Britcoms

I love British comedies. I grew up watching them, and I seek them out today. Some are incredibly cheesy to the point of moldiness, and others are simply brilliant. I've compiled a list of them for you here!  (Caveat: Not all of these are comedies, nor are all British. Some are Irish, etc.)

  • Absolutely Fabulous - silly fun, two women who never grew past the 1960s
  • After You've Gone - is good, but not as good as My Family for dysfunctional family
  • Alfresco - sketch comedy with Robbie Coltrane, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson - all before they were famous
  • 'Allo 'Allo - a bit odd, set during WWII
  • Are you Being Served - the epitome of Britcom for me
  • As Time Goes By - My parents story, or pretty close. Judi Dench is awesome.
  • Ballykissangel - Irish town meets English priest. Hilarity ensues.
  • A Bit of Fry and Laurie - Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. Nuff said.
  • Black Adder - Rowan Atkinson at his sarcastic best
  • Brother Cadfael - lovely historical mysteries with Derek Jacobi
  • The Celts - Documentary that made Enya’s music famous
  • Chef! - you thought Gordon Ramsay was bad?
  • Coupling - Like Friends, but funny and with more sex.
  • Doctor Who - No description needed
  • Doc Martin - a country doctor afraid of blood, and no social skill whatsoever
  • Father Ted - bumbling Irish priests on a small island.
  • Fawlty Towers - John Cleese. Nothing more needed.
  • French & Saunders - Vicar of Dibley meets AbFab
  • Good Neighbors - a young(ish) couple decide to live off the land - while living in the suburbs.
  • Hamish MacBeth - Dr. Rush from SGU is a cop in the highlands of Scotland. With an attitude.
  • Hold the Sunset - new comedy with John Cleese
  • Hotel Babylon - 5 Star hotel in London - the inside view
  • Horatio Horn blower - History on the High Seas
  • I, Claudius - Derek Jacobi again, fantastic series of ancient Rome.
  • Jeeves and Wooster - More Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry
  • Little Britain - Silly, toilet humor for the very British. Narrated by Tom Baker
  • Lovejoy - Antique dealer/rogue
  • Last of the Summer Wine - A group of old men try to have fun in their autumn days
  • Michael Palin's travel vids - He brings travel to life
  • Monarch of the Glen - My favorite series ever. Highlands of Scotland.
  • Monty Python’s Flying Circus - true silliness as only the Brits can do it.
  • Mr. Bean - Sort of a BritMime
  • My Family - Dysfunctional family - hilarious
  • One Foot in the Grave - Old man complains about forced retirement to anyone who will listen
  • Red Dwarf - Space Britcom with human cats
  • Rosemary and Thyme - Two gardeners find lots of murderers.
  • Roar! - Celtic historical - sort of (Heath Ledger)
  • Rome - great rendition of Julius Caesar’s time
  • Sharpe's series - fantastic series of Napoleonic wars (Sean Bean)
  • Shaun the Sheep - claymation, very funny
  • Sherlock Holmes - any version will do.
  • Strange - defrocked priest turned demon hunter
  • Thin Blue Line - More Rowan Atkinson - as a cop, this time.
  • Torchwood. - Chasing aliens in Cardiff
  • The Tudors. - Another great historical series (mostly)
  • Upstart Crow - David Mitchell plays Shakespeare before he was famous
  • Vicar of Dibley - hilarity from Dawn French as a female vicar in a very small town
  • Waiting for God - Fantastic! Sarcastic wit and silliness
  • Yes, Minister - amusing, not required, Britcom about the Prime Minister
  • The Young Ones - early Britcom silliness