View Full Version : Best ever British sitcom.
:lol: We watch a lot of tv comedy, modern stuff and old. Love fawlty towers, OFAH and the office for example.
But recently have been watching the boxset of steptoe and son, and well, Im very impressed. Having only seen some of the colour series years ago when I was a nipper the black and white stuff is all new to me, and very, very funny.
If there was votes for the best Brit sitcom this has to be in the top three hasnt it. On to series four now and tonight we were howling at it, and this is the kids too. I think I prefer the earlier B&W stuff to the colour!
What are members favourite Brit sitcoms?
Fawlty Towers, with Father Ted a close second and One Foot in the grave third
cliff homewood
17-05-2009, 00:49
OFAH. Downright winner every ep superb up til they become millionaires.
NicolaUK
17-05-2009, 00:56
Dear John
Dear John, Fawlty towers is the best british sitcom ever!, Love NicolaUK
I've finished it for you
I think it would be a close call between Only Fools and Horses and Fawlty Towers. Both were superb, I think Fawlty was a little more consistent but did not run for long so had less time to have some bad episodes.
'Allo 'Allo had its moments too.
danielsesay
17-05-2009, 06:13
OFAH for me. Only because it has many more moments! Fawlty Towers comes in second. Basil beating his car with a tree branch has to be my favourite moment of that series!
Bapapapa
17-05-2009, 06:42
Love Thy Neighbour, Mind Your Language or Mixed Blessings..
splobber
17-05-2009, 07:09
George & Mildred or Me and My Girl gets my vote.
douglasb
17-05-2009, 07:21
Dad's Army, Steptoe, Fawlty, Father Ted.
mitch316
17-05-2009, 07:23
rising damp or steptoe and son for me.
yeh, rising damp is another gem. Will be getting that boxset next.:)
I do rate OFAH right up there with the best, I just think weve all seen them too many times, but Delboy has to be one of the funniest comedy characters on tv.
Cade Foster
17-05-2009, 07:51
Likely lads was pretty good.
LightStorm
17-05-2009, 07:54
Love Thy Neighbour, Mind Your Language or Mixed Blessings..
Hard to believe that these were made at all now. But it is true and that they were products of their time.
LTN was atrocious even at the time. MYL was just generally laughing at foreigners and MB was cringe inducing. All of them showed up the institutionalised racism of Britain back then.
Yet at least two of these shows ran for more than one season!
It would never happen now.
They would go down as well now as this did at the time...
http://www.comedy.org.uk/guide/tv/curry_and_chips/
Or the dreadful...Heil Honey I'm Home where Hitler is living as your next door
neighbour
Porridge has, and always will be, my favourite.
Father Ted is, I think, my generations' Fawlty Towers. Not that many made and every one a little gem. I can say 'awgo-onyawilljustalittleone' to pretty much anyone at work at they get it instantly, as I imagine 'que' and 'I know nothing' were universal 20 years ago. Da kids don't get them ones now.
For me it will be Blackadder series 2 and 4, then Father Ted, then Fawlty Towers
Over the years i've tried watching steptoe and son but i just can't get into it. Thought it was a bit crap, always have
OFAH. Rising Damp and Porridge get honourable mentions.
Of newer stuff, I loved The Smoking Room, and The Office was great too, though they certainly aren't traditional sit-coms.
spearce8
17-05-2009, 09:00
OFAH for me. Only because it has many more moments! Fawlty Towers comes in second.
Only fools is one of my Favs, but for me there's to many poor episodes for it to be the greatest.
OFAH. Downright winner every ep superb up til they become millionaires.
The poor ones IMO
Big Brother (ever sitcom as to establish itself so I’ll let this one slide)
Cash and Curry
As One Door Closes
The Miracle of Peckham
Video Nasty
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
A Royal Flush
The Frog's Legacy
Miami Twice: Part 2 - Oh to Be in England
+ the last 6 they made from 1996 onward (which I've tried to blank out)
Yes Minister/Prime Minister has to be up there with the best. :thumbs:
Never understood the appeal of OFAH though.:shrug:
AndyWilson
17-05-2009, 09:38
Porridge, On The Buses and Love Thy Neighbour
Yes, even as a card carrying leftie PC Anti-Racist I still love Love Thy Neighbour.
Bapapapa
17-05-2009, 09:56
Up The Elephant And Round The Castle, anyone..?
Actually, one I did actually like but haven't seen for absolute donkey's is Colin's Sandwich.. :D
cliff homewood
17-05-2009, 10:01
See I really like most of those eps, I agree on Miami Twice though, usual rule as soon as they make a 'film' out of a british TV series its pap. But even that pap has the great scene of Del lost at sea on his jet ski.
Me and my mate at work have a long standing feud, I think Porridge is a downright classic (he prefers Open all hours) and I prefer Reginald Perrin to Rising Damp (although that was also great I jsut love the grot shop, one of the best comedy storylines ever).
Been trying to think the other day we are at the end of the 00's so what is the best comedy series of the last decade, waht will be rememvered as the best of the 00's? Not a great Little Britain fan, or the Boosh, for me it will be Green Wing. Can't think of anything that can touch it (except Scrubs from the States, but even that doesn't compete comedy wise with its genious first season).
never really found OFAH that funny, is watchable with a few moments but nothing special
For me it's The Office or Alan Partridge.
Yes Minister/Prime Minister has to be up there with the best. :thumbs: I came back to this thread because i just remembered it. I only actually watch all of it a couple of years ago and it's amazing! The most startling part of it it's over 20 years old and it's probably more relevant now then it's ever been. Not only very funny but very revealing of the inner workings of parliament, most of the time i watched with my face like this > :eek: :lol:
danielsesay
17-05-2009, 10:32
I think the reason OFAH is up there is because people have a real fondness for all of the characters. Even though the Beeb milked it too much.
Father Ted is also a great one of course. :D
I didnt like butterflies as a kid, but after watching it on repeats a few years back found it pretty funny. The dads deadpan face when she serves up her cooking is brilliant.
Also forgotten how good porridge was.:D
Id rather sit and watch stuff like this instead of movies these days.
With OFAH I think all 7 series are great, its just most of the later xmas specials that are rubbish.
Well we have made some truly great comedies... These are my personal favs (in no particular order):
Blackadder
Absolutely Fabulous
Yes Minister/Prime-minister
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (Just how awful is the "new" version!!!)
Black Books
Father Ted
Fawlty Towers
Porridge
One Foot in the Grave
Dad's Army
Hancock's Half Hour
It's a shame the writing doesn't seem to be as strong as once was where comedy is concerned. Plus the talent in front of the camera bringing these characters to life appears to be waning considerably!
I can't believe that bland dross "My Family" is currently the most watched (popular) comedy on tv at the moment - it beggars belief!:cuckoo:
One Foot in the Grave or 'Allo 'Allo for me.
Allo Allo
You Rang M'Lord
Hi De Hi
Actually, anything with the hi de di team really. Just great writing and the actors seemed to get on so well together :)
Fawlty Towers i just found pretty cringe worthy. A couple of excellent eps but the rest was horrible.
LordoftheDance
17-05-2009, 11:45
The Young Ones for me.
alsemail
17-05-2009, 12:01
Yes Minister/Prime-minister
Black Books
Father Ted
Fawlty Towers
Porridge
Blackadder (II & IV in particular)
There are so many great ones really, I suppose Fawlty Towers may be the best because of its astonishing quality over the 12 episodes. Only Fools at its peak (all through the 1980s IMO) is superb too.
Hancock's Half Hour, Steptoe and Son, Porridge and Rising Damp are up there.
And not forgetting the hopefully no longer underrated Ever Decreasing Circles.
And not forgetting the hopefully no longer underrated Ever Decreasing Circles.
My all time favourite, i call my old man Martin sometimes..... he really is quite annoying!
SIMON ADEBISI
17-05-2009, 14:07
Since when is Father Ted british?
Showing my age but I used to enjoy Terry & June, The Liver Birds, George & Mildred, Man About The House & Robin's Nest. And don't tell anyone but we've got the video boxset of Love Thy Neighbour! :eek:
There's some that I could watch again & again, Steptoe & Son, Open All Hours, Alan Partridge & Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and probably a few more. OFAH had some great episodes and some bad, the laugh out loud moments for me were, the blow-up dolls and when they were dressed as Batman & Robin. :lol:
Bapapapa
17-05-2009, 14:40
How could I forget the Alan Partridge series'..! :notworthy
fattyboombatty
17-05-2009, 14:55
Days like these
Are You Being Served was another one I loved.
Welshlad
17-05-2009, 15:35
OFAH by a country mile!
Came back because i remembered another one
The Good Life
Didn't like it as a kid but much funnier when i grew up
Came back because i remembered another one
The Good Life
Didn't like it as a kid but much funnier when i grew up
Ditto.
And don't tell anyone but we've got the video boxset of Love Thy Neighbour! :eek:
How many series are there in the boxset, I think the tv run went upto 8 but then apparently they have cocked up a couple of the discs and repeated episodes on them, is that right?
Came back because i remembered another one
The Good Life
Didn't like it as a kid but much funnier when i grew up
Used to love this, but don't know if I'm remembering it with the old rose tinted glasses on.
Used to love this, but don't know if I'm remembering it with the old rose tinted glasses on.I don't think you are as i was still watching the repeats up until a couple of years ago and it's still a great warm-hearted comedy. Besides, i have a soft spot for Richard Briers's voice and would love him to read me a bed time story everynight :D
I think that's because i grew up with him being the voice of so many kids programmes and his voice is very soothing
This thread forms one of my favorite debates with friends and even I debate it myself.
So many good ones and so many are tarnished by long runs and going stale - bit like movies that are great until the sequel(s) come out and you sort of never like that first film as much as you first did.
OFAH is definately in this catergory as going stale, like some other which went stale, Bread, One foot in the grave, Red Dwarf.
Some worth mentioning I not seen above, The Brittas Empire was fantastic, Dear John (ok mentioned above) and Brush Strokes.
But my favorite two which seems to be concensious is Father Ted and Fawlty Towers.
How many series are there in the boxset, I think the tv run went upto 8 but then apparently they have cocked up a couple of the discs and repeated episodes on them, is that right?
I'm not sure, I've just had a look for the boxset & can't find it, I've got a feeling it's packed away in a box with other vhs videos. I know it starts from the begining when they first move in but as it's on vhs it's probably just the first series.
Blackadder 2, 3 and 4 (1st series sucks arse)
Absolutely Fabulous (series 1 and 2)
Spaced
So many others (especially the much loved ones like Only Fools and Horses, Porridge and Dad's Army) just never held much appeal for me. There's a massive long list of Britcoms from Are you being Served? to Sorry! and everything inbetween which are mildly amusing at best and downright unwatchable at worst, yet they are so well remembered still!
cliff homewood
18-05-2009, 09:54
Watching Basil's best bits last night, I realised i would much have preferred the Best of the Dwarf, from that I realised I prefer Red Dwarf to Fawlty Towers.
OFAH or One Foot in the Grave for me, followed closely by Red Dwarf and Fawlty Towers. Also love..
Blackadder
Extras
The Office
Porridge
Coupling
The Good Life
Open All Hours
The Green Wing
For me
Father Ted
Spaced
Young Ones
glad to see very little mention of those Croft/Perry sitcoms - mostly dreadful (Dad's Army excepted)
In no particular order but just the ones that immediately pop in my mind ( and hence the most memorable ) :
Father Ted
Allo Allo
Red Dwarf
Fawlty Towers
And I really liked "Dear John" as well. As much for its comedy and the characters.
dean richardson
18-05-2009, 13:15
fawlty towers
red dwarf
men behaving badly
Blackadder 2+
alan partridge
NicolaUK
18-05-2009, 13:48
And I really liked "Dear John" as well. As much for its comedy and the characters.
Does anyone know if Dear John going to be released on DVD or is it ever shown on TV?
I've never got OFAH at all. Right from the start I found it more embarassing than funny, but I guess that's its style of humour. Simlarly, I've never got One Foot in the Grave.
I'm shocked Spaced is getting so few mentions - that stands head and shoulders above most other British comedies.
Gotta say that I've got a soft spot for Graham Linehan, as the following list shows!
Spaced
Father Ted
The IT Crowd
Black Books
Blackadder
Coupling
There's a few darker ones that I'm not sure are exactly Sit Coms, but I really liked Teachers until it jumped the shark and A Very Perculiar Practice.
Mr Blobby
18-05-2009, 16:03
For those who grew up in the late 60'2 early 70's ; Till Death Do Us Part was a must watch.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Till_Death_Us_Do_Part_(British_TV_series)
Anyone remember Shelley staring Hywel Bennett.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelley_(TV_series)
And Citizen Smith or Nightingales both with Robert Lindsay.
The funniest show of the 70's must be Some Mothers Do Ave Em.
Mr Blobby
18-05-2009, 16:06
Since when is Father Ted british?
Made by a British company for a British TV channel... therefore British.
Irish writers and Irish actors though.
Mr Blobby
18-05-2009, 16:08
The longest running comedy sitcom must be Last Of The Summer Wine. This started 1973 and is still running.
And Citizen Smith or Nightingales both with Robert Lindsay.
I loved Nightingales!
Really appealed to my sense of the surreal - one of them was a werewolf wasn't he?
Edit: Anyone mentioned Peep Show yet?
Does anyone know if Dear John going to be released on DVD or is it ever shown on TV?
I think I've still got my pre-order in for it when it was due to be released last year, but it got pulled at the last second. :( I think there's some massive rights issues with it.
Just a heads-up for "Beyond A Joke" on ITV3 tonight at 9pm that looks at sitcoms in the 70's & 80's and how they reflected Britain at the time.
I caught the end of last nights show which was about men, women & relationships with clips from Just Good Friends, Butterflies, George & Mildred etc. Tonights show is about how politically incorrect sitcoms were with clips from Mind Your Language, Love Thy Neighbour, Allo Allo etc.
Masanevre
18-05-2009, 18:50
I'm Alan Partridge series One
The Day Today (does that count?)
Mrs Merton And Malcolm
Steve Jackson
18-05-2009, 19:27
Not the best ever, but doesn't Just Good Friends deserve a mention alongside Dear John?
Anyone remember Shelley staring Hywel Bennett.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelley_(TV_series)
Yup, quite enjoyed that. I thought the last series was slightly later than 1992. Obviously not.
Nightingales
.
There's nobody here but us chickens.
[yes minister/PM] I only actually watch all of it a couple of years ago and it's amazing! The most startling part of it it's over 20 years old and it's probably more relevant now then it's ever been. Not only very funny but very revealing of the inner workings of parliament, most of the time i watched with my face like this > :eek: :lol:
The clothes and hairstyles have aged, the politics haven't - same ****, different decade! Definitely one of my favourite programs ever.
Not the best ever, but doesn't Just Good Friends deserve a mention alongside Dear John?
'Ello Pen. There you go, a perfect Paul Nicholas impression.
-----
Men Behaving Badly, Blackadder, Coupling (1-3, not 4), Red Dwarf (1-5, but particularly the first 2) , OFAH, Brittas Empire, etc, etc, etc. So many good comedies that picking the best is nigh on impossible!
duckwaffle
18-05-2009, 20:01
I loved Nightingales!
Really appealed to my sense of the surreal - one of them was a werewolf wasn't he?
Edit: Anyone mentioned Peep Show yet?
Peep Show. Have now...
Also, would League of Gentlemen count as a sitcom?
Aside from that, the usual suspects, Red Dwarf, Blackadders 2 + 4, Spaced, etc etc...
NicolaUK
18-05-2009, 21:55
I think I've still got my pre-order in for it when it was due to be released last year, but it got pulled at the last second. :( I think there's some massive rights issues with it.
I wonder why that is then? Hopefully it was get released soon :thumbs:
When the woman who ran the One to One club asked "Were there any... sexual problems?" :lol: Comedy Gold!!
"Boogaloo" is the one bit I remember fondly. :lol: Ralph and his amazing disco.
NicolaUK
18-05-2009, 22:26
"Boogaloo" is the one bit I remember fondly. :lol: Ralph and his amazing disco.
With Shakin' Stevens Green Door in repeat because the other side was scratched :lol:
I like the one with Kirk describing trashing Ralph's mobile home "We were bombed, like atomic"
the_daddy
18-05-2009, 22:56
Another vote for OFAH closely followed by Porridge.
Operation Good Guys. Does that count as a sitcom?
With Shakin' Stevens Green Door in repeat because the other side was scratched :lol:
I like the one with Kirk describing trashing Ralph's mobile home "We were bombed, like atomic"
:lol: "There wasn't a window in the toilet"
LordoftheDance
20-05-2009, 12:09
The League of Gentlemen gets my vote for worst British comedy ever. Absolute ****.
The League of Gentlemen gets my vote for worst British comedy ever. Absolute ****.
Surely that would be "Oh Dr Beeching!" or anything else with Su Pollard in it...
Bringing myself back to topic, if I had to choose one, I'd say best British sitcom is Porridge.
However, if I could only watch one sitcom ever again, I'd choose OFAH as there are more episodes :)
Worst?
My vote goes to My Hero
Radiohead
20-05-2009, 19:59
Fawlty Towers. Easily.
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