Best Long Running British TV Comedy
by cartman_1337 | created - 28 Jan 2014 | updated - 01 Feb 2014 | PublicWhich of these UK TV comedy shows* that lasted at least 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. Limited to the 31 most popular shows based on IMDb ratings (2,000 votes or more) plus the 4 longest running shows with fewer votes.
Check out this poll for shows that lasted less than 4 series.
Discuss the list here.
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1. 'Allo 'Allo! (1982–1992)
45 min | Comedy, History, War
In France during World War II, René Artois runs a small café where Resistance fighters, Gestapo men, German Army officers and escaped Allied POWs interact daily, ignorant of one another's true identity or presence, exasperating René.
Stars: Gorden Kaye, Carmen Silvera, Vicki Michelle, Richard Marner
Votes: 27,041
9 series
2. The Army Game (1957–1961)
30 min | Comedy
The exploits of a bunch of army conscripts.
Stars: Harry Fowler, Frank Williams, Ted Lune, Alfie Bass
Votes: 96
5 series, but significantly longer series than common in UK
3. The Avengers (1961–1969)
TV-14 | 50 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners.
Stars: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, Linda Thorson
Votes: 8,885
7 series
4. 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: 9,917
4 series
5. 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: 21,511
6 series
6. Are You Being Served? (1972–1985)
TV-PG | 28 min | Comedy
The misadventures of the staff of a retail floor of a major department store.
Stars: Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Frank Thornton, Wendy Richard
Votes: 9,224
10 series
7. Being Human (2008–2013)
TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
A werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost try to live together and get along.
Stars: Lenora Crichlow, Russell Tovey, Aidan Turner, Sinéad Keenan
Votes: 26,523
5 series
8. The Benny Hill Show (1969–1989)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
A skit based show with Benny Hill, often containing smutty humour.
Stars: Benny Hill, Henry McGee, Jackie Wright, Bob Todd
Votes: 5,510
19 series
9. 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: 41,055
4 series + specials
10. Bodger & Badger (1989–1999)
15 min | Adventure, Family
Odd job man Simon Bodger has a highly unusual pet and best friend, a badly behaved, beret-wearing, talking Badger - who LOVES mashed potatoes. Bodger tries a variety of jobs but Badger is always getting him into messy trouble.
Stars: Andy Cunningham, Jane Bassett, Carol MacReady, Selina Cadell
Votes: 455
9 series
11. ChuckleVision (1987–2009)
20 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Crazy antics ensue when Barry and Paul Chuckle get into various exaggerated situations.
Stars: Paul Chuckle, Barry Chuckle, Jimmy Patton, Brian Patton
Votes: 2,132
21 series
12. 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: 47,674
4 series
13. Dad's Army (1968–1977)
30 min | Comedy, War
A ragtag group of Home Guard volunteers prepare for an imminent German invasion during World War II.
Stars: Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn, John Laurie
Votes: 7,226
9 series
14. 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: 20,194
6 series
15. How Not to Live Your Life (2007–2011)
28 min | Comedy
This series revolves around a neurotic twenty-nine year old man named Don. As he tries to make his way through life, his overactive mind and inappropriate behavior is always getting him into trouble.
Stars: Dan Clark, David Armand, Leila Hoffman, Laura Haddock
Votes: 6,109
4 series
16. 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: 164,283
4 series + special
17. Jeeves and Wooster (1990–1993)
TV-PG | 55 min | Comedy
Bertram Wooster, a well-intentioned, wealthy layabout, has a habit of getting himself into trouble and it's up to his brilliant valet, Jeeves, to get him out.
Stars: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Richard Dixon, Robert Daws
Votes: 13,144
4 series
18. Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy
A snobbish housewife is determined to climb the social ladder, in spite of her family's working class connections and the constant chagrin of her long suffering husband.
Stars: Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift, Geoffrey Hughes, Judy Cornwell
Votes: 17,859
5 series
19. Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Three old men from Yorkshire who have never grown up face the trials of their fellow town citizens and everyday life and stay young by reminiscing about the days of their youth and attempting feats not common to the elderly.
Stars: Peter Sallis, Jane Freeman, Kathy Staff, Robert Fyfe
Votes: 3,649
31 series
20. Little Britain (2003–2006)
TV-MA | 29 min | Comedy
Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the creators of this character-comedy sketch show, delight in all that is mad, bad, quirky and generally bonkers about the people and places of Britain.
Stars: Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Tom Baker, Paul Putner
Votes: 26,104
4 series
21. 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: 8,651
7 series
22. Mind Your Language (1977–1986)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
A diverse group of immigrants and foreigners learn English at an adult education school in London.
Stars: Barry Evans, George Camiller, Jacki Harding, Zara Nutley
Votes: 9,717
4 series
23. Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
The original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.
Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle
Votes: 78,751
4 series
24. My Family (2000–2011)
TV-14 | 50 min | Comedy
Ben Harper, a misanthropic dentist, has little time for most people, including his wife Susan, and their children Nick, Janey, and Michael.
Stars: Robert Lindsay, Zoë Wanamaker, Gabriel Thomson, Daniela Denby-Ashe
Votes: 10,533
11 series
25. Not Going Out (2006– )
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
The mishaps of slacker Lee and the love of his life, Lucy along with their friends & family.
Stars: Lee Mack, Sally Bretton, Katy Wix, Hugh Dennis
Votes: 7,899
6 series
26. One Foot in the Grave (1990–2001)
TV-PG | 90 min | Comedy, Drama
Victor Meldrew is a retiree who attracts bad luck. If he's not driving his long suffering wife Margaret crazy with his constant moaning, he's fighting with neighbours.
Stars: Richard Wilson, Annette Crosbie, Doreen Mantle, Owen Brenman
Votes: 7,316
6 series
27. 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: 56,665
9 series
28. Outnumbered (2007–2016)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
A part-improvised comedy about a couple bringing up their three young children.
Stars: Hugh Dennis, Claire Skinner, Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche
Votes: 12,163
5 series
29. 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: 66,531
9 series
30. 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: 37,269
10 series
31. Teachers (2001–2004)
TV-MA | 50 min | Comedy, Drama
Comedy drama that follows the exploits of school staff both inside and out of the classroom.
Stars: Ursula Holden Gill, Lloyd McGuire, Gillian Bevan, Ellen Thomas
Votes: 3,884
4 series
32. That Mitchell and Webb Look (2006–2010)
720 min | Comedy, Fantasy
A comedy sketch show featuring David Mitchell and Robert Webb.
Stars: David Mitchell, Robert Webb, James Bachman, Mark Evans
Votes: 9,524
4 series
33. The Thick of It (2005–2012)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
The Minister for Social Affairs is continually harassed by Number 10's policy enforcer and dependent on his not-so-reliable team of civil servants.
Stars: Chris Addison, James Smith, Peter Capaldi, Joanna Scanlan
Votes: 26,100
4 series
34. 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: 15,466
5 series
35. Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001–2011)
26 min | Comedy
The lives and loves of five friends in the Northern town of Runcorn.
Stars: Will Mellor, Natalie Casey, Sheridan Smith, Kathryn Drysdale
Votes: 4,855
9 series
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