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Posted by: Froot. 17th August 2016, 01:46 PM

It's time to find what YOU voted for as your greatest UK sitcom. Comedy is very subjective which is reflected in the varied shortlist that also has fair classic/new balance. In terms of numbers, the total number of points vary from 199 to a mere 5, with 16 sitcoms managing over 100 points. The results will start SOON but, for now, here are the fifty shows in competition!:

Absolutely Fabulous
Allo 'Allo!
Are You Being Served?
Bad Education
Benidorm
Birds of a Feather
Black Books
Blackadder
Come Fly With Me
Dad's Army
dinnerladies
Extras
Father Ted
Fawlty Towers
Friday Night Dinner
Gavin & Stacey
Gimme Gimme Gimme
I'm Alan Partridge
Keeping Up Appearances
Little Britain
Man About the House
Miranda
Mr Bean
Mrs Brown's Boys
My Family
On the Buses
One Foot in the Grave
Only Fools and Horses
Open All Hours
Outnumbered
Peter Kay's Car Share
Phoenix Nights
Porridge
Red Dwarf
Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em
Spaced
Steptoe & Son
The Good Life
The Green Green Grass
The Inbetweeners
The IT Crowd
The League of Gentlemen
The Office
The Royle Family
The Thick of It
The Vicar of Dibley
The Young Ones
Twenty Twelve / W1A
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
Yes Minister

Posted by: Froot. 17th August 2016, 02:45 PM

46-50



47.= The Office || 29 points [Highest: 11 from AaronTM]
47.= Twenty Twelve / W1A || 29 points [Highest: 16 from Froot.]
48. Spaced || 22 points [Highest: 14 from richie]
49. The Green Green Grass || 20 points [Highest: 18 from JosephStyles]
50. The League of Gentlemen || 5 points [Highest: 5 from dandy*]

In last place and the only sitcom to have one voter is The League of Gentleman! It is a black comedy and is one that I probably should have watched by now considering how much I loved Psychoville and Inside No. 9. Next is The Green Green Grass, a spin-off to much loved and still to come 'Only Fools and Horses'. It follows Boycie and his family as they move to the countryside and it aired from 2005-2009. Spaced was the first project to come from the creators of the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Frost. It follows two relative strangers pose as a couple in order to obtain a cheap flat. Twenty Twelve/W1A was first created as a comedic perspective on the development of the London 2012 Olympic games, following a fictional group. The success (and nature of the subject matter) then resulted in a different setup where some of the characters work for the BBC. It features some pretty on-point satire and has resulted in some of the BBC's decisions irl to be under even more close scrutiny. The Office is often up there on many lists as one of the best ever UK sitcoms but it falls out in joint 47th place here! It is another mockumentary following the lives of a fictional office and resulted in a very successful US remake (something that is not often said) as well as a spin-off film that is coming out this month!

Posted by: Suedehead2 17th August 2016, 04:16 PM

Oh dear, I forgot to send my votes in last night

Posted by: Froot. 17th August 2016, 07:02 PM

41-45



41. The Good Life || 33 points [Highest: 15 from Laura130262]
44.= Man About the House || 31 points [Highest: 19 from richie]
44.= Steptoe & Son || 31 points [Highest: 13 from pippa & Leonardo]
44.= The Thick of It || 31 points [Highest: 18 from Chez Wombat]
45. Yes Minister || 30 points [Highest: 16 from Colm]

Yes Minister is satire set in the private office of a British Cabinet minister and it led to 'Yes Prime Minister' as the minister became PM. It ran from 1980-1988 and briefly returned for a revival series for Gold in 2013. From one political satire to another as The Thick of It lands in a three way tie for 44th place. The series focuses on the inner workings of modern day British government, looking at the new roles of spin doctors. It led to a film and another successful US remake. Steptoe & Son focuses on a father and son rag & bone business and ran from 1962-1965 and then 1970-1974 as well as two films. It will return as a one-off special along with a number of other classic BBC sitcoms for their upcoming Sitcom Season. Man About the House was broadcast on ITV and focused on a man who was living with two single women. It resulted in a film, two spin-off series and yet another successful US remake (there's not many left). The Good Life focuses on a couple who escape modern day living by attempting to be fully self-sufficient.

Posted by: Mack 17th August 2016, 07:18 PM

Man About The House is normally repeated on ITV3 which was had two spin-offs in Robin's Nest and George + Mildred. Sad about what happened to Yootha Joyce who played Mildred.

Posted by: HarryEzra 17th August 2016, 07:35 PM

48. Spaced || 22 points [Highest: 14 from Spaced]

Spaced so low

Also is spaced a poster or is that a error confused

Posted by: Froot. 17th August 2016, 07:37 PM

oops alias alert!!!

I must have got a bit carried away, the 14 was from richie!

Posted by: Froot. 18th August 2016, 06:52 PM

36-40



36. Gimme Gimme Gimme || 45 points [Highest: 17 from Alex]
37. Red Dwarf || 44 points [Highest: 18 from Leonardo]
38. On the Buses || 36 points [Highest: 12 from JosephStyles & Leonardo]
40.= I'm Alan Partridge || 36 points [Highest: 15 from richie]
40.= Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? || 36 points [Highest: 18 from Mack & Laura130262]

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? was a sequel to The Likely Lads, following the friendship of two working class men, one of whom is proud to be working class while the other aspires to be middle class. The two stars have since fallen out and any revival is unlikely to happen. I'm Alan Partridge followed the fictional character of Alan Partridge following the spoof chat show 'Knowing Me, Knowing You'. The show follows Alan as his life as gone considerably downhill having lost his wife and job, presenting a local radio show in a graveyard slot. The character has been hugely successful, including starring in his own film. On the Buses aired for seven series as well as three spin-off films. The show follows employees of a bus company. Red Dwarf is a science-fiction sitcom following four characters who are trapped in deep space. The show initially aired for eight series before being resurrected by Dave in 2009 after successful repeats on the channel. It aired for an initial three-part revival before returning for a full series in 2012 and two more have recently been filmed. Gimme Gimme Gimme aired between 1999 and 2001 focusing on a loudmouth, played by Kathy Burke, and her gay flatmate with innuendo playing a big part in the humour.

Posted by: popchartfreak 19th August 2016, 11:27 AM

Red Dwarf is too low

Posted by: Froot. 19th August 2016, 02:11 PM

31-35



31. One Foot in the Grave || 56 points [Highest: 19 from Laura130262]
33.= 'Allo 'Allo! || 49 points [Highest: 18 from Froot.]
33.= Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em || 49 points [Highest: 14 from Mack & Leonardo]
34. Extras || 48 points [Highest: 17 from Extras]
35. Phoenix Nights || 47 points [Highest: 18 from troublepink]

Phoenix Nights features Peter Kay as one its creators and stars and it is set in a working man's club. It was a spin-off from 'That Peter Kay Thing' and resulted in its own spin-off 'Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere'. Extras is the second sitcom created by Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant to feature following the lives of an aspiring actor and his friend as he is an extra in numerous productions. It stars many celebrities appearing as exaggerated versions of themselves. Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em follows accident-prone Frank Spencer through his various attempts to hold down a job that frequently end in disaster. I will say this only once: 'Allo 'Allo! aired for nine series and followed events in a small cafe in a German-occupied part of France in WWII and it features many running jokes. One of my favourite jokes is the lack of understanding between the French and the British despite them both appearing to speak English to us, it's ingenious! One Foot in the Grave followed Victor Meldrew as he takes early retirement but encounters various misfortunes and misunderstandings during his efforts to make him busy.

Posted by: JosephSpears 19th August 2016, 02:14 PM

I thought On the Buses may end up higher! I've never watched it out of choice but my mum always has it on

Posted by: HarryEzra 19th August 2016, 02:30 PM

Allo Allo so low

Posted by: Froot. 19th August 2016, 07:28 PM

26-30



26. Open All Hours || 65 points [Highest: 12 from dandy*]
27. The Young Ones || 64 points [Highest: 20 from troublepink]
28. Are You Being Served? || 61 points [Highest: 16 from Mack]
29. Black Books || 60 points [Highest: 20 from dandy*]
30. Friday Night Dinner || 56 points [Highest: 18 from Ultraviolence1989]

Friday Night Dinner is one of the more recent sitcoms in the list but it is currently airing its fourth series. It focuses on the outlandish events that happen when a Jewish family meet up for a meal every Friday night. Black Books is set in bookstore run by a moody shopkeeper who has a hatred of the outside world, having a dislike for all his customers. Similarly, Are You Being Served? is also set in a shop, this time in the clothing department of a flagship department store. It used a lot of risque visual gags and innuendo. The Young Ones is a more anarchic and alternative sitcom, focusing on four students who are sharing a house. It features a lot of slapstick and surrealism. Open All Hours is set in a small local grocer's shop run by Arkwright, whose nephew is an employee. It starred two sitcoms legends as its leads in Ronnie Barker and David Jason. The latter returned for a follow up series 'Still Open All Hours' where his character is now running the shop.

Posted by: Froot. 21st August 2016, 06:47 PM

21-25



21. Peter Kay's Car Share || 82 points [Highest: 18 from bipolar angel]
22. Come Fly With Me || 77 points [Highest: 20 from Ultraviolence1989]
23. Porridge || 76 points [Highest: 20 from Laura130262]
24. Benidorm || 67 points [Highest: 20 from bipolar angel]
25. Bad Education || 65 points [Highest: 14 from AaronTM]

Bad Education focuses on a posh new history teacher at a secondary school, in charge of a class full of eccentric individuals. It was one of BBC Three's most successful shows and it resulted in a movie last year. Benidorm is ITV's most successful sitcom of recent years. It follows a group of British families who spend their holiday at the same all-inclusive hotel in Benidorm. Porridge is another Ronnie Barker sitcom, this time set in a prison where Barker's character takes an inmate serving his first sentence under his wing. It is another sitcom set off for a one-off return next week as part of BBC One's sitcom season. Come Fly With Me was created by the same duo as Little Britain and was a spoof of airline documentaries. Peter Kay's Car Share is the most recent sitcom on the list and it was Peter Kay's first series for to air since 2004's Max & Paddy's Road to Nowhere. It is mainly follows two characters who are involved in a car share and therefore the setting is largely confined to the car.

Posted by: burbe 23rd August 2016, 08:04 PM

Come Fly With Me is brilliant! Glad to see it doing well on here.

Posted by: Froot. 24th August 2016, 12:15 PM

16-20



16. dinnerladies || 105 points [Highest: 19 from Leonardo]
17. Mrs Brown's Boys || 98 points [Highest: 17 from HarryEzra]
18. The IT Crowd || 94 points [Highest: 20 from Froot.]
19. My Family || 89 points [Highest: 15 from bipolar angel]
20. Mr Bean || 84 points [Highest: 19 from Chez Wombat]

Mr Bean follows 'a child in a grown man's body' played by Rowan Atkinson. He causes disruption in everything he does and everywhere he goes with the humour largely focused on physical humour, especially as the character rarely speaks. The character has proven to be immensely popular, expanding into an animated series, two films and an appearance in the 2012 Opening Ceremony. My Family focuses on a large middle-class family, with each character undergoing a number of problems throughout the series. It did last longer than it should have done but, in its prime (particularly with Nick & Abi still in), it was brilliant. The best sitcom on the list, The IT Crowd, comes in at 18th place. It is set in the IT department of a big business, featuring two misfits and the head of department who becomes a misfit. The activities in each episode often lead to really bizarre scenarios that are laugh out loud. Mrs Browns Boys places outtakes as the focus of the sitcom. dinnerladies was created by the late Victoria Wood and it is set in the canteen of a fictional factory, focusing on the lives and social & romantic interactions of the staff.

Posted by: HarryEzra 24th August 2016, 12:46 PM

Shame to see IT Crowd not top 10

Posted by: JosephSpears 24th August 2016, 03:16 PM

Not bad for Mrs Brown, it's such a marmite show after all

Posted by: Regina 24th August 2016, 03:22 PM

f*** I shoulda voted. Dinnerladies is so so good. Watching it now, makes me really sad about how the world is now without such a genius in Victoria Wood.

Posted by: Froot. 25th August 2016, 01:59 PM

11-15



11. Father Ted || 130 points [Highest: 20 from popchartfreak]
12. Little Britain || 125 points [Highest: 18 from AaronTM]
13. Dad's Army || 121 points [Highest: 20 from ThePensmith]
14. The Inbetweeners || 115 points [Highest: 20 from Chez Wombat]
15. Birds of a Feather || 105 points [Highest: 20 from pippa]

Birds of a Feather follows the lives of two sisters whose husbands have been arrested for armed robbery as well as their next door neighbour who constantly has affairs with younger men. It originally aired on BBC One between 1989 and 1998 and then it made a successful return on ITV in 2014 where it is still airing new series. The Inbetweeners is one of the most popular and successful UK programmes aimed at young adults. It followed the lives of four friends who were neither the popular group nor the unpopular 'geeks'. It aired for three series and spawned two films. Dad's Army focused on the British Home Guard in World War II, which mainly featured those who were too old to serve. It was hugely successful, with repeats on BBC Two still securing some of the channel's highest ratings of the week and a feature film came out this year. Little's Britain featured sketches of exaggerated parodies of British people and it resulted in a large number of popular and memorable characters. Father Ted follows the lives of three priests who live on a remote island with their housekeeper, Mrs Doyle. Like The IT Crowd, it is absolutely hilarious and it features a number of exaggerated scenarios and characters. Would you like a cup of tea? Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on.

Posted by: Froot. 26th August 2016, 04:30 PM

06-10



06. Keeping Up Apperances || 160 points [Highest: 19 from Alex, JosephStyles, Mack]
07. Blackadder || 153 points [Highest: 20 from richie & Colm]
08. The Vicar of Dibley || 142 points [Highest: 19 from Sarah]
09. Outnumbered || 139 points [Highest: 19 from bipolar angel & Ultraviolence1989]
10. The Royle Family || 137 points [Highest: 16 from HarryEzra]

The Royle Family focuses on a working class family, with the episodes mostly focusing on the conversations that occur in the family's living room. The creators, Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, then went on to provide the voice-over for Gogglebox due it its similarities with the sitcom. Outnumbered follows the lives of two parents and their three children. The show utilised the ages of the children by making their parts semi-improvisational which the adult actors would react to. The Vicar of Dibley sees a small village being assigned a female vicar after recent rule changes. It stars Dawn French in the title role and has returned for a number of specials since the show ended. Blackadder sees each series being set in a different historical era: the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan era, the Regency and World War I. This means it follows descendants of the Blackadder family and their servants from the Baldwick family. The final scene in the final episode is particularly noted as one of the best ever TV moments. Keeping Up Appearances centres on the live of Hyacinth Bucket, a social climber who tries to portray that she is upper class but she actually has a working class background. A prequel is due to air next week.

Posted by: Froot. 26th August 2016, 04:32 PM

FINAL FIVE

Absolutely Fabulous
Fawlty Towers
Gavin & Stacey 
Miranda
Only Fools and Horses

Posted by: popchartfreak 26th August 2016, 05:32 PM

Mrs Browns Boys higher than IT Crowd...so so wrong in everyway

Father Ted not in the top 10, harrumph!

Blackadder beaten by a bucket, this won't do

Anything but Fools & Horses to win, it always wins sitcom polls in the UK...

Posted by: Chez Wombat 26th August 2016, 06:02 PM

Mrs Brown's Boys was voted the Nation's Favourite Sitcom of the 21st Century recently :/ like...idgi it's not even funny, should not be anywhere the top 20 here let alone above some of these classics. That is a good position for the Inbetweeners and The IT Crowd, great British sitcoms are so hard to come by these days, but those show that it's not totally hopeless. The Thick of It is FAR too low though.

Any of that top 5 would be worthy winners bar Gavin & Stacey (sorry but anything with James Corden I actively avoid)

Posted by: HarryEzra 26th August 2016, 06:06 PM

Omg 6-10 are all amazing Esp Royale Family and Outnumbered

Any of the top 5 would make a amazing winner (even if I have not seen Faulty Towers much)

Posted by: JosephSpears 27th August 2016, 04:16 PM

Miranda in the top 5 *.*

Keeping Up Appearances is another one I've never watched out of choice and only know it through my mum, but it's hilarious I think, definitely deserves to be this high.

Posted by: HarryEzra 27th August 2016, 04:22 PM

QUOTE(JosephSpears @ Aug 27 2016, 05:16 PM)

Posted by: Regina 27th August 2016, 04:32 PM

AbFab to win please, Gavin & Stacey and Miranda so high is really sad, especially over other shows here.

Posted by: Froot. 28th August 2016, 10:33 AM

03-05



03. Fawlty Towers || 175 points [Highest: 19 from troublepink & burbe]
04. Absolutely Fabulous || 171 points [Highest: 20 from Alex]
05. Gavin & Stacey || 163 points [Highest: 20 from AaronTM & Leonardo]

Gavin & Stacey follows the relationship between Gavin and Stacey who are from two different places and backgrounds. It looks at the key moments of their relationship as well as the interactions and the impact behind the two families. It was one of the first, if not the biggest, hit to come from BBC Three and helps to showcase homegrown talent. I'm not sure what happened to one of the shows creators, James Corden, went on to do? Absolutely Fabulous follows a PR agent trying to stay young and 'hip' and consumes a lot of drink and drugs with her best friend Patsy. This duo is placed at the forefront of the show and it helped it to run for five series, a number of specials and a feature film that came out this year. The show was also known for its large number of celebrity cameos each season. Fawlty Towers is a sitcom that often tops lists charting the best sitcoms of all time as well as best series and it seems that you lot agree. It only ran for two series but the adventures of Fawlty, his wife, maid and waiter running a seaside hotel left a large impact on popular culture.

Posted by: Froot. 28th August 2016, 10:33 AM

It's between Miranda & Only Fools and Horses!

Posted by: richie 28th August 2016, 04:31 PM

Heh, this poll is so bizarre (as usual).

Miranda will probably win - I saw loads and loads of 20 ratings when this was being voted on.

Good that Fawlty Towers ended up Top 3 and Only Fools will probably be runner up.

As for Ab Fab and Gavin and Stacey, I've never understood where the laughs are in either series. At least Miranda falls over a lot.

Posted by: Froot. 29th August 2016, 06:33 PM

01-02



01. Miranda || 199 points [Highest: 20 from HarryEzra, sarah, JosephStyles & burbe]
02. Only Fools and Horses || 182 points [Highest: 20 from Mack]

Only Fools and Horses is another sitcom that is a regular winner of similar lists/polls but it settles for second place here! It focuses on Del Boy and his brother Rodney attempting to become millionaires through various 'get rich quick' schemes'. As the series progressed, more characters became established and the scope of the plots were expanded. The initial series ended in 1991 before continuing in a number of Christmas specials where they finally achieved their dream. However, the show returned for three more Christmas specials in 2001-3 as well as a special Sport Relief mini-episode in 2014. It resulted in two spin-off series, The Green Green Grass and Rock & Chips, a prequel.

You have therefore chosen Miranda as your winner! It is a very marmite sitcom but, despite airing for only three series and two specials, it has proved immensely popular amongst those who love it and nearly 10m tuned into the finale on New Years Day 2015. The series adopts a more traditional tone than many other modern day sitcoms and it focuses on Miranda who finds herself in very awkward situations, often featuring slapstick humour. At the centre of this is Miranda's troubles with relationships and love.

Posted by: Froot. 29th August 2016, 06:38 PM

Thanks to everyone who took part! I know they'll be a lot who aren't happy with the winner but they'll be a lot of people very happy with the winner! Personally, I'd have loved to have seen The IT Crowd or Father Ted win even though I knew it was unlikely. I did like the fact that there was a nice range of old, classic and newer sitcoms though, so well done everyone!

Remember that the BBC's Sitcom Season is now underway with all the details and discussion http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=187563. This includes new remakes/prequels/sequels of classic sitcoms like 'Are You Being Served?' and 'Keeping Up Appearances', a range of pilots for new sitcoms and recreations of classic episodes that have been lost.

Keep your eyes peeled for the next game/competition in the UK TV & Soaps forum!

Posted by: HarryEzra 29th August 2016, 06:44 PM

Omg slay Miranda such a amazng sitcom love it unlike a lot of sitcomes i can see parts of myself with a lot of tje charactrrs which is important to me.

Great hosting Froot thank you for doing this!

Posted by: JosephSpears 29th August 2016, 06:47 PM

YASSSSS delighted with that winner!!

Thanks for hosting this Froot

Posted by: popchartfreak 30th August 2016, 11:41 AM

Thanks for organising Froot, I agree with you about the shuld-been winners but Miranda makes a nice change from Fools, and it is very sweet-natured and engaging - even if I've never been a regular viewer I do enjoy it when I bump into it.

Posted by: richie 30th August 2016, 07:40 PM

I'd be happy enough to see Miranda in a top 50, but not number one. I do like some of the gags on it though and I love the fact it has a "you have been watching" bit at the end.

Posted by: burbe 30th August 2016, 07:51 PM

Just can't beat Miranda - it's easily my favourite sitcom! Glad to see Fawlty Towers at #3. It certainly isn't a sitcom of my generation, yet it challenges Miranda as one of my favourites. Simply timeless and the lack of episodes only makes it more glorious!

Posted by: Chez Wombat 30th August 2016, 08:02 PM

Very good winner and top 3! Miranda's not quite up there with Only Fools... and Fawlty Towers YET obviously (Season 3 in general was where it started to slip in quality so it's good it ended when it did) and I get it's not as clever or sophisticated as other sitcoms, but it's enjoyable wide appealing winner and very endearing characters. For the most part, I watch comedy for a bit of light relief and daft escapism, and Miranda really does fill that very well.

Posted by: mdh 30th August 2016, 09:54 PM

I like Miranda, would have preferred an Only Fools win, though. Great hosting Front.

Posted by: mdh 30th August 2016, 09:54 PM

I can't be bothered to edit so there you go, you're called Front now.

Posted by: Froot. 31st August 2016, 10:33 AM

Thanks guys! Here is the full list:

01. Miranda 199
02. Only Fools and Horses 182
03. Fawlty Towers 175
04. Absolutely Fabulous 171
05. Gavin & Stacey  163
06. Keeping Up Appearances 160
07. Blackadder 153
08. The Vicar of Dibley 142
09. Outnumbered 139
10. The Royle Family 137
11. Father Ted 130
12. Little Britain 125
13. Dad's Army 121
14. The Inbetweeners 115
15. Birds of a Feather 105
16. dinnerladies 105
17. Mrs Brown's Boys 98
18. The IT Crowd 94
19. My Family  89
20. Mr Bean 84
21. Peter Kay's Car Share 82
22. Come Fly With Me 77
23. Porridge 76
24. Benidorm 67
25. Bad Education 65
26. Open All Hours 65
27. The Young Ones 64
28. Are You Being Served? 61
29. Black Books 60
30. Friday Night Dinner 56
31. One Foot in the Grave 56
32. Allo 'Allo! 49
33. Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em 49
34. Extras 48
35. Phoenix Nights 47
36. Gimme Gimme Gimme 45
37. Red Dwarf 44
38. On the Buses 38
39. I'm Alan Partridge 36
40. Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? 36
41. The Good Life 33
42. Man About the House 31
43. Steptoe & Son 31
44. The Thick of It 31
45. Yes Minister 30
46. The Office 29
47. Twenty Twelve / W1A 29
48. Spaced 22
49. The Green Green Grass 20
50. The League of Gentlemen 5