Top 20 Comedies Every Brit Should See

#20: “Not the Nine O’Clock News” (1979-82)

As the name suggests, this late 70s sketch comedy series wasn’t a news programme. It lasted for 4 seasons, and became so adored that all four primary cast members became stars. Rowan Atkinson is probably the most internationally renowned of the bunch, as he went on to become “Blackadder” and “Mr. Bean.” Alongside him were comedians Pamela Stephenson, Mel Smith, and Griff Rhys Jones, who all went on to have successful careers. While we do think it’s essential viewing, sadly, the BBC hardly agrees. They rarely play it now, and according to the creator, it’s because they don’t want to have to pay them further fees.

#19: “Spaced” (1999-2001)

If this were a list about British cinema, there’s a strong chance the Cornetto Trilogy would make an appearance. Long before we got “Shaun of the Dead”, Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost got their start in “Spaced.” Frost is only a supporting character; instead, it’s Pegg and Jessica Hynes who are the lead duo. It’s one of the most creatively directed comedies in British history, featuring constant visual humour and immaculate style. Alongside this, it features a cast of unforgettable oddballs, played by some of Britain’s most celebrated comedy actors like Mark Heap.

#18: “Green Wing” (2004-07)

Next is another comedy featuring no one but big names in the British comedy scene. This hospital sitcom is extremely bizarre and surreal, yet according to NHS professionals, it’s one of the most accurate medical shows ever. This is quite surprising, given how rarely any of them discuss actual medicine; also, it often feels like a fever dream. That’s because it accurately represents the personalities of medical professionals better than any other show, never shying away from how eccentric they often are. It’s easily one of the most groundbreaking sitcoms from its era, and if you haven’t seen it yet, like most entries on this list, it’s only 2 seasons long.

#17: “Outnumbered” (2007-24)

Few child actors can match the hilarity provided by the three “Outnumbered” kids. This heartwarming family comedy covers the lives of two constantly stressed parents trying their best to raise their children. Every episode had a well-written script behind it, but they often wouldn’t show it to the kids. This led to some sidesplitting scenes, featuring tons of dialogue an adult couldn’t come up with. It aired for five series originally, making it one of the longer entries on our list, but it comes back every few years for a Christmas special to warm our hearts once more.

#16: “I’m Alan Partridge” (1997-2002)

Alan Partridge was a character created by actor Steve Coogan and globally acclaimed comedy writer Armando Iannucci, responsible for many of the shows on today’s list. He had his TV debut in 1994 on “The Day Today,” then starred in his own show, “Knowing Me, Knowing You” in 1995. Finally, in 1997, this masterpiece was released, showing the whimsical day-to-day antics of Partridge’s life. It’s one of many pieces of Partridge media, but it stands out as the defining one. It’s noteworthy for being an early example of cringe comedy, which would later dominate British sitcoms through series such as “The Office” and “Peep Show.”

#15: “Dad’s Army” (1968-77)

While it’s one of the oldest series on our list, that doesn’t make it any less comical. This late 60s sitcom shows the humorous lives of Britain’s Home Guard in WWII. As the name implies, many of these volunteers were elderly. Fascinatingly, most of the central cast actually served during the war, making the characters feel remarkably authentic. Many consider it the original comedy about people who don’t suit their line of work, with Captain Mainwaring being hilariously incompetent at times. If it weren’t for “Dad’s Army,” we may have never had later sitcoms like “Fawlty Towers.” It’s so beloved that its repeats still bring in tons of views for the BBC.

#14: “The Office” (2001-03)

Despite not making a splash when it was first broadcast, a strong argument can be made for “The Office” being one of the most influential comedies of the century so far. It’s set in a pretty depressing office, poking fun at how bleak their office lives feel. Not only has it been aired across the world, but so many countries have made their own version. Each one gives you insight into how attitudes differ across the globe. For instance, the American one is way more optimistic about the banality of workplace life. For a lot of Brits, the cynicism and cringe comedy of the original hits way harder, though.

#13: “This Country” (2017-20)

Mockumentaries about poor people have become a popular genre in recent decades, and one of the funniest is undoubtedly “This Country.” Written by siblings Daisy May and Charlie Cooper, it covers the lives of two young people struggling to get by in rural England. The two primary characters are unforgettable, and the supporting village locals are the icing on the cake. Our favourites include real-life Cotswalds celebrity Slugs, the uproarious old man Len, and the comically intense Mandy. It’s also a surprisingly poignant comedy, which can have you crying tears of joy one moment, then tears of sorrow when it highlights the challenging realities of rural life.

#12: “Brass Eye” (1997-2001)

Chris Morris is one of our country’s most celebrated comedy writers, responsible for a ton of projects like “Four Lions,” “The Day Today”, and of course “Brass Eye.” It only ran for 7 episodes, but each one is comedy gold. It’s an extremely over-the-top satirisation of current affairs programmes at the time, presented by the never-not-intense Chris Morris. It also had multiple controversies; for example, it upset quite a few politicians and celebrities who were pranked into making hoax statements about fictional substances. Most famous was the final episode, released 4 years after the original 6, which was so outrageous that it garnered over 3,000 complaints.

#11: “Gavin & Stacey” (2007-24)

As much as people love to hate on James Corden, when the topic of “Gavin & Stacey” comes up, most Brits give him a free pass. This sitcom was written by Ruth Jones and Corden, covering the relationship of the titular characters. Gavin is English, but Stacey is Welsh, leading to a bunch of hilarious antics when their two families collide. It highlights the differences between the English and the Welsh, but at the same time, it brings them closer together. 14 years after it began, it finally concluded with the 2024 Christmas special, which became one of the most viewed releases in UK TV history.

#10: “Derry Girls” (2018-22)

British comedy writers often have an unparalleled ability to inject humour into pretty bleak settings. One masterful example of this is “Derry Girls,” which shows the difficulties of growing up Catholic in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Not only does it handle a sensitive subject wonderfully well, but it’s simultaneously loaded with jokes in almost every line. It quickly became Channel 4’s most popular comedy of the century so far, earning overwhelmingly positive praise from almost all critics. It was inspired by the creator’s own experiences growing up Catholic in Northern Ireland, giving it a remarkably authentic feel. This has led both Catholics and Protestants to praise the series.

#9: “The Two Ronnies” (1971-87)

Our next entry just might be the series on our list with the most episodes. Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett rose to fame in the 60s, then became national treasures in the 70s. Their sketch series, “The Two Ronnies,” began in 1971 and continued until 87. Alongside the Ronnies, it featured a plethora of talented writers, including a bunch of Monty Python members. After running for 16 years, it’s easy to say it was one of the most influential pieces of media of its time. It’s a challenge to pick a favourite sketch, but the Four Candles sticks out to us as one of the most memorable.

#8: “Peep Show” (2003-15)

This is one of the most painful but simultaneously amusing shows ever crafted. Its two main characters, Mark and Jez, are some of the worst people in TV history. To many of us, they’re scarier than an evil supervillain, as they’re so realistically awful. It’s painfully easy to relate to their intrusive thoughts, except that, unlike most of us, the pair almost always act on those thoughts. It’s also extremely quotable, with many fans claiming there’s a relevant “Peep Show” quote for almost all scenarios. It’s probably most unique for being shot entirely from the character’s points of view, something no one has tried since, likely because it’s a nightmare to film that way.

#7: “Fleabag” (2016-19)

Our next series was originally a one-woman show at the Fringe, performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and then it blossomed into one of the most acclaimed black comedies of all time. Like a lot of the greatest comedies, it features a deeply flawed yet relatable protagonist, an established trend in British humour. The fact that it’s so well regarded, despite only having 12 episodes, is a massive testament to its quality. It won its creator a ton of awards, including BAFTAs and Primetime Emmys. It’s one of the most brilliantly crafted comedies of its decade, with commentary so layered people will be analysing it for decades.

#6: “Red Dwarf” (1988-1999; 2009-20)

This sci-fi comedy series first aired in 1988, and wouldn’t conclude until 2020, over 3 decades later. Its early seasons are low-budget and a bit rough around the edges, but the amount of passion poured into them made them a hit. Once Kryten was added as a regular and the budget was increased, the series found its feet, and every episode became comedy gold. It’s easily the most beloved British sci-fi comedy series, but there aren’t many to choose from. After a decade off the air, it was revived by Dave in 2009, then became one of their most popular shows ever, showing just how much we Brits love “Red Dwarf.”

#5: “The Thick of It” (2005-12)

Few political satires match the relevance this series achieved. Once again written by Armando Iannucci, it showcases a fictionalised version of the UK government, with virtually everyone being hilariously incompetent. It never once states what political parties they come from, instead focusing on how laughably awful they are at their jobs. It’s so accurate it’s painful at points, as many of their plot points are virtually identical to real scandals. For instance, the episode where Nicola Murray accidentally holds confidential notes up in public, leading them to be snapped by a photographer. This has happened multiple times in the years since, making us wonder if Iannucci is a sage.

#4: “Blackadder” (1983-89)

While internationally, Rowan Atkinson is best known as Mr. Bean, to us, we’ll always first think of him as Blackadder. Its first series is terrific fun, but it didn’t feel like it had found its feet. In series two, Atkinson and Tony Robinson’s characters were swapped, which made for a far funnier dynamic. Each series is in a different period, making each one feel remarkably unique, despite following relatively similar characters. Additionally, its ending has to be one of the most memorable in history. It goes from being one of the most hilarious shows ever to the saddest in less than a minute, earning it a place on every single list discussing Britain’s greatest shows.

#3: “Fawlty Towers” (1975-79)

Rather than our stateside counterparts, our sitcoms often end after 12 episodes. “Fawlty Towers” is usually considered one of the pioneers of this format. Writers John Cleese and Connie Booth prioritised quality over quantity, and it shows majorly. Apparently, they would spend months on certain episodes. While it’s short, it’s infinitely rewatchable, with people struggling to tire of it over 50 years after it aired. It’s so massively successful that America has tried to remake it three times, but it’s so fundamentally British that it’s failed every time. It’s quite wild to think that when it first aired, there was no shortage of critics who disliked it. Now, it’s considered a cultural monolith.

#2: “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” (1969-74)

We would’ve never had the masterfully crafted series “Fawlty Towers” if it weren’t for “Flying Circus” only a few years prior. Monty Python is easily considered the globe’s most influential comedy troupe, and to us Brits every single member is a national treasure. While the nature of it being a sketch show means not every joke lands, it features many of the funniest jokes in TV history. The Pythons’ influence will outlive the troupe themselves by decades, maybe even centuries. For instance, we get the word for unsolicited digital mail, “spam”, from “Flying Circus.” Even if you’ve never watched “Flying Circus”, if you grew up in the UK, you were undoubtedly exposed to tons of its most famous jokes.

#1: “Only Fools and Horses” (1981-2003)

Taking our top spot is this classic comedy that covers the whimsical adventures of Del Boy and Rodney. The pair live a less-than-lavish life in South London, with Del Boy being the epitome of an incompetent comedy character. They dream of becoming rich, leading to a plethora of ridiculously incompetent schemes. It starts out using a simple scheme of the week format, but it has evolved significantly over time, introducing many of Britain’s most recognisable characters. If you haven’t watched it yet, we’re jealous, because we wouldn’t hesitate for a second to erase our memory of it and watch it for the first time again.

Which British comedy do you think everyone should watch at least once, and did it make it onto our list? Let us know down in the comments below!