Liz and Doug's Big List o' Great British TV Comedy
by liz-berry | created - 15 Jul 2012 | updated - 15 Jul 2012 | PublicMy husband and I have been watching TV together for years now. We consider ourselves connoisseurs of British comedy. Here are some gems worth watching - the fun thing about Brit Com is the longer you watch, the more you start seeing the same people popping back up over and over.
(most of these are on Netflix - hooray accessibility!)
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1. Porridge (1974–1977)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Crime
The prison life of Fletcher, a criminal serving a five-year sentence, as he strives to bide his time, keep his record clean, and refuses to be ground down by the prison system.
Stars: Ronnie Barker, Brian Wilde, Fulton Mackay, Richard Beckinsale
Votes: 6,791
I'll save you Americans some confusion: 'porridge' is slang for prison time.
You'll see Ronnie Barker later in 'Open All Hours.'
Recognize the name 'Beckinsale'? Sure you do. That's Kate's father - he died when she was little.
2. Fawlty Towers (1975–1979)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Hotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.
Stars: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
Votes: 99,818
Start here. All British comedy flows from John Cleese.
3. The Good Life (1975–1978)
28 min | Comedy
Tom Good quits the rat race, and with wife Barbara turns the garden of their Surbiton house into a smallholding. Their neighbours, snobbish Margo Leadbetter and her conventional husband Jerry, feel variously amused, offended and impressed.
Stars: Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith, Paul Eddington
Votes: 3,992
4. Open All Hours (1976–1985)
30 min | Comedy
Arkwright is a miserly and eccentric shopkeeper with a stammer, who longs to marry his lifelong love Nurse Gladys. He runs a small town grocery store along with his errand boy and nephew, Granville and a particularly dangerous till.
Stars: Ronnie Barker, David Jason, Lynda Baron, Barbara Flynn
Votes: 5,919
Think 'Fawlty Towers' only in a grocery store.
5. To the Manor Born (1979–2007)
Not Rated | 30 min | Comedy, Romance
Following her husband's passing, Audrey fforbes-Hamilton is forced to sell her stately home. While she comes to terms with her downward mobility, she decides to show the new owner a thing or two about "nobility".
Stars: Penelope Keith, Peter Bowles, Angela Thorne, Daphne Heard
Votes: 2,708
6. A Fine Romance (1981–1984)
30 min | Comedy, Romance
British sitcom about the simple relationship between Mike (Michael Williams) and Laura (Dame Judi Dench), two fairly unlikely individuals who come together and form an unmarried union. ... See full summary »
Stars: Judi Dench, Michael Williams, Susan Penhaligon, Richard Warwick
Votes: 735
Judi Dench. That's all I need to say.
7. Only Fools and Horses (1981–2003)
TV-PG | 95 min | Comedy
Comedy that follows two brothers from London's rough Peckham estate as they wheel and deal through a number of dodgy deals and search for the big score that'll make them millionaires.
Stars: David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Roger Lloyd Pack, Buster Merryfield
Votes: 56,467
David Jason from 'Open All Hours' returns as Mr. Anything-to-make-a-Buck Del Boy.
8. Blackadder (1982–1983)
TV-PG | 195 min | Comedy
In the Middle Ages, Prince Edmund the Black Adder constantly schemes and endeavors to seize the crown from his father and brother.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Brian Blessed, Elspet Gray, Tim McInnerny
Votes: 40,950
This picture is just for the first series, but watch them ALL.
Edmund (the incomparable Rowan Atkinson - forget the wishy washy Mr Bean, he's at his best being SNARKY!!) starts off pretty weaky and wobbly, but as the generations progress (we are follow Black Adders through the generations) he becomes a master of the mean and the sarcastic.
9. The Young Ones (1982–1984)
TV-14 | 35 min | Comedy
The crazy and sometimes surreal comedic adventures of four very different students in Thatcher's Britain.
Stars: Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan
Votes: 16,375
Doug's addition to the list. Not sure I would really endorse it.
10. Yes, Prime Minister (1986–1987)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
James Hacker was propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of politics - Number 10.
Stars: Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds, Diana Hoddinott
Votes: 12,839
Doug's pick. I haven't watched it.
11. A Bit of Fry and Laurie (1987–1995)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Comedians Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie perform a variety of comedy skits and the occasional musical number.
Stars: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Deborah Norton, Geoffrey McGivern
Votes: 9,904
This one is a bit hit or miss - sometimes the comedy is a little too British. This features Hugh Laurie (of course, our favorite Dr House) and Stephen Fry - together previously in Black Adder - doing sketch comedy.
12. Red Dwarf (1988– )
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
The adventures of the last human alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf.
Stars: Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn
Votes: 37,183
I take for granted that everyone who has seen any british comedy has seen this one, but I thought I'd list it just incase. I fell in love with this one when I was probably in middle school and PBS was still the ONLY way to get my brit com fix.
13. Waiting for God (1990–1994)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
When Tom Ballard moves to Bayview Retirement Vilage, he meets Diana Trent, a feisty old woman who complains about everything and wants nothing more than just to die. Much to the dislike of ... See full summary »
Stars: Graham Crowden, Stephanie Cole, Daniel Hill, Janine Duvitski
Votes: 1,991
14. As Time Goes By (1992–2005)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Romance
The Korean War, and a long lost letter, separate the lives of young lovers Jean Pargetter and Lionel Hardcastle, whose paths cross again by happenstance.
Stars: Judi Dench, Geoffrey Palmer, Moira Brooker, Philip Bretherton
Votes: 4,930
See #6
15. Mulberry (1992–1993)
30 min | Comedy, Fantasy
The son of Death and Springtime is sent to collect the acerbic and reclusive Miss Farnaby. He joins the staff in her manor house, becomes her personal servant, and endeavors to help her enjoy life during her three month extension.
Stars: Karl Howman, Geraldine McEwan, Tony Selby, John Bennett
Votes: 427
Death's son take a holiday.
16. Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012)
TV-14 | 45 min | Comedy
The wild misadventures of Edina "Eddy" Monsoon and her best friend Patsy Stone, who live in a nearly constant haze of drugged, drunken selfishness.
Stars: Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield
Votes: 21,447
17. British Men Behaving Badly (1992–2014)
TV-14 | 45 min | Comedy
Two early thirties best friends live together while having completely different personalities. While their girlfriends try to help them take on more responsibilities the boys seldom respond well and usually end up drinking together.
Stars: Martin Clunes, Caroline Quentin, Leslie Ash, Neil Morrissey
Votes: 8,636
Young Martin Clunes from Doc Martin!
Another show America stole and tried to make its own. It wasn't an awful failure, but this one is still far superior.
18. Chef! (1993–1996)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
Famous chef Gareth Blackstock struggles with dividing time between wife Janice and the restaurant. It's a good thing he can let off steam with his remarks.
Stars: Lenny Henry, Roger Griffiths, Caroline Lee-Johnson, Claire Skinner
Votes: 1,548
This one is Doug's pick. Think 'Fawlty Towers' only with a cook.
19. The Vicar of Dibley (1994–2020)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy
A boisterous female minister comes to serve in an eccentricly conservative small town's church.
Stars: Dawn French, James Fleet, Trevor Peacock, Gary Waldhorn
Votes: 15,403
'Father Ted' only a chick.
20. Father Ted (1995–1998)
TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy
Three misfit priests and their housekeeper live on Craggy Island, not the peaceful and quiet part of Ireland that it seems to be.
Stars: Dermot Morgan, Ardal O'Hanlon, Frank Kelly, Pauline McLynn
Votes: 43,610
'Vicar of Dibley' only a guy. :-)
21. Spaced (1999–2001)
TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy
Friends Tim and Daisy, 20-something North Londoners with uncertain futures, must pretend to be a couple to live in the only apartment they can afford.
Stars: Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes, Julia Deakin, Nick Frost
Votes: 57,507
22. Coupling (2000–2004)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Romance
Six best friends talk about all aspects of sex and relationships on their never-ending quest to find true love.
Stars: Jack Davenport, Gina Bellman, Sarah Alexander, Kate Isitt
Votes: 47,588
They tried to Americanize this one: abysmal failure.
23. Black Books (2000–2004)
TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy
Bernard Black runs a book shop, though his customer service skills leave something to be desired. He hires Manny as an employee. Fran runs the shop next door. Between the three of them many adventures ensue.
Stars: Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, Tamsin Greig, Paul Beech
Votes: 61,783
Think 'Fawlty Towers' only in a bookstore.
24. Fortysomething (2003)
60 min | Comedy, Drama
Paul Slippery (Hugh Laurie), a forty-something doctor, lives with his wife Estelle and three sex-obsessed sons Rory, Daniel and Edwin in the west London suburb of Putney. On top of coping ... See full summary »
Stars: Hugh Laurie, Anna Chancellor, Sheila Hancock, Benedict Cumberbatch
Votes: 2,260
Picture this: an alternate universe where 'House' is nice, settled down and has a family.
25. Peep Show (2003–2015)
TV-MA | 25 min | Comedy
Mark and Jez are a couple of twenty-something roommates who have nothing in common - except for the fact that their lives are anything but normal. Mayhem ensues as the pair strive to cope with day-to-day life.
Stars: David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Matt King, Olivia Colman
Votes: 66,277
Mitchell and Webb sit - com. These guys do all manner of hilarious sketch comedy, but I'll give this one my highest endorsement since it has a plot.
26. Green Wing (2004–2007)
TV-14 | 65 min | Comedy, Drama
Funky hospital-based sketch-comedy-drama type show.
Stars: Sally Bretton, Oliver Chris, Olivia Colman, Michelle Gomez
Votes: 12,728
If you've made it this far, you will recognize pretty much EVERYONE in this show. Watch for alums from: Black Books, Spaced, Coupling, etc.
27. Doc Martin (2004–2022)
TV-14 | 46 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
The trials and tribulations of Martin Ellingham, a brilliant but socially challenged doctor who moves from London to the picturesque village of Port Wenn in Cornwall.
Stars: Martin Clunes, Caroline Catz, Ian McNeice, Joe Absolom
Votes: 20,078
Watch this BEFORE 'Men Behaving Badly' or you will have a really hard time taking Doc Martin seriously.
28. The Worst Week of My Life (2004–2006)
29 min | Comedy
Mel and Howard's wedding is one week away. Howard experiences a series of humiliating disasters in the week leading up to the ceremony.
Stars: Ben Miller, Sarah Alexander, Alison Steadman, Geoffrey Whitehead
Votes: 1,970
They tried to Americanize this one too. Another fail.
29. Supernova (2005–2006)
29 min | Comedy
British astronomer Paul Hamilton leaves London for a new life in a remote Australian settlement.
Stars: Rob Brydon, Hollie Andrew, Tim Draxl, Damion Hunter
Votes: 243
I reread this and saw 'Father Ted' is technically Irish so I added this one just to have an even number. It's Australian.
30. The IT Crowd (2006–2013)
TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy
The comedic misadventures of Roy, Moss and their grifting supervisor Jen, a rag-tag team of IT support workers at a large corporation headed by a hotheaded yuppie.
Stars: Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson, Matt Berry
Votes: 163,753
Start watching for the two male cuties as they are starting to cross over and do American stuff (Chris O'Dowd in "Bridesmaids" and the guy who plays Moss is about to be in a movie with Ben Stiller.)
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