A British sitcom or a Britcom is a situational comedy programme produced for British television .
138-524: Black Books is a British sitcom created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan , and written by Moran, Kevin Cecil , Andy Riley , Linehan and Arthur Mathews . It was broadcast on Channel 4 , running for three series from 2000 to 2004. Starring Dylan Moran as Bernard Black , Bill Bailey as Manny Bianco, and Tamsin Greig as Fran Katzenjammer, the series is set in the eponymous London bookshop and follows
276-523: A television pilot broadcast in Barker's comedy anthology series Seven of One (1973), centred around the antics of the eccentric and miserly owner of a traditional English corner shop . Barker took his idea for Arkwright's famous stutter from the 1950s writer and performer Glenn Melvyn. Open All Hours came 8th in the 2004 Britain's Best Sitcom poll. Although it ended in 1985, Open All Hours had been repeated over 3,000 times by 2021. The theme tune
414-433: A "summer girlfriend", Fran to suffer from insomnia, and Manny to panic about his "Dave's syndrome" , a condition that supposedly triggers at 88°F (31°C). Bernard tries to get Manny as hot as possible. Fran discovers the walls of her flat are literally closing in as her unscrupulous landlord creates another flat from the stolen space. Bernard pretends to be her lawyer in an attempt to rectify the situation but quickly falls for
552-509: A 2001 Channel 4 poll Del Boy was ranked fourth on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters. The series influenced British culture , contributing several words and phrases to the English language. It was named one of the top 20 cult television programmes of all time by TV critic Jeff Evans. Evans spoke of: "[shows] such as Only Fools and Horses , which gets tremendous viewing figures but does inspire conventions of fans who meet in pubs called
690-454: A BAFTA for Best Comedy Series in 1984. In a 2008 poll on Channel 4, "Hi-de-Hi!" was voted the 35th most popular comedy catchphrase. According to comedy researcher Mark Lewisohn , "Plots became somewhat outlandish during the latter episodes and by the time the BBC called it a day in 1988, it is arguable that the show had already outstayed its welcome by a good couple of years. All in all, though, this
828-403: A bookshop came about because of Moran's view of bookshops as doomed enterprises. Moran said "Running a second-hand bookshop is a guaranteed commercial failure. It's a whole philosophy. There were bookshops that I frequented and I was always struck by the loneliness and doggedness of these men who piloted this death ship", while Linehan said his belligerent personality reflected a sign he once saw in
966-407: A bookshop stating "Please put the books anywhere you like because we've got nothing better to do than put them back". Moran said of the series, "We just wanted to cram as much elaborate stupidity into a half-hour that could make it be coherent and that you would believe". The fictional address for the bookshop is Black Books , 13 Little Bevan Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1. Manny also states the shop
1104-604: A bus depot as a setting. It was then commissioned by Frank Muir, then at London Weekend Television who said it was "rather at the baked beans end of my menu". Despite poor critical reception, it gained an audience of up to 20 million. It has been described as cliche-ridden, stereotypical, occasionally racist and totally sexist by today's standards, with Varney's and Grant's characters both lecherous womanisers and ethnic minorities used inappropriately for humour. As David Stubbs wrote for The Guardian in 2008, Grant and Varney were playing "two conspicuously middle-aged men" (Varney
1242-499: A cultured sales representative supposedly descended from African royalty, played by Don Warrington . Chappell defended the Rigsby character by saying he "was not a racist or a bigot, but he was prejudiced and suspicious of strangers. But he accepted Philip and his only concern afterwards was that he didn't get a leg over Miss Jones." Warrington, who played Smith, stated: "There were certain aspects of it that were politically incorrect. On
1380-407: A date with a man whom she soon realises is closeted . She then dates the cleaner. After celebrating his birthday fueling an all-night The Sweeney marathon by drinking espresso , Manny thinks he is a 1970s policeman and manages to go from eyeing old men suspiciously in the bookshop to being trapped at the local police station helping a real detective put the ' good cop, bad cop ' routine on
1518-522: A departure from James' characteristic bawdy slapstick and famous 'dirty laugh' and ran for 65 episodes over 10 series. The series ended abruptly in 1976, when, just four days after the broadcast of the final episode, James died after collapsing on stage. Ironically, James had told Coupland, "It's such fun and so successful, we'll still be working on Bless This House till one of us kicks the bucket." In 2004, it came 67th in Britain's Best Sitcom . In 1972
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#17327977172491656-500: A divorced couple who accidentally moved next door to each other, Miss Jones and Son (1977–78) was about a single mother, and Rings on Their Fingers (1978–80) was about a young, unmarried couple. Another creation by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe is On the Buses , starring Reg Varney and Bob Grant . Running 1969–1973 for 74 episodes over 7 series, it was initially rejected by the BBC, who did not see much comedy potential in
1794-480: A favourite of Britain's clergy , was followed by two spin-offs also starring Nimmo: Oh, Brother! (1968–1970), 19 episodes written by David Climie and Austin Steele, with supporting roles by Sir Felix Aylmer , Patrick McAlinney and Derek Francis , and its sequel Oh, Father! (1973) with Felix Aylmer, Laurence Naismith , Pearl Hackney and David Kelly , also written by Climie and Steele. All Gas and Gaiters
1932-626: A fictional British prison . Porridge was critically acclaimed and was ranked No. 35 on the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes compiled by the British Film Institute in 2000. In 2004, Porridge placed seventh in Britain's Best Sitcom. Porridge was appreciated by British prisoners. Erwin James , an ex-prisoner who wrote a column for The Guardian , stated: "What fans could never know, however, unless they had been subjected to
2070-486: A grouchy and misanthropic shopkeeper is a central theme; he has a hatred of the outside world and all the people who inhabit it, except for his best friend, Fran, who initially runs a trendy bric-a-brac shop, Nifty Gifty, next door to the bookshop. Bernard displays little interest or knowledge in retail (or, indeed, anything outside drinking , smoking and reading ) and actively avoids having to interact with anyone, even inside his shop. He would often rather pass up on
2208-552: A job working for a man named Nugent in exchange for the bookstore hosting a reading of his nephew Danny's new book. Danny is illiterate , and his ghostwritten autobiography describes the pain he has inflicted on many others in great detail. He threatens Bernard and Manny intil they teach him to read within two days so he will be able to record an audio book . Fran researches her genealogy and uncovers third cousins from Eastern Europe, but after meeting them, wants them to leave her alone. Meanwhile, Manny and Bernard try to re-invent
2346-444: A local villain. Bernard explains how going to a dinner party led to him falling and breaking his arm. Fran describes the steps from seeing her boyfriend having dinner with another woman (wrongly assuming him to be cheating ) to being in hospital with a neck injury. The woman is his sister and he ends his relationship with Fran. After being burgled, Black Books gets a new alarm and security door fitted, but Manny fails to listen to
2484-474: A plan to obtain the money before Bernard's debtors seek payment. Manny organises a book launch party at the shop with charismatic but smug travel writer Jason, and everyone starts falling for him and his stories of far-away adventure. Meanwhile, Bernard's landlord has died and a small cat now owns the building. Driven to destroy the cat's burgeoning real-estate empire, he attempts to persuade an animal-loving pest exterminator to kill it. His attempts fail and cause
2622-472: A sale than have to engage in human interaction to make one. Manny is introduced in the first episode as an angst-ridden accountant who enters the bookshop seeking The Little Book of Calm . During a drunken night out, Bernard offers him a job as a shop assistant and a room above the shop if he will do Bernard's accounts for him. Sobering up, Bernard realises Manny's optimistic nature is not suited to this "kind of operation". Fran, however, seeing that Manny
2760-649: A salesman, and Jill Christie as Pinwright's daughter. and produced and directed by John Glyn-Jones . The script editor was Ted Kavanagh , who during the World War II years also wrote the BBC Radio comedy series It's That Man Again ( ITMA ), which according to Foster and Furst was "entirely new, breaking away from the conventions of both radio and music hall comedy". Transferred to television in 1956 after 48 episodes on BBC radio which began in 1954, Hancock's Half Hour (1956–1961) by Galton and Simpson
2898-477: A short The Army Game scene was performed by Michael Medwin , Alfie Bass, Norman Rossington, Bill Fraser and Ted Lune at the Royal Variety Performance in front of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother . This was the last Royal Variety Performance that was not televised. This successful series inspired a film spin-off, I Only Arsked! (1958), and in 1958, just a year after the series debuted,
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#17327977172493036-414: A sixth and final series. Created and written by Roy Clarke for the BBC, Open All Hours ran for 26 episodes in four series (1976, 1981, 1982 and 1985) and starred Ronnie Barker and David Jason, with a regular supporting cast including Lynda Baron , Stephanie Cole , Barbara Flynn , Maggie Ollerenshaw , and Kathy Staff . The programme, produced and directed by Sydney Lotterby and developed from
3174-596: A stint of Her Majesty's Pleasure, was that the conflict between Fletcher and Officer Mackay was about the most authentic depiction ever of the true relationship that exists between prisoners and prison officers in British jails up and down the country. I'm not sure how, but writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais grasped the notion that it is the minor victories against the naturally oppressive prison system that makes prison life bearable." The ITV production of 28 episodes (1974–78) of Rising Damp written by Eric Chappell ,
3312-585: A style based on the original early 19th century layout by Humphry Repton (1752–1818). Since 2004, the two buildings on the southern side, at numbers 46 and 47, have been occupied by the Huron University USA in London (now the London campus for EF International Language Centres and is the Centre for Professional Students over the age of 25). On 7 July 2005, two terrorist bombings occurred near
3450-468: A total of three series were made, the final episode airing on 15 April 2004. Black Books was a critical success, winning awards, including two BAFTAs (for Best Situation Comedy in 2001 and 2005) and a Bronze Rose at the Festival Rose d'Or . Bernard Black is the owner of Black Books, a small London bookshop. The series revolves around the lives of Bernard, Manny and Fran. Bernard's persona of
3588-527: A writer for a television series. Linehan, co-writer of the earlier Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted , joined at the outset to co-write the series with Moran at the suggestion of producer William Burdett-Coutts after Linehan saw the pilot and had seen Moran performing in Dublin . The characters were Moran's original creation, created over a month-long process he calls "spitballing", which is talking spontaneously to each other in character. The concept of Bernard owning
3726-502: A young couple learning to cope with married life reflected social attitudes of the times, and provided its lead stars Richard Briers ( The Good Life , Ever Decreasing Circles ) and Prunella Scales ( Fawlty Towers ) with a significant boost to their careers. The supporting cast included Edward de Souza , Ronald Hines and Christine Finn . With its cast of only two regular characters played by Harry H. Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell , airing 1962–65 and 1970–74, Steptoe and Son
3864-441: Is an Irish mother's boy living in London. He is a top executive of a company and lives a bachelor lifestyle. However, his old-fashioned Catholic mother often puts a stop to his plans, many of them involving his girlfriend Miss Argyll, played by Joyce. The 1970s is often regarded as the golden era of British sitcom. Well-remembered series include John Cleese and Connie Booth 's farcical Fawlty Towers (1975, 1979) often cited as
4002-525: Is good for Bernard, forces Bernard to let him stay. The series revolves around the three main characters of Bernard Ludwig Black (Dylan Moran), Manny Bianco (Bill Bailey) and Fran Katzenjammer (Tamsin Greig), who all appear in every episode. Other characters appear briefly in single episodes, while the show also featured several guest stars such as Keith Allen , Rob Brydon , Annette Crosbie , Lucy Davis , Olivia Colman and Peter Serafinowicz . A pilot for
4140-487: Is happy to remain unmarried. During the first series they do marry and in the second series they adjust to married life. A proposed fourth series would have concerned Sandy becoming pregnant unexpectedly, and Sandy and Oliver adapting to parenthood, but the series was not re-commissioned. Co-starring Penelope Keith as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton and Peter Bowles as Richard DeVere, To the Manor Born (1979–1981, 2007)
4278-560: Is heard speaking to Twist Morgan, a character from Spaced . Simon Pegg guest-starred as Bill Bailey's boss in another episode, an inversion of their roles in Spaced ; Nick Frost appeared at the beginning of the episode "The Big Lockout" to install a new security system for the shop, though lost Manny's attention when he spotted a Subbuteo player in his hair; Kevin Cecil , one of the Black Books writers, appeared in Spaced playing
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4416-641: Is infuriated by their quirks and songs, and it is revealed that Manny's letters home have greatly embellished his actual accomplishments in life. After a small win on the Grand National , Bernard becomes addicted to gambling, leaving Fran and Manny in a bitter competition to sell as many books as possible. Soon horses are not enough and Bernard joins an illegal poker game against a group of ruthless, successful gamblers, including Dave 'Mouse Ear' Smith. Being hopeless at cards, Bernard (now nicknamed The Gold Mine ) loses everything, and Fran and Manny need to hatch
4554-524: Is located "just off Russell Square ". The exterior scenes of the bookshop were filmed outside a real bookshop, albeit a smaller one, called Collinge & Clark, located at 13 Leigh Street, Bloomsbury. The audio commentary for Shaun of the Dead states that Black Books is considered by the producers to be a sister show of the 1999 Channel 4 sitcom Spaced , also produced by Nira Park. The show features several actors from Spaced , while in one episode Manny
4692-459: Is named after the surname of the Earls and Dukes of Bedford , who developed the family's London landholdings in the 17th and 18th centuries. Between 1805 and 1830, Thomas Lawrence had a studio at number 65. Other past residents include the famous 19th-century architectural father-and-son partnership, Philip and Philip Charles Hardwick , who lived at number 60 in the 1850s. On the eastern side
4830-427: Is often a domestic or workplace genre into the corridors of power. A later development was the mockumentary genre exemplified by series such as The Office (2001–2003), which also heralded the modern trend of the single-camera sitcom dispensing with live audiences. A 2004 poll by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, "Britain's Best Sitcom", produced a list topped by traditional sitcoms with Only Fools and Horses holding
4968-666: Is regularly repeated on BBC Two , Drama and Gold in the UK, PBS and BBC America in the United States, and BBC UKTV , Fox Classics and 9Gem in Australia, and Jones! in New Zealand. The series was nominated for the 1977 Best Situation Comedy BAFTA TV Award. A spin-off series, Grace & Favour , with some of the same main cast aired in 1991–1992, and a one-off episode with a new cast in 2016. Its feature film spin-off
5106-546: Is set in German occupied France during World War II. Starring Paul Eddington , with Nigel Hawthorne and Derek Fowlds in the supporting roles, Yes Minister which ran for 21 episodes on BBC2 (1980–1984), and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister (1986–88), which ran for 16 episodes, were political satires . Established Shakespearean actor Hawthorne picked up four BAFTA TV Awards for Best Light Entertainment Performance for his role. Created by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn ,
5244-409: Is sometimes called the best of all ITV sitcoms. It starred Leonard Rossiter as Rigsby, a miserly, seedy, and ludicrously self-regarding landlord of a run-down Victorian townhouse who rents out his shabby bedsits to a variety of tenants: Ruth Jones, an unmarried woman approaching middle age, played by Frances de la Tour ; Alan Moore, a medical student played by Richard Beckinsale ; and Philip Smith,
5382-551: The Hotel Russell , built in 1898 to a design by Charles Fitzroy Doll , dominates (its builders were connected with the company which created RMS Titanic ), alongside the Imperial Hotel , which was also designed by Charles Fitzroy Doll and built from 1905 to 1911. The old Imperial building was demolished in 1967. The square contained large terraced houses aimed mainly at upper-middle-class families. A number of
5520-527: The police , Bernard, the slovenly owner of Black Books, is faced with the prospect of doing his own taxes , resorting to pairing his socks, getting drunk with door-to-door evangelists , and trying to seriously injure himself to avoid it. Manny, a high-strung accountant , enters Black Books to buy The Little Book of Calm on his way to work and later swallows it; it disappears before his operation, his baffled doctor musing that it may have been assimilated into Manny's system. Bernard's only friend, Fran, who owns
5658-434: The 1970s, drawing 23.95 million viewers. The final episode in 1981 received 17.80 million viewers. The series has been repeated over 1,000 times. Major supporting roles were played by Angela Thorne as Audrey's friend Marjory and Daphne Heard as Mrs Polouvicka, Richard's mother. Other members of the cast included Alan David , John Rudling , Michael Bilton , Gerald Sim , Michael Cochrane , and Georgie Glen . The music
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5796-423: The 2009 Miranda series staged a highly successful comeback for the 'old school' 20th century concept of sitcoms with live audiences and multiple cameras. As a race, the British have one peculiarity that sets them apart from the rest of mankind: that extraordinary sense of humour; their ability to laugh at others, to laugh at the sublime and the ridiculous, to laugh at disaster and triumph, to be indifferent to
5934-445: The BBC's profile of the show as "the British sitcom by which all other British sitcoms must be judged", Fawlty Towers (1975 and 1979) is eminently quotable; the repetition in the episode known as The Germans of 'don't mention the war' has become a catch phrase ." In two series, only 12 half-hour episodes were made, because the writers, John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, felt that they could not continue to write comedy of
6072-499: The Belgian writer Stanislas-André Steeman . In John Dickson Carr 's detective novel The Hollow Man , the victim, Professor Grimaud, lives in a house on the western side of Russell Square. In Alan Hollinghurst 's novel The Swimming Pool Library (1988), the protagonist William Beckwith spends time here with his lover who works in a hotel overlooking the square. In chapter 6 ("Rendezvous") of John Wyndham 's novel The Day of
6210-704: The Best", alluding to the frequent and traditional caning of disobedient pupils in the UK at the time. The series was revived in colour with updated scripts in 1971–72, slightly retitled Whacko! . Other members of the cast included Arthur Howard (series 1–7), Julian Orchard (series 8), Kenneth Cope , Norman Bird , John Stirling, Peter Glaze , Edwin Apps (series 1–7), Peter Greene (series 8), David Langford, Keith Smith , Brian Rawlinson , Gordon Phillot, Harold Bennett (series 8), Frank Raymond, Gary Warren (series 8), and Greg Smith (series 8). A feature film, Bottoms Up ,
6348-523: The British box office in 1971. According to Jeff Evans , On the Buses was a "cheerfully vulgar comedy" in which "leering and innuendo dominate[d]." Some of the network's other ratings successes from this era included Love Thy Neighbour (1972–76) and Mind Your Language (1977–79, 1986), which attempted to find humour in racial or ethnic conflict and misunderstandings, but were increasingly criticised over time for "obvious racial name-calling... recurring with distressing regularity" and "offer[ing] only
6486-503: The Buses ), Frank Thornton , 135 episodes ( Are You Being Served? ), Brian Murphy , 73 episodes, ( Man About the House , George and Mildred ), Josephine Tewson , 62 episodes, ( Keeping Up Appearances ), Dora Bryan , 50 episodes, ( Happily Ever After ), June Whitfield , 44 episodes, ( Absolutely Fabulous , Father, Dear Father , Terry and June ), Trevor Bannister , 25 episodes, ( Are You Being Served? ), and over
6624-605: The Channel 4 list of 100 greatest television characters. Other high-ratings mainstream, slice-of-life shows of the decade included Bread (1986–1991) written by Carla Lane, about a close-knit, working-class family in Liverpool . Running for 74 episodes, at its peak it attracted 21 million viewers. Another notable series was the Science fiction comedy Red Dwarf (1988–), while 'Allo 'Allo! another Croft and Lloyd creation
6762-550: The Children (1967–70), starring Wendy Craig . Women were usually only cast in secondary roles in this period, though several series with Craig in the lead were an exception. Sitcoms developed by Carla Lane , the first successful female writer in the form, began with The Liver Birds (1969–1979, 1996), initially in collaboration with others. Another change, with Steptoe and Son (1962–65, 1970–74) and The Likely Lads (1964–1966), producers began to cast actors, rather than
6900-528: The Dead ) and Olivia Colman ( Peep Show , Hot Fuzz ) appeared in Season 3's episode "Elephants and Hens". The show's pilot was decidedly darker, revolving around Bernard's, and later Manny's, decision to commit suicide. It featured Manny (surname Zimmerman in reference to Bob Dylan ) as a professional depression-o-gram, and the Fran character as Valerie, a philosophy lecturer. After his accountant flees from
7038-482: The Nag's Head and wander round dressed as their favourite characters." The theme music was by Ronnie Hazlehurst (1981) and John Sullivan (1982–2003). Only Fools and Horses came top in a research and analysis by a team of scientists led by Dr Helen Pilcher , a molecular neurobiologist and stand-up comedian with a speciality in scientific humour. Running on the BBC for 295 episodes over 31 series and four decades, Last of
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#17327977172497176-491: The Summer Wine (1973–2010) was entirely written by Roy Clarke ( Keeping Up Appearances , Open All Hours and Still Open All Hours ) and produced by Alan J. W. Bell , with music by Ronnie Hazelhurst . It is the longest-running comedy programme in Britain and the longest-running sitcom in the world. The family-friendly show was about the antics of a group of male pensioners looking for adventure, "portraying
7314-408: The Summer Wine began in 1973 and ended in 2010, becoming the world's longest running sitcom. The decade also saw the broadcast of It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–81), which has been criticised for the "stereotypes of its handful of Indian supporting characters as alternately servile, foolish, lazy or devious". The commercial station ITV had successes with Rising Damp (1974–78, sometimes called
7452-524: The Triffids (1951) the main characters William (Bill) Masen and Josella Playton are photographed by Elspeth Cary in Russell Square while practicing with triffid guns. In Ben Aaronovitch ’s Peter Grant books, the first of which is The Rivers of London (also known as Midnight Riot ), The Folly – headquarters of British wizardry – is located in Russell Square. Russell Square is the location of
7590-544: The US by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball for their American show I Love Lucy in 1951 and the system was adopted in the UK. Several are made almost entirely on location (for example, Last of the Summer Wine ) and shown to a studio audience prior to final post-production to record genuine laughter. In contrast to the American team writing system, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson 's huge successes were of such quality that they became
7728-610: The University of London). In 1998, the London Mathematical Society moved from rooms in Burlington House to De Morgan House, at 57–58 Russell Square, in order to accommodate staff expansion. The Cabmen's Shelter Fund was established in London in 1875 to run shelters for the drivers of hansom cabs and later hackney carriages (and taxicabs ). In 2002, the square was re-landscaped in
7866-407: The best of all ITV sitcoms), Man About the House (1973–76) and George and Mildred (1976–79). Rising Damp star Leonard Rossiter also played the lead role in the BBC's The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976–79). The decline in cinema attendance meant that many of these series were turned into cinema films; the first film version of On the Buses (1969–73) was the biggest hit at
8004-512: The character of Harris; Jessica Stevenson made an appearance as a friend of Fran's, who was trying to help her live a healthier lifestyle with attempts to change her diet and get her to exercise more; Peter Serafinowicz played a radio broadcaster whose dulcet tones reading the shipping forecast drove Fran wild with desire; Omid Djalili appeared in "He's Leaving Home" as an opportunistic photographer; Rob Brydon appeared in Season 2's episode "The Fixer". Both Lucy Davis ( The Office , Shaun of
8142-534: The comedians around whom earlier series like Whack-O! , with Jimmy Edwards, or Hancock's Half Hour , had been built. As a spin-off sequel to The Army Game and also starring Bill Fraser and Alfie Bass, Bootsie and Snudge , (1960–1963, 1974) was written by a large team over its 104 episodes. Writers for the 1960–63 episodes included Marty Feldman, Barry Took, John Antrobus, Ray Rigby , David Cumming, Derek Collyer, James Kelly, Peter Lambda, Tom Espie, Jack Rosenthal , Harry Driver , and Doug Eden. The 1974 series
8280-462: The country, only to find that they have moved into adjoining cottages. The music was by Dennis Wilson . In 1973, one episode won a British Academy Television Award for Best Situation Comedy . During a repeat run in January 1980, one episode gained 19.3 million viewers and was the second most-watched programme that week. Set in a traditional London department store , the show follows the antics of
8418-512: The crudest caricatures". Increasing relaxation in regard to the discussion of sex allowed farce and camp humour to become a familiar form in the 1970s and were used in series like Are You Being Served? and comedian Frankie Howerd 's Up Pompeii! , which ran for 16 episodes (1969–70, 1975, 1991) and starred several female stalwarts from the Carry On film series, including Barbara Windsor, Wendy Richard and Valerie Leon . A feature of
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#17327977172498556-462: The elderly in a positive and non-stereotypical light." The show was filmed largely in the small town of Holmfirth in Yorkshire, a location recommended by Barry Took , and surrounding countryside. and features Bill Owen , 186 episodes, Peter Sallis , 295 episodes, and Kathy Staff , 245 episodes, along with Thora Hird , 152 episodes ( Bootsie and Snudge ), Stephen Lewis , 135 episodes, ( On
8694-519: The emerging alternative comedians began to develop sitcoms, partly as a response to series such as Terry and June (1979–87), with their "complacent gentility, outmoded social attitudes and bourgeois sensibilities". The alternatives' incursion began with The Young Ones (1982–84), written by Rik Mayall , Ben Elton and others. To help make it stand out, the group opted to combine traditional sitcom style with violent slapstick, non-sequitur plot turns, and surrealism. These older styles were mixed with
8832-403: The episode, we would show it to some secret sources, always including somebody who was an expert on the subject in question. They would usually give us extra information which, because it was true, was usually funnier than anything we might have thought up." In a 2004 BBC programme paying tribute to the series, it was revealed that Jay and Lynn had drawn on information provided by two insiders from
8970-519: The eponymous bookshop in the Channel 4 sitcom Black Books . In the BBC's 2010 'Sherlock' episode entitled "A Study in Pink", Russell Square is the park in which the character of Dr Watson (Freeman) was re-acquainted with his previous classmate Mike Stamford (Nellist). The Imperial Hotel façade that lines Russell Square served as a backdrop for the park-bench conversation between Watson and Stamford. (It
9108-571: The exterminator to commit suicide. When Bernard tries to finish the job, Manny is injured. Black Books won the BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy in 2001 and 2005, and won a Bronze Rose at the Festival Rose d'Or of Montreux in 2001. It also received nominations for British Comedy Awards and the Irish Film and Television Awards . According to Allan Brown, writing for The Times in August 2005,
9246-449: The first Carry On film, the very similar Carry On Sergeant , was released, also featuring Hawtrey, Rossington and Hartnell. ITV sitcoms began with the channel's launch in 1957 and throughout the 1960s helped shape British comedy with varied and often experimental styles. In the 1960s, the BBC produced a then-rare workplace comedy with The Rag Trade (1961–1963, 1977–1978) written by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney . The success of
9384-463: The first place, and included favourites such as David Croft's Dad's Army , Are You Being Served? , and Hi-de-Hi! . It was not until The Royle Family (1998–2000) in place 19 that a show without a live studio audience was featured. On a suggestion to Miranda Hart by sitcom writer Abigail Wilson, who collaborated with comedy actors Dawn French ( The Vicar of Dibley 1994–2000) and Jennifer Saunders ( Absolutely Fabulous 1992–1995),
9522-493: The format as the ideal vehicle for Hancock's comedic style. "Hancock's persona of the pompous loser out of his depth in an uncomprehending society still informs many programmes today", according to Phil Wickham. The final BBC series of this show was broadcast under the shorter title Hancock . In 1963, Hancock changed his writers and moved to ITV for a further 13-episode series also named Hancock . The series, though relatively well received, has been described as "clearly not up to
9660-411: The governments of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan , namely Marcia Falkender and Bernard Donoughue . The series was the favourite television programme of the then Prime Minister , Margaret Thatcher . In 2012, Prime Minister David Cameron admitted that "I can tell you, as prime minister, it is true to life." Set in 1959–60 in a fictional holiday camp, Hi-de-Hi! was filmed on location at
9798-737: The greatest sitcom of all time. John Esmonde and Bob Larbey 's self-sufficiency comedy The Good Life (1975–78) and To the Manor Born by Peter Spence and Christopher Bond were also highly successful. Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973–74), a sequel to The Likely Lads , is thought to have surpassed the original, while its writers, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais , provided Ronnie Barker with his most significant sitcom vehicle, Porridge (1974–77). Barker also starred (along with David Jason ) in Open All Hours (1973, 1976–85), written by Roy Clarke , whose Last of
9936-474: The knick-knack shop "Nifty Gifty" next door, is distracted from being on-call as a friend's birth coach by a sphere of unknown function. Bernard is knocked unconscious by skinheads , and Manny offers to do his taxes. Bernard wakes up after a night of drinking to discover he has accidentally given Manny a job at the bookshop, and spends the day trying to get rid of him. Manny proves to be a charming, sociable and competent employee. An offering of wine from Manny and
10074-571: The last episode) holds the record for the highest UK audience for a sitcom episode , attracting 24.3 million viewers. A ratings success with viewers, the series received numerous awards, including recognition from BAFTA , the National Television Awards and the Royal Television Society , as well as winning individual accolades for Sullivan and Jason. It was voted Britain's Best Sitcom in a 2004 BBC poll. In
10212-711: The lavish French farce in English based on the 1934 novel of the same name by Gabriel Chevallier , Clochemerle was adapted into 9 episodes by Galton and Simpson for the BBC. It was a stark contrast to the dark comedy of their Steptoe and Son and Hancock's Half Hour . Filmed on location in Colombier-le-Vieux , in the department of Ardèche , it starred Roy Dotrice , Wendy Hiller , Cyril Cusack , Kenneth Griffith , Cyd Hayman , Bernard Bresslaw , Hugh Griffith , Micheline Presle , Madeline Smith , Christian Roberts , Nigel Green , Wolfe Morris and Gordon Rollings , with narration by Peter Ustinov . The show
10350-789: The life of army conscripts during the last years of the National Service which ended in 1963. Written by Rodney Hobson, Pinwright's Progress (1946–1947) was the world's first regular half-hour televised sitcom. Broadcast live by the BBC from Alexandra Palace , it was about J. Pinwright, the proprietor of a small shop. Storylines involved his hated rival and his staff, who only added to his problems by attempting to be helpful. The series featured an ensemble cast including James Hayter as J. Pinwright, Clarence Wright as Aubrey, Sara Gregory as Sally Doolittle, Daphne Maddox as Miss Peasbody, Doris Palmer as Mrs Sigsbee, Leonard Sharp as Ralph, Benita Lydal as Mrs Rackstraw, Charles Irwin as
10488-546: The lives of its owner, his assistant, and their friend. The series was produced by Big Talk Productions , in association with Channel 4. The show was produced in a multiple-camera setup , and was primarily filmed at Teddington Studios in Teddington , London, with exterior scenes filmed on location on Leigh Street and the surrounding areas in Bloomsbury , London. The first episode was broadcast on 29 September 2000 and
10626-409: The new lodger, Alice. At the end of this episode, Bernard asks Fran when they will admit they are deeply attracted to each other. Fran will not 'Until at least one of us is dead'. The scene returns to Manny's condition having been triggered with disastrous consequences. While Fran is in desperate need of a job, Manny gets a call from old friend Gus, a diminutive underworld capo. Gus agrees to get Fran
10764-519: The north-east. It is named after the surname of the Earls and Dukes of Bedford ; the freehold remains with the latter's conservation trusts who have agreed public access and management by Camden Council. The gardens are in the mainstream, initial category (of Grade II listing) on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens . In 2005, two terrorist bombings occurred nearby; one on a tube train between Kings Cross St Pancras and Russell Square ,
10902-635: The nuances of British life. Early shows of the 1950s often featured archetypal British characters such as the staff and pupils in Whack-O! and the various facets portrayed in Hancock's Half Hour , and set the stage for what would become the British TV sitcom genre. They were set in post World War II working-class or domestic environments, highlighting issues of class, family dynamics, and British culture, while The Army Game , ITV's first sitcom, parodied
11040-520: The original houses survive, especially on the southern and western sides. Those to the west are occupied by the University of London , and there is a blue plaque on one at the north-west corner commemorating the fact that T. S. Eliot worked there from the late 1920s when he was poetry editor of Faber & Faber . That building is now used by the School of Oriental and African Studies (a college of
11178-614: The other on a bus (Route 30, on diversion) outside the HQ of the British Medical Association on Tavistock Square . In condolence and commemoration the public and public institutions laid flowers at both squares; Tavistock Square has a later monument. In 2016 the Russell Square stabbing took place. Following the demolition of Bedford House , Russell Square and Bedford Square were laid out in 1804. The square
11316-525: The other, you can see how it held up a mirror to the way we were living." The series won the 1978 BAFTA for Best Situation Comedy and was the highest-ranking ITV sitcom in the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom , coming in 27th overall. Frances de la Tour received an Evening Standard British Film Award in the category of "Best Actress" for her performance as Ruth Jones. Broadcast 1974–1979 on BBC1 for 41 episodes over 5 series, starring Terry Scott and June Whitfield , with Beryl Cooke , Happy Ever After
11454-406: The paradigm for British sitcom writing. By the time the television set had become a common part of home furnishing, sitcoms were significant expressions of everyday life and were often a window on the times of enormous social changes in the British class system and its conflicts and prejudices. The period from 1970 to 1979 in particular is often considered the 'Golden Age' of British sitcom. Since
11592-470: The piano and enlists the services of an elderly blind Russian tutor. His harsh methods and her inability to master the instrument quickly lead her to quit. Manny discovers he can play the piano purely on instinct, and against all odds Bernard gets a date with an attractive woman. As a result, Fran and Bernard bribe Manny to hide inside the piano, armed with only spoons, in an attempt to make themselves look good. A heat wave sweeps London, causing Bernard to seek
11730-456: The programme title had to be changed, and, on 24 October 1979, Terry and June was born. It was similar to Happy Ever After without Aunt Lucy, but Terry and June's surname changed from Fletcher to Medford and the characters moved to Purley in London. In 2004, it came joint 73rd in Britain's Best Sitcom with Happy Ever After . The sci-fi sitcom Come Back Mrs. Noah , set in space in 2050,
11868-702: The protagonist, Captain Adam Deveril (Viscount Lynton), in Georgette Heyer's Regency romance novel " A Civil Contract ", published in 1961. They converse about the history of the Square on Lord Lynton's first visit to the house, and Mr. Chawleigh is not impressed with the statue of the Duke of Bedford. 21 Russell Square is the murderer's street address in the novel (but not in the movie adaptation ) The Murderer Lives at Number 21 ( L'Assassin habite au 21 ) by
12006-423: The real Warner's Holiday Centre at Dovercourt Bay. It ran for 58 episodes (1980–1988) on the BBC and is often repeated. It was co-written by Jimmy Perry , based on his experience as a Butlin's Redcoat, and director-producer David Croft . With its ensemble cast comprising Paul Shane , Simon Cadell , Ruth Madoc , Jeffrey Holland , Su Pollard , and David Griffin , the series gained large audiences and won
12144-655: The reproaches of her parents, played by Mitchell and Bird, a difficult social life, and a reduced income. The theme song, "Bright Idea", was written by Roger Webb . Also written by Richard Waring, Rings on Their Fingers (1978–80) ran from 1978 to 1980 for 20 episodes in 3 series and was and produced by Harold Snoad for the BBC. It concerns a young unmarried couple, Sandy Bennett, played by Diane Keen , and Oliver Pryde, played by Martin Jarvis . The cast also included Tim Barrett , Barbara Lott , Anna Dawson , John Kane and Royce Mills . Sandy wishes to marry whereas Oliver
12282-407: The rhythms of everyday life, the pain of the human condition and, of course, the joy of laughter. The origins of British TV sitcoms trace back to radio comedies of the 1940s and 1950s like Hancock's Half Hour , which aired on BBC Radio in 1954, British TV sitcoms were initially inspired by American comedy formats, but they quickly developed their own style that highlighted dry wit, social satire, and
12420-480: The role of a prison inmate, with his most significant sitcom vehicle, supported by Richard Beckinsale . It ran from 1974 to 1977 on BBC1 for 22 episodes over three series. The series features two major supporting characters, both prison officers : Mr Mackay , played by Fulton Mackay , and Mr Barrowclough , played by Brian Wilde . The sitcom focused on two prison inmates, Norman Fletcher, played by Barker, and Lennie Godber, played by Beckinsale, who are serving time in
12558-763: The same quality. The series starred Cleese as Basil Fawlty , Prunella Scales as Sybil Fawlty , Connie Booth as Polly Sherman , and Andrew Sachs as Manuel . Supporting roles included Major Gowen, played by Ballard Berkeley , Chef Terry, played by Brian Hall , and Miss Gatsby and Miss Tibbs, played by Renee Roberts and Gilly Flower . Other well known guests from stage and screen, usually two or three for each episode, were featured in various episodes and among many others included Yvonne Gilan , Conrad Phillips , Bernard Cribbins , James Cossins , Allan Cuthbertson , Ann Way , Brenda Cowling , Joan Sanderson , Elspet Gray , Geoffrey Palmer , Derek Royle , Richard Davies , Ken Campbell , Una Stubbs , and John Quarmby . The show
12696-458: The second greatest television character. The spin-off from Man About the House , starring Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy, with Norman Eshley , Sheila Fearn , and child star Nicholas Bond-Owen , a domestic sitcom George and Mildred is focused on a clash of social class. Written by Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer, it ran for 38 episodes and is regularly repeated on ITV3. Yootha Joyce died suddenly in August 1980, just before production of
12834-458: The series received several BAFTAs and in 2004 was voted sixth in the Britain's Best Sitcom poll. Writer Michael Dobbs said Jay and Lynn "really got to the heart of so much of what goes on in Whitehall and Westminster". As the series revolved around the inner workings of central government, most of the scenes take place privately in offices and exclusive members' clubs . Lynn said that "there
12972-581: The series was due partly to the strength of the female ensemble playing the workforce, who included Sheila Hancock , Barbara Windsor and Esma Cannon . It also made the earliest of Richard Waring 's domestic comedies, Marriage Lines (1961–1966), starring Richard Briers (later to star in The Good Life ) and Prunella Scales (who went on to star in Fawlty Towers ), and Not in Front of
13110-678: The shop as a trendy café-bookshop, and then as an upscale restaurant. The shop is overrun by a horde of unseen carnivorous insectoids that Manny and Bernard must make an effort to destroy. Fran returns from a holiday in Cornwall to find Bernard living amongst mouldy books and dead badgers and Manny working next door at the glossy Goliath Books. Manny is out of place amongst creepy micromanager Evan and his staff, but resists Fran's self-serving attempts to drag him back to Bernard so that she has somewhere to hang out. Bernard's physical condition deteriorates rapidly without Manny's care. Fran leaves for
13248-691: The show was "killed off after three hugely popular series". In Channel 4 's "The World's Greatest Comedy Characters" poll, Bernard was voted 19th. The show ranked 58th out of 100 in the BBC's Britain's Best Sitcom poll in 2004. When asked by Digital Spy in 2015 about the show possibly returning, Moran replied saying "No, no, no, no! No! Does that answer the question, no!" and stated that he'd rather focus on new projects. He also said that he'd never do another studio sitcom again. British sitcom British sitcoms have predominantly been recorded on studio sets, while some include an element of location filming. Live audiences and multi-cameras were first used in
13386-486: The show was featured in the 1998 Channel 4 sitcom festival in Riverside Studios . This early version was decidedly darker, revolving around Bernard's, and later Manny's, decision to commit suicide . It featured Manny (surname Zimmerman in reference to Bob Dylan ) and the Fran character as Valerie, a philosophy lecturer. The pilot was an original creation of Moran's and the series was his first creation as
13524-431: The show was voted 13th in a British Film Institute poll of industry professionals of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes. In 2004, championed by Phill Jupitus , it came fourth in the BBC poll to find Britain's Best Sitcom . As of 2022 it is one of British television's most regularly repeated sitcoms. Bringing the first light-hearted satirical look at the church , during 1966–1971 All Gas and Gaiters paved
13662-456: The show which inspired three films was Howerd's frequent breaking of the fourth wall . Other controversial topics for comedy included series written by Richard Waring and Wendy Craig. ...And Mother Makes Three (1971–73), and its sequel ...And Mother Makes Five (1974–76), starred Craig (who also co-wrote) as a widowed mother who eventually remarries a divorced single father. My Wife Next Door (1972), created by Brian Clemens , concerned
13800-424: The square. One of them was on a London Underground train at that moment running between King's Cross St Pancras tube station and Russell Square tube station , and another was on a bus on Tavistock Square , near Russell Square. To commemorate the victims, many flowers were laid at a spot on Russell Square just south of the café. The location is now marked by a memorial plaque and a young oak tree. The square
13938-509: The staff of the retail ladies' and gentlemen's clothing departments. Are You Being Served? (1972–85) was created and written for the BBC by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft and stars Frank Thornton , Mollie Sugden , Wendy Richard , and John Inman (whose camp characterisation of Mr. Humphries contributed greatly to the series' success), Richard and Nicholas Smith appeared in all 69 episodes. In 2004, it ranked 20th in Britain's Best Sitcom . The series proved to be highly exportable, and
14076-460: The standard of [Hancock's] BBC work". Starring Jimmy Edwards in the lead role as Professor James Edwards, Whack-O! written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden , is about the drunken, gambling, devious, cane-swishing headmaster who tyrannised staff and children at the fictitious Chiselbury public school "for the sons of Gentlefolk". From 1956 to 1960 and 1971–1972, it ran for 60 episodes over 8 series. The first six episodes were subtitled "Six of
14214-430: The streets of London penniless, cold and wet. Bernard's constant bullying drives Manny to leave. He is attacked by a bee in a telephone box and finds himself on the streets. He is picked up by a photographer and treated to a glamorous life of expensive clothes, satin sheets and crinkle-cut chips in silver bowls, but returns to the book shop after discovering that the photographer has a beard fetish. Fran decides to learn
14352-493: The subject of the joke but to seek and find humour in everything.. Writing for the British Film Institute , Phil Wickham, film and TV critic and author of several books about British TV, concludes: Sitcoms have had an important influence on British life in the last 40 years. They have made us think about ourselves by making us laugh at our own absurdity. Good sitcoms are a kind of virtual reality - they reflect
14490-456: The threat of physical violence from Fran persuade Bernard to keep Manny on board. When the squalor of the bookshop overwhelms him, Manny calls a creepy cleaner, and Bernard reluctantly agrees to house-sit for a friend. Unfortunately, the two manage to drink a very expensive bottle of wine that was due to be presented to the Pope , and have to figure out a way to replace it. Meanwhile, Fran goes on
14628-471: The turn of the century however, many are filmed on a single-camera set-up or entirely on location, with no studio screening or laugh track, such as The Royle Family (1998–2000, 2006–2012), and PhoneShop (2009–2013). A subset of British comedy consciously avoids traditional situation comedy themes, storylines, and home settings to focus on more unusual topics or narrative methods. Blackadder (1983–1989) and Yes Minister (1980–1988, 2013) moved what
14766-483: The unlock code, distracted by a Subbuteo player in the installer's hair. This results in Manny being trapped alone inside with only a bottle of absinthe and dead bees for company and Bernard locked outside with just enough money for popcorn and a cinema ticket. Meanwhile, Fran has taken the phone off the hook to listen to silky-voiced Howell Granger read the shipping forecast on the radio, leaving Bernard to wander
14904-517: The way for Bless Me, Father (1978–1981) with Arthur Lowe, and farcical ecclesiastical comedies such as Father Ted and The Vicar of Dibley in the 1990s. Starring Derek Nimmo with Robertson Hare , William Mervyn , John Barron , Joan Sanderson ( Please Sir! , Fawlty Towers ), and Ernest Clark , it was written by husband-and-wife team Pauline Devaney and Edwin Apps and directed by John Howard Davies and Stuart Allen. The successful series, which after an initial controversy became
15042-481: The weekend to go to her friend Becky's hen party while Bernard and Manny, inspired by their latest children's-book event, decide to write and illustrate a book for children. Bernard's first effort comes to over 1,030 pages, and covers Joseph Stalin , a lens grinder, a broken marriage, and a truth-seeking journalist. Meanwhile, Fran's hen party is a disaster. Manny's irritating parents unexpectedly come to stay after Bernard deletes Manny's answerphone messages. Bernard
15180-644: The working and lower-middle class attitudes of the growing 1980s alternative comedy boom. Mayall was also the star of The New Statesman (1987–92), a series created by Maurice Gran and Laurence Marks , whose biggest success, Birds of a Feather (1989–98, 2014–20), also deviated from British practice in being scripted by a team of writers. The alternative comedy genre continued with Blackadder (1983–89), mainly written by Ben Elton and Richard Curtis and starring Rowan Atkinson , Tony Robinson , Tim McInnerny , Miranda Richardson , Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie . Atkinson's Edmund Blackadder came at number three in
15318-476: The worst British sitcoms ever made. It has never been repeated. Writing in The British Comedy Guide on 27 June 2021, in his article "Stranger Things: When sitcoms strain to be different", citing in detail three examples including Come Back Mrs. Noah , Graham McCann explains how a sitcom, even when written, produced and acted by a highly successful team, can go horribly wrong. In the 1980s,
15456-582: The years included many other actors for a total cast of 459. Russell Square Russell Square is a large garden square in Bloomsbury , in the London Borough of Camden , built predominantly by the firm of James Burton . It is near the University of London 's main buildings and the British Museum . Almost exactly square, to the north is Woburn Place and to the south-east is Southampton Row . Russell Square tube station sits to
15594-675: The years with actors such as Geoffrey Palmer , Bill Fraser , Ted Lune , Frank Williams , Harry Fowler and Dick Emery appearing in subsequent series. The Army Game follows the exploits of Hut 29, a fictional dysfunctional group of conscripted National Service soldiers during the post-war years. Writers included creator Sid Colin , Larry Stephens , Maurice Wiltshire, Lew Schwarz, John Jowett, John Antrobus , John Foley , Marty Feldman , Barry Took , David Climie, David Cumming, Derek Collyer, Brad Ashton, John Junkin , Talbot Rothwell , Sidney Nelson, Stan Mars, Bob Perkins and Alan MacKinnon. At least three episodes are uncredited. In June 1959,
15732-413: Was a Galton and Simpson creation and ran for 57 episodes over 8 series. Producers included Duncan Wood , John Howard Davies , Graeme Muir, and Douglas Argent . In 2000, the show was ranked number 44 on the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes compiled by the British Film Institute . In a 2001 Channel 4 poll Albert was ranked 39th on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters , The series
15870-403: Was a 'feel-good' series following the leading characters' 'will-they-won't they' love story. Written by Peter Spence and Christopher Bond and produced and directed by Gareth Gwenlan , it was a sitcom with one of the largest audience ratings of the period. The final episode of series 1, which aired on 11 November 1979, was the most watched British television programme (excluding live events) of
16008-432: Was a good British sitcom." One of the most successful British sitcoms of all time, Only Fools and Horses (1981–2003) starred David Jason as Derek "Del Boy" Trotter and Nicholas Lyndhurst as his younger brother Rodney . It began in 1981 and ran for 64 episodes, with specials, until 2003. It was the most durable of several series written by John Sullivan . The 1996 episode " Time on Our Hands " (originally billed as
16146-660: Was also the site of a mass stabbing in 2016 . The London Branch of École Jeannine Manuel has occupied 52–53 Russell Square since 2019. Russell Square appears in various novels. In the early chapters of Thackeray 's Vanity Fair (1848), set in about 1812, Russell Square is evoked as the residence of "John Sedley, Esquire, of Russell Square, and the Stock Exchange ." Virginia Woolf set many scenes of her novel Night and Day (1919) in Russell Square. Jenny Chawleigh, daughter of business man Jonathan Chawleigh, lives with her father in Russell Square before she marries
16284-652: Was broadcast on BBC1 from 17 July to 14 August 1978, with a pilot being aired on 13 December 1977, but it was not a success and ran for only six episodes. Although written by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, and featuring an all-star sitcom cast including Mollie Sugden ( Are You Being Served? ), Ian Lavender ( Dad's Army ), Gorden Kaye ( 'Allo 'Allo! ), Donald Hewlett ( It Ain't Half Hot Mum and You Rang, M'Lord? ) and Michael Knowles ( It Ain't Half Hot Mum and You Rang, M'Lord? ), along with Vicki Michelle ( 'Allo 'Allo! ) and Harold Bennett ( Dad's Army and Are You Being Served? ), some regarded it as one of
16422-401: Was composed by Burt Rhodes . In 2004, The Good Life came 9th in Britain's Best Sitcom . After its success, the four main cast members were given their own "vehicles" commissioned by the then Head of Comedy and producer of The Good Life , John Howard Davies . The series provided Felicity Kendal with her big break on television and significantly boosted her career on stage. Described in
16560-406: Was composed by Joseph Ascher (1829–1869), arranged for a brass band and performed by Max Harris , who also wrote the incidental music. A sequel, Still Open All Hours , with David Jason and many members of the original cast, began airing nearly 30 years later in 2013 and ran until 2019 for 41 episodes. First broadcast on ITV in 1977 and running for 12 episodes, Miss Jones and Son (1977–78)
16698-585: Was criticised by campaigner Mary Whitehouse for its bad language, and due to changing attitudes in political correctness it is seldom repeated. Based on a World War II theme, Dad's Army (1968–1977) by Jimmy Perry and David Croft , was a gentle mockery of Britain's 'finest hour' and the Home Guard . One of the most enduring British sitcoms, it starred Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier , whose interaction with Lowe's character Captain Mainwaring
16836-507: Was derived from a one-off Galton and Simpson comic play, "The Offer", shown on their BBC series Comedy Playhouse in 1962. It is regularly repeated and gave rise to four feature films. Written by Johnny Speight and broadcast 1965–1968 and 1972–1975, Till Death Us Do Part featured Warren Mitchell as Alf Garnett and was an instant hit. Centred on the bigoted character of Alf Garnett, it addressed racial and political issues that had been becoming increasingly prevalent in British society. It
16974-421: Was described by The Times as "a memorable part of one of television's most popular shows". It also starred Clive Dunn , John Laurie , Ian Lavender and Arnold Ridley . During its original television run, the show was nominated for multiple British Academy Television Awards , including "Best Situation Comedy" in 1973, 1974 and 1975, although only won "Best Light Entertainment Production Team" in 1971. In 2000,
17112-502: Was in his 50s when the series began) pursuing "an endless array of improbably available 'dolly birds' ". The series was made into three films, On the Buses (1971), Mutiny on the Buses (1972), and Holiday on the Buses (1973). Starring Sid James of Carry On fame, with Diana Coupland and Sally Geeson , Bless This House was created by Vince Powell and Harry Driver , but mainly written by others including Dave Freeman and Carla Lane. Running from 1971 to 1976, It marked
17250-438: Was made in 1960. Peter Eton 's series of The Army Game (1957–1961) was probably British television's most successful sitcom of this period and ran for 154 episodes. Many of its stars went on to become household names. The original cast consisted of William Hartnell , Michael Medwin , Geoffrey Sumner , Alfie Bass , Charles Hawtrey , Bernard Bresslaw and Norman Rossington . The cast of The Army Game would change over
17388-458: Was not a single scene set in the House of Commons because government does not take place in the House of Commons. Some politics and much theatre takes place there. Government happens in private. As in all public performances, the real work is done in rehearsal, behind closed doors. Then the public and the House are shown what the government wishes them to see." Lynn and Jay explained: "After we wrote
17526-456: Was not well received. Considered daring at the time because it featured a man sharing a flat with two single women, the flat-share comedy Man About the House was created by Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer . It starred Richard O'Sullivan , Paula Wilcox and Sally Thomsett , with Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce as their landlord and landlady. 40 episodes were broadcast over six series on ITV , and ran from 1973 to 1976. A film version
17664-494: Was produced by John Howard Davies and Douglas Argent , directed by Davies and Bob Spiers and the music was by Dennis Wilson . The show was ranked first on a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, and in 2019 it was named the greatest ever British TV sitcom by a panel of comedy experts compiled by the Radio Times . Basil Fawlty has been listed by Channel 4 as
17802-602: Was produced by Michael Mills as a co-production between the BBC and West Germany's Bavaria Film . Incidental music was arranged by Alan Roper and played by L'Harmonie Du Rhone Orchestra, Lyon, under the musical direction of Raymond Jarniat. Created by Brian Clemens and written by Richard Waring, My Wife Next Door was shown on BBC1 in 1972 and ran for 13 episodes. The series concerns George Basset, played by John Alderton , and Suzie Basset, played by Hannah Gordon , who each try to start afresh after their divorce by moving to
17940-468: Was produced by Stuart Allen, John Howard Davies, and Robin Nash, and the music was provided by Stanley Myers . With Milo O'Shea , and Yootha Joyce ( Man About the House , George and Mildred ) in the lead roles, Me Mammy was written by Hugh Leonard , produced by James Gilbert and Sydney Lotterby for the BBC and aired 1968–1971 for 21 episodes over 3 series. Bunjy Kennefick, played by O'Shea,
18078-521: Was recorded in the presence of the Queen to mark her Silver Jubilee; it was reputedly one of her favourite shows. Felicity Kendal and Richard Briers starred as Barbara and Tom Goode – a middle-class suburban couple who decide to quit the rat race and become self-sufficient, much to the consternation of their snooty but well-meaning neighbour Margo, played by Penelope Keith , and her down-to-earth husband Jerry, played by Paul Eddington . The opening theme
18216-508: Was released in 1974. The series is regularly repeated on ITV3 . After the series ended in 1976, two successful spin-off series followed: George and Mildred , in which the Ropers move to the suburbs, and Robin's Nest , in which Robin gets married and opens a bistro . Based on life in a UK prison, the Porridge sitcom by writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais provided Ronnie Barker, in
18354-464: Was the first modern TV sitcom. Whilst moving away from audio variety towards character development, the radio series had been influential in the development of TV situation comedy. The radio series continued to be produced alongside the TV version. Tony Hancock played a fictionalised version of himself, a loser whose plans and aspirations are continually ruined by bad luck. Its only other regular cast member
18492-422: Was the more worldly sidekick played by Sid James , later of Carry On fame and Bless This House . Other occasional participants included John Le Mesurier ( Dad's Army ), Kenneth Williams , and Patricia Hayes . Hancock's biographer John Fisher dates the first use of the term 'situation comedy' in British broadcasting to a BBC memo dated 31 March 1953 from radio comedy producer Peter Eton , suggesting
18630-458: Was written by John T. Chapman , Eric Merriman , Christopher Bond, John Kane and Jon Watkins. It was based on a Comedy Playhouse pilot called "Happy Ever After" which aired on 7 May 1974, with Scott and Whitfield playing a middle-class couple whose grown-up children had just left home. The Good Life (1975–1978), written by Bob Larbey and John Esmonde , aired on BBC1 for 30 episodes over four series and two specials. The final episode
18768-466: Was written by Ronnie Hazlehurst . Spun off from Happy Ever After after it ended, Terry Scott and June Whitfield returned to star in the 65 episodes of Terry and June (1979–1987). It was mostly written by John Kane . Chapman , one of the original writers, said that the original programme had run out of ideas and had to end. BBC Comedy, however, were unwilling to end a successful 'cozy' show, and so brought in fresh new writers; for legal reasons
18906-466: Was written by David Climie, Ronnie Cass and Lew Schwarz. The series established the reputation of actor Clive Dunn , leading to his role as Corporal Jones in Dad's Army . Running for 43 episodes over 5 series (1963–1966), first titled The Marriage Lines , Marriage Lines was written by Richard Waring and directed and produced by Robin Nash and Graeme Muir. The traditional domestic comedy about
19044-467: Was written by Richard Waring and produced and directed by Peter Frazer-Jones. It starred Paula Wilcox ( Man About The House ), Christopher Beeny , Charlotte Mitchell and Norman Bird . The series depicted the life of Elizabeth Jones, played by Wilcox, a young woman coming to terms with the responsibility of looking after her baby alone. Emotional support came in the form of next-door-neighbour and friend Geoffrey, played by Beeny. Difficulties included
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