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Channel 4's 30 Greatest Comedy Shows

Channel 4's 30 Greatest Comedy Shows

  • TV factual
  • Channel 4
  • 2012
  • 1 episode

A countdown of the 30 greatest comedy shows in Channel 4's archives. Features Simon Pegg, Al Murray, Charlie Higson, Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer and more.

Key details

Genre
Factual
Broadcast
2012
Channel
Channel 4
Episodes
1
Features
Simon Pegg, Al Murray, Charlie Higson, Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Jessica Hynes, Sally Phillips, Rhys Thomas and more
Directors
Ali Lynch
Producers
Ali Lynch, Mike Sinclair and Mark Robinson
Company

Channel 4 takes a look back at 30 years of iconic comedy shows with a two-hour documentary telling the stories behind them and looking at the enduring appeal and extraordinary influence they have on the history of British comedy - indeed world comedy.

Taking in nearly four decades of ground-breaking and often controversial comedy - from The Comic Strip Presents and Drop The Dead Donkey to Friday Night Dinner and The Inbetweeners - this show reveals how Channel 4's output sparked a television revolution and continues to innovate to this day.

Channel 4 viewers have been voting to have their say on their favourite Channel 4 comedy shows with an online vote of 30 classic titles selected by a panel of comedy experts. As the programme counts down the list, the documentary tells the stories of the creation and influence of these shows, hearing from the wealth of talent who brought them to viewers' screens.

Contributors include Simon Pegg, Al Murray, Charlie Higson, Vic & Bob, Jessica Hynes, Sally Phillips and many more.

Here's the full list:
30. Paul Merton - The Series
29. The World Of Lee Evans
28. The Jack Dee Show
27. Star Stories
26. Saturday Night Live / Friday Night Live
25. Desmond's
24. Harry Hill
23. PhoneShop
22. The Armstrong & Miller Show
21. Friday Night Dinner
20. Smack The Pony
19. Bo' Selecta!
18. The Adam & Joe Show
17. The Comic Strip Presents...
16. Drop The Dead Donkey
15. Absolutely
14. Vic Reeves Big Night Out
13. Fonejacker
12. Trigger Happy TV
11. Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
10. Da Ali G Show
9. Phoenix Nights
8. Brass Eye
7. Green Wing
6. Spaced
5. The Inbetweeners
4. Black Books
3. The IT Crowd
2. Peep Show
1. Father Ted

Additional details

Part of

Channel 4's Funny Fortnight

Production
Studio
Picture
Colour

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Saturday 25th August 2012 at 9pm on Channel 4
Episode length
120 minutes
Most recent repeats
  • Wednesday 7th January 2015 at 12:05am on 4seven
  • Monday 5th January 2015 at 12:40am on 4seven
  • Friday 2nd January 2015 at 2:35am on 4seven