My top 10 British comedy series, part two

Here’s the second part of another list stolen from inspired by Abbi over at Where the Wild Things Are.  I never write about TV but couldn’t resist the temptation to share my favourite British comedies because, when I’m not watching films, I’m probably watching one of these.  Because I love these shows so much I’ve gone on a bit, hence the two-part post.  If you’re remotely interested, part one is here.

Absolutely Fabulous

Edina “Eddie” Monsoon and her best friend Patsy like to live the high life, much to the chagrin of Eddie’s super-sensible daughter, Saffron (Saffie).  Eddie is a middle-aged, over-weight, hard-partying, new-age, heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, PR “professional” and Patsy is a former model and all-around reprobate.  I grew up watching this, and always loved the mother-daughter role reversal, and the supposed adults’ outrageous behaviour.  Plus there’s a wonderful cast of British treasures, including these women here:

The wonderful Jane Horrocks, Julia Sawalha, Jennifer Saunders, June Whitfield and Joanna Lumley

The Thick Of It

What an amazingly, brilliant, utterly foul-mouthed fucking stroke of genius this fantastic show was.  The stand out character of this behind-the-scenes political mockumentary-style comedy was, of course, the outlandishly sweary political advisor – Malcolm Tucker.  The man-made bad language an art-form.  He is without doubt, the single most creative swearer I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness.

Whichever party is in power, whomever he’s working for, Tucker is always on hand with a diatribe of abuse, and we love him for it.  He might be Dr Who, now, but to me, Peter Capaldi will always be Malcolm Tucker.  The sweariest man in history.

Only Fools and Horses

This is an old-school comedy, one that I remember watching as a kid in the ’80s and beyond and one that I think everyone likes.  There are so many genius moments – the fluorescent gravestone, the free holiday, the wine bar fall – I love it all (except when they revived it for those terrible episodes all those years after it first finished).

Fawlty Towers

Another oldie, and one that stands up as well as ever.  John Cleese is beyond hilarious as the hotelier from hell, Basil Fawlty, who could give Malcolm Tucker a run for his money when it comes to vicious put-downs and aneurysm-inducing rants.

The IT Crowd

When The IT Crowd first came out it was billed as being the new comedy from the creator of Father Ted which I loved.  I didn’t like it.  I didn’t really think it was funny.  It wasn’t anything like Father Ted.  But what was I thinking?  What a fool!  The IT Crowd is brilliant in its own right.  It really grew on me.

It follows the exploits of IT nerds Moss and Roy, and their (knows-nothing-about-computers) boss Jen as they end up in a variety of unlikely but hilarious scrapes including almost getting eaten by a German cannibal, inventing a highly flammable bra and accidentally acting as a getaway driver for a group of armed bank robbers.

Roy, Moss and Jen

What are your favourites…?