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The Best British Sitcoms of All Time
Funniest British TV shows ever produced, ranked by worldwide comedy fans. British sitcoms - or "Britcoms" as they are sometimes called in the US - are known for their crisp dialogue, biting wit and sardonic look at modern life in the UK. Shows like "The Office" (which inspired the US series), "Are You Being Served" and "Absolutely Fabulous" present traditional settings and scenes, but populated by outlandish, even demented, eccentrics, some of whom have become among the nation's most iconic characters. (Both David Brent of "The Office" and Basil Fawlty of "Fawlty Towers" have been voted near the top of Ranker's "Funniest TV Characters of All Time" list.)
Additionally, though US sitcoms tend to take one of a few reliable formats - a traditional three-camera set-up in front of a studio audience, say, or the "mockumentary" style of shows like "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation" - British sitcoms tend towards the more experimental and daring. "Blackadder," for example, sets each new season in a different time period, with relations of the original two characters: Blackadder and Baldrick. "Peep Show" as well tells a rather familiar story about two wacky roommates, but through a unique POV perspective, with the actors performing largely in voice-over.
Numerous British shows on this list - as from the obvious "The Office" - have inspired American remakes, though the vast majority of these - such as the US versions of "Fawlty Towers" and "Men Behaving Badly" - have not met with similar success across the pond.
Additionally, though US sitcoms tend to take one of a few reliable formats - a traditional three-camera set-up in front of a studio audience, say, or the "mockumentary" style of shows like "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation" - British sitcoms tend towards the more experimental and daring. "Blackadder," for example, sets each new season in a different time period, with relations of the original two characters: Blackadder and Baldrick. "Peep Show" as well tells a rather familiar story about two wacky roommates, but through a unique POV perspective, with the actors performing largely in voice-over.
Numerous British shows on this list - as from the obvious "The Office" - have inspired American remakes, though the vast majority of these - such as the US versions of "Fawlty Towers" and "Men Behaving Badly" - have not met with similar success across the pond.
List Criteria: Episodic comedy shows that initially debuted on British television
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- 1Up 134Down 33Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth, Ballard Berkeley More
- 2Up 125Down 27Tony Robinson, Robert East, Patrick Allen More
- 3Up 81Down 34Pauline McLynn, Ardal O'Hanlon, Dermot Morgan More
- 4Up 88Down 34Mackenzie Crook, Patrick Baladi, Jane Lucas More
- 5Up 75Down 47John Inman, Norman Mitchell, Trevor Bannister More
- 6Up 92Down 29Chris O'Dowd, Matt Berry, Richard Ayoade More
- 7Up 77Down 28Chris Barrie, Robert Llewellyn, Norman Lovett More
- 8Up 66Down 45June Whitfield, Jane Horrocks, Julia Sawalha More
- 9Up 62Down 40Anna Dawson, David Griffin, Geoffrey Hughes More
- 10Up 53Down 25Grant Stevens, Patrick McManus, Robert Liddement More
- 11Up 43Down 9Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle More
- 12Up 53Down 30Neil Fitzmaurice, Sophie Winkleman, Paterson Joseph More
- 13Up 53Down 34Emma Chambers, Gary Waldhorn, Liz Smith More
- 14Up 60Down 27
The Inbetweeners
James Buckley, Joe Thomas, Belinda Stewart-Wilson More - 15Up 62Down 23Bill Bailey, Tamsin Greig, Dylan Moran
- 16Up 38Down 32Sally Phillips, Phil Cornwell, David Schneider More
- 17Up 33Down 23Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Christopher Ryan More
- 18Up 40Down 28Paul Eddington, Derek Fowlds, Nigel Hawthorne More
- 19Up 35Down 26John Le Mesurier, John Laurie, Edward Sinclair More
- 20Up 37Down 14Tony Robinson, Robbie Coltrane, Miriam Margolyes More
- 21Up 35Down 14Rose Hill, Jack Haig, John D. Collins More
- 22Up 29Down 29Justine Bateman, Caroline Quentin, Tamzin Outhwaite More
- 23Up 26Down 27David Jason, Barbara Flynn, Ronnie Barker More
- 24Up 9Down 3Simon Pegg, Katy Carmichael, Mark Heap Moreadded by: PeteBoyle
- 25Up 6Down 2
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
Will Arnett, Spike Jonze, Sharon Horgan Moreadded by: PeteBoyle - 26Up 21Down 29Gabriel Thomson, Kris Marshall, Daniela Denby-Ashe More
- 27Up 23Down 9Richard Coyle, Jack Davenport, Gina Bellman More
- 28Up 8Down 8Penelope Keith, Paul Eddington, Richard Briers Moreadded by: Leslie2“ British sitcom produced by the BBC that ran from 1975 to 1978. It was written by Bob Larbey and John Esmonde. In 2004, it came 9th in Britain's Best Sitcom. In the United States, it aired on various PBS stations under the title Good Neighbors. It starred Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington.
„ - 29Up 15Down 10Michelle Collins, Claudia Winkleman, David Walliams More
- 30Up 13Down 9Katie Lyons, Stephen Mangan, Julian Rhind-Tutt More
- 31Up 22Down 28Geoffrey Hughes, Sheridan Smith, Jessica Hynes More
- 32Up 22Down 29Tony Osoba, Sam Kelly, Brian Wilde More
- 33Up 25Down 29
Bottom
Christopher Ryan, Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson More - 34Up 11Down 14James Dreyfus, Mark Addy, Serena Evans More
- 35Up 10Down 9Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie
- 36Up 18Down 31
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Patrick McAlinney, Dick Bentley, Michele Dotrice More - 37Up 7Down 10Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie
- 38Up 12Down 17Stephen Merchant, Shaun Williamson, Ricky Gervais More
- 39Up 5Down 12Jonathan Lynn, Simon Cuff, Robin Nedwell More
- 40Up 22Down 27Larry Lamb, Rob Brydon, Alison Steadman More
- 41Up 23Down 25Angus Deayton, Doreen Mantle, Annette Crosbie More
- 42Up 25Down 27Matthew Holness, Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry More
- 43Up 10Down 11
Mrs. Brown's Boys
Martin Delany, Dermot O'Neill, Jennifer Gibney More - 44Up 18Down 25Patricia Hodge, Tom Ellis, Miranda Hart More
- 45Up 14Down 23Peter Bowles, Penelope Keith, Daphne Oxenford More
- 46Up 16Down 25Neil Fitzmaurice, Peter Kay, Patrick McGuinness More
- 47Up 6Down 9Felix Bowness, Jeffrey Holland, Kenneth Connor More
- 48Up 13Down 22Peter Vaughan, David Garfield, Robert Lindsay More
- 49Up 14Down 23
Still Game
Ford Kiernan, Mark Cox, Jake D'Arcy More - 50Up 13Down 25Lee Mack, Sally Bretton, Megan Dodds More
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