "2011-09-02T01:54:06Z")
Go for the classics. \*\*The Young Ones \*\*and **Blackadder**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-british-series-should-i-watch/594895.md?page=2)