The Best British Comedy in the World ever....
by c.tomlinson | created - 11 Jun 2016 | updated - 19 May 2019 | PublicBelow is a list (in no particular order) of " The Best British Comedy shows..." and proves 100% why British Comedy is the best in the WORLD.....
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1. 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: 100,100
2. 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: 78,763
3. 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: 41,060
4. 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
5. The League of Gentlemen (1999–2017)
TV-MA | 60 min | Comedy, Horror
An 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.
Stars: Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, Jeremy Dyson
Votes: 12,208
6. Inside No. 9 (2014– )
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Genre-mixing anthology series, inviting viewers into some very different and enigmatic No. 9s.
Stars: Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton, Derek Jacobi, Aimee-Ffion Edwards
Votes: 19,613
7. Psychoville (2009–2011)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Horror, Mystery
A group of seemingly unrelated strangers all receive a mysterious note stating "I know what you did", which sends their lives into a downward spiral.
Stars: Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton, Daniel Kaluuya, Daisy Haggard
Votes: 7,385
8. Rising Damp (1974–1978)
30 min | Comedy
Popular sitcom set in a seedy bedsit lorded over by the mean, vain, boastful, cowardly, racist landlord Rigsby. In each episode, his conceits are debunked by his long-suffering tenants.
Stars: Leonard Rossiter, Don Warrington, Frances de la Tour, Richard Beckinsale
Votes: 2,813
9. Steptoe and Son (1962–1974)
TV-PG | 45 min | Comedy
British sitcom about a father-and-son rag-and-bone business in London. The intergenerational divide between the miserly Steptoe and his ambitious son results in comedy, drama, and tragedy.
Stars: Wilfrid Brambell, Harry H. Corbett, Frank Thornton, Tim Buckland
Votes: 3,421
10. Hancock's Half Hour (1956–1960)
30 min | Comedy
TV version of the popular BBC radio show of the same name, with Tony Hancock as the modern man of the world (in his own eyes). Sid James is there to bring him back to earth.
Stars: Tony Hancock, Sidney James, Johnny Vyvyan, Alec Bregonzi
Votes: 591
11. The Likely Lads (1976)
90 min | Comedy
Bob and Terry find their lifelong friendship beginning to change as Terry becomes involved with a new woman. Bob is dismayed, but his wife sees the opportunity to get Terry married off and put a wedge between the friends.
Director: Michael Tuchner | Stars: Rodney Bewes, James Bolam, Brigit Forsyth, Mary Tamm
Votes: 1,267
12. 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: 6,831
13. Sykes (1972–1979)
30 min | Comedy
Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques portray twins who live together in East Acton and enjoy a slightly surreal life, bothering their snobbish next-door neighbour Mr. Brown and getting into ... See full summary »
Stars: Eric Sykes, Hattie Jacques, Deryck Guyler, Richard Wattis
Votes: 348
14. Phoenix Nights (2001–2002)
25 min | Comedy
The misadventures of club owner Brian Potter who is determined to make The Phoenix Club the best working men's club in Greater Manchester.
Stars: Peter Kay, Dave Spikey, Justin Moorhouse, Paddy McGuinness
Votes: 7,597
15. 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: 56,673
16. Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV (1985–1987)
30 min | Comedy
Sketch-based show starring Victoria Wood, Dame Julie Walters, and many others. Included regular items such as "Acorn Antiques" with Julie as Mrs. Overall and a regular advice slot from Agony Aunt Kitty (Patricia Routledge).
Stars: Victoria Wood, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston
Votes: 425
17. Three of a Kind (1981–1983)
Comedy
Stars: Lenny Henry, Tracey Ullman, David Copperfield, Jane Darling
Votes: 81
18. The Lenny Henry Show (1984–1988)
30 min | Comedy
A sketch show featuring many different characters and spoofs.
Stars: Lenny Henry, Robert Bathurst, Carla Mendonça, Lyndam Gregory
Votes: 130
19. Jasper Carrott: Back to the Front (1999– )
35 min | Comedy
Stand-up series.
Star: Jasper Carrott
Votes: 20
20. 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
21. The Two Ronnies (1971–1987)
Comedy
This long-running BBC comedy show consisted of sketches and humourous musical routines.
Stars: Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, The Fred Tomlinson Singers, John Owens
Votes: 3,583
22. The Morecambe & Wise Show (1968–1977)
Comedy
The Morecambe & Wise Show was a long running and massively popular sketch series starring British comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, plus a string of top-name international celebrity guests (of a bygone age), like André Prévin.
Stars: Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise, Ann Hamilton, Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen
Votes: 1,057
23. Desmond's (1989–1994)
TV-14 | 50 min | Comedy
Meet Desmond, his non-conforming family, and the regulars of his hairdresser salon in Peckham, London.
Stars: Norman Beaton, Carmen Munroe, Ram John Holder, Gyearbuor Asante
Votes: 1,065
24. The Fosters (1976–1977)
30 min | Comedy, Family
Samuel Foster works hard trying to support his family in a South London multi-storey council flat.
Stars: Norman Beaton, Isabelle Lucas, Lenny Henry, Sharon Rosita
Votes: 57
25. 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: 37,275
26. Goodness Gracious Me (1998–2015)
45 min | Comedy
A British sketch-comedy that explores the integration of Indian and British cultures through a series of satires, musicals, and skits.
Stars: Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Kulvinder Ghir, Nina Wadia
Votes: 1,306
27. Citizen Khan (2012–2016)
30 min | Comedy
Comedy series set in Birmingham following the trials and tribulations of (self appointed) community leader Mr Khan and his family.
Stars: Adil Ray, Bhavna Limbachia, Abdullah Afzal, Shobu Kapoor
Votes: 3,375
28. 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: 16,441
29. Bottom (1991–1995)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
Two perpetually bored and broke flatmates waste their days in a futile struggle to get laid, earn cash, and not kill one another.
Stars: Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Steven O'Donnell, Christopher Ryan
Votes: 14,181
30. TV Burp (2001–2012)
23 min | Comedy
Harry Hill stars in this surreal comedy show, revolving around the previous week's shows on British television.
Stars: Harry Hill, Steve Benham, Ronne Coyles, Dave Thompson
Votes: 2,235
31. Up Pompeii! (1969–1970)
30 min | Comedy, History
Lurcio is a much-put-upon slave in the ancient Roman town of Pompeii. More often than not, Lurcio finds himself keeping his owner's family members apart, in order to keep them together.
Stars: Frankie Howerd, Elizabeth Larner, Kerry Gardner, Jeanne Mockford
Votes: 372
32. Count Arthur Strong (2013–2017)
30 min | Comedy
Delusional show business character Count Arthur Strong, a pompous, out-of-work actor from Doncaster attempts to recount his life story with the help of the scholarly son of his former comedy partner.
Stars: Steve Delaney, Rory Kinnear, Zahra Ahmadi, Andy Linden
Votes: 1,096
33. The Catherine Tate Show (2004–2009)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
Sketches by Catherine Tate and her comedy troupe.
Stars: Catherine Tate, Mathew Horne, Niky Wardley, Derren Litten
Votes: 4,294
34. Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge (1994–1995)
TV-14 | 45 min | Comedy
Alan Partridge hosts his own chat show on the BBC. He insults and belittles almost all of his guests and is humiliated by the rest.
Stars: Steve Coogan, Rebecca Front, Patrick Marber, Steve Brown
Votes: 6,847
35. The Office (2001–2003)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy, Drama
The 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.
Stars: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis
Votes: 123,103
36. In Sickness and in Health (1985–1992)
30 min | Comedy
Alf and Else are getting old, Rita's left home, Else's confined to a wheelchair. Alf must now do battle with the Social Security system.
Stars: Warren Mitchell, Carmel McSharry, Arthur English, Ken Campbell
Votes: 726
37. Only When I Laugh (1979–1982)
30 min | Comedy
A rather naive, middle-class man is admitted to a hospital ward and finds that he is sharing it with a working-class layabout and an upper-class hypochondriac. All three of them cause headaches for the hospital staff.
Stars: James Bolam, Peter Bowles, Christopher Strauli, Richard Wilson
Votes: 991
38. 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: 7,317
39. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
TV-PG | 152 min | Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Arthur Dent and his friend, Ford Prefect, escape the destruction of Earth, only to face incredible trials, tribulations and adventures in space and time.
Stars: Simon Jones, David Dixon, Peter Jones, Sandra Dickinson
Votes: 11,708
40. 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: 21,516
41. 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
42. 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: 5,951
43. Sorry! (1981–1988)
30 min | Comedy
A 41-year-old man is unable to leave home because of his domineering mother.
Stars: Ronnie Corbett, Barbara Lott, William Moore, Marguerite Hardiman
Votes: 520
44. Ripping Yarns (1976–1979)
TV-PG | 30 min | Adventure, Comedy
This show is a collection of tales that make for "ripping good" television. Sir Michael Palin played a different lead character in each yarn.
Stars: Michael Palin, Charles McKeown, Barbara New, David Griffin
Votes: 1,702
45. The Innes Book of Records (1979–1981)
25 min | Comedy, Family, Music
Neil Innes performs parody songs old and new, all set to specially-shot footage, and including special guest performers. Plotless and surreal, Innes described the programme as "songs and pictures, about people and things".
Stars: Neil Innes, Bryan Payne, Gillian Gregory, David Shaw
Votes: 57
46. The Goodies (1970–1982)
30 min | Comedy
The adventures of a crazy trio whose motto is "we do anything, anytime, anywhere."
Stars: Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie, Corbet Woodall
Votes: 1,885
47. At Last the 1948 Show (1967)
30 min | Comedy
Written by and starring The Goodies' Tim Brooke-Taylor, Monty Python's Graham Chapman and John Cleese, and comedy legend Marty Feldman, "At Last the 1948 Show" is a groundbreaking, splendidly silly and surreal sketch comedy series.
Stars: John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Marty Feldman
Votes: 588
48. Rutland Weekend Television (1975–1976)
30 min | Comedy, Music
Comedy sketch series purporting to show the programming of a low key regional television service.
Stars: Eric Idle, Neil Innes, David Battley, Henry Woolf
Votes: 139
49. Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967–1969)
30 min | Family, Comedy
Short comedy sketches performed by an ensemble cast accompanied by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, an eccentric English group featuring Neil Innes and fronted by Vivian Stanshall.
Stars: Denise Coffey, Eric Idle, David Jason, Terry Jones
Votes: 500
50. Terry and June (1979–1987)
30 min | Comedy
Terry and June Medford are a middle aged couple who find the trials of life more difficult as they try to succeed in their daily lives.
Stars: Terry Scott, June Whitfield, Reginald Marsh, Rosemary Frankau
Votes: 463
51. The Comic Strip Presents (1982– )
Comedy
A series of self contained television movies starring performers from London's "Comic Strip" comedy club and their friends. Noted for a high sense of parody of previous movies, literature, and generally everyone in sight.
Stars: Peter Richardson, Adrian Edmondson, Jennifer Saunders, Nigel Planer
Votes: 1,626
52. Drop the Dead Donkey (1990–1998)
Comedy
Political satire about television news company Globe Link and its team of workers such as anchors Henry and Sally, reporter Damien, editor Dave, execs George and Helen, assistant Joy and manager Gus Hedges.
Stars: Neil Pearson, Jeff Rawle, David Swift, Stephen Tompkinson
Votes: 1,615
53. 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: 3,650
54. Vic Reeves Big Night Out (1990–1991)
25 min | Comedy
Hugely influential, surreal and anarchic parody of the variety show format. Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer introduce a selection of eccentric characters. The show often appears to be completely random, ramshackle and nonsensical.
Stars: Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Fred Aylward, Charlie Higson
Votes: 883
55. Harry Enfield and Chums (1994–1999)
40 min | Comedy
The BBC sketch show that while continuing to show the misadventures of a series of popular characters now introduces a slew of new oddballs and misfits, including Tory Boy and The Lovely Wobbly Randy Old Ladies.
Stars: Harry Enfield, Kathy Burke, Paul Whitehouse, Louisa Rix
Votes: 3,452
56. The Mary Whitehouse Experience (1990–1992)
30 min | Comedy
The Mary Whitehouse Experience was an rapid-fire observational sketch comedy show, which first aired on radio, and then moved to television, where it ran on the BBC (BBC 2), between 1990-... See full summary »
Stars: Hugh Dennis, David Baddiel, Steve Punt, Rob Newman
Votes: 238
57. The Fast Show (1994–2014)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
UK comedy sketch show depicting most forms of stereotypical British society.
Stars: Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Arabella Weir, Simon Day
Votes: 5,226
58. Car Share (2015–2020)
30 min | Comedy
Assistant manager John Redmond and promotions rep Kayleigh Kitson are forced to commute together every day. But will they get along?
Stars: Peter Kay, Sian Gibson, Danny Swarsbrick, Guy Garvey
Votes: 5,570
59. Alexei Sayle's Stuff (1988–1991)
30 min | Comedy
Comedy sketch show which ran on BBC2 for a total of 18 episodes over 3 series from 1988 to 1991.
Stars: Alexei Sayle, Tony Millan, Angus Deayton, Owen Brenman
Votes: 161
60. The Goodies (1970–1982)
30 min | Comedy
The adventures of a crazy trio whose motto is "we do anything, anytime, anywhere."
Stars: Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie, Corbet Woodall
Votes: 1,885
61. Still Game (1999 Video)
77 min | Comedy
In the predecessor to the TV series, Jack, Victor and Winston are three old men trapped in a Glasgow hi-rise..
Director: Bill Smith | Stars: Greg Hemphill, Cameron Jack, Ford Kiernan, Paul Riley
Votes: 1,044
62. Still Open All Hours (2013–2019)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Having inherited the shop from his uncle, it's business as usual for Granville at Arkwright's corner shop.
Stars: James Baxter, David Jason, Stephanie Cole, Brigit Forsyth
Votes: 1,867
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