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A List of All Things British and All Things Comedy

  • Aug 9, 2022
  • 4 min read

Updated: Nov 17, 2022



My area of speciality when it comes to TV has to be British Comedies, whether it’s a panel show, sitcom or game show it’s almost certain that I’ve seen it. There is something about the witty, dryness of the humour featured in these shows, combined with the sense of reality brought to the scripts that brings me comfort and a feeling of normality.


Branding myself as an expert in British Comedy TV, I have decided to put together a list of shows I will always recommend to anyone wanting to explore further into this niche genre, or to anyone who is just looking for a good laugh.



TASKMASTER

Starting off strong we have Taskmaster. Channel 4’s panel show Taskmaster is hosted by comedian Greg Davies, who is assisted by Alex Horne, their relationship alone brings a huge amount of character to the show. Five celebrities take part in ten consecutive episodes, completing tasks created by Horne and the team behind the show. The best part of this series is the unpredictability of the tasks handed out, they range from simple ones such as ‘Pop the balloons as quickly as possible’ to completely random ones like ‘Be photographed in the most unusual situation wearing this fez, you have eight weeks’. The tasks are often completed in the Taskmaster’s house and points are awarded by the Taskmaster himself, Greg Davies, in front of a live audience in a studio. There’s not a dull moment in any of the 14 seasons of the show, it’s the perfect way to bring some cheer and laughter into your home. If you’ve enjoyed the show so far, you're in luck! Series 14 will be released later this year, or, if you can’t wait, buy the board game and complete your own tasks at home!



NOT GOING OUT

Not Going Out follows the fictional lifestyle of comedian Lee Mack, who also co-wrote the script. It was first aired in 2006 and is still running now, with yearly must watch Christmas specials. A hilarious cast featuring actors such as Sally Bretton, Hugh Dennis, Tim Vine and Bobby Ball act alongside Mack playing close friends and relatives. I have re-watched this series around three times from start to finish yet never get bored of it; I love it’s witty humour as well as the realism it has to offer. As an audience we get to watch Lee Mack grow as a person, build relationships and create a family, all from the comfort of our homes. I would recommend Not Going Out to anyone looking for a longer series for easy watching, with each episode only 30 minutes long it’s the perfect show!



HYPOTHETICAL

I’ve asked many of my friends and family if they have watched this show before and agonizingly, the answer is always no. Game Show Hypothetical is hosted by comedians James Acaster and Josh Widdicombe and features two pairs of comedians competing against each other each episode. Acaster and Widdicombe ask the pairs different hypothetical questions such as ‘You must get Lorraine Kelly to break your arm. First one to do it wins. Loser gets their legs broken by Eamonn Holmes’. It’s the contestants' challenge to come up with an hypothetical answer, best answer wins. Without a doubt, one of the highlights of this show is a question about puppet’s asked to Romesh Ranganathan, it is moments like this in particular that fill the show with laughter.



MERLIN

Throwing a curveball into the mix, we have the TV Show Merlin. Set in Camelot and based on the legendary tales of King Arthur, King Luther and Merlin, the show was released from 2008 – 2012. Arguably, the show is more action based than comedically based, however, I wanted to include it on this list as it is a perfect example of cosy, comfort TV. Merlin’s character, portrayed by Colin Morgan, is written in a humorous way, his sense of innocence yet terrifying intelligence makes his character adored by the audience and particularly hilarious in certain scenes. The relationship between Arthur (Bradley James) and Merlin is where the show's sense of humour is often found, their pretend hatred for each other not only makes them lovable, but it brings some light to the darker scenes. If you are looking for a mix of action and humour, especially amongst a period drama, then Merlin is exactly what you need.



GHOSTS

I think Ghosts is a perfect way to end this list. Written and starring the Horrible Histories cast, as well as Charlotte Richie and Kiell Smith – Bynoe, this show is the literal definition of a comedic, comfort watch. Each member of the iconic Horrible Histories cast takes on the role of a figure of history that had died in the house inherited by Richie and Smith-Bynoe’s characters. After an incident in the first episode, Alison (Richie) is able to see and communicate with the ghosts; the remaining 4 seasons, and joyful Christmas specials, then follow the lives (or deaths) of the characters. As someone who grew up with the original Horrible Histories cast, this show feels nostalgic and warm, I can’t recommend it to others enough! Just like fans of Taskmaster, lovers of this show are in luck, new episodes will be released weekly later this year!

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