The best ever British sitcom list

                                                                        

 

A poll from the B.B.C. tells us that Only Fools and Horses in Britain's favourite sitcom. Here's a quick rundown of the top 25 British situation comedies of all time! 

1. ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES

 

STARRING DAVID JASON, NICHOLAS LYNDHURST, LENNARD PEARCE, BUSTER MERRYFIELD, JOHN CHALLIS, ROGER LLOYD PACK AND MORE

BEST QUOTE: 'You plonker, Rodney!' (Del Boy)

A tale of two brothers - Derek and Rodney Trotter (David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst). The pair, who own Trotters Independent Trading, are always on the look-out for good deals. And if they're not out trading, they'll always be found down at the Nag's Head having a chat with the dim-witted Trigger (Roger Lloyd Pack) or the cackling Boycie (John Challis). Also starring Patrick Murray, Gwyneth Strong, Tessa Peake Jones and Paul Barber.

ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES ON IMDB

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2. BLACKADDER 

 

STARRING ROWAN ATKINSON, HUGH LAURIE, TONY ROBINSON, STEPHEN FRY, TIM MCINNERNY, BRIAN BLESSED AND MORE

Taking a step back in time - to the Second World War, or any other historical eon. Wherever Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) and his crew were in time, they were always guaranteed to make everybody titter like mad. Also starring Elspet Gray.

BLACKADDER GOES FORTH ON IMDB

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3. THE VICAR OF DIBLEY

 

STARRING DAWN FRENCH, EMMA CHAMBERS, JAMES FLEET, GARY WALDHORN, ROGER LLOYD-PACK, TREVOR PEACOCK, LIZ SMITH AND MORE

As Geraldine Grainger (Dawn French) enters as the new vicar in the first episode, the laughs begin. With guest appearances from people as famous as Johnny Depp, Kylie Minogue and Hugh Bonneville, you can tell the show was even loved by Hollywood stars. Also starring John Bluthal, Simon McBurney and Peter Capaldi.

THE VICAR OF DIBLEY ON IMDB

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4. DAD'S ARMY

 

STARRING ARTHUR LOWE, JOHN LE MESURIER, CLIVE DUNN, JOHN LAURIE, ARNOLD RIDLEY, IAN LAVENDER, BILL PERTWEE AND MORE

A classic British military comedy with the classic Captain Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) and Sergeant Arthur Wilson (John le Mesurier). Also starring James Beck, Colin Bean and Edward Sinclair.

DAD'S ARMY ON IMDB

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5. FAWLTY TOWERS

 STARRING JOHN CLEESE, ANDREW SACHS, PRUNELLA SCALES, CONNIE BOOTH, BALLARD BERKELEY AND MORE

Set in the quintessentially British hotel, Manuel (Andrew Sachs) runs around after the customers as Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) and his wife Sybil (Prunella Scales) do all the paperwork and Major (Ballard Berkeley) can't remember anything anyone's said - there's a cat in hell's chance of a rest in Fawlty Towers hotel. Also starring Gilly Flower, Renee Roberts, Brian Hall and Terence Conoley.

FAWLTY TOWERS ON IMDB

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6. YES MINISTER / YES PRIME MINISTER

 

STARRING NIGEL HAWTHORNE, PAUL EDDINGTON, DEREK FOWLDS, DIANA HODDINOTT AND MORE

James Hacker (Paul Eddington), the British Minister for Administrative Affairs is always trying to help, but is constantly held back by Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne). Also starring John Nettleton and Neil Fitzwilliam.

YES MINISTER ON IMDB

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7. PORRIDGE

 

STARRING RONNIE BARKER, FULTON MACKAY, BRIAN WILDE, RICHARD BECKINSALE, CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS AND MORE

The classic British prison-based comedy in which the mischievous Norman Stanley Fletcher (Ronnie Barker) and his scheming cellmate Lennie Godber (Richard Beckinsale) are being continually examined and looked over by the strict Mr Mackay (Fulton Mackay). Luckily, they can warm more towards the more lenient Barrowclough (Brian Wilde). Also starring Sam Kelly, Tony Osoba, Ken Jones and David Jason.

PORRIDGE ON IMDB

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8. OPEN ALL HOURS

 

STARRING RONNIE BARKER, DAVID JASON, LYNDA BARON, KATHY STAFF, MAGGIE OLLERENSHAW AND MORE

With Albert Arkwright (Ronnie Barker), the stingy, stammering shopkeeper and his socially-frustrated nephew G-G-G-Granville (David Jason), the shop and its customers have served us a few laughs over the years (excuse the horrific pun!) Also starring Stephanie Cole, Paula Tilbrook, Barbara Flynn and Frances Cox.

OPEN ALL HOURS ON IMDB 

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9. THE GOOD LIFE

 

STARRING RICHARD BRIERS, FELICITY KENDAL, PAUL EDDINGTON, PENELOPE KEITH

The penniless Tom and Barbara Good (Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal) are living next door to their rather well-heeled, slightly toffee-nosed neighbours, Margo and Jerry Leadbetter (Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington).

THE GOOD LIFE ON IMDB 

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10. ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE

 

STARRING RICHARD WILSON, ANNETTE CROSBIE, DOREEN MANTLE, ANGUS DEAYTON AND MORE

Victor Meldrew is a retired man with an attitude who seems to attract bad luck. If he's not driving his long suffering wife Margaret crazy with his constant moaning, he's fighting with his neighbours.

ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE ON IMDB

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11. FATHER TED

 

STARRING ARDAL O'HANLON, DERMOT MORGAN, FRANK KELLY, PAULINE MCLYNN AND MORE

Mad sitcom about three priests and their housekeeper who live on Craggy Island - presumably not the peaceful and quiet part of Ireland then!

FATHER TED ON IMDB

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12. KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

STARRING PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE, CLIVE SWIFT, GEOFFREY HUGHES, JUDY CORNWELL, JOSEPHINE TEWSON, DAVID GRIFFIN, SHIRLEY STELFOX, MARY MILLAR AND MORE

With Patricia Routledge as the queen of snobs, Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet), a perfectionist who is unceasingly looking for opportunities to climb the social ladder and her long-suffering husband Richard (Clive Swift), there is sure to be laughs coming from the Bouquet Residence. Also starring Jeremy Gittins, George Webb, David Janson and Marion Barron.

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES ON IMDB 

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13. 'ALLO 'ALLO!

STARRING GORDEN KAYE, CARMEN SILVERA, VICKI MICHELLE, RICHARD MARNER, KIM HARTMAN, GUY SINER AND MORE

René Artois (Gorden Kaye) runs a small café in France during World War II. He always seems to have his hands full: He's having affairs with most of his waitresses, he's keeping his wife happy, he's trying to please the German soldiers who frequent his café, and he's running a major underground operation for the Resistance. Also starring Richard Gibson, Rose Hill, Arthur Bostrom and Nicholas Frankau.

'ALLO 'ALLO! ON IMDB 

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14. LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE

 

STARRING PETER SALLIS, BILL OWEN, BRIAN WILDE, JANE FREEMAN, MICHAEL BATES, MICHAEL ALDRIDGE, KATHY STAFF, FRANK THORNTON, DAME THORA HIRD, BOB FYFE, JULIETTE KAPLAN, JEAN FERGUSSON, SARAH THOMAS, MIKE GRADY, JEAN ALEXANDER, GORDON WHARMBY, DANNY O'DEA, STEPHEN LEWIS, RUSS ABBOT, BRIAN MURPHY, BURT KWOUK, BARBARA YOUNG, JOHN COMER, JOE GLADWIN AND MORE

The world's longest-running sitcom! The light-hearted comedy following three men who love a bit of fun in their old age. With the scruffy, working-class Compo Simonite (Bill Owen) chasing after the broom-sweeping Nora Batty (Kathy Staff), the fun-loving Norman 'Cleggy' Clegg (Peter Sallis) often joining in with Compo's fun and the middle-class, sensible Foggy Dewhurst (Brian Wilde), who constantly criticises Compo's common ways. This classic sitcom has starred such famous people as the late Sir Norman Wisdom as Billy Ingleton, Ron Moody as Willoughby and Eric Sykes as Doggy Wilkinson. Also starring Christopher Beeny, Trevor Bannister, Josephine Tewson, Dora Bryan, Tom Owen, Tony Capstick, Jonathan Linsley, Denis Mawn, Julie T Wallace and more.

LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE ON IMDB

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15. STEPTOE AND SON

 STARRING HARRY H CORBETT, WILFRID BRAMBELL AND MORE

The situation comedy following the story of a middle-aged man and his elderly father running a rather unsuccessful rag-and-bone business. Harold Steptoe (Harry H Corbett) is constantly halted in his attempts to better himself by his father, Albert (Wilfrid Brambell) - sometimes accidentally, sometimes deliberately. Also starring Frank Thornton.

STEPTOE AND SON ON IMDB

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16. MEN BEHAVING BADLY

STARRING NEIL MORRISSEY, MARTIN CLUNES, LESLIE ASH, CAROLINE QUENTIN, IAN LINDSAY, VALERIE MINIFIE AND MORE

This comedy series is all about two mates, Gary and Tony who share a two bedroom home. They are grown men who act like a couple of drunk two year olds, who spend their time either drinking beer at the local Pub, or at home having all MALE conversations on the settee (while drinking beer).

MEN BEHAVING BADLY ON IMDB

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17. ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS

STARRING JENNIFER SAUNDERS, JOANNA LUMLEY, JULIA SAWALHA, JUNE WHITFIELD, JANE HORROCKS, HELEN LEDERER AND MORE

Edina and her best friend Patsy drive Eddie's sensible daughter, Saffron, up the wall with their constant drug abuse and outrageous selfishness. Numerous in-jokes and heavy doses of cruel humour have made this series a hit.

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS ON IMDB

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18. RED DWARF

STARRING DANNY JOHN JULES, CRAIG CHARLES, ROBERT LLEWELYN, CHRIS BARRIE, NORMAN LOVETT AND MORE

On a ship called Red Dwarf, Dave Lister (Craig Charles) and the crew travel through space. Also starring Hattie Hayridge, Chloe Annett and Mac McDonald.

RED DWARF ON IMDB

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19. THE ROYLE FAMILY

STARRING SUE JOHNSTON, RICKY TOMLINSON, CAROLINE AHERNE, CRAIG CASH, RALF LITTLE, LIZ SMITH AND MORE

The Royle Family is a British sitcom about a family going through everyday life in the Royle house......

ROYLE FAMILY ON IMDB

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20. ARE YOU BEING SERVED?

STARRING JOHN INMAN, MOLLIE SUGDEN, FRANK THORNTON, WENDY RICHARD, TREVOR BANNISTER, NICHOLAS SMITH AND MORE

A comedy about the antics in a department store. The misadventures of the staff of a retail floor. With Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries (John Inman), Captain Stephen Peacock (Frank Thornton) and Dick Lucas (Trevor Bannister) working in the menswear section, chuckling is just a given. I'm free! 

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21. TO THE MANOR BORN

 

STARRING PENELOPE KEITH, PETER BOWLES, ANGELA THORNE, DAPHNE HEARD, JOHN RUDLING, GERRY SIM, MICHAEL BILTON, ANTONY SHARP, DAPHNE OXENFORD AND MORE

Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton (Penelope Keith) is sad when her husband dies but is shocked when she realises that she has to leave Grantleigh Manor where her family has lived forever. The new owner is Richard De Vere, owner of a major supermarket chain. Audrey makes sure she's on hand to keep an eye on him by buying The Old Lodge on the edge of the Manor grounds.

TO THE MANOR BORN ON IMDB

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22. SOME MOTHERS DO 'AVE 'EM

 

STARRING MICHAEL CRAWFORD, MICHELE DOTRICE AND MORE

FACT: Michael was the third choice for the role of Frank Crawford. It was turned by Sir Norman Wisdom and Ronnie Barker.

Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford) is more than just a complete klutz. Everything he touches falls apart, and he can't keep a job more than a day. The only thing that keep him going is his long-suffering wife Betty (Michele Dotrice), who somehow manages to cope with his disaster-prone life-style.

SOME MOTHERS DO 'AVE 'EM ON IMDB

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23. THE LIKELY LADS

STARRING JAMES BOLAM, RODNEY BEWES, BRIGIT FORSYTH, MARY TAMM AND MORE

Emotion blazes across the big screen as Bob and Terry knock down the frontiers of human knowledge and Newcastle ale.