Best Short Running British TV Comedy
Which of these UK TV comedy shows* that lasted less than 4 series is the funniest?
*Scripted mainly comedy shows, no talk shows, game shows or shows where the comedy part was secondary/incidental, and only entirely UK productions, with at least 2,000 votes on IMDb.
Check out this poll for shows that lasted more than 4 series.
Discuss the list here.
*Scripted mainly comedy shows, no talk shows, game shows or shows where the comedy part was secondary/incidental, and only entirely UK productions, with at least 2,000 votes on IMDb.
Check out this poll for shows that lasted more than 4 series.
Discuss the list here.
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- CreatorGraham LinehanArthur MathewsStarsKevin EldonMark HeapSimon PeggA British sketch comedy show where people in ordinary situations suddenly find themselves in absurd situations.
- CreatorDylan MoranStarsDylan MoranBill BaileyTamsin GreigBernard 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.
- StarsAdrian EdmondsonRik MayallSteven O'DonnellTwo perpetually bored and broke flatmates waste their days in a futile struggle to get laid, earn cash, and not kill one another.
- StarsChristopher MorrisMark HeapKevin EldonControversial spoof of current affairs television, and the role of celebrity in the UK.
- StarsCatherine TateMathew HorneNiky WardleySketches by Catherine Tate and her comedy troupe.
- StarsMatt LucasDavid WalliamsLindsay DuncanThis is a parody of shows about the inner workings of an airport.
- CreatorSacha Baron CohenStarsSacha Baron CohenT.N.T. CrewSteve EllingtonSacha Baron Cohen provides an inimitable mix of global reportage and celebrity chat via his characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev and Brüno Gehard.
- StarsChristopher MorrisSteve CooganPatrick MarberA spoof of the British style of news broadcasting - including ridiculous stories, patronising vox pops, offensively hard-hitting research and a sports presenter clearly struggling for metaphors.
- CreatorRicky GervaisStarsRicky GervaisKerry GodlimanDavid EarlDerek is a loyal nursing home care assistant who sees only the good in his quirky co-workers as they struggle against prejudice and shrinking budgets to care for their elderly residents.
- StarsDermot MorganArdal O'HanlonFrank KellyThree misfit priests and their housekeeper live on Craggy Island, not the peaceful and quiet part of Ireland that it seems to be.
- StarsJohn CleesePrunella ScalesAndrew SachsHotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.
- CreatorJesse ArmstrongSam BainStarsZawe AshtonGreg McHughKimberley NixonA comedy that follows a group of six students about to embark on the most exciting period of their lives so far, university.
- StarsRichard AyoadeMatt BerryMatthew HolnessThis parody series is an unearthed 80s horror/drama, complete with poor production values, awful dialogue and hilarious violence. The series is set in a Hospital in Romford, which is situated over the gates of Hell.
- CreatorJames CordenRuth JonesStarsJoanna PageMathew HorneAlison SteadmanGavin and Stacey have been continuing their romance on-line and by telephone for the last six months. Now they want to be together but will their friends and family let them?
- CreatorVictoria PileStarsSally BrettonOliver ChrisOlivia ColmanFunky hospital-based sketch-comedy-drama type show.
- StarsSimon JonesDavid DixonPeter JonesArthur Dent and his friend, Ford Prefect, escape the destruction of Earth, only to face incredible trials, tribulations and adventures in space and time.
- StarsSteve CooganSimon GreenallFelicity MontaguA failed television presenter, now presenting a programme on local desperately tries to revive his broadcasting career.
- StarsSimon BirdJames BuckleyBlake HarrisonFollows four friends and their antics during their final years of school.
- StarsMark GatissSteve PembertonReece ShearsmithAn interweaving narrative chronicling the antics of such diverse characters as: a transgender taxi driver, a family obsessed with hygiene and toads, a fiery reverend, a carnival owner who kidnaps women into marriage, and a xenophobic couple who run a local shop for local people.
- CreatorWarwick DavisRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsWarwick DavisRicky GervaisStephen MerchantThe show centers on Warwick Davis in his day-to-day life, complete with the frustrations he faces.
- StarsJulian BarrattNoel FieldingMichael FieldingSurreal British comedy in which Vince Noir and Howard Moon have adventures filled with oddball characters while working as Zoo Keepers, before pursuing a musical career and running a second-hand shop.
- StarsMiranda HartPatricia HodgeTom EllisSocially inept Miranda always gets into awkward situations; working in her joke shop with best friend Stevie, being hounded by her pushy mother, and around her crush Gary.
- CreatorRowan AtkinsonRichard CurtisStarsRowan AtkinsonMatilda ZieglerRobin DriscollBumbling, childlike Mr. Bean has trouble completing the simplest of day-to-day tasks, but his perseverance and resourcefulness frequently allow him to find ingenious ways around problems.
- CreatorBob BoyleStarsRowan AtkinsonSally GraceJon GloverA clueless yet clever loner bungles his way through life in London.
- CreatorRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsRicky GervaisMartin FreemanMackenzie CrookThe story of an office that faces closure when the company decides to downsize its branches. A documentary film crew follow staff and the manager David Brent as they continue their daily lives.
- StarsPeter KayDave SpikeyJustin MoorhouseThe misadventures of club owner Brian Potter who is determined to make The Phoenix Club the best working men's club in Greater Manchester.
- StarsRonnie BarkerBrian WildeFulton MackayThe 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.
- StarsReece ShearsmithSteve PembertonDaniel KaluuyaA group of seemingly unrelated strangers all receive a mysterious note stating "I know what you did", which sends their lives into a downward spiral.
- StarsCaroline AherneCraig CashSue JohnstonA British sitcom about the everyday life of a working-class family in Northwest England: watching telly, smoking, drinking, and bickering.
- CreatorDavid FineAlison SnowdenRichard StarzakStarsJustin FletcherJohn SparkesRichard WebberShaun The Sheep is a cheeky and mischievous sheep at Mossy Bottom farm who's the leader of the flock and always plays slapstick jokes, pranks and causes trouble especially on Farmer X and his grumpy guide dog, Bitzer.
- StarsSimon PeggJessica HynesJulia DeakinFriends 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.
- CreatorBen EltonStarsRowan AtkinsonMina AnwarJames DreyfusVarious mishaps at a police station in an English town. The main character is the anachronistic, yet charming and funny Inspector Fowler. CID foil to Fowler, Inspector Grim is a bumbling, seething idiot.
- StarsPaul EddingtonNigel HawthorneDerek FowldsThe Right Honorable James Hacker has landed the plum job of Cabinet Minister to the Department of Administration. At last he is in a position of power and can carry out some long-needed reforms, or so he thinks.
- StarsPaul EddingtonNigel HawthorneDerek FowldsJames Hacker was propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of politics - Number 10.
- StarsRik MayallAdrian EdmondsonNigel PlanerThe crazy and sometimes surreal comedic adventures of four very different students in Thatcher's Britain.