tomothy127



1	Family Guy	Dates:	1999-2002,2005-	Episodes:	174+	Channel:	Fox
	American animated comedy
	Voices: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Mike Henry
	Seth MacFarlane’s animated comedy about the Griffin family is consistently funny, pushes boundaries and is well produced. The idiotic father Peter and his one-year-old, son Stewie are particular highlights.
2	30 Rock	Dates:	2006-	Episodes:	103+	Channel:	NBC
	American sitcom
	Tiny Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit
	American sitcom “30 Rock” fully deserved three consecutive Emmys for best comedy programme. Written by and starring Tina Fey, this sitcom about a TV show’s production team has a well-written intricate script, edgy humour and a great range of characters.
3	Arrested Development	Dates:	2003-2006	Episodes:	53	Channel:	Fox
	American sitcom
	Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Tony Hale, David Cross, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter
	Written by Mitch Hurwitz, this US sitcom about an extended family has great characters and actors, convoluted storylines (in a very good way) and is far removed from most American sitcoms due its understated, intelligent humour.
4	It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia	Dates:	2005-	Episodes:	84+	Channel:	FX
	American sitcom
	Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, Danny DeVito
	Underrated American sitcom about four twenty-somethings who run a bar in Philadelphia. Every episode seems aimed at a different taboo, but this sitcom never seems strained, largely due to the very likeable characters and the shambolic, inventive plots.
5	The Office (U.K.)	Dates:	2001-2003	Episodes:	14	Channel:	BBC2
	British sitcom
	Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis
	Written as a mockumentary about the office at a paper-making company, this comedy is about the lives and relationships of a group of people forced together due to their jobs. Ricky Gervais shot to fame as the superb deluded boss David Brent, but all the supporting actors and characters are also worthy of praise.
6	Peep Show	Dates:	2003-	Episodes:	42+	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sitcom
	David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Olivia Colman
	British comedy at its best. This sitcom explores the lives and relationships of the intellectual(-ish) Mark and his carefree housemate Jeremy. Starring the brilliant David Mitchell and Robert Webb, and well scripted by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, this sitcom is at times cringe-worthy, frustrating and sad, but always very funny.
7	I’m Alan Partridge	Dates:	1997-2002	Episodes:	12	Channel:	BBC2
	British sitcom
	Steve Coogan, Felicity Montagu, Simon Greenall, Amelia Bullmore
	Few sitcoms compete with “I’m Alan Partridge” for the number of cringe-worthy embarrassing moments and no other sitcom competes for the most quotable lines. Alan Partridge, a failed chat show host, remains one of the greatest sitcom characters.
8	Modern Family	Dates:	2009-	Episodes:	58+	Channel:	ABC
	American sitcom
	Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet
	This sitcom was written as a mockumentary about an extended American family, supposedly aimed at a Dutch television audience. However, on watching this the premise is easily forgotten and the portrayal of three connected families is enjoyable as a funny, touching and intelligent sitcom about modern American family life.
9	Friends	Dates:	1994-2004	Episodes:	236	Channel:	NBC
	American sitcom
	Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer
	It didn’t push boundaries and the jokes weren’t that great, but “Friends” is still one of the most likeable and watchable sitcoms ever – with attractive characters, emotional storylines and numerous in-jokes, this is mainstream comedy at its best.
10	The Simpsons	Dates:	1989-	Episodes:	495+	Channel:	Fox
	American animated comedy
	Voices: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer
	Despite having been shown for over twenty years, “The Simpsons”‘ appeal has only waned to “very good”. All the leading characters (especially the obese, dunderheaded but well-meaning father Homer and the rebellious son Bart) have become institutions of modern culture, while the 50+ regular supporting characters add to the depth and intricacy of the programme.
11	Green Wing	Dates:	2004-2007	Episodes:	18	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sitcom
	Stephen Mangan, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Mark Heap, Tamsin Greig, Michelle Gomez, Karl Theobald, Pippa Haywood
	This hospital-based sitcom is probably among the most British sitcoms with regards to its oblique and surreal humour. Starring an ensemble cast including Stephen Mangan, Tamsin Greig and Julian Rhind-Tutt, the innovative approach to camera techniques, the in-jokes and the storylines helped Green Wing to become one of the most critically acclaimed recent British sitcoms.
12	The Inbetweeners	Dates:	2008-2010	Episodes:	18	Channel:	E4
	British sitcom
	Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley, Blake Harrison, Greg Davies
	British sitcom about four teenage boys’ school and love lives. The title refers to the characters’ status as neither cool enough to be “popular” nor nerdy enough to be geeks. Almost every episode includes at least one unforgettable laugh-out-loud scene.
13	Shooting Stars	Dates:	1995-97, 2002, 2009-2011	Episodes:	72	Channel:	BBC2, BBC3
	British panel show
	Hosts: Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer. Team captains: Ulrika Jonsson, Mark Lamarr (1995-97), Will Self (2002), Jack Dee (2008- ). Scorekeepers: Matt Lucas, Renton Skinner (as Angelos Epithemiou)
	Presented by Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, this panel show has brought surrealism to the mainstream in the UK. The two presenters’ bizarre and random antics form the basis of the show’s humour, as the various celebrity panellists often become mere observers to the spectacle.
14	Have I Got News For You?	Dates:	1990-	Episodes:	362+	Channel:	BBC2, BBC1
	British panel show
	Host: Angus Deayton (1990-2002). Team captains: Ian Hislop, Paul Merton
	No other panel show in the UK has lasted as long as “HIGNFY” (41 series as of August ’11), a panel show that discusses the news of the past week. Originally presented by Angus Deayton before he fell from grace, and since presented by a variety of presenters, most often Alexander Armstrong, none of the many panel shows that have followed in its wake have been smarter or funnier.
15	South Park	Dates:	1997-	Episodes:	223+	Channel:	Comedy Central
	American animated comedy
	Voices: Trey Parker, Matt Stone
	This animated sitcom shows the lives of four eight-year-old friends, and when it was first shown was considered controversial. “Family Guy” and several other animated series have lessened the impact, but “South Park” continues to be one of the most topical, most consistent and funny cartoons.
16	Father Ted	Dates:	1995-1998	Episodes:	25	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sitcom
	Dermot Morgan, Ardal O’Hanlon, Frank Kelly, Pauline McLynn
	Sitcom about three priests who live together on a small Irish island. The late Dermot Morgan plays the title role, looking after the childish Father Dougal and the drunken Father Jack. The humour is surreal and often silly, and each episode has memorably hilarious moments.
17	Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe	Dates:	2006-2008, specials: 2009-2010	Episodes:	27	Channel:	BBC4
	British compilation show
	Host: Charlie Brooker
	Charlie Brooker, a columnist in The Guardian newspaper, is presenter of this perceptive review of British TV. Brooker’s irreverent, caustic and honest approach to his discussion of television and the well-structured episodes meant that each show worked as both an interesting documentary as well as a laugh-out-loud pleasure. Follow-up series “Newswipe” (2009-10), which focussed on new reporting was equally good.
18	Glee	Dates:	2009-	Episodes:	53+	Channel:	Fox
	American comedy drama
	Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Kevin McHale
	Despite not being a sitcom as such (rather it’s a musical comedy-drama), “Glee” delivers on many levels and both provides plenty of laughs and addresses many issues relating to young people in a poignant, sympathetic way. Jane Lynch as the misanthropic Sue Sylvester is a comic highlight.
19	Armando Iannucci Shows	Dates:	2001	Episodes:	8	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sketch show
	Armando Iannucci
	Presented by Iannucci (who co-created “Knowing Me, Knowing You” and “I’m Alan Partridge”), this show is a personal and introspective insight into a very talented comedian’s mind, each episode of which deals with a broad theme that Iannucci develops in an interesting and very funny way.
20	Freaks and Geeks	Dates:	1999-2000	Episodes:	18	Channel:	NBC
	American comedy drama
	Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco, Samm Levine, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Martin Starr
	“Freaks and Geeks” was cancelled during its first series and did not attract many viewers; however the show has gained cult status, due in part to the subsequent Hollywood success of its producer Judd Apatow and cast members James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel. This comedy-drama sensitively and humorously portrays the family and school lives of intelligent rebel Lindsay Weir and her geeky brother Sam.
21	Little Britain	Dates:	2003-2006	Episodes:	36	Channel:	BBC3, BBC1
	British sketch show
	David Walliams, Matt Lucas
	David Walliams and Matt Lucas play almost all the characters in this cult sketch show that is often obscene, absurd and surreal. Well-known characters include Andy and Lou (an able-bodied wheelchair user and his long-suffering carer), Marjorie Dawes (the rude and indulgent leader of a “Fat Fighters” dieting group), and Vicky Pollard (a gossipy, ill-mannered parody of chavs).
22	Harry Hill’s TV Burp	Dates:	2001-	Episodes:	140+	Channel:	ITV
	British compilation show
	Host: Harry Hill
	“TV Burp” is a show fronted by comedian Harry Hill (ex-“The Harry Hill Show”) during which he provides sardonic remarks to present clips from the previous week’s TV shows in a humorous light. Only Hill’s inventive humour could make such a premise work well enough to make this one of the most laugh-out-loud shows.
23	Miranda	Dates:	2009-	Episodes:	12+	Channel:	BBC2, BBC1
	British sitcom
	Miranda Hart, Sarah Hadland, Tom Ellis, Patricia Hodge, Sally Phillips
	This sitcom, starring Miranda Hart, does not conform with modern ideas about what should make a good British comedy – it doesn’t deal with taboos, it has a laughter track, it involves much physical humour… So what? “Miranda” is rich with jokes, well acted (albeit in a slightly theatrical way) and very refreshing.
24	Never Mind The Buzzcocks	Dates:	1996-	Episodes:	239+	Channel:	BBC2
	British panel show
	Host: Mark Lamarr (1996-2005), Simon Amstell (2006-09). Team captains: Phill Jupitus, Sean Hughes (1996-2002), Bill Bailey (2002-08), Noel Fielding (2008- )
	Presented by Mark Lamarr (1996-2005) and Simon Amstell (2006-09), with guest presenters doing the rest, this music-based panel show has been always entertaining, with much of its humour derived from making fun of aspiring musician panellists.
25	Curb Your Enthusiasm	Dates:	2000-	Episodes:	80+	Channel:	HBO
	American sitcom
	Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, Susie Essman
	Larry David, who first found fame as co-creator of “Seinfeld”, acts an exaggerated version of himself in this semi-scripted sitcom. The humour derives from Larry’s opinionated and stubborn attitude, his unmatched ability to make faux pas, some superb storylines and a likeable supporting cast.
26	Frasier	Dates:	1993-2004	Episodes:	264	Channel:	NBC
	American sitcom
	Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves, John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin
	High-brow sitcom centring around the pompous radio psychiatrist Frasier Crane, who first appeared as a supporting character in “Cheers”. The well-written banter and the farcical plots help make this both intelligent and watchable.
27	The IT Crowd	Dates:	2006-	Episodes:	24+	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sitcom
	Richard Ayoade, Chris O’Dowd, Katherine Parkinson, Matt Berry
	Richard Ayoade and Chris O’Dowd play socially inept members of a large company’s IT department, while Katherine Parkinson plays their IT-illiterate manager. The comedy’s derived from the various ineptitude of the lead characters, mild surrealism, and bizarre and embarrassing situations.
28	The Vicar Of Dibley	Dates:	1994-1998, specials 1999-2007	Episodes:	20	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Dawn French, Gary Waldhorn, James Fleet, Emma Chambers, Liz Smith, Roger Lloyd Pack
	Dawn French stars as Geraldine Granger, a female vicar who presides over a village church with a motley congregation. This is family-oriented comedy at its best: warm, unpretentious and very funny.
29	Nighty Night	Dates:	2004-2005	Episodes:	12	Channel:	BBC3, BBC2
	British sitcom
	Julia Davis, Angus Deayton, Rebecca Front, Kevin Eldon, Mark Gatiss, Ruth Jones
	The first series of this sitcom is dark television comedy at its best. Julia Davis plays Jill Tyrell, a sociopathic beauty parlour manager who manipulates everyone she meets, including her cancer-stricken husband and her wheelchair-using neighbour. The second series was disappointing.
30	Blackadder	Dates:	1983-1989	Episodes:	27	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie
	Historical sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson as the lead character Edmund Blackadder, with Tony Robinson as his loyal (and stupid) dogsbody Baldrick. Each of the four series is set in a different historical era (the late Middle Ages, the Elizabethan period, the Regency period and World War II), but Blackadder’s exasperated toleration of the fools around him and his witty put-downs are consistently amusing.
31	Big Train	Dates:	1998, 2002	Episodes:	12	Channel:	BBC2
	British sketch show
	Simon Pegg, Mark Heap, Kevin Eldon, Amelia Bullmore, Julia Davis, Rebecca Front, Catherine Tate
	Big Train’s talented cast, including Simon Pegg, Kevin Eldon and Mark Heap, and its creators Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews (both ex-“Father Ted”) make this one of the best sketch shows ever. Many sketch shows suffer from their lack of good actors, ideas, or scripts – “Big Train”, which lasted only two series, does not.
32	Life’s Too Short	Dates:	2011-	Episodes:	7+	Channel:	BBC3
	British sitcom
	Warwick Davis, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Jo Enright, Rosamund Hanson, Matthew Holness
	Written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, this mock documentary stars dwarf actor Warwick Davis, who plays a fictionalised version of himself as he struggles to find employment to pay off debts. Like Gervais’ character of David Brent in “The Office”, Davis’ character has an inflated ego and relentless optimism despite countless setbacks. Every episode contains some hilarious moments, often involving celebrity guests or size-related physical humour.
33	A Bit Of Fry And Laurie	Dates:	1989-1995	Episodes:	26	Channel:	BBC2, BBC1
	British sketch show
	Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie
	Having already appeared together in the Cambridge Footlights and “Blackadder”, Fry and Laurie wrote and starred in this sketch show. Wordplay, pedantry, topical satire and class are all common sources of humour in perhaps the most intellectual British sketch show.
34	How I Met Your Mother	Dates:	2005-	Episodes:	148+	Channel:	CBS
	American sitcom
	Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Saunders, Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan
	Perhaps the best current mainstream American sitcom, “How I Met Your Mother” has the over-arching premise that the whole series is a flashback as lead character Ted reminisces to his children in the year 2030 about how he met their mother. Ignore this premise and enjoy a well-scripted, well-acted series about twenty-somethings’ love lives, foibles and friendships.
35	Will And Grace	Dates:	1998-2006	Episodes:	194	Channel:	NBC
	American sitcom
	Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Sean Hayes, Megan Mullally, Harry Connick, Jr.
	Eric McCormack and Debra Messing star as the titular lead characters: a gay man and his straight female best friend/flatmate, while Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally get most of the laughs as their friends, the overly camp Jack and the shallow multi-millionairess Karen.
36	The Thick Of It	Dates:	2005-	Episodes:	16+	Channel:	BBC4, BBC2
	British sitcom
	Peter Capaldi, Chris Addison, Chris Langham, James Smith, Rebecca Front (2009- ), Joanna Scanlan
	“The Thick Of It” is often compared to Yes Minister, and the parallels are undeniable: both are intelligent, funny, incisive sitcoms about the goings-on within politics. But “The Thick Of It” is more full-on – the language is coarser, the spin is more extreme and the portrayals are harsher. Peter Capaldi, Chris Addison and Rebecca Front have all been rightly acclaimed for their roles.
37	Flight Of The Conchords	Dates:	2007-2009	Episodes:	22	Channel:	HBO
	American sitcom
	Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal
	This American sitcom charts the lives and loves of the eponymous New Zealander folk duo, as they try to find success in New York, despite having a terrible manager (brilliantly played by Rhys Darby) and only one loyal fan. Each show has musical interludes in which the duo show off both their musical skills but also their flair for surreal creativity.
38	Not The Nine O’Clock News	Dates:	1979-1982	Episodes:	27	Channel:	BBC2
	British sketch show
	Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson, Mel Smith, Griff Rhys Jones, Chris Langham (1979)
	Perhaps the greatest sketch show of the 1980s, “Not the Nine O’Clock News” is (along with “The Young Ones”) one of the definitive alternative comedy shows. It acted as the springboard for several successful actors and writers (David Renwick, Andy Hamilton, Richard Curtis, Clive Anderson).
39	Seinfeld	Dates:	1989-1998	Episodes:	180	Channel:	NBC
	American sitcom
	Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander
	Jerry Seinfeld starred in and co-created (with Larry David) this sitcom about the lives of four New Yorkers, often described as “a show about nothing”. As with many early 1990s American sitcoms, Seinfeld can seem dated now, but its consistency, its originality, the great acting and scripts, and the influence on many subsequent sitcoms (including “Friends”) make it one the all-time great TV shows.
40	Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle	Dates:	2009-	Episodes:	12	Channel:	BBC2
	British entertainment show
	Host: Stewart Lee. Frequent contributors: Kevin Eldon, Simon Munnery
	Stewart Lee is one of the most popular British stand-ups from the 1990s alternative comedy circuit. In this show, which includes occasional sketches as well as stand-up routines, Lee has free rein to show off his unique blend of sardonic, slow-burning wit.
41	Community	Dates:	2009-	Episodes:	59+	Channel:	NBC
	American sitcom
	Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Chevy Chase, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Yvette Nicole Brown, John Oliver
	This sitcom follows the mature students at a Colorado community college and has slowly gained critical acclaim. Aside from its impressive cast and its witty semi-improvised scripts, it is notable for its special episodes, including several film pastiches and a Christmas episode wholly created using stop-motion animation.
42	Outnumbered	Dates:	2007-	Episodes:	29+	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Hugh Dennis, Claire Skinner, Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche, Ramona Marquez
	Family sitcom at its best. Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner act as middle-class London parents, raising three children. While the children in many family-based sitcoms play second fiddle, the children in “Outnumbered” are often the stars, largely due perhaps to the producers’ decision to allow the three child actors to semi-improvise their lines.
43	You’ve Been Framed	Dates:	1990-	Episodes:	Over 200(+)	Channel:	ITV
	British compilation show
	Host: Jeremy Beadle (1990-97), Lisa Riley (1998-2003), Jonathan Wilkes (2003-04), Harry Hill (voice only; 2004- )
	Long-running show, consisting of videos sent in by the public, is dominated by clips of people falling over, fainting, looking silly, and more falling over. Original host Jeremy Beadle made this show a fixture of TV schedules, while current host Harry Hill’s narration makes it better than ever.
44	People Like Us	Dates:	1999-2000	Episodes:	12	Channel:	BBC2
	British spoof
	Chris Langham
	Mock documentary starring Chris Langham as incompetent photojournalist Roy Mallard who interviews a member of a different profession each week. Mallard’s awkward interviewing style and the dead-pan answers of the various interviewees (often played by established comic actors) were consistently impressive.
45	The Graham Norton Show	Dates:	2007-	Episodes:	131+	Channel:	BBC2, BBC1
	British chat show
	Host: Graham Norton
	Having established himself with the successful chat shows “So Graham Norton” (1998-2003) and “V Graham Norton” (2003-04), the camp Irish comedian has proven that he is among the most talented presenters working in the UK with “The Graham Norton Show”, a chat show in which three or four prominent celebrities share a sofa while being interviewed and having a laugh with the host.
46	QI	Dates:	2003-	Episodes:	127+	Channel:	BBC4, BBC1
	British panel show
	Host: Stephen Fry. Permanent panellist: Alan Davies
	Stephen Fry presides over this panel show, which is equally educational (albeit in an often esoteric way) and funny. The basic premise is that Fry will ask the panel questions on topics that are widely misunderstood – the panellists lose points for giving wrong/obvious answers and gain points for answers that are correct or quite interesting (the “Q.I.” of the title).
47	Campus	Dates:	2011	Episodes:	7	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sitcom
	Andy Nyman, Joseph Millson, Lisa Jackson, Sara Pascoe, Will Adamsdale, Jonathan Bailey
	Created by the same team as “Green Wing”, this underrated sitcom about the teachers at a low-ranking university is often surreal and funny, and improved as its sole series progressed. Like “Green Wing”, the show benefited from an ensemble cast and a heavy dose of surrealism.
48	Trigger Happy TV	Dates:	2000-2001	Episodes:	17	Channel:	Channel 4
	British prank show
	Dom Joly
	Hidden camera show in which Dom Joly plays harmless practical jokes (usually of a Dadaist/surreal nature) on members of the public and occasional celebrities. The soundtrack music and the frequent silent clips help to create a dreamy atmosphere to this show.
49	Blue Mountain State	Dates:	2010-	Episodes:	37+	Channel:	Spike
	American sitcom
	Darin Brooks, Alan Ritchson, Page Kennedy (2010), Sam Jones III (2010), Chris Romano
	It may be unlikely to win many Emmys, but “Blue Mountain State” is one of the most entertaining new American sitcoms of the past few years. Centred around the American football team of a Pennsylvanian university, the series includes a fair amount of gross-out humour and deals with sex, drugs and plenty of alcohol.
50	The Office (U.S.)	Dates:	2005-	Episodes:	162+	Channel:	NBC
	American sitcom
	Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B. J. Novak
	It is difficult at first for Brits to watch the American “Office” without constantly comparing it to the British original. “The Office” does not have quite the same sparse, under-produced feel that made the British “Office” so charming, nor (unsurprisingly) does it have the appeal of being so original and cutting-edge. However, the American “Office” is still great – Steve Carell as manager Michael Scott and Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute are particular highlights. And it’s very unlikely that the British “Office” could have continued so successfully for 160 episodes!
51	Fonejacker / Facejacker	Dates:	2006-2008 / 2010-	Episodes:	16 / 5	Channel:	E4
	British prank show
	Kayvan Novak
	Lead actor Kayvan Novak’s face is rarely seen properly throughout either series. “Fonejacker” typically consists of prank phone calls, accompanied by animations, while “Facejacker” involves Novak donning various prosthetic disguises while continuing his pranks. The African scammers and the Cockney car salesman Terry Tibbs are the most well known, but my favourite is Brian Badonde, whose speech impediment leads him to start every word with the letter “B”.
52	Man Stroke Woman	Dates:	2005-2007	Episodes:	12	Channel:	BBC3
	British sketch show
	Nick Frost, Amanda Abbington, Ben Crompton, Daisy Haggard, Meredith MacNeill, Nicholas Burns
	“Man Stroke Woman” is one of the best British sketch shows of the past ten years. Nicholas Burns and Nick Frost are the best-known of the six lead actors whose sketches find humour in impropriety within love, parenthood, friendships and work.
53	Mighty Boosh	Dates:	2004-2007	Episodes:	21	Channel:	BBC3
	British sitcom
	Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding, Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher, Dave Brown
	Surreal comedy series about the exploits of Vince Noir (Noel Fielding) and Howard Moon (Julian Barratt), with supporting characters including Bollo (a gorilla) and Naboo (a shaman). The three series involves the characters residing in a zoo, a London flat and a second-hand shop respectively; however, their frequent dreamlike adventures and the musical interludes tend to take Vince and Howard to far stranger locations. At its worst it’s tedious, but at its best this show is great.
54	The Catherine Tate Show	Dates:	2004-2007, special: 2009	Episodes:	22	Channel:	BBC2, BBC1
	British sketch show
	Catherine Tate, Mathew Horne
	Putting paid to the idea that women aren’t funny, this highly successful show is second among modern sketch shows only to “Little Britain” in its positive hit/miss ratio. Highlights include the contemptuous Nan character and chavette Lauren Cooper.
55	The Big Bang Theory	Dates:	2007-	Episodes:	98+	Channel:	CBS
	American sitcom
	Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Kaley Cuoco
	American sitcom about five friends: four geeky guys with limited social skills, and a blonde socially well-adjusted neighbour. The storylines chart the love lives of the characters and the (usually failed) attempts that the guys make to demonstrate their social skills. “The Big Bang Theory” has a unique feel to it, with science and nerdy subjects featuring frequently, it has a fast pace, many good jokes and has deservedly become one of the most successful sitcoms of recent years.
56	Mock The Week	Dates:	2005-	Episodes:	95+	Channel:	BBC2
	British panel show
	Host: Dara Ó Briain. Regular panellists: Hugh Dennis, Andy Parsons, Frankie Boyle, Russell Howard, Chris Addison
	Topical panel show hosted by Dara Ó Briain. The jokes are often recycled and regular panellists Frankie Boyle and Andy Parsons became tiresome very quickly, but Ó Briain, Hugh Dennis, Russell Howard and guests make this a great show with the “Scenes We’d Like To See” and “Spinning the News” rounds being particular highlights.
57	Lead Balloon	Dates:	2006-2011	Episodes:	27	Channel:	BBC4, BBC2
	British sitcom
	Jack Dee, Raquel Cassidy, Anna Crilly, Sean Power, Tony Gardner, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Rasmus Hardiker
	Jack Dee plays a misanthropic comedian named Rick Spleen in this sitcom that was often regarded as a British “Curb Your Enthusiasm”. More family-oriented and gentle than Curb, the enjoyability of this sitcom largely depends on how much one likes Jack Dee.
58	Rock Profile	Dates:	1999-2001, 2009	Episodes:	30	Channel:	Play UK, BBC2
	British spoof
	Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Jamie Theakston
	Matt Lucas and David Walliams’ first comedy programme as a duo was this series of mock interviews with pop stars. Lucas and Walliams played the majority of the stars, while Jamie Theakston was the interviewer. Particularly good episodes include those parodying Lee and H from Steps, Shirley Bassey & Tom Jones, and Abba.
59	Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show	Dates:	2010-	Episodes:	15+	Channel:	BBC3
	British entertainment show
	Hosts: Simon Brodkin, Terry “Omelette” Noble
	Lee Nelson is a superb comic character: a happy-go-lucky chav so smiley and so positive that it’s difficult to dislike him however rude and ignorant he gets. Played by Simon Brodkin (an ex-doctor in real life), Nelson appeared on “Al Murray’s Multiple Personality Disorder” and “The Wall” prior to this stand-up show, which also includes sketches showing off Brodkin’s other comic characters.
60	Monty Python’s Flying Circus	Dates:	1969-1973	Episodes:	45	Channel:	BBC1, BBC2
	British sketch show
	Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
	Some “Monty Python” sketches are well-known enough to be described in one word (parrot, lumberjack, inquisition), while it is sometimes said the majority of lesser-known sketches deserve to be forgotten. It’s hard to watch “Monty Python” without considering its reputation, but it’s undeniable that it’s surreal humour is very funny at its best and set a standard for many subsequent sketch shows.
61	The Worst Week Of My Life	Dates:	2004-2006	Episodes:	17	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Ben Miller, Sarah Alexander, Alison Steadman, Geoffrey Whitehead, Janine Duvitski
	Underrated but accomplished comedy-of-embarrassment sitcom, whose two series revolved around a marriage and a childbirth respectively, while three highly entertaining Christmas specials were also made.
62	The Day Today	Dates:	1994	Episodes:	6	Channel:	BBC2
	British spoof
	Chris Morris, Steve Coogan, Rebecca Front, Doon Mackichan, Patrick Marber, David Schneider
	Chris Morris’ spoof of news programmes is remembered for being a launching pad for many comedians including Steve Coogan in his Alan Partridge role, and for being a precursor to the controversial Brass Eye. In its own right, the Day Today was a great send-up, though it was slow in parts and indebted to the largely forgotten “KYTV”.
63	The Daily Show	Dates:	1996-	Episodes:	Over 2,360(+)	Channel:	Comedy Central
	American chat show
	Host: Craig Kilborn (1996-98), Jon Stewart (1999- ). Frequent contributors: Stephen Colbert (1997- ), Lewis Black, John Oliver (2006- ), Rob Corddry (2002-09), Samantha Bee (2003-11), Ed Helms (2002-09)
	During the past twelve years, “The Daily Show” has established Jon Stewart as not only one of the most funny comedians, but also as one of the most respected political interviewers. Due to the frequency of the shows, the jokes are not always of the highest calibre, but Stewart and his collaborators ensure that each show has both funny and interesting moments.
64	Summer Heights High	Dates:	2007	Episodes:	8	Channel:	ABC TV
	Australian sitcom
	Chris Lilley
	Chris Lilley stars in the triple role of rebellious Tongan student Jonah Takalua, drama teacher Mr G and self-centred exchange student Ja’mie King in this Australian school-based mockumentary. Lilley is a master of disguise and all three characters are engaging and believable.
65	Everybody Loves Raymond	Dates:	1996-2005	Episodes:	210	Channel:	CBS
	American sitcom
	Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, Monica Horan
	This family-based sitcom may be the antithesis of cutting-edge comedy, with its laughter track and family-friendly vibe, but few comedies of any kind have such great scripts as “Everybody Loves Raymond”. Throughout the show’s long run, it follows sports writer Raymond Barone and his family: a loyal wife, three kids, a quirky older brother, an overbearing mother and an obnoxious father. Not much ever happened or changed, which was somehow rather reassuring.
66	Bo’ Selecta!	Dates:	2002-2009	Episodes:	45	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sketch show
	Leigh Francis
	Leigh Francis wrote and starred in this sketch show about popular culture. As Avid Merrion, Francis plays a fame-obsessed man, who keeps ex-Big Brother winner Craig Phillips in a closet and interviews celebrities. In other guises, usually prosthetically enhanced to comedic proportions, he plays singers Mel B, Michael Jackson and Craig David (among others).
67	The League Of Gentlemen	Dates:	1999-2002	Episodes:	19	Channel:	BBC2
	British sketch show
	Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith
	Dark comedy sketch show featuring various characters in the claustrophobic village of Royston Vasey. The League of Gentlemen troupe had starred in a stand-up show and on a radio show before appearing in this series; their best-known sketches include scary shopkeepers Tubbs and Edward, and the sinister circus master Papa Lazarou.
68	Look Around You	Dates:	2002-2005	Episodes:	15	Channel:	BBC2
	British spoof
	Robert Popper, Peter Serafinowicz, Olivia Colman (2005), Josie D’Arby (2005)
	Spoof science programme starring and co-written by Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz. The first series parodied educational science programmes of the 70s/80s, while the second series parodied long-running technology show “Tomorrow’s World”.
69	American Dad!	Dates:	2005-	Episodes:	122+	Channel:	Fox
	American animated comedy
	Voices: Seth MacFarlane, Wendy Schaal, Scott Grimes, Rachael MacFarlane, Dee Bradley Baker
	“American Dad!” may forever be in the shadow of Seth MacFarlane’s prior creation “Family Guy” as far as many people are concerned, but nevertheless this is one of the funniest and long-running animated series of recent years. The series is centred on the family life of the ignorant and chauvinistic CIA agent Stan Smith (voiced by MacFarlane).
70	Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge	Dates:	1994, special: 1995	Episodes:	7	Channel:	BBC2
	British spoof
	Steve Coogan, Rebecca Front, Patrick Marber, David Schneider, Doon Mackichan, Steve Brown
	Steve Coogan’s Alan Partridge character followed up his role as sports presenter on “The Day Today” with a lead role as presenter on this spoof chat show. Partridge demonstrates his unique blend of tactlessness, ineptness and arrogance, while interviewing guests often played by Coogan’s colleagues from “The Day Today”.
71	Keeping Up Appearances	Dates:	1990-1995	Episodes:	44	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift, David Griffin, Josephine Tewson, Geoffrey Hughes, Judy Cornwell, Mary Millar
	Classically trained Patricia Routledge plays the lead as Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced “bouquet”), a socially aspiring woman whose pomposity and unjustified sense of grandeur causes offence and embarrassment in every episode. The sitcom is unpopular with many who consider it to be low-brow, but it’s so well written and well produced that this hardly matters.
72	Brass Eye	Dates:	1997, special: 2001	Episodes:	7	Channel:	Channel 4
	British spoof
	Chris Morris, Mark Heap, Kevin Eldon, Doon Mackichan, David Cann
	Chris Morris’ spoof version of current affairs programmes is as remembered for its shock tactics as for its humour. Episodes centring on a made-up illegal drug called Cake (which was discussed in the actual House of Commons) and on paedophilia are the most notable.
73	Balls Of Steel	Dates:	2005-2008	Episodes:	19	Channel:	Channel 4
	British entertainment show
	Host: Marc Dolan. Frequent contributors: Alex Zane, Thaila Zucchi, Michael “Pancho” Locke and Matthew Pritchard, Olivia Lee, Neg Dupree, Tim Shaw, Dawn Porter, Ross Lee
	Marc Dolan is the hosts of this show, each episode of which features six or seven contenders who perform stunts or pranks in order to win a weekly “Balls of Steel” trophy. The most entertaining frequent participants are Alex Zane, who hosts a staged game show that makes a mockery of its participants; the Bunny Boiler, an attractive woman who flirts outrageously with attached women; and the Pain Men, who perform a selection of funny/painful/stupid stunts.
74	Fresh Meat	Dates:	2011-	Episodes:	8+	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sitcom
	Jack Whitehall, Joe Thomas, Kimberley Nixon, Greg McHugh, Zawe Ashton, Charlotte Richie
	Among the best of the new British comedies in 2011, and the first cult student-related sitcom since “The Young Ones”, “Fresh Meat” was at times heart-felt and at times hilarious as a group of co-habiting students experienced the pitfalls of life and love in their first year of university.
75	Extras	Dates:	2005-2007	Episodes:	13	Channel:	BBC2
	British sitcom
	Ricky Gervais, Ashley Jensen, Stephen Merchant, Shaun Williamson
	Ricky Gervais followed up the smash hit “The Office” with this sitcom, co-written by and co-starring Stephen Merchant, about extras working on TV and films. Each episode features a different A-list star, who (just like Gervais does throughout the series) is happy to send up his or her own persona.
76	Time Trumpet	Dates:	2006	Episodes:	6	Channel:	BBC2
	British spoof
	Richard Ayoade, Matthew Holness, Adam Buxton, Jo Enright, Stewart Lee, Jo Neary, Mark Watson
	Armando Iannucci created this show, which is on the one hand a parody of those shows in which minor celebrities (pretend to?) remember nostalgic events and on the other a parody of the direction in which the nature of celebrity and the media are going. The premise is that in the year 2031 several actual comedians and various older versions of modern celebrities (portrayed by actors) act as talking heads, reminiscing about imagined events during the first few decades of the 21st century.
77	The Royle Family	Dates:	1998-2000, specials: 2006-2010	Episodes:	24	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, Caroline Aherne, Ralf Little, Craig Cash, Liz Smith
	An extended lower-class family rarely leave their cramped flat, and spend most of their time sitting down, watching TV and making unenlightened small talk. It might not like sound like the basis of a great sitcom, but Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash (the co-writers and co-stars) made this an original, heartfelt, funny and popular series.
78	Fawlty Towers	Dates:	1975, 1979	Episodes:	12	Channel:	BBC2
	British sitcom
	John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth, Brian Hall
	“Fawlty Towers” only lasted 12 episodes, but it is a classic in the history of British comedy. John Cleese over-acts the character of hotel owner Basil Fawlty to gain the maximum amount of laughs, while Andrew Sachs (as Spanish waiter Manuel), Prunella Scales (as Fawlty’s wife Sybil) and co-writer Connie Booth (as the competent waitress Polly) all guarantee themselves mentions in any history of UK comedy.
79	The Fast Show	Dates:	1994-1997, special: 2000	Episodes:	25	Channel:	BBC2
	British sketch show
	Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Arabella Weir, John Thomson, Caroline Aherne, Simon Day, Mark Williams
	Perhaps the defining British sketch show of the 1990s, with a talented cast and many memorable recurring characters and catchphrases. Among the highlights include the repressed relationship between landowner Ted (Higson) and his employee Ralph (Whitehouse), and “Competitive Dad” (Day).
80	Bottom	Dates:	1991-1995	Episodes:	18	Channel:	BBC2
	British sitcom
	Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Steve O’Donnell, Christopher Ryan
	Having established themselves as comic actors in “The Young Ones” and “The Comic Strip”, Edmondson and Mayall returned in the 1990s with this gross-out, silly and very funny sitcom about two flatmates.
81	Mr Bean	Dates:	1989-1995	Episodes:	14	Channel:	ITV
	British sitcom
	Rowan Atkinson, Matilda Ziegler
	Despite his long and diverse acting career, Rowan Atkinson will be forever associated by some with the role of Mr Bean, a (nearly) mute and socially inept man who blunders his way through life. He may not be to everyone’s tastes and the jokes are certainly not intelligent, but each episode is a masterclass in comic acting that only Atkinson could give.
82	Absolutely Fabulous	Dates:	1992-1996, 2001-2005	Episodes:	36	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield, Jane Horrocks
	Sitcom about Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders), an irresponsible middle-aged PR agent who is desperate to remain fashionable, and her friend Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley), an even more irresponsible magazine editor. The two stars are both happy to make fools of themselves, while Julia Sawalha, June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks (as, respectively, Edina’s daughter, mother and PA) provide further laughs.
83	Da Ali G Show / Ali G in da USAiii	Dates:	2000 / 2003-06	Episodes:	6 / 12	Channel:	Channel 4 / HBO
	British sketch show
	Sacha Baron Cohen
	Ali G was a white interviewer/hip-hop artist who considered himself to be black, and demonstrated his shocking ignorance, thus causing humorous consternation from his high-ranking guests. In the USA-based second series (known as “Ali G in da USAiii” in the UK) Sacha Baron Cohen’s two other great comedy characters Borat and Brüno appeared.
84	Come Fly With Me	Dates:	2010-	Episodes:	6+	Channel:	BBC1
	British sketch show
	Matt Lucas, David Walliams
	David Walliams and Matt Lucas followed “Little Britain” with this mockumentary about the staff at an airport, much in the vein of the reality show “Airport”. The exaggerated characters, often of ethnic minorities but always played by Walliams or Lucas (much to the consternation of some critics), are all very funny.
85	Harry Enfield and Chums	Dates:	1990-1992, 1994-1998	Episodes:	27	Channel:	BBC2, BBC1
	British sketch show
	Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse, Kathy Burke
	Harry Enfield gained some fame prior to this sketch show with characters including “Loadsamoney”, but this show (known as “Harry Enfield’s Television Programme” for its first two series) helped make him a star of mainstream British comedy. Notable sketches featured obnoxious teens Kevin and Perry, Wayne and Waynetta Slob, and the oversized babies Lulu and Harry.
86	Angry Boys	Dates:	2011	Episodes:	12	Channel:	ABC1
	Australian sketch show
	Chris Lilley
	Chris Lilley followed the critically acclaimed “We Can Be Heroes” and “Summer Heights High” with “Angry Boys”, a mockumentary about several interconnected young males. Characters include Daniel Sims and his love-hate relationship with his deaf brother Nathan, and “Gran”, a motherly youth prison guard, who’s in the early stages of dementia. It’s certainly not the funniest comedy programme ever made, but it’s among the most daring and the most touching.
87	The Brittas Empire	Dates:	1991-1997	Episodes:	52	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Chris Barrie, Pippa Haywood, Julia St. John, Mike Burns, Russell Porter, Tim Marriott, Harriet Thorpe
	Sitcom about the employees of a leisure centre run by the gaffe-prone manager Gordon Brittas (Chris Barrie). The humorous and often unlikely storylines made this a light-hearted pleasure.
88	Benidorm	Dates:	2007-	Episodes:	28+	Channel:	ITV
	British sitcom
	Steve Pemberton, Siobhan Finneran, Sheila Reid, Kenny Ireland, Janine Duvitski, Johnny Vegas (2007-09), Nicholas Burns (2007-09), Geoffrey Hutchings (2008-09)
	This sitcom has a varied ensemble cast who play British ex-pats and holiday-goers to the Spanish seaside destination of Benidorm. Despite gaining little critical or media attention, this sitcom has a good cast and characters, and the plotlines are well written.
89	Grumpy Old Men / Grumpy Old Women	Dates:	2003-2006 / 2004-2007	Episodes:	14 / 14	Channel:	BBC2
	British entertainment show
	Narrator: Geoffrey Hughes (voice only). Contributors: Rory McGrath, Arthur Smith, Will Self, Rick Wakeman / Narrator: Alison Steadman (voice only; 2004-06) Judith Holder (2007). Contributors: Sheila Hancock, Arabella Weir, Jane Moore, Kathryn Flett
	Talking head show in which established British actors, presenters, comedians and media types take it in turns to discuss their gripes regarding certain themes – past topics have included manners, Christmas, holidays and ageing.
90	The Sarah Silverman Program	Dates:	2007-2010	Episodes:	32	Channel:	Comedy Central
	American sitcom
	Sarah Silverman, Laura Silverman, Brian Posehn, Steve Agee, Jay Johnston
	Silverman was touted as a saviour of female comedy by some, though the high expectations have not always been lived up to. Nevertheless, Silverman is a great comedienne with good timing and her comic persona (a Jewish ingénue with a talent of causing offence) is often very funny..
91	Men Behaving Badly	Dates:	1992-1998	Episodes:	42	Channel:	ITV, BBC1
	British sitcom
	Martin Clunes, Neil Morrissey, Leslie Ash, Caroline Quentin
	This show became of one of the most successful British sitcoms of the 1990s, through its portrayal of un-PC laddishness and its low-brow humour. The main characters are Tony (Neil Morrissey) and Gary (Martin Clunes), whose love of beer and banter is matched only by their romantic feelings for Deborah (Leslie Ash) and Dorothy (Caroline Quentin).
92	It’ll Be Alright On The Night	Dates:	1977-2008	Episodes:	31	Channel:	ITV
	British compilation show
	Host: Dennis Norden (1977-2006), Griff Rhys Jones (2008)
	Dennis Norden is a legend within British comedy, having enjoyed success in radio and TV since the late 1940s. “It’ll Be Alright on the Night” was an irregularly produced compilation show of out-takes from TV and film that Norden hosted for twenty episodes from 1977 to 2006 (by which time he was 84 years old). The infrequency of their production allowed the shows to select only the best clips and Norden’s hosting was incomparable. Griff Rhys Jones presented two further episodes in 2008.
93	Smack The Pony	Dates:	1999-2002, specials: 2002-2003	Episodes:	23	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sketch show
	Doon Mackichan, Fiona Allen, Sally Phillips, Sarah Alexander, Darren Boyd
	This sketch show was one of the first all-female British sketch shows, and like many sketch shows was hit and miss. However, the likeability of Doon Mackichan, Fiona Allen and Sally Phillips made this enjoyable to watch, and it set a benchmark for modern female-fronted sketch comedy that has since only been matched by Catherine Tate.
94	Drawn Together	Dates:	2004-2007	Episodes:	36	Channel:	Comedy Central
	American animated comedy
	Voices: Adam Carolla, Jess Harnell, Abbey DiGregorio, Jack Plotnick, Tara Strong, Cree Summer, James Arnold Taylor
	This is a guilty pleasure: an animated series based around a “Big Brother”/”Real World” house populated by parodies of well-known animated characters. The show’s funny but the humour’s often low-brow (to cite Wikipedia, it deals with “abortion, rape, incest, pedophilia, gay marriage, spousal abuse, racism, homophobia, antisemitism, necrophilia and terrorism”). Brilliant, if you like that sort of thing.
95	French and Saunders	Dates:	1987-1996, 2004, 2007, specials	Episodes:	46	Channel:	BBC2
	British sketch show
	Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders
	Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders appeared together in “The Comic Strip” troupe prior to this sketch show, in which they continued to prove they were two of the finest comediennes around. As well as sketches (many of which included French and Saunders playing exaggerated versions of themselves), there were also entertaining musical parodies.
96	Would I Lie To You?	Dates:	2007-	Episodes:	41+	Channel:	BBC1
	British panel show
	Host: Rob Brydon (2009- ), Angus Deayton (2007-08). Team captains: David Mitchell, Lee Mack
	Panel show in which the panelists read statements about themselves and the opposing team guess if they’re telling the truth. Rob Brydon (and Angus Deayton before him) and team captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack ensure that each episode has plenty of funny moments.
97	Him & Her	Dates:	2011-	Episodes:	7+	Channel:	BBC3
	British sitcom
	Warwick Davis, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Jo Enright, Rosamund Hanson, Matthew Holness
	Written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, this mock documentary stars dwarf actor Warwick Davis, who plays a fictionalised version of himself as he struggles to find employment to pay off debts. Like Gervais’ character of David Brent in “The Office”, Davis’ character has an inflated ego and relentless optimism despite countless setbacks. Every episode contains some hilarious moments, often involving celebrity guests or size-related physical humour.
98	My Name Is Earl	Dates:	2005-2009	Episodes:	96	Channel:	NBC
	American sitcom
	Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee, Jaime Pressly, Eddie Steeples, Nadine Velazquez
	Jason Lee plays Earl Hickey in this sitcom, a reformed petty criminal with a strong belief in karma. Each episode shows Earl attempting to right a wrong by carrying out a good deed, often with unintended results. The supporting cast, particularly Earl’s mouthy ex-wife Joy (Jaime Pressly) are entertaining.
99	That Mitchell and Webb Look	Dates:	2006-2011	Episodes:	24	Channel:	BBC2
	British sketch show
	David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Olivia Colman, Sarah Hadland, James Bachman, Paterson Joseph
	As a duo, David Mitchell and Robert Webb are probably best known for Peep Show, but their sketch show is also worth watching. Highlights include “Numberwang”, a ridiculous and confusing game show vaguely based on “Countdown”. Prior to this series, the duo had appeared in the inferior 2001 sketch show “The Mitchell and Webb Situation” and the humorous radio show “That Mitchell and Webb Sound” (2003-09).
100	How Not To Live Your Life	Dates:	2007-2011	Episodes:	19	Channel:	BBC3
	British sitcom
	Dan Clark, David Armand, Leila Hoffman, Laura Haddock
	Dan Clark created and starred in this tragi-comic sitcom about a paranoid young man named Don. The storylines almost always involve Don finding himself in embarrassing situations and the tone is often crude. The flow of this sitcom is frequently broken up by monologues, dream sequences and humorous lists relevant to the plot (e.g., Eight Ways Don Shouldn’t Dance), which give the sitcom a unique feel.
101	The Young Ones	Dates:	1982-1984	Episodes:	12	Channel:	BBC2
	British sitcom
	Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan, Alexei Sayle
	British sitcom about low-life university students – during its short time on screens it became one of the most pivotal comedies of the 1980s. Actors Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson went on to create “Bottom”.
102	Spaced	Dates:	1999-2001	Episodes:	14	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sitcom
	Simon Pegg, Jessica Stevenson, Nick Frost, Mark Heap, Julia Deakin, Katy Carmichael
	Few comedies’ titles sum up their feel better than “Spaced”, a sitcom that often gives the viewer a rather druggy sensation due to its lighting, its topics and its pace. Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson play (relatively) normal flatmates Tim and Daisy, while the supporting characters lend the series a degree of bizarreness. Pegg and Nick Frost have since created the films “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”.
103	Malcolm In The Middle	Dates:	2000-2006	Episodes:	151	Channel:	Fox
	American sitcom
	Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek, Bryan Cranston, Christopher Masterson, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan
	Frankie Muniz plays the title character,a precocious middle child in a dysfunctional family. This series is deservedly one of the few long-running family-based sitcoms that have achieved acclaim from critics and comedy fans alike.
104	Dead Ringers	Dates:	2002-2007	Episodes:	42	Channel:	BBC2
	British sketch show
	Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Phil Cornwell, Kevin Connelly, Mark Perry
	The principal cast of “Dead Ringers” (notably Jon Culshaw and Jan Ravens) are talented impressionists, and skilfully perform effective parodies of many celebrities. “Dead Ringers” pips “Alistair’s McGowan’s Big Impression” to be the most enjoyable impressions show, though spin-offs (especially “Headcases”) have been disappointing.
105	Just For Laughs	Dates:	2003-2007	Episodes:	50+	Channel:	BBC1
	British prank show
	Keith Law, Kirsteen O’Sullivan, Sonia Butterworth
	It’s puerile, unoriginal and of little consequence, but if you’re in the right mood, few other programmes will make you laugh as much as this light-hearted prank show, which targets members of the public on the streets of Northern Ireland.
106	The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air	Dates:	1990-1996	Episodes:	148	Channel:	NBC
	American sitcom
	Will Smith, Alfonso Ribeiro, James Avery, Karyn Parsons, Tatyana Ali, Joseph Marcell, Janet Hubert-Whitten (1990-93), Daphne Maxwell Reid (1993-96)
	Will Smith stars as Will, a teenager born and raised in Philadelphia who lives with his wealthy aunt and uncle in their Bel Air mansion. Much of the comedy comes from the personality clashes between Will and his adoptive family, and strong performances from Smith, Alfonso Ribeiro (as Will’s preppy cousin Carlton) and James Avery (as the intimidating Uncle Phil).
107	The Two Ronnies	Dates:	1971-1987	Episodes:	93	Channel:	BBC1
	British sketch show
	Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett
	Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett’s show included many great sketches, almost always including some corny puns and a some double entendres.
108	Bremner, Bird And Fortune	Dates:	1999-	Episodes:	85+	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sketch show
	Rory Bremner, John Bird, John Fortune, Pauline McLynn
	A mixture of stand-up (including impressions) by Rory Bremner, monologues by John Bird and John Fortune, and sketches. This show is incisive satirical comedy that pokes fun of both politicial and celebrity figures, as well as middle-class social mores.
109	Jam	Dates:	2000	Episodes:	6	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sketch show
	Chris Morris, Mark Heap, Kevin Eldon, Amelia Bullmore, David Cann, Julia Davis
	“Jam” was a sketch show created by and starring Chris Morris that makes all other dark and postmodern comedy look rather refreshingly watchable in comparison. The cast is superb, and the sketches are memorably original, but the brooding soundtrack and the long pauses often create an atmosphere that is haunting, unsettling and dark rather than laugh-out-loud funny.
110	Scrubs	Dates:	2001-2010	Episodes:	181	Channel:	NBC, ABC
	American sitcom
	Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Neil Flynn, Ken Jenkins, John C. McGinley, Judy Reyes
	Hospital-based sitcom about the work life and love life of J.D., a doctor prone to daydreaming (often shown in cutaway sections during the programme). “Scrubs” may not be as intelligent or as outlandish as it would like to be, but it’s still a reliably enjoyable show with a range of good characters.
111	Back To You	Dates:	2007-2008	Episodes:	17	Channel:	Fox
	American sitcom
	Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Ayda Field, Josh Gad, Ty Burrell, Fred Willard
	This sitcom about behind the scenes of a news programme features a cast including Kelsey Grammer (ex-“Frasier”), Patricia Heaton (ex-“Everybody Loves Raymond”) and Ty Burrell (who would later star in “Modern Family”). It only lasted one series (perhaps because of the high salaries for its stars) and it is unlikely that it will ever be considered one of the comedy classics, but the fine cast and the entertaining scripts make it an underrated gem.
112	Mrs Brown’s Boys	Dates:	2011-	Episodes:	7+	Channel:	RTE
	Irish sitcom
	Brendan O’Carroll, Jennifer Gibney, Paddy Houlihan, Fiona O’Carroll, Eilish O’Carroll, Danny O’Carroll
	Irish sitcom starring Brendan O’Carroll in a cross-dressing role as Agnes Brown, the matriarch of an unruly family. The show is produced in a very laissez-faire way in front of a studio audience, giving it a theatrical (often am-dram) style; the jokes are frequent and with its traditional and bawdy humour, it is unique among modern comedy series.
113	Victoria Wood As Seen On TV	Dates:	1985-1987	Episodes:	13	Channel:	BBC2
	British sketch show
	Victoria Wood, Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston, Patricia Routledge, Kenny Ireland
	Victoria Wood’s unique style of down-to-earth humour has made her one of the most well respected comedy performers of the past thirty years in the UK. “Victoria Wood As Seen On TV”, which co-starred frequent collaborators Julie Walters, Celia Imrie and Duncan Preston, included a mixture of stand-up, comedy songs and sketches, most notably the hilarious “Acorn Antiques”, a parody of low-budget soap operas, with rickety sets and unbelievable plot twists.
114	Monkey Dust	Dates:	2003-2005	Episodes:	18	Channel:	BBC3
	British animated comedy
	Voices: Simon Greenall, Sharon Horgan, Morwenna Banks, Rebecca Front
	Critically acclaimed animated sketch show, that specialises in dark humour, often accompanied by bleak music. Highlights include the divorced dad, whose son Timmy rejects his affection until after he (the dad) has killed himself, and Clive, a man whose frequent elaborate excuses to disguise his affairs are rejected by his wife.
115	Ally McBeal	Dates:	1997-2002	Episodes:	112	Channel:	Fox
	American comedy drama
	Calista Flockhart, Greg Germann, Peter MacNicol, Jane Krakowski, Lisa Nicole Carson, Portia de Rossi, Lucy Liu
	Set in a legal firm, this is among the best American comedy-dramas due to its quirky humour and poignant storylines. Calista Flockhart plays the title role well, but Peter MacNicol as the bumbling John Cage and Jane Krakowski as the flirtatious assistant Elaine Vassal provide many of the laughs
116	Parks and Recreation	Dates:	2009-	Episodes:	55+	Channel:	NBC
	American sitcom
	Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott
	Ex-“Saturday Night Live” performer Amy Poehler stars in this mockumentary about a slightly ditzy and over-optimistic mid-level town councillor. It’s not particularly innovative, but the lead character’s optimism and a good supporting cast make it enjoyable to watch.
117	Bellamy’s People	Dates:	2010	Episodes:	8	Channel:	BBC2
	British sketch show
	Rhys Thomas, Charlie Higson, Paul Whitehouse, Simon Day, Felix Dexter, Lucy Montgomery
	Rhys Thomas had supporting roles in “The Fast Show” and presented the excellent radio show “Down The Line” before being given the chance to present this show, a parodic documentary about members of the British public.
118	Russell Howard’s Good News	Dates:	2009-	Episodes:	42+	Channel:	BBC3
	British entertainment show
	Host: Russell Howard
	Russell Howard, who achieved fame through panel show “Mock the Week”, fronts this topical show in which he performs stand-up about the week’s news stories, especially those at the weirder end of the spectrum.
119	Entourage	Dates:	2004-2011	Episodes:	96	Channel:	HBO
	American comedy drama
	Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, Jeremy Piven
	Comedy-drama about the ups and downs of young Hollywood star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his circle of friends. It is slick, well-produced, and has some funny characters and enjoyable cameos.
120	Phoenix Nights	Dates:	2001-2002	Episodes:	12	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sitcom
	Peter Kay, Dave Spikey, Neil Fitzmaurice, Paddy McGuinness, Steve Edge
	Peter Kay plays multiple roles in this sitcom about a northern working men’s club, most notably the wheelchair-bound owner Brian Potter. The motley assortment of staff and patrons, and their immoral exploits make this memorable in a tragi-comic sort of way.
121	Yes Minister / Yes Prime Minister	Dates:	1980-1988	Episodes:	38	Channel:	BBC2
	British sitcom
	Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds
	Political sitcom that followed the career of minister Jim Hacker MP (Paul Eddington). The portrayal of his often failed attempts to make even slight changes made this one of the first comedy programmes to address politics in a satirical manner, and it remains one of the best.
122	Popworld	Dates:	2001-07	Episodes:	Over 300	Channel:	Channel 4
	British entertainment show
	Hosts: Simon Amstell (2001-06), Miquita Oliver (2001-06), Alex Zane (2006-07), Alexa Chung (2006-07)
	Alex Zane and Alexa Chung both achieved fame by presenting this music show, though it was at its best when Simon Amstell and Miquita Oliver presented it. Both the banter that these two young co-hosts exchanged and the irreverent interviews with popular musicians (particularly those conducted by Amstell) were often brilliant.
123	Not Going Out	Dates:	2006-2009, 2011-	Episodes:	28+	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Lee Mack, Tim Vine, Sally Bretton, Katy Wix, Miranda Hart
	Lee Mack and Tim Vine’s sitcom about friends/flatmates in London perhaps contains more jokes than any other modern sitcom. Despite being largely overlooked by critics, it has had good ratings and is commencing a sixth series. It’s not profound but it will make you laugh.
124	Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow	Dates:	2009-	Episodes:	12+	Channel:	BBC1
	British entertainment show
	Host: Michael McIntyre
	Stand-up show filmed in front of live audiences at various locations around the UK. Michael McIntyre, who performs one of each week’s routines, has carved a niche in the UK comedy scene with his own blend of skilful observational humour. Along with the similarly good “Live at the Apollo”, the success of this show reflects the increasing popularity of British stand-up comedy.
125	Distraction	Dates:	2003-2004	Episodes:	16	Channel:	Channel 4
	British entertainment show
	Host: Jimmy Carr
	Jimmy Carr presented this late night game show, in which contestants, usually of student age, performed outlandish tasks in the attempt to win a car (that was usually significantly damaged in their final general-knowledge task).
126	Nathan Barley	Dates:	2005	Episodes:	6	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sitcom
	Nicholas Burns, Julian Barratt, Claire Keelan, Richard Ayoade, Ben Whishaw
	Sitcom based on a character invented by Charlie Brooker for his excellent”TVGoHome” website, and co-written by Chris Morris. The title character (played by Nicholas Burns) is a pretentious and deluded twenty-something involved in various types of new media. The series sharply mocked shallow fashion statements and pointless innovations, and included some funny moments.
127	Comic Strip Presents…	Dates:	1982-1993, specials: 1998-2011	Episodes:	41	Channel:	Channel 4, BBC2
	British sitcom
	Ade Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Dawn French, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson, Jennifer Saunders, Robbie Coltrane, Keith Allen
	British series of stand-alone comedy dramas that helped defined 80s comedy. The episodes vary in quality, but at their best (“Five Go Mad in Dorset”, “Four Men in a Car”) they’re cult classics.
128	Armstrong and Miller	Dates:	1997-2001	Episodes:	27	Channel:	Paramount, Channel 4
	British sketch show
	Alexander Armstrong, Ben Miller
	One of the most high-brow modern sketch shows, with two of the most likeable performers. The sketches are hit-and-miss, but always watchable. Their recent BBC1 sketch show “The Armstrong and Miller Show” (2007-present) is slightly inferior.
129	8 Out Of 10 Cats	Dates:	2005-	Episodes:	109+	Channel:	Channel 4
	British panel show
	Host: Jimmy Carr. Team captains: Sean Lock, Dave Spikey (2005-06), Jason Manford (2007-10), Jon Richardson (2011- )
	Witty panel show regarding opinion polls and other statistics. It may sound dry, but Jimmy Carr, Sean Lock and a good selection of guests ensure that it never is.
130	Human Remains	Dates:	2000	Episodes:	6	Channel:	BBC2
	British spoof
	Rob Brydon, Julia Davis
	Julia Davis and Rob Brydon made a single series of this show, each episode of which introduced us to a romantic couple (played by Brydon and Davis each time) in a documentary style. Some episodes worked better than others, but this series deserves to be more than just a footnote in each of its stars’ careers.
131	Whose Line Is It Anyway? (UK)	Dates:	1988-1998	Episodes:	136	Channel:	Channel 4
	British entertainment show
	Host: Clive Anderson. Frequent performers: Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Greg Proops, Tony Slattery, Josie Lawrence, Michael McShane, John Sessions, Paul Merton
	Improvised stand-up from a selection of talented comic performers. The comedians are given a range of scenarios and topics, based on which they have to do their best to produce witty performances. The American version, hosted by Drew Carey, is similarly good.
132	My New Best Friend	Dates:	2003	Episodes:	6	Channel:	Channel 4
	British prank show
	Marc Wootton
	Marc Wootton has now starred in seven different cult comedy series; this was the first and arguably the best. The premise is that members of the public win £10,000 if they can convince their friends and family that an outrageously obnoxious character (played by Wootton each time) is their new best friend. It’s lowbrow but sometimes hilarious.
133	Only Fools And Horses	Dates:	1981-2003	Episodes:	64	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Buster Merryfield, Roger Lloyd Pack, John Challis
	Classic sitcom about the Trotter brothers, whose aspirations to become financially successful are frequently thwarted by their incompetence. Del Boy (David Jason) and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) have become institutions in British comedy and this sitcom was voted “Britain’s Best Sitcom” in a nationwide poll in 2004.
134	Rising Damp	Dates:	1974-1978	Episodes:	28	Channel:	ITV
	British sitcom
	Leonard Rossiter, Frances de la Tour, Richard Beckinsale, Don Warrington
	Leonard Rossiter plays Rigsby, the disheartened landlord of a small block of flats in which the rest of the regular cast live. This is an entertaining comedy of errors, though some of the humour now seems rather un-PC.
135	The Thin Blue Line	Dates:	1995-1996	Episodes:	14	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Rowan Atkinson, James Dreyfus, Mina Anwar, Rudolph Walker, Serena Evans, David Haig
	The last and by all means least of the three sitcoms starring Rowan Atkinson, this police station-based comedy was created by Ben Elton and has many genuinely funny jokes as well as a good cast (especially Atkinson, James Dreyfuss and David Haig)
136	One Foot In The Grave	Dates:	1990-2000	Episodes:	42	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Richard Wilson, Annette Crosbie, Doreen Mantle, Angus Deayton, Janine Duvitski
	Light-hearted sitcom about the pessimistic Victor Meldrew and his long-suffering wife. The sticky situations that Meldrew finds himself in (sometimes accompanied by a cry of “I don’t believe it”) have made this one of the UK’s best-loved sitcoms.
137	Harry & Paul	Dates:	2007-	Episodes:	18+	Channel:	BBC1, BBC2
	British sketch show
	Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse, Morwenna Banks, Sophie Winkleman, Laura Solon
	Originally known as “Ruddy Hell! It’s Harry & Paul”, this sketch show stars Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse, whose previous collaborative work includes 1990s sketch show “Harry Enfield and Chums”. The characters are more mature (in age and in character) than in Enfield and Whitehouse’s previous shows, but the comedians’ comic talent and flair is still apparent.
138	10 O’Clock Live	Dates:	2011-	Episodes:	15+	Channel:	Channel 4
	British entertainment show
	Hosts: Charlie Brooker, Jimmy Carr, David Mitchell, Lauren Laverne
	This satirical weekly show should have been amazing – Jimmy Carr, Charlie Brooker and David Mitchell are three of the best loved British comedians and ex-Kenickie singer Lauren Laverne is a stalwart of entertainment-related shows. The expectation was too high and, despite being far better than the majority of modern variety shows the programme was considered a disappointment by many.
139	Psychoville	Dates:	2009-2011	Episodes:	14	Channel:	BBC2
	British sitcom
	Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton, Dawn French, Imelda Staunton, Eileen Atkins, Jason Tompkins, Daniel Kaluuya
	Black humour at its darkest – it is hard to imagine anyone outside the League of Gentlemen troupe would have been able to have such a programme commissioned. Pitched somewhere between a sketch show and sitcom, both Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton play multiple roles, most notably one-handed clown Mr Jelly (Shearsmith) and murderer-obsessed man-child David Sowerbutts (Pemberton).
140	Rob Brydon’s Annually Retentive	Dates:	2006-2007	Episodes:	12	Channel:	BBC3
	British sitcom
	Rob Brydon, Dave Gorman, Jane Moore, Sharon Horgan
	Rob Brydon stars in this mockumentary about the inner workings of a comedy panel show. As part of each programme, we get to view extracts from the “Annually Retentive” panel show that was made (in front of a genuine live audience), while we also see the (often very amusing) “behind-the-scenes” discussions that the production team have about the C-list celebrity guests.
141	Jackass	Dates:	2000-2002	Episodes:	25	Channel:	MTV
	American prank show
	Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Ryan Dunn, Jason “Wee Man” Acuna, Preston Lacy
	Whether you consider Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O et al to be brave or idiotic, it is undeniable that the elaborate ways in which they cause themselves pain or humiliation for your entertainment is often very funny.
142	Rev.	Dates:	2010-	Episodes:	13	Channel:	BBC2
	British sitcom
	Tom Hollander, Olivia Colman, Miles Jupp, Simon McBurney, Steve Evets, Ellen Thomas
	Humorous sitcom about a vicar struggling to cope in a London parish. Tom Hollander and the supporting cast are great, and the neutral, open-minded attitude towards religion is well handled.
143	15 Storeys High	Dates:	2002-2004	Episodes:	12	Channel:	BBC3, BBC2
	British sitcom
	Sean Lock, Benedict Wong
	Sitcom about two mismatched tenants in a shared flat: Vince (Sean Lock), a downbeat misanthrope, and Errol (Benedict Wong), a young optimist. The humour is dry, a little depressing and requires the viewer’s attention, but it’s always worth the effort.
144	The Adam And Joe Show	Dates:	1996-2001	Episodes:	22	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sketch show
	Adam Buxton, Joe Cornish, Nigel Buxton
	Adam Buxton and Joe C ornish present this irreverent show that combines puppetry, sketches and witty dialogues. Very hit and miss, with some sketches lasting longer than they should, but when the duo’s quirky and inventive humour works, this show is very amusing.
145	Black Books	Dates:	2000-2004	Episodes:	18	Channel:	Channel 4
	British sitcom
	Dylan Moran, Bill Bailey, Tamsin Greig
	Sitcom about the staff of a book shop. As suggested by the programme’s title, the humour is often dark, though it is often very funny and concerns itself with the minutiae of human interaction in a somewhat claustrophobic environment.
146	Jam & Jerusalem	Dates:	2006-2009	Episodes:	16	Channel:	BBC1
	British sitcom
	Sue Johnston, Pauline McLynn, Dawn French, Joanna Lumley, Jennifer Saunders, David Mitchell, Sally Phillips
	Co-created by Jennifer Saunders, Jam & Jerusalem is a sitcom about a Women’s Guild in a small town. The sitcom has an all-star (mostly female) cast and is often very amusing.
147	You Have Been Watching	Dates:	2009-2010	Episodes:	16	Channel:

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Last.FM artists with over 1m plays (5 Jan 2013)

My favourite 150 comedy programmes