Great British sitcoms

[PTR 444]

It’s that time of year again. While some of the best British sitcoms are enjoyed all year round, Christmas is the perfect time for reliving some of the greatest episodes of all time, and not just the seasonal specials.

For me it’s a tough choice deciding which is the greatest of all time. There are more out there than the poll allows, but I would certainly say that my top 5 in no particular order consists of:

The Vicar of Dibley
The IT Crowd
Friday Night Dinner
The Royle Family
Father Ted

I have already got round to rewatching 1996’s A Christmassy Ted, and hoping to do the same for TVOD Christmas Lunch Incident (coincidentally also from that year, the ‘90s were great weren’t they?).

 

[Pete_uk]

Last of the summer wine

 

[Gloster]

For me it would be a toss up between Yes, Minister and Blackadder, but I have spent most of my life without a TV.

 

[J-2739]

There should be the option to select multiple! (edit - you've done it! )

I like several of those you have listed, such as:

• Mr. Bean
• Friday Night Dinner
• The Inbetweeners
• Keeping Up Appearances

One you haven't listed is Dinnerladies. Another classic.

 

[PTR 444]

There should be the option to select multiple!

I like several of those you have listed, but one you haven't listed is dinnerladies.

Just changed it now. You can select an unlimited number of options on the poll.

 

[D365]

It's a bit more modern, but I got hooked on Channel 4's Ackley Bridge. Filmed out of a former secondary in Halifax.

Fresh Meat is also a great one (sort of like a university version of Inbetweeners) with some famous names like Joe Thomas, Jack Whitehall, Robert Webb.

 

[J-2739]

It's a bit more modern, but I got hooked on Channel 4's Ackley Bridge. Filmed out of a former secondary in Halifax.

Doesn't seem like a sitcom to me. More of a school drama.

 

[ls2270]

Porridge for me but it’s not on the list!

 

[D365]

Doesn't seem like a sitcom to me. More of a school drama.

There should be a thread somewhere for soaps... I would volunteer, but that's the only one I watch.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Birds of a Feather has to be my favourite, followed by The Inbetweeners, Keeping Up Appearances, Only Fools and Horses and Faulty Towers. I love Friday Night Dinner as well.

Does Derry Girls count?

 

[oxfordray1]

For me it is Blackadder, Only Fools and Horses, Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister and Porridge.

There are by far my top four, but cannot rank them within the top four.

 

[J-2739]

There should be a thread somewhere for soaps... I would volunteer, but that's the only one I watch.

Coronation Street would win by a long shot then.

Another banger is Peep Show.

 

[Sorcerer]

Bottom is an easy win for me just because of how much I used to laugh watching it as a child even when I really shouldn't have been doing so, and the amount of times me and my friend have re-enacted different scenes just cannot be counted. That said, Fawlty Towers is a close second for me even though John Cleese isn't exactly the nicest of individuals.

 

[tbtc]

There should be the option to select multiple!

I like several of those you have listed, but one you haven't listed is dinnerladies.

dinnerladies was wonderful, I don’t think it got anything like the attention/ respect that it deserved, but I feel that people will keep discovering it in the future, it’s a timeless set up and handles the minutiae of close relationships really well

Id recommend Early Doors for similar reasons, barely an inch of fat on it, another sitcom that stayed beneath the radar

(But, impossible to list every show, the OP has given us a wide selection)

love Friday Night Dinner as well.

Does Derry Girls count?

Two great sitcoms , channel four are still investing in comedy, unlike some other channels (albeit that reminds me that I never watched that new Robert Popper show… did anyone try it?)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Just changed it now. You can select an unlimited number of options on the poll.

How about when this one is finished you hold a round two with the bottom ten removed and then a third round with the bottom five removed, and a straight run off vote on the remaining five as a final?

 

[birchesgreen]

Nathan Barley yeah?

 

[pdq]

My 'other' is Red Dwarf: loved that as a teenager/student

 

[brad465]

Yes Minister is technically a documentary, not a sitcom

 

[duncanp]

Yes Minister is technically a documentary, not a sitcom

Yes. especially the episode where there was a brand new hospital with no patients in it.

Now that could never happen in real life, could it?

Oh, hang on......

 

[Cowley]

Another banger is Peep Show.

Good taste. Thanks for mentioning Peep Show.

 

[cb a1]

My others are:
Drop the Dead Donkey
Red Dwarf

 

[Non Multi]

Other sitcoms: The Young Ones, Drop the Dead Donkey and The Brittas Empire. I'm surprised the The Young Ones isn't on the list.

 

[D6130]

One Foot in the Grave.

Chewin' the Fat

In the Loop

The Thick of It.

 

[Cowley]

The Thick of It.

The Thick of It. Absolutely brilliant.

 

[PTR 444]

Fresh Meat is also a great one (sort of like a university version of Inbetweeners) with some famous names like Joe Thomas, Jack Whitehall, Robert Webb.

One of very few sitcoms which I have watched every single episode in fact, having binged through it last spring thanks to my sister recommending it. Would highly recommend myself.

I particularly liked the first episode from series 3 which was set in Southampton. One cut-scene shows a SWR class 158 being filmed from the footbridge linking New Road with North Front on the Kingsland Estate.

Southampton City Centre

https://maps.app.goo.gl/M6TK48rCH9CCXKrS6?g_st=ic

 

[Darandio]

Soft spot for Men Behaving Badly here. Hasn't aged particularly well but part of my 'yoof'.

 

[Magdalia]

I didn't get where I am today without knowing a real winner when I see one.

This nomination is eleven minutes late due to staff difficulties at Hampton Wick.

 

[PTR 444]

How about when this one is finished you hold a round two with the bottom ten removed and then a third round with the bottom five removed, and a straight run off vote on the remaining five as a final?

Great idea! Maybe give this one a week or so?

 

[brad465]

Yes. especially the episode where there was a brand new hospital with no patients in it.

Now that could never happen in real life, could it?

Oh, hang on......

And also the four stage strategy which can be applied to countless situations:

"In stage one we say “nothing is going to happen”

"In stage two we say “something may be going to happen but we should do nothing about it”

"In stage three we say “maybe we should do something about it, but there’s nothing we can do”

"In stage four we say “maybe there’s something we could have done, but it’s too late now”

 

[Non Multi]

Two more: Black Books and Spaced.