The Office voted best Christmas sitcom special

Wednesday 11th December 2019, 11:03am

The Office. David Brent (Ricky Gervais). Copyright: BBC

The final episodes of The Office have been voted as the best TV Christmas sitcom specials by readers of Radio Times.

The listings magazine polled more than 3000 readers via its website to determine the list.

Ricky Gervais says: "The Office Christmas Specials allowed me to repay the viewing public for sitting through the bleakness and tragedy of the previous 6 hours of David Brent. I always intended to give him a little hope by the end and I always knew Tim and Dawn would get together.

"The Office was always a romantic comedy in my mind and I was excited about trying to combine the existential hopelessness of British sitcom with the 'kindness is always rewarded' optimism of Hollywood. In Slough.

"I was blown away at the time by how it resonated with audiences and I'm over the moon that it's still regarded with such affection today. 'A good idea is a good idea forever.'"

Full list

The Office. Image shows from L to R: David Brent (Ricky Gervais), Tim Canterbury (Martin Freeman), Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis), Gareth Keenan (Mackenzie Crook). Copyright: BBC

1. The Office

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

2. Only Fools And Horses
(1996 Christmas Trilogy)

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

3. Gavin & Stacey

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

4. The Vicar Of Dibley
(The Christmas Lunch Incident)

The Royle Family. Image shows from L to R: Denise Royle / Best (Caroline Aherne), Dave Best (Craig Cash), Jim Royle (Ricky Tomlinson), Antony Royle (Ralf Little)

5. The Royle Family
(2000)

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

6. The Good Life

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

7. Father Ted

The League Of Gentlemen. Image shows from L to R: Tubbs (Steve Pemberton), Edward (Reece Shearsmith). Copyright: BBC

8. The League Of Gentlemen

Blackadder. Mr. Edmund Blackadder, Esquire (Rowan Atkinson)

9. Blackadder (Christmas Carol)

dinnerladies. Brenda (Victoria Wood)

10. dinnerladies

Mr. Bean. Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson)

11. Mr Bean

Miranda. Miranda (Miranda Hart). Copyright: BBC

12. Miranda

Peep Show. Image shows from L to R: Mark Corrigan (David Mitchell), Jeremy Usbourne (Robert Webb). Copyright: Objective Productions

13. Peep Show

Mrs. Brown's Boys. Image shows from L to R: Buster Brady (Danny O'Carroll), Grandad Brown (Dermot O'Neill), Dino Doyle (Gary Hollywood), Rory Brown (Rory Cowan), Cathy Brown (Jennifer Gibney), Mark Brown (Pat Shields), Betty Brown (Amanda Woods), Winnie McGoogan (Eilish O'Carroll), Dermot Brown (Paddy Houlihan), Agnes Brown (Brendan O'Carroll), Maria Nicholson / Brown (Fiona O'Carroll). Copyright: BBC / BocPix

14. Mrs Brown's Boys

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

15. Steptoe And Son

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

16. Porridge

Dad's Army. Captain Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe)

17. Dad's Army

Knowing Me, Knowing You... With Alan Partridge. Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan). Copyright: TalkbackThames

18. Knowing Me, Knowing You... With Alan Partridge

Last Of The Summer Wine. Image shows from L to R: Walter C. 'Foggy' Dewhurst (Brian Wilde), William 'Compo' Simmonite (Bill Owen), Norman Clegg (Peter Sallis). Copyright: BBC

19. Last Of The Summer Wine

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

20. Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

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

21. Outnumbered

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