British Comedy Guide
Britain's Best Loved Sitcoms. Tony Robinson. Copyright: North One Television
Britain's Best Loved Sitcoms

Britain's Best Loved Sitcoms

  • TV factual
  • Channel 4
  • 2015
  • 2 episodes (1 series)

A new poll across all age groups to find the nation's most loved sitcom. Narrated by Tamsin Greig. Features Brendan O'Carroll, Richard Wilson, Tony Robinson, Ricky Tomlinson, Wendy Craig and more.

F
X
R
W
E

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 2

The concluding half of a two-part special, celebrating the very best of homegrown sitcom from the past six decades, narrated by Tamsin Grieg.

Further details

Tonight's show reaches a climax, counting down the Top 25 UK comedies, as decided in a specially commissioned Channel 4 poll conducted with viewers across the age ranges from all over Britain.

Vying for top spot are an eclectic mix of sitcoms from down the years - and of vastly varying styles - including experimental hits The Young Ones, Father Ted and Outnumbered, traditional favourites Dad's Army, The Good Life and Porridge, recent big-hitters Gavin & Stacey, The Inbetweeners and Red Dwarf - and perennial contenders for 'people's choice', Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, One Foot In The Grave and Only Fools And Horses.

Featured interviews include Brendan O'Carroll, Richard Wilson, Tony Robinson, Ricky Tomlinson, Patricia Routledge, Leslie Ash and Alison Steadman - as well as pioneering writers such as Dick Clement and Iain la Frenais.

Packed with great clips from all our favourite comedies, there are also some more fascinating but little-known facts and insights - like the Hollywood roots of foul-mouthed Mrs Brown and the secrets of filming improvised scenes with kids in Outnumbered.

The List

See Episode 1 for 50 - 26

Rising Damp. Image shows from L to R: Ruth Jones (Frances de la Tour), Rupert Rigsby (Leonard Rossiter). Copyright: Yorkshire Television

25. Rising Damp

Gavin & Stacey. Image shows from L to R: Nessa (Ruth Jones), Gavin (Mathew Horne), Stacey (Joanna Page), Smithy (James Corden). Copyright: Baby Cow Productions

24. Gavin & Stacey

Outnumbered. Image shows from L to R: Ben (Daniel Roche), Jake (Tyger Drew-Honey), Karen (Ramona Marquez), Sue (Claire Skinner), Pete (Hugh Dennis). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

23. Outnumbered

The Royle Family. Image shows from L to R: Barbara Royle (Sue Johnston), Jim Royle (Ricky Tomlinson). Copyright: Granada Productions / Jellylegs

22. The Royle Family

The Young Ones. Image shows from L to R: Vyvyan (Adrian Edmondson), Neil (Nigel Planer), Mike (Christopher Ryan), Rick (Rik Mayall). Copyright: BBC

21. The Young Ones

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford). Copyright: BBC

20. Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

Steptoe And Son. Image shows from L to R: Harold Steptoe (Harry H. Corbett), Albert Steptoe (Wilfrid Brambell). Copyright: BBC

19. Steptoe And Son

Dad's Army. Image shows from L to R: Private Godfrey (Arnold Ridley), Lance Corporal Jones (Clive Dunn), Private Walker (James Beck), Captain Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe), Private Frazer (John Laurie), Sergeant Wilson (John Le Mesurier), Private Pike (Ian Lavender). Copyright: BBC

18. Dad's Army

Birds Of A Feather. Image shows from L to R: Dorien Green (Lesley Joseph), Tracey Stubbs (Linda Robson), Sharon Theodopolopodous (Pauline Quirke). Copyright: Alomo Productions / Retort

17. Birds Of A Feather

The Inbetweeners. Image shows from L to R: Will Mackenzie (Simon Bird), Neil Sutherland (Blake Harrison), Jay Cartwright (James Buckley), Simon Cooper (Joe Thomas). Copyright: Bwark Productions

16. The Inbetweeners

Keeping Up Appearances. Image shows from L to R: Hyacinth Bucket (Patricia Routledge), Richard Bucket (Clive Swift). Copyright: BBC

15. Keeping Up Appearances

Absolutely Fabulous. Image shows from L to R: Bubble (Jane Horrocks), Saffron (Julia Sawalha), Edina (Jennifer Saunders), Mother (June Whitfield), Patsy (Joanna Lumley). Copyright: Saunders And French Productions / BBC

14. Absolutely Fabulous

My Family. Image shows from L to R: Janey Harper (Daniela Denby-Ashe), Susan Harper (Zoë Wanamaker), Michael Harper (Gabriel Thomson), Ben Harper (Robert Lindsay), Abi Harper (Siobhan Hayes), Roger Bailey Jr. (Keiron Self). Copyright: DLT Entertainment Ltd. / Rude Boy Productions

13. My Family

The Good Life. Image shows from L to R: Tom Good (Richard Briers), Barbara Good (Felicity Kendal), Jerry Leadbetter (Paul Eddington), Margo Leadbetter (Penelope Keith). Copyright: BBC

12. The Good Life

Red Dwarf. Image shows from L to R: Rimmer (Chris Barrie), Cat (Danny John-Jules), Kryten (Robert Llewellyn), Lister (Craig Charles). Copyright: Grant Naylor Productions / BBC

11. Red Dwarf

Mrs. Brown's Boys. Agnes Brown (Brendan O'Carroll). Copyright: BBC / BocPix

10. Mrs Brown's Boys

Men Behaving Badly. Image shows from L to R: Tony Smart (Neil Morrissey), Gary Strang (Martin Clunes). Copyright: Hartswood Films Ltd

9. Men Behaving Badly

Open All Hours. Image shows from L to R: Nurse Gladys Emmanuel (Lynda Baron), Albert Arkwright (Ronnie Barker), Granville (David Jason). Copyright: BBC

8. Open All Hours

The Vicar Of Dibley. Geraldine Grainger (Dawn French). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

7. The Vicar Of Dibley

Father Ted. Image shows from L to R: Father Ted Crilly (Dermot Morgan), Mrs Doyle (Pauline McLynn), Father Dougal McGuire (Ardal O'Hanlon), Father Jack Hackett (Frank Kelly). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions

6. Father Ted

Porridge. Image shows from L to R: Mr. Mackay (Fulton Mackay), Fletcher (Ronnie Barker), Godber (Richard Beckinsale). Copyright: BBC

5. Porridge

One Foot In The Grave. Image shows from L to R: Margaret Meldrew (Annette Crosbie), Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson). Copyright: BBC

4. One Foot In The Grave

Blackadder. Image shows from L to R: Captain Kevin Darling (Tim McInnerny), Baldrick (Tony Robinson), Captain Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), General Melchett (Stephen Fry), Lieutenant George Barleigh (Hugh Laurie). Copyright: BBC / Tiger Aspect Productions

3. Blackadder

Fawlty Towers. Basil Fawlty (John Cleese). Copyright: BBC

2. Fawlty Towers

Only Fools And Horses. Image shows from L to R: Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst), Del (David Jason), Grandad (Lennard Pearce). Copyright: BBC

1. Only Fools And Horses

Broadcast details

Date
Saturday 10th October 2015
Time
8pm
Channel
Channel 4
Length
60 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Brendan O'Carroll Self
Richard Wilson Self
Tony Robinson Self
Ricky Tomlinson Self
Wendy Craig Self
Dave Spikey Self
John Challis Self
Stephen K Amos Self
Sally Phillips Self
Sue Holderness Self
Jon Plowman Self
Grace Dent Self
Lynda Baron Self
Ralf Little Self
Morgan Jeffrey Self
David Quantick Self
Edgar Wright Self
David Schneider Self
Paul Jackson Self
Emily Atack Self
Roy Chubby Brown (as Roy 'Chubby' Brown) Self
Laurence Marks Self
Maurice Gran Self
Steve Berry Self
Guy Jenkin Self
Andy Hamilton Self
Andrew Collins Self
Caroline Frost Self
Dick Clement Self
Ian La Frenais Self
Michael Hogan Self
Jean Boht Self
Tamsin Greig Narrator
Guest cast
Patricia Routledge Self
Leslie Ash Self
Alison Steadman Self
Tyger Drew-Honey Self
Nigel Planer Self
Eric Chappell Self
Christopher Biggins Self
Mark Jenkins Self
Production team
Mike Williams Series Producer
Mike Williams Producer
John Quinn Executive Producer
Kevin Hylands Edit Producer
Nigel Alred Edit Producer
Willy Norton Edit Producer
Lucy Kenwright Producer/Director
Marcus Harben Producer/Director
Dan Ablett Editor
Sam Bennett Editor
Mark Heasman Editor
Ewen McLeod Editor
Nick Searle Editor

Share this page