Great UK Comedies for Americans
by grendelkhan | created - 13 Dec 2011 | updated - 05 Jan 2012 | PublicExcellent UK tv comedies that American audiences will love.
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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: 100,029
Probably the greatest UK tv comedy, with John Cleese as the perpetually angry and put upon Basil Fawlty. Brilliant writing and wonderful supporting cast. The German episode alone makes it a classic.
2. 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: 9,217
A favorite of PBS stations everywhere. The jokes are endlessly recycled and it is hardly politically correct, but the cast is outstanding and the characters fun.
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: 41,031
The weaker of the four series, but it gets better as it goes along. Brian Blessed is especially loud here.
4. Blackadder II (1986)
TV-PG | 176 min | Comedy
In the Tudor court of Elizabeth I, Lord Edmund Blackadder strives to win Her Majesty's favour while attempting to avoid a grisly fate should he offend her.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson
Votes: 49,819
Probably the best of the 4 series. Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson enhance the cast and Ben Elton helps push Richard Curtis into much richer comedy territory.
5. Blackadder the Third (1987)
TV-PG | 180 min | Comedy
In the Regency era, Mr E. Blackadder serves as butler to the foppish numskull Prince George amidst the fads and crazes of the time.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie, Helen Atkinson Wood
Votes: 47,036
Hugh Laurie adds a new dimension as a rather dim Prince Regent. Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson only manage guest appearances here, but make the most of them.
6. Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
TV-PG | 175 min | Comedy, War
Stuck in the middle of World War I, Captain Edmund Blackadder does his best to escape the banality of the war.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie
Votes: 56,789
This one is a bit more serious, given the WW I setting. The laughs still come and Stephen Fry is back in a regular role. The ending is very poignant.
7. Yes Minister (1980–1984)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The Right Honorable James Hacker has landed the plum job of Cabinet Minister to the Department of Administration. At last he is in a position of power and can carry out some long-needed reforms, or so he thinks.
Stars: Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds, Diana Hoddinott
Votes: 16,511
The ministerial will meets the administrative won't! Excellent political comedy, with brilliant wordplay from Anthony Jay and Johnathan Lynn, plus outstanding performances from Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, and Derek Fowlds.
8. Yes, Prime Minister (1986–1987)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
James Hacker was propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of politics - Number 10.
Stars: Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds, Diana Hoddinott
Votes: 12,885
Jim Hacker bumbles his way into Number 10, thanks to Sir Humphrey's scheming. This one ups the stakes a bit, with international crises, as well as domestic politics. Hacker gets to win more here and even sides with Sir Humphrey on a couple of occasions. Things run their course a bit quicker here.
9. The Vicar of Dibley (1994–2020)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy
A boisterous female minister comes to serve in an eccentricly conservative small town's church.
Stars: Dawn French, James Fleet, Trevor Peacock, Gary Waldhorn
Votes: 15,455
Delightfully oddball cast and a nice bit of heart make for a winning combination. Dawn French gets to shine on her own.
10. 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: 16,427
Not for the easily offended, but wonderfully anarchic. This groundbreaking series was a two-fingered salute to Thatcher's Britain. Showcase for the alternative comedy world.
11. 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: 37,254
The show that proved sci-fi could be funny (though Douglas Adams paved the way), as well as thought provoking. It has decidedly different periods, with early seasons more joke driven, while later ones explored more sci-fi concepts. A nice mix of verbal and visual humor. Later series vary in quality, though every season has memorable episodes.
12. The Good Life (1975–1978)
28 min | Comedy
Tom Good quits the rat race, and with wife Barbara turns the garden of their Surbiton house into a smallholding. Their neighbours, snobbish Margo Leadbetter and her conventional husband Jerry, feel variously amused, offended and impressed.
Stars: Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith, Paul Eddington
Votes: 4,009
Titled The Good Life in the UK, a charming tale of a couple that decides to be self sufficient, to the horror of their class conscious neighbor. Carried well by the outstanding cast. A favorite of Queen Elizabeth.
13. To the Manor Born (1979–2007)
Not Rated | 30 min | Comedy, Romance
Following her husband's passing, Audrey fforbes-Hamilton is forced to sell her stately home. While she comes to terms with her downward mobility, she decides to show the new owner a thing or two about "nobility".
Stars: Penelope Keith, Peter Bowles, Angela Thorne, Daphne Heard
Votes: 2,720
Penelope Keith gets her own series, as the economically fallen but always aristocratic Audrey fforbes Hamilton. A delightful romance slowly builds across the series, with the eternal snob Audrey made likeable by Keith's wonderful performance. Peter Bowles holds his own as the nouveau riche object of Audrey's attention.
14. Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy
A snobbish housewife is determined to climb the social ladder, in spite of her family's working class connections and the constant chagrin of her long suffering husband.
Stars: Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift, Geoffrey Hughes, Judy Cornwell
Votes: 17,838
Patricia Rutledge is the ultimate social climber. This is the perfect revenge upon every ettiquette guide ever created.
15. Bless Me, Father (1978–1981)
30 min | Comedy
"Bless Me Father" is a 21-episode British sitcom that ran from 1978 to 1981. A gentle and impish look at Catholic life in post-war suburban Britain, the series follows the adventures and ... See full summary »
Stars: Arthur Lowe, Daniel Abineri, Gabrielle Daye, Patrick McAlinney
Votes: 201
Not quite as rollicking, but it has some great character moments. Well acted by all involved.
16. 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: 2,809
Leonard Rossiter is the ever disapproving landlord Rigsby, who also is ever lusting after Miss Jones. Don Warrick and Richard Beckinsale (father of Kate) are the two students who are usually at the receiving end of Rigsby's disapproval.
17. 'Allo 'Allo! (1982–1992)
45 min | Comedy, History, War
In France during World War II, René Artois runs a small café where Resistance fighters, Gestapo men, German Army officers and escaped Allied POWs interact daily, ignorant of one another's true identity or presence, exasperating René.
Stars: Gorden Kaye, Carmen Silvera, Vicki Michelle, Richard Marner
Votes: 27,022
Listen to me very carefully, I shall say this only once..... Hilarious farce by the creators of Are You Being Served? The jokes are repetitive, but the characters are fun and the situations absurd. Probably should have ended a series or two sooner than it did.
18. Waiting for God (1990–1994)
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy
When Tom Ballard moves to Bayview Retirement Vilage, he meets Diana Trent, a feisty old woman who complains about everything and wants nothing more than just to die. Much to the dislike of ... See full summary »
Stars: Graham Crowden, Stephanie Cole, Daniel Hill, Janine Duvitski
Votes: 1,999
Excellent series, featuring Stephanie Cole and Graham Crowden as residents in a retirement home. Very sharp tongued, but also with an odd, but sweet romance. Definitely strikes a blow at ageism and corporate greed.
19. As Time Goes By (1992–2005)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy, Romance
The Korean War, and a long lost letter, separate the lives of young lovers Jean Pargetter and Lionel Hardcastle, whose paths cross again by happenstance.
Stars: Judi Dench, Geoffrey Palmer, Moira Brooker, Philip Bretherton
Votes: 4,951
Wonderful romantic comedy about two lovers seperated by the Korean War, who meet again in their autumn years. Unparalleled acting by Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer and a great romance. Frank Middlemass steals every scen he's in as Rocky, Lionel Hardcastle's (Palmer) free spirited father.
20. 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: 21,494
Jennifer Saunders' solo series, alongside Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, and Jane Horrocks. Delightfully unlikeable Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone create chaos wherever they go, while always staying fabulous.
21. The Thin Blue Line (1995–1996)
30 min | Comedy, Crime
Various mishaps at a police station in an English town. The main character is the anachronistic, yet charming and funny Inspector Fowler. CID foil to Fowler, Inspector Grim is a bumbling, seething idiot.
Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Mina Anwar, James Dreyfus, Serena Evans
Votes: 7,936
Rowan Atkinson stars in this updating of Dad's Army, where he leads a rather dim group of uniformed police constables (apart from WPC Habib). David Haig is the even dimmer head of CID (the detectives). Loads of fun.
22. Father Ted (1995–1998)
TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy
Three misfit priests and their housekeeper live on Craggy Island, not the peaceful and quiet part of Ireland that it seems to be.
Stars: Dermot Morgan, Ardal O'Hanlon, Frank Kelly, Pauline McLynn
Votes: 43,728
Anarchic fun on Craggy Island, a place of exile for three priests, off the coast of Ireland. Brilliantly funny.
23. Black Books (2000–2004)
TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy
Bernard Black runs a book shop, though his customer service skills leave something to be desired. He hires Manny as an employee. Fran runs the shop next door. Between the three of them many adventures ensue.
Stars: Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, Tamsin Greig, Paul Beech
Votes: 61,878
Dylan Moran, Tamsin Greig, and Bill Bailey star in this tale of a bookshop owner who is the worst person to be in a service industry. Excellent cast and writing.
24. The IT Crowd (2006–2013)
TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy
The comedic misadventures of Roy, Moss and their grifting supervisor Jen, a rag-tag team of IT support workers at a large corporation headed by a hotheaded yuppie.
Stars: Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson, Matt Berry
Votes: 164,146
From Graham Linehan comes this workplace comedy. featuring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson and Matt Berry; it sends up corporate environments, geek culture, movies, and more.
25. Spaced (1999–2001)
TV-14 | 25 min | Comedy
Friends Tim and Daisy, 20-something North Londoners with uncertain futures, must pretend to be a couple to live in the only apartment they can afford.
Stars: Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes, Julia Deakin, Nick Frost
Votes: 57,601
From the people who gave us Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, this tale of roommates and their friends and extended family delights. There are pop culture references galore and brilliant fun.
26. 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: 6,842
Ahaaaaaaaa! Brilliant send-up of entertainment talk shows, with the world's most inept host. Each show is worse than the last (Alan's talk show, that is), with a huge blowout in the finale.
27. I'm Alan Partridge (1997–2002)
TV-MA | 30 min | Comedy
A failed television presenter, now presenting a programme on local desperately tries to revive his broadcasting career.
Stars: Steve Coogan, Simon Greenall, Felicity Montagu, Phil Cornwell
Votes: 21,948
Alan Partridge is back, reduced to Radio Norwich and living in a travel hotel. He tries to crawl his way back to the BBC. Very dark, but very fun as well.
28. Saxondale (2006–2007)
30 min | Comedy
Tommy, an ex-roadie, runs a pest control biz in Stevenage post-divorce. He lives with Magz and mentors his assistant Raymond, seeing himself as a maverick dispensing wisdom.
Stars: Steve Coogan, James Bachman, Rasmus Hardiker, Ruth Jones
Votes: 3,127
Steve Coogan is Tommy Saxondale, a man who never quite left the 70s. He was a roadie for several rock n roll bands, but now runs a pest control service, while trying to hang onto the cool of his youth. Another great cast and a brilliant character from Coogan.
29. Doc Martin (2004–2022)
TV-14 | 46 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
The trials and tribulations of Martin Ellingham, a brilliant but socially challenged doctor who moves from London to the picturesque village of Port Wenn in Cornwall.
Stars: Martin Clunes, Caroline Catz, Ian McNeice, Joe Absolom
Votes: 20,161
A mixture of comedy and drama, set in a Cornish coastal village. Martin Clunes is a rather anti-social doctor, surrounded by eccentric villagers; however, he quickly falls deeply in love with school teacher Louisa. Very funny, with equal dramatic moments and one of the odder romances on television, on any side of the ocean.
30. 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: 78,707
The legendary sketch comedy show. Not for everyone, but still one of the funniest creations ever, with both brilliant satire and total absurdity. The fourth series is the weakest of the lot, but has a few moments.
31. 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: 9,915
Lots of wordplay and silliness from Stephen Fry (Wilde) and Hugh Laurie (House). Like any sketch show, some elements are better than others.
32. French and Saunders (1987–2017)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders satirically present aspects of British life, films such as Batman Forever and Pulp Fiction.
Stars: Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Simon Brint, Rowland Rivron
Votes: 3,742
Sketch show featuring the first ladies of British alternative comedy. Lots of movie and tv parodies, somewhat hit and miss.
33. Little Britain (2003–2006)
TV-MA | 29 min | Comedy
Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the creators of this character-comedy sketch show, delight in all that is mad, bad, quirky and generally bonkers about the people and places of Britain.
Stars: Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Tom Baker, Paul Putner
Votes: 26,086
Sketch comedy show with David Walliams and Matt Lucas, with Tom Baker (Dr Who) providing narrations. Recurring sketches involving the "only gay in the village", a deceptively able disabed man, the aid to the prime minister, a decidedly masculine "lady," an unpleasant and dim young woman, and the diminuitive version of Dennis Waterman.
34. Jeeves and Wooster (1990–1993)
TV-PG | 55 min | Comedy
Bertram Wooster, a well-intentioned, wealthy layabout, has a habit of getting himself into trouble and it's up to his brilliant valet, Jeeves, to get him out.
Stars: Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Richard Dixon, Robert Daws
Votes: 13,141
Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie star in this excellent adaptation of the stories of PG Wodehouse. A case of perfect casting and excellent writing.
35. Are You Being Served? Again! (1992–1993)
TV-PG | 26 min | Comedy
The staff of the defunct Grace Brothers department store reunite to run a rural hotel.
Stars: Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Frank Thornton, Wendy Richard
Votes: 1,514
Known as Grace and Favor in the UK, this series reunites the staff of Grace Brothers Department Store in their retirement. Mr. Grace has past on, leaving a rather run down manor house as the key element of the staff's pension fun. It's nice to see everyone back and the comedy is good, even if the dynamic is a bit different. New additions include the farmer Mr Multurd, his daughter and the cook Mavis, and Miss Jessica Lovelock, the former nurse and companion to Mr. Grace.
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