Sitcoms take social norms, expectations, and awkwardness and turn them into relatable entertainment with broad appeal. Many British sitcoms have done an amazing job of this, creating unique characters and situations we can’t get enough of—that’s why binge-watching them is so tempting whenever the opportunity arises. As difficult as it was, we’ve narrowed down this list to the top 10 funniest British sitcoms that excel at poking fun at everyday life and turning it into sheer entertainment.
1. Fawlty Towers (1975 – 1979)
The well-known Monty Python actor John Cleese brought his comedic abilities to Fawlty Towers as the character Basil Fawlty. Fawlty was a hapless hotelier whose shortcomings and quick temper stirred up trouble and entertainment in each episode. The series stayed grounded, with the events always in the realm of possibility and the characters becoming endearing as they create and manage messy situations and relationship dynamics. Though made in the 1970s, Fawlty Towers remains an entertaining farcical representation of daily life.
2. The Office (UK) (2001 – 2003)
The Office captured its audience’s attention with its mockumentary style, cringe-worthy situations, and characters. It was so successful that it inspired a US remake that launched Steve Carell and John Krasinski’s careers. The series holds a special place in the hearts of sitcom lovers for its originality and ridiculous situations. Though the premise sounds far from entertaining—you’re watching the daily lives of office workers at a plain, old, and far from glamorous paper company—entertainment and hilarity are exactly what it delivers. Its success stems from strong writing that satirises office politics and social awkwardness, along with stellar performances from actors like Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, and Mackenzie Crook. More than twenty years since its wrap, it’s still considered comedic gold.
3. Black Books (2000 – 2004)
Black Books follows Bernard Black, an abrasive bookshop owner without customer service skills or any interest in obtaining them. Black, along with his store assistant Manny and best friend Fran, embarks on absurd and entertaining adventures—like avoiding his taxes by inviting Jehovah’s Witnesses into his home or turning simple customer interactions into full-blown catastrophes. It’s a look at the desire to avoid responsibilities that come our way (and acting on them), paired with delightful one-liners from Black, played by Dylan Moran. Black Books is a series that never fails to deliver humour.
4. Peep Show (2003 – 2015)
In this odd-couple sitcom, flatmates, played by comedic duo David Mitchell and Robert Webb, navigate life with hilarious and relatable awkwardness. Over the series, they tackle love, careers, friendships, and everyday life punctuated by the show’s unique narrative style. Peep Show’s first-person filming style, called ‘peep shots’, immerses viewers and leaves them feeling like they’re experiencing the challenges the characters face themselves. Each character’s internal narration enhances the show’s signature awkward British humour.
5. Absolutely Fabulous (1992 – 2012)
Following best friends Edina ‘Eddy’ Monsoon and Patricia ‘Patsy’ Stone, Absolutely Fabulous is an entertaining look at the desire to stay young and relevant in a world where time keeps moving forward. Despite being successful career women, both Eddy and Patsy engage in recreational drugs, alcohol, and smoking in their free time, acting more like twenty-year-olds than the middle-aged women they are—made all the more evident by Eddy’s disapproving twenty-something daughter. The misadventurers, played by Jennifer Saunders (Eddy) and Joanna Lumley (Patsy), help the audience take comfort in their own questionable life choices and have a good laugh along the way with their over-the-top comedic styling. It’s an enjoyable combination for an unmissable sitcom.
6. The IT Crowd (2006 – 2013)
With the iconic line, ‘Have you tried turning it off and on again?’ echoing in our minds any time we have an IT issue, it’s impossible not to acknowledge the genius and hilarity of The IT Crowd. The show takes two awkward IT nerds and their not-so-tech-savvy manager and delivers outrageous and entertaining storylines. Starring Richard Ayoade, Chris O’Dowd, and Katherine Parkinson, the show highlights the disconnect that can exist between management and employees and delves into nerd culture. One viewing isn’t enough—you’ll want to rewatch it instantly.
7. Father Ted (1995 – 1998)
Catholic priests guilty of womanising, alcoholism, and fraud are exiled to a remote Irish island as punishment. There, they attempt to fulfil their priestly duties—at least in theory. But of course, Father Ted is a comedy, so it’s far from that simple. The priests, Fathers Ted (Dermot Morgan), Dougal (Ardal O’Hanlon), and Jack (Frank Kelly), end up in ridiculous situations and misadventures—offering entertainment as they dodge obligations, compete with other priests, and generally muck about the community. It takes the notion of what we think priests ought to be and flips it on its head, creating ridiculous and purely enjoyable TV.
8. Keeping Up Appearances (1990 – 1995)
No matter how hard we try, it’s easy to get caught up in keeping up with the Joneses or striving for a higher social class. However, for Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced ‘Bouquet’) in Keeping Up Appearances, climbing the social ladder and being considered upper class is her sole ambition, even though she’s part of a working-class family. She does all she can to maintain her social elite facade, setting the series up for plenty of funny and exceptionally awkward situations. Further fuelling the comedy, her sister Violet sits slightly higher on the social ladder.
9. Gavin & Stacey (2007 – 2010)
Before becoming a globally recognised celebrity, James Corden co-wrote and starred in the comedy gem Gavin & Stacey alongside Ruth Jones. The series centres on an unlikely long-distance couple, one from Essex and the other from Wales, setting the stage for amusing family dynamics and regional differences. Its eccentric characters and warm-hearted humour make everyday moments hilariously entertaining. As one of Britain’s rare rom-com sitcoms, it holds a special place in the hearts of sitcom aficionados.
10. Only Fools and Horses (1981 – 2003)
With brothers Derek and Rodney Trotter chasing get-rich-quick schemes and dodgy black-market deals to become millionaires, Only Fools and Horses is both absurd and hysterical. The pair, played by David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, unsurprisingly find themselves in questionable situations that don’t get them any closer to their millionaire goal. Side characters, like their uncle and grandfather, add to the humorous escapades. All these elements combine for nine seasons of uproarious entertainment.
Laughter Is a Great Escape
Even if your preferred form of entertainment is watching murder mysteries or trying to win real money on some of the top slots sites, you can’t deny that these shows are comedy gold. Tune into any of these on your preferred streaming platform, and you’ll be sure to laugh the night away.
