British Telly

Black books and Friday night dinner are older but great if you've never seen em

Had a quick scan but didn't see mentions of:

• nighty night
• big train
• smack the pony
• time trumpet
• the Armando ianucci shows
• look around you
• human remains
• Marion and Geoff

The last 2 are pretty dark, no lolz to be had.

If I remember I'll have a quick look at my TV folder later and see if there's anything else I forgot

Nobody has mentioned Taskmaster yet!

Is that not on Brit Box? I watch on Youtube.

You have the classics like;

• Fawlty Towers
• Black Adder
• Mr. Bean
• Monty Python's Flying Circus
• Keeping Up Appearances

I liked Detectorists! I'm not sure if it's entirely comedy though, it's partly slice-of-life as well.

People seem to be ignoring your request for newer TV shows lol. Not sure if they're on britbox but here are my recs:

• Stath Lets Flats: Sort of a modern The Office set in a flat rental agency. Genuinely hilarious.

• Fleabag: You probably know this already but do try it if not. Funny, explicit, poignant.

• This Way Up: Similar vibes to Fleabag but verging more into sadcom than right out comedy.

• Catastrophe: About a couple who get together after a one night stand leads to pregnancy. Stars Sharon Horgan who's also in This Way Up.

• Black Ops: Light-hearted comedy about institutional racism in the London police. Bit over the top but enjoyable.

• We Are Lady Parts: About a group of Muslim girls who form a punk band.

• Ghosts (UK version): Couple move into an old house that turns out to be haunted by ghosts. Warm-hearted but still funny.

• Derry Girls: Group of teenage friends growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles. Funny and moving.

Comedies I haven't watched but have heard good things about: Big Boys, Alma's Not Normal, Raised by Wolves, The Outlaws, This Is Going to Hurt, Motherland

All the classics have been listed but here's a couple of the more recent excellent comedies which I didn't spot in other lists:

• Alma’s Not Normal - based on the real-life of Sophie Willan (writer and lead), but you need to be able to cope with a Bolton accent
• After Life - Ricky Gervais proving he can do sensitive and emotional as well as crass and awkward

Minus things already mentioned (and in no particular order):

• The Thick of It (political comedy, has some amazing swearing)
• The Cleaner (British version of a German comedy)
• Ghosts (not the US remake, of course)
• 8 out of Cats Does Countdown (comedy version of the long running quiz show)
• Alan Davis's As Yet Untitled (talk show with comedians)
• Gone Fishing (not a comedy show per se, a gentle fishing show featuring Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse)
• Drunk History (British version of the American show/YouTube sensation from back in the day)
• Mighty Boosh (surreal humour, still gets referenced frequently in my house)
• Jeeves and Wooster
• Phoenix Nights (Peter Kay show, definitely check this out)
• Vicar of Dibley

• Peep Show
• Mitchell & Webb

A few that haven't been mentioned so far:

• Flowers from 2016 - fairly dark.
• Inside No. 9 - from 2014, also fairly dark at times
• Here We Go - a one-off in 2020 and then seasons from 2022
• Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister - from 1980
• Porridge - from 1973
• Red Dwarf - 1988

Not a single mention of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace so far? Shame on you all

• The Royle Family
• Early Doors
• Alan Partridge - various iterations
• Brassic
• The Office
• Extras
• IT Crowd
• Black Books
• Phoenix Nights
• The Day Today
• Brass Eye
• The Thick of It
• Friday Night Dinner
• Outnumbered

One that I haven't seen mentioned is Meet the Richardsons. At least the first two or three seasons were pretty funny, haven't seen the newer ones yet.

I would also strongly recommend Detectorists, although it's not usually laugh-out-loud funny it's just such a pleasant and enjoyable watch.

Although I absolutely love Inside No. 9, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a comedy aside from a handful of episodes, as it can be quite heavy and dark.

Also 15 Storeys High with a young Sean Lock and Benedict Wong is a good one that's not as well known. It's quite dry and sparse at times but also intermittently hilarious.

Also

• Extras
• The Office
• Keeping Up Appearances

There is a bunch on Amazon Prime - Spaced (Simon Pegg/Nick Frost) is a bit weird but I like it. There’s also Black Books and (I think) Green Wing.

But yeah, Brit Box is awful unless you like cop shows and people in fancy dresses

Since I haven't seen it mentioned, Still Game. Scottish characters in a retirement community. brutally funny, actual laugh out loud.

League of Gentlemen is quite a fun dark comedy. Not everyone's cup of tea though, which is fair. Same with inside no. 9, made by the same cast, but is a bit more modern and drama-like.

For black humor about fundamentalist christians, check out Everyone Else Burns.

I really enjoyed "Extraordinary". It has a lot of the same feel as coupling, maybe mixed with a bit of "Misfits".

Speaking of which, "Misfits" first couple seasons are pretty great as well.

I used to love the old stuff..."Manor Born" "Good Neighbors" " Fawlty Towers"...

Only fools and horses, One foot in the grave, and The Good life