Good British comedy

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

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

Nobody has mentioned Taskmaster yet!

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

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

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

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.

• Peep Show
• Mitchell & Webb

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

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

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

• 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

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"...