Of all the genres the Brits are well-known for, perhaps comedy is their best. Ever since the dawn of television, creative thinkers across the pond have been evolving the genre of comedy at a frightening pace, often setting standards before many of their contemporaries have the chance to keep up. From the peak days of the classic sitcom to modern, darker-edged shows, British comedy is always progressing and innovating on what has come before it, regularly inspiring the rest of the world.
Whether it’s a timeless slice of slapstick or a gritty modern blend of hilarity and depravity,everyone has their favorite British comedy, with the spectrum of options unfathomably long. As many great new dramas from across the pond debut, make an impact, and then slowly fade into obscurity, it is always the comedies that prove ever-faithful in worldwide viewing habits. With that in mind, and with so many side-splitting options to choose from, here’s a ranking of the 10 best British comedies of all time.
10’Gavin & Stacey' (2007–2024)
Created by James Corden and Ruth Jones
The show that put the sleepy Welsh coastal resort of Barry Island firmly on the global map,James CordenandRuth Jones’Gavin & Staceytells the tale of its two titular leads, played byMathew HorneandJoanna Page, as they meet for the first time and fall in love, despite being from opposite sides of the UK. Attempting to take their relationship to the next level, the pair merge families, and, in doing so, bring to life a chaotic series of dramatic and ever-funny events.
From the first momentsGavin and Staceymeet in London, smiles beaming, as their best friends Nessa (Jones) and Smithy (Corden) reluctantly share a slice of pizza, the world knew a comedy titan was born. What then unfolded was three seasons and two subsequent specials of pure character-driven genius, asCorden and Jones piece together a puzzle that perfectly captures the modern, patchwork partnership, all culminating inGavin & Stacey’s recent finale that broke viewership recordsacross the pond.
Gavin & Stacey
9’Mr. Bean' (1990–1995)
Created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis
Possibly the most famous comedy character ever created in the UK,Rowan Atkinson’s bumblingMr. Beanhas been the delight of several generations since his 1990 debut. With Hollywood flicks and animated series under his belt, nothing can quite top the original five-year run of the main series, which follows Atkinson’s childlike Bean as he fumbles over everyday tasks, turning them from mundane to hilarious.
There are very few comedic creations quite like Mr. Bean. Atkinson’s ability to find the smallest of details in the everyday physical actions of humans and magnify them for effortless comedic effect makes him one of the true greats of this genre. Add this to writerRichard Curtisat his refreshing, heartfelt comedic best, and a recipe for timeless success is born.
8’Peep Show' (2003–2015)
Created by Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, and Andrew O’Connor
Innovative in more ways than one,Peep Showfollows Mark (David Mitchell) and Jeremy (Robert Webb), two twenty-somethings living a menial, repetitive life in modern-day Croydon, South London. For the pair, escape comes in several often failing forms, although it is Mark’s lovefor Olivia Colman’s Sophiethat sparks much of the show’s drama.
By taking the camera and placing it in the POV of the show’s two central characters,never before has a comedy struck right to the heart of the miserable, offbeat attitude of its leads. Mitchell and Webb prove perfect in their roles, helping steerPeep Showto critical and audience acclaim, as well as nine seasons and twelve years on air in a British comedy landscape that so often reduces its best shows to minimal output.
7’The Inbetweeners' (2008–2010)
Created by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris
Another victim of the sad, failed US spin-off epidemic that so often hits British comedies and vice versa,The Inbetweenersfollows the wince-inducing teen lives of four boys on the edge of adulthood: Will (Simon Bird), Jay (James Buckley), Neil (Blake Harrison), and Simon (Joe Thomas). As they try to find love, laughter, and escape the clutches of their parents, all hell breaks loose.
One of comedy’s best assets as a genre is its ability to shine a funny light on a relatable aspect of modern life. InDamon Beesley and Iain Morris' laugh-a-minute walk through the cringe of adolescence,The Inbetweeners, never before had the ups, downs, and ‘Inbetweens’ of modern British teenagehood been quite so painfully and accurately realized. Although some may find little to enjoy aboutThe Inbetweeners, it is a series that proudly knows it won’t be to everyone’s taste, gloriously basking in the knowledge that this story is representative of its target audience.
The Inbetweeners
6’Only Fools and Horses' (1981–2003)
Created by John Sullivan
Possibly the British comedy with thebiggest list of iconic momentsunder its belt,John Sullivan’sOnly Fools and Horsesfollows the lives of ‘wheeler dealers’ Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Derek Trotter (David Jason), brothers living in a high-rise flat in Peckham, London. With one on the hunt for love and the other wishing to become a millionaire, the pair use their Cockney charm and hopeful outlook to keep their dreams alive.
From the falling of the chandelier to the iconic Batman and Robin costumes and Derek falling through the bar,Only Fools and Horsesmade itself a staple of British television for a decade, thanks to the consistent construction of genius comedy set-pieces. By the time the television series came to an end in 1991, and before the string of specials were released,Only Fools and Horsesaveraged an astonishing British 16.8 million viewers, with figures rising on a constant upwards trajectory ever since it debuted.
Only Fools and Horses
5’Father Ted' (1995–1998)
Created by Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews
Although penned by Irish writersGraham LinehanandArthur Mathews, and set on the fictional Irish island of Craggy, Hat Trick Productions’Father Tedis a British comedy, and those across the pond are more than thankful for it. The series follows the lives of a group of Priests and a housekeeper, living in chaos on the peaceful Irish island of Craggy.
A winner of three BAFTAs, an average of one per season,Father Tedembedded itself in the hearts of millions with its laugh-out-loud, raucous energy and blend of heartfelt and misfit characters. Despite 30 years now having passed since the series first aired, it is still quoted daily by many in the UK, Ireland, and across the world,with its longevity proof of its greatness.
Father Ted
4’The Thick of It' (2005–2012)
Created by Armando Iannucci
A biting political satirethat becomes more relevant by the year,The Thick of Itfollows the constant cock-ups behind the walls of British government, detailing the lies, cheating, and scandalous behavior of the elected representatives of the public in Parliament. Based mainly in the fictional Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship (DoSAC), the hapless happenings in government are punished with ruthless tirades of verbal abuse by the ever-brilliant, ever-scathing spin doctor Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi).
Fast-paced, furious, and with the very clear mission to crumble the facade of modern politics,The Thick of Itpulls no punches in its delivery of the woebegone inner workings of Britain’s elected parliamentarians and their co-workers. Ferocious in its attitude and hilarious in its execution,The Thick of Itwould go on to spawn the genius spin-off flickIn the Loop, as well as inspire creatorArmando Iannuccito pen the US triumphVeep.
The Thick Of It
3’Fawlty Towers' (1975–1979)
Created by Connie Booth and John Cleese
When one thinks of classic British sitcoms,Fawlty Towersis often the first thoughtthat comes to mind. AfterJohn Cleeseand his famousMonty Pythongroup endured a terrible stay at a Torquay hotel in 1970, he was inspired to create this sitcom alongside then-wifeConnie Booth, following the tumultuous life of the staff and guests at the titularFawlty Towers, run under the watchful eye of the snobbish Basil (Cleese).
Many ofFawlty Towers' contemporaries have aged poorly, with changing attitudes and comedy tastes leaving once-fondly received British sitcoms in the 1970s dust. For Cleese and Booth’s iconic creation, this couldn’t be further from the truth, with almost all the show translating wonderfully into 21st-century humor. Integral to this is the character of Basil Fawlty, one of comedy’s finest, with hiscynical, misanthropic approach to life shared tenfold by British viewers today.
Fawlty Towers
2’Fleabag' (2016–2019)
Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Where comedy had once required simply to be funny in the 21st century, modern entries into the genre call for a blending of drama and comedy to thrive, finding light in the darkness of our modern, trauma-conscious world. No British comedy has perfected this quite likeFleabag,Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s tale of one woman’s fightto be both a new-age feminist and give in to her societally frowned-upon desires, all whilst battling with the grief of losing her mother and best friend, the horrors of her evil new step-mom, and the dangers of owning a small business in a fast-paced, capitalist London.
What started life as a one-woman stage play was transformed by Waller-Bridge and the BBC into the stroke of genius we have come to love asFleabag.Managing to bring tears of joy and sadness in equal measure without ever falling into emotional manipulation, the show is widely regarded as one of the greatest projects to ever come out of the British Isles, guided with a deft, creative touch by the masterful Waller-Bridge. There truly will never be anything quite likeFleabagagain.
1’The Office' (2001–2003)
Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant
In just one 30-minute episode in 2001, released to an unsuspecting BBC audience with many even accidentally tuning in,Ricky GervaisandStephen Merchant’sThe Officechanged the face of television comedy forever. This mockumentary series follows the lives of the employees at paper company Wernham Hogg, with their monotonous day-to-day overseen by their arrogant and childish boss, David Brent (Gervais).
It is fair to say that the US version of this series is regarded worldwide as one of television’s finest comedies. This, as well as many other beloved mockumentaries to come since, simply wouldn’t be possible withoutThe Office.Brent’s effortlessly cringe-inducing actions perfectly capture the irritating life of British office work in the early noughties, and the show’s brave choice to keep tedious in its pacing only emphasizes the gorgeous awkwardness of each nail-chewing moment. However, above all this, and more important than even Brent’s iconic character, is thewill-they/won’t-they romanceof Tim (Martin Freeman) and Dawn (Lucy Davis), which still stands as one of the most engaging, raw love stories in modern television.
