When it comes tocomedy, Britain has a long and rich history. From the works of William Shakespeare toThe Benny Hill ShowandMonty Python, Britain has often been considered a trailblazer of the genre. More recent shows likePeep Show,After Life, andInside No. 9prove that its flair for comedy hasn’t waned.
Britain possesses a unique sense of humor, one that, while its influence has since spread across the pond, still manages to remain instantly recognizable. Culturally, Britain has a long tradition of using humor to tackle uncomfortable topics. Its use of self-deprecation and gallows humor as coping mechanisms has become a part of many of its most successful comedy shows.
Not all of itshumor needs to be pitch black, mind you. Here, we’re looking at an array of British comedy series that haven’t put out a single bad episode. From cult classics to more recent hits, these shows managed to remain engaging and entertaining from the moment the first episode aired until the credits rolled on their final one.
10’Fawlty Towers' (1975 - 1979)
Fawlty Towers
While disappointing to many,Fawlty Towers’limited run of just 12 episodes over 2 seasons works in its favor here. Each and every episode is a masterclass in British comedy. Taking place in a seaside hotel, the show follows the misadventures of its rude and short-tempered owner, who constantly finds himself at odds with not just the guests but also his nagging wife and well-meaning but hapless Spanish waiter.
‘Fawlty Towers’ StarsMonty PythonLegend John Cleese
John Cleese, whoco-wrote the showwith Connie Booth, plays the hotel owner, Basil Fawlty. Full of manic energy and equipped with a razor-tongued sense of sarcasm, his performance is both gleefully over-the-top and slapstick yet brilliantly precise and sharp. Elsewhere, Andrew Sachs’ performance as the ill-fated waiter with a limited comprehension of the English language has elevated him to something of a national treasure in the United Kingdom.
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9’The Thick of It' (2005 - 2012)
The Thick Of It
Brutally satirizing British politics,The Thick of Itis the 21st century’s answer to the iconicYes, Prime Minister. Immersing viewers into the chaotic world of the British government with its handheld, documentary-style approach, it hilariously humanizes British political figureheads, revealing the panic that must be going on behind closed doors during particularly politically tempestuous times.
A Modern Classic
Its endlessly quotable, profanity-laden dialogue—especially from Malcolm Tucker, the Director of Communications and one of TV’s greatest antiheroes—adds to its biting wit. With its mix of absurdity, cynicism, and scathing political commentary,The Thick of Ithas cemented itself as a modern classic in British comedy.
8’Spaced' (1999 - 2001)
Directed by Edgar Wright,Spacedrevolves around the lives of two twenty-something misfits (played by Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson) who end up living together in a flat in London despite having only just met. Consisting of just 14 episodes, its sharp blend of surreal humor, pop culture references, and heartfelt storytelling never lets up as the pair bounce from one misadventure to another. This unique and bold combination of styles has helped the show garner a strong cult following.
Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright Have Since Achieved Superstar Status
Since starring inSpaced,Simon Pegg has gone onto become a fully fledged movie star, known for the beloved Cornetto horror-comedy trilogy and starring in blockbuster hits likeStar Wars: The Force Awakensand theMission: Impossiblemovies.Director Edgar Wrighthas also cemented himself as a genuine star, having directedThe Cornetto Trilogyas well as the hit action movieBaby Driverand the cult classicScott Pilgrim vs. the World.
7’Toast of London (2013 - 2022)
Toast of London
Matt Berry stars as Steven Toast, a wildly eccentric, middle-aged struggling actor with a checkered past who finds himself in all manner of sticky situations as he tries to navigate the world of show business.
‘Toast of London’ Is Brilliantly Unique
Toast of Londonrevels in surrealism and absurdity. As Toast bumbles through disastrous auditions, disastrous voice-over work, and bizarre run-ins with eccentric showbiz figures, audiences never know whattoexpect next. It’s this unpredictability that kept the show feeling so fresh throughout its run. Combining absolute silliness with that trademark British deadpan humor,Toast of Londonwears many hats and never wears any of them out.
6’The Inbetweeners' (2008 - 2010)
The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweenersfollows the lives of four friends as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence and attending a British high school. An exercise in vulgarity and crudeness,The Inbetweenerscould be compared to the hit American movieSuperbadin that respect. Its approach, though, is altogether more British, relying more on cringe comedy, social awkwardness, and the bleak realism of school life, making its characters feel painfully real as they stumble through adolescence with little success or redemption.
‘The Inbetweeners’ Spawned Two Hit Movies
Following three seasons of nonstop hilarity and impressive viewing figures, a movie was greenlit that followed the friends as they went on a group holiday to Malia. Maintaining the same tone and awkward humor of the series, the movie was a hit, grossing an impressive $88 million at the box office on a budget of under $5 million. The sequel was released in 2014 and again was a hit at the box office, securingThe Inbetweeners’legacy as one of the most beloved English comedies of its era.
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5’I’m Alan Partridge' (1997 - 2002)
I’m Alan Partridge
Created by Steve Coogan as a parody of British television personalities, Alan Partridge made his first appearance on theOn the Hourradio show, a spoof of British current affairs broadcasting. He then progressed to hosting his own spoof chat show,Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge. Following the show’s success, the character found himself the main character in the sitcomI’m Alan Partridgein 1997. The show, which followed Partridge’s life in a roadside hotel while working for a Norwich radio station, was a roaring success, winning a plethora of awards and was followed by a second series in 2002.
Alan Partridge is a Highly Influential Character
Partridge, played by Coogan, is a tactless and inept broadcaster with an inflated sense of celebrity. Bounding from one awkward encounter to another, the character bears noticeable similarities to the future stars ofThe Office, David Brent and Michael Scott, and is cited as being a huge influence onseveral cringe comediesthat followed, includingThe InbetweenersandPeep Show.
During its relatively short run,I’m Alan Partridgenever put a foot wrong, transforming its lead character into a cultural icon and redefining comedy with its clever blend of satire, cringe, and brilliantly observed British awkwardness.
4’The Day Today' (1994)
The Day Today
Consisting of just six half-hour episodes,The Day Todayis a spoof current affairs show that provides a sharp critique of media sensationalism. Leaning heavily into absurdist territory,The Day Todayserves as a biting satire and deconstruction of modern news media, exposing its manipulative tactics, sensationalism, and self-importance through surreal exaggeration and deadpan delivery.
Despite Its Short Run, ‘The Day Today’ Won an Array of Awards
The Day Todaywas critically acclaimed, being praised for its unflinching approach to satirical comedy and, despite its short run, was showered with awards, including a BAFTA and Best TV Comedy Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards for its co-creator and actor Chris Morris. The show also marked the first national television appearance of Steve Coogan’s now-iconic Alan Partridge character as the news team’s hilariously inept sports presenter.
3’Detectorists' (2014 - 2017)
Detectorists
Written and directed by Mackenzie Crook,Detectoristsrevolves around two eccentric and ambitious metal-detecting enthusiasts, played by Crook and Toby Jones. With every episode bringing something new and unexpected to the series, the show ran for three seasons from 2014 to 2017, with Christmas specials airing in 2015 and 2022.
‘Detectorists’ Avoids Male Stereotypes Often Found in Comedy
During this time, it won a BAFTA at the 2015 British Academy Television Awards for Best Scripted Comedy and was voted one of Britain’s 20 favorite sitcoms by a panel of experts atRadio Times. Steeped in gentle kindness, the show was praised for its unique approach to its depiction of male bonding, which is lessThe Hangoverand moreGilmore Girls
2’The Office' (2001 - 2003)
The Office
Nowone of the world’s biggest and most controversial comics, Ricky Gervais first became a household name in his home country following his groundbreaking work on the hit UK sitcomThe Office. Co-written and directed by Gervais and Stephen Merchant,The Officeis a hilarious mockumentary that masterfully blends cringe comedy and satire as it follows the day-to-day lives of office employees in a British-based paper company.
The cast is full of compelling and well-developed characters, but it’s Gervais himself who steals the show, playing the clueless, out-of-touch office boss, David Brent, who constantly finds himself in painfully awkward situations as a result of his desperate attempts to gain the admiration of his employees.
‘The Office’ Spawned a Successful American Adaptation
Lasting just two seasons,The Officehas influenced dozens of shows and movies in its wake and remains one of the country’s most beloved sitcoms. With both seasons receiving universal critical acclaim, it’s widely considered that not a single bad episode was aired, including the two Christmas specials.
In 2004, the uber-successful American version ofThe Officeaired, which, after a shaky start, ended up running for nine seasons and is now considered among the finest sitcoms in recent history.
1’Only Fools and Horses' (1981 - 2003)
Only Fools and Horses
Spanning seven series,Only Fools and Horsesis set in working-class London and follows the life of Derek ‘Del Boy’ Trotter, his younger brother Rodney, and their hare-brained ‘get rich quick’ schemes. Full of eccentric, well-developed supporting characters and brilliantly crafted storytelling, it combines sharp wit with genuine heart and emotional depth. With not a single misfire under its belt,Only Fools and Horsescontinues to resonate with British audiences over 40 years after it was first broadcast.
‘Only Fools and Horses’ Is Arguably the Greatest British Sitcom of All Time
Among the most viewed shows during its BBC run, the show has consistently topped ‘Best of’ polls in the UK. It was voted the Best British sitcom in a BBC poll, with Del Boy coming first in a poll conducted by Sky looking for the ‘Most Popular British TV Character.’ In addition to winning dozens of awards, a OnePoll survey found thatOnly Fools and Horseswas the television series Britons would most like to see return.
