Comedy A-F
Numeric titles
2 Point 4 Children1991 BBC Television
Bill and Ben Porter (Belinda Lang and Gary Olsen) and their two children seem like just your average family. However, they find themselves in weird and wonderful situations which make them anything but average. Written by Andrew Marshall and with a strong supporting cast, 2 point 4 children ran for eight series.
7 of 11973 BBC Television A showcase for the acting range of Ronnie Barker. Its title is somewhat obscure - the result of initially intending to call the series Six of One and follow it up with Half a Dozen of the Other. Second installment Prisoner and Escort, introducing Norman Stanley Fletcher, inspired Clement and La Frenais to develop the premise into Porridge. Likewise the strength of first programme Open All Hours, with Barker as Arkwright, prompted Roy Clarke to pen the series of the same name.
A
A Bit of Fry and Laurie1992
An eccentric and sometimes high-brow sketch show, A bit of Fry and Laurie, showcased the talents of Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Using elaborate word play with some surreal moments, the show ran until the mid 90s on the BBC.
Absolutely Fabulous1992-2005 BBC Television Set in the world of fashion and PR, this series chronicled the fabulously outrageous behaviour of Edina and Pasty, superbly played by Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley.
Acorn Antiques1986
A soap opera set in an antique shop, complete with bad acting, terrible dialogue and wobbly sets, Acorn Antiques was a regular feature of Victoria Wood As Seen On TV. A send up of long running ATV series Crossroads, Acorn Antiques followed the daily lives of shop owner Miss Babs (Celia Imrie), her business partner Miss Berta (Victoria Wood), love interest Mr Clifford (Duncan Preston) and the elderly tea lady Mrs Overall (Julie Walters). One of the best remembered parts of Victoria Wood's award winning show, Acorn Antiques became a West End musical in 2005 with members of the original cast.
Alexei Sayle's Stuff1988 BBC Television The anarchic Alexei Sayle (of Comic Strip and Young Ones-fame) went on to have his own BBC2 series in 1988. Co-written by Andrew Marshall and David Renwick, the series concentrated on Alexei's manic observations of life and other such 'stuff'. Guests Tony Millan (Tucker in Citizen Smith), Felicity Montagu (Lynn in I'm Alan Partridge), Harriet Thorpe (Carole in The Brittas Empire), Mark Williams (of The Fast Show) and Angus Deayton (of Have I Got News For You) appeared regularly throughout the first series of 6 episodes.
Alexei Sayle's Stuff1989 BBC Television Alexei returned to BBC2 with a second helping of Stuff in October 1989. In this series he was joined by Jan Ravens (of Dead Ringers) and Owen Brenman (Mr Swainey in One Foot In The Grave), replacing Felicity Montagu, Harriet Thorpe and Mark Williams. Once again, 6 episodes were produced.
Alexei Sayle's Stuff1991 BBC Television The third and final series of Alexei Sayle's Stuff was shown on BBC2 in October 1991. All the regulars from series 2 remained for the last batch of 6 episodes.
Alfresco1983 A sketch show intended to be ITV's answer to Not the 9 O'Clock News, Alfresco was written by Ben Elton, with contributions from Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. It also featured Robbie Coltrane, Siobhan Redmond and Emma Thompson.
Ali G In Da USA????
Voice of 'da yoof' Ali G (Sacha Baron Cohen) returns for a second outing and this time launches himself on unsuspecting public figures in America.
'Allo 'AlloBBC TV
Long running sitcom from Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft set in World War II, 'Allo 'Allo tells the story of Rene Artois (Gorden Kaye) whose café is being used as a safe house for the French Resistance while the town is occupied by the Germans.
Are You Being Served?BBC TV
Set in a large department store and created by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, Are You Being Served? was a mainstay of the BBC schedules for over ten years. Laden with innuendo and misunderstanding, characters included the effeminate Mr Humphries (John Inman), the haughty Captain Peacock (Frank Thornton) and the snobbish Mrs Slocombe (Mollie Sugden).
The Army Game1960 A comedy about National Service, The Army Game featured many stars that went on to become household names, such as Alfie Bass, Bernard Bresslaw, Dick Emery, William Hartnell and Charles Hawtrey.
As Time Goes By1992-2005 BBC Television
Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer star in this comedy written by the man who wrote The Good Life, Bob Larbey.B
Beadles About1988
Stop-motion shots of the late Jeremy Beadle intersperse footage of his legendary hidden camera pranks in the title sequence of his best known show. Any expletives from unsuspecting victims got bleeped and speech-bubbled for a Saturday primetime slot. A heavily disguised Beadle would latterly interrupt the chaos.
Benny Hill1980 Thames Television
A comedy show which ran on Thames Television for twenty years, saw Benny Hill in the guise of many comic characters, in short sketches often involving slapstick and innuendo. Each episode ended with a 'Keystone Cops' style high speed chase, typically involving Hill and scantily clad women. Indeed, it was the portrayal of women as objects, being leered at by men in the show, that became a real cause of controversy by the 1980s. With growing criticism about it being old fashioned and sexist, Thames cancelled The Benny Hill Show in 1989, despite continued high ratings.
The Benny Hill Show1982 Thames Television
The show was still going strong in 1982 and still as politically incorrect as ever.
Benidorm2007 Benidorm was written by Derren Litten (writer and actor of The Catherine Tate Show). The series was filmed in a real hotel complex in Benidorm and it's based around the Brits on what must be the longest Spanish package holiday in history! This hilarious show features a fantastic cast list, including Johnny Vegas and Steve Pemberton (of League of Gentlemen fame). It first aired in 2007, and in 2008 was nominated for a BAFTA.
The Best of Bobby Davro On The Box1985 TVS
Sketches and songs parodying programmes of the day from impressionists Bobby Davro and Jessica Martin.
Birds Of A Feather1992
Birds of a Feather ran from 1989 to 1998. The series was written by Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran. Two sisters end up living together after their husbands are sent to prison. It starred Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph.
The Black Adder1982 BBC Television
This is the title sequence to the original pilot, which has never been broadcast.
The Black Adder1983 BBC Television Written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson, and set in the middle ages. The first series of Blackadder follows the exploits of Edmund (Rowan Atkinson), the unfavoured second son of the King and his attempts to win favour with his father. It was a highly ambitious project with much on location filming and a large cast.
Blackadder II1986 BBC Television Set during the reign of Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson), Blackadder II sees Edmund, Lord Blackadder as a member of the aristocracy, but still very much a scheming cynic, hindered by his servant Baldrick (Tony Robinson). For the second series, Ben Elton replaced Atkinson as a writer, and filming was entirely studio based.
Black Adder The Third1987 BBC Television Mr Edmund Blackadder serves as butler to the Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie) in Blackadder's third outing.
Blackadder's Christmas Carol1988 BBC Television A Christmas special, featuring Ebenezer Blackadder, a kind and generous man who becomes bitter and vengeful after a visit from the Spirit of Christmas (Robbie Coltrane).
Black Adder Goes Forth1989 BBC Television Despite some debate over whether the socio-political tragedy of WWI is appropriate sitcom material, this final series of Blackadder attracted wide acclaim for its incisive satirical dialogue and ultimate nod of respect to the fallen. Teachers of GCSE History would be hard-pressed not to at least reference the poignant final scene in which four main characters are powerless but to charge into the machine gun fire. Principle cast members Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry, and Tim McInnerny each excel.
Bloomers1979 Stan (Richard Beckinsale) works for a small flower business in London. Bloomers centres on the day to day scrapes the workers got into doing odd jobs around town. The show was shelved before the end of the series, following the sudden death of Beckinsale from a heart attack.
Bob and Margaret1998-2001
Animated comedy about a childless married couple as they struggle their way through mid-life.
The Bounder1982 Yorkshire Television The Bounder ran for just 2 series in 1982 and 1983. The series featured Peter Bowles as a fraudster just realeased from prison. It also starred George Cole, Rosalind Ayres and Isla Blair. The series was written by Eric Chappell. Notice how the ident was blended into the title sequence as was often the case with Yorkshires programmes at that time.
Bread- 1991 BBC Television Carla Laine's comedy set in 1980s Liverpool followed the Boswell family in their everyday adventures of living and loving.
These recordings are from 1987.
The Brittas Empire1991 - 1997 BBC Television
Chris Barrie played Gordon Brittas, the manager of Whitbury Leisure Centre.
Brush Strokes1990
Sitcom following the ladish antics of Jacko, a cockney painter & decorator. The series, which ran from 1986 to 1991, was written by John Esmonde & Bob Larbey. It starred Karl Howman, Gary Waldhorn, Elizabeth Counsell, Mike Walling, Nicky Croydon & Howard Lew Lewis.
Butterflies1978 - 1983 BBC Television
Carla Laine's sitcom about the Parkinson family. The series' title song "Love Is Like A Butterfly" was originally recorded by Dolly Parton.C
The Catherine Tate Show2004 A sketch show created by Catherine Tate and Derren Litten, The Catherine Tate Show features a multitude of characters including, argumentative teenage girl Lauren Cooper, foul mouthed grandmother 'Nan' Taylor, and Janice and Ray, a northern couple disgusted by multicultural Britain.
The Catherine Tate Show2005 These are the opening titles from series 2. Ms Tate also brought us such sayings as "How very dare you" and "Who dear? Me Dear? Gay, Dear? No, dear!" and the often uttered by school kids across the country - "Am i bovvered?".
Catherine Tate studied at The Central School of Speech and Drama in London where she met Litten and their writing and acting careers started. After 3 series she starred in a number of one off specials including a sketch with Tony Blair and performing in front (and taking the mickey out of) The Queen, no less at the Royal Variety Performance. She has now moved onto playing Donna Noble in Doctor Who.
Candid Camera Classics1976
Created by improbably named American producer Allen Funt, Candid Camera used hidden cameras to set up members of the public by putting them in ridiculous situations, often using trick props. When the joke was revealed, they were greeted with the immortal words 'Smile, you're on Candid Camera!' Making its way onto our screens in the 1960s, the British version of Candid Camera was fronted by Bob Monkhouse. It returned in the 1970s hosted by Peter Dulay. Candid Camera was the inspiration for more recent shows such as Just For Laughs, Trigger Happy TV, Punk'd and Beadle's About.
Carrott's Lib1982 BBC Television
Carrott's Lib was Jasper Carrott's first major series with the BBC which ran from 1982 to 1983. This is the very first programme from 2nd October 1982 and features no title sequence what so ever!
Carry On Laughing1975 ATV ATV's attempt in 1975 to transfer Carry On to the small screen. Numerous stars from the Carry On movies including Sid James, Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw, Peter Butterworth, Kenneth Connor and Barbara Windsor, made guest appearances in the 13 episodes produced between 1975 and 1976.
Casanova '731973
Leslie Phillips (who else?) stars in this short lived BBC1 sitcom about the dealings of Henry Newhouse ("casa nova" literally meaning "New house " in Italian) and was basically a bedroom farce in tv format. Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, it was famously swapped places with Mastermind, which was a late night quiz at the time. Casanova disappeared after a while, while Mastermind found a whole new audience and became a huge success. 
Citizen Smith1978 BBC Television "Power to the People!" Robert Linsday starred as Wolfie Smith - workshy revolutionary and leader of the Tooting Popular Front. Other characters included Wolfie's girlfriend Shirley (Cheryl Hall), her parents (Peter Vaughan and Hilda Braid) and his friends Ken (Mike Grady), Tucker (Tony Millan) and Speed (George Sweeney). Following a sucessful pilot episode in 1977, four series and a further 30 episodes were produced, including a Christmas Special, between 1978 and 1980.
Clarence1988 BBC Television An extremely short-sighted removal man is hired to clear an upper class residence. While haphazardly attending to the task, he chances his luck in proposing to the maid and they soon move into an inherited country cottage for a chaste trial relationship. Ronnie Barker's last sitcom prior to retiring from TV (aged 58) is set in 1937. It reunited him with His Lordship Entertains co-star Josephine Tewson.
Class Act1994
Kate Swift (Joanna Lumley) attempts to regain the fortune which her husband had swindled her out of before he was murdered, with the help of ex jailbird Gloria O'Grady (Nadine Garner), and journalist Jack Booker (John Bowe).
Come Back Mrs Noah1977 - 1978 BBC Television Sugden starred in this short-lived sitcom set in a space ship.
Comic Relief1988
The centrepiece of 1988 - the original TV spectacular - was the sketch show "73 of a Kind". Apart from Henry, Rhys Jones, Ross, French, Saunders, Enfield et al, it featured at least 73 stars, everyone ranging from Sue Cook, Valerie Singleton, Phillip Schofield and Nick Ross, to Geoffrey Palmer, Penelope Keith, Ralph Bates and Martin Shaw, plus Kenny Everett, Tony Robinson, Celia Imrie and Gorden Kaye. Even Melvyn Bragg made an appearance as himself, in a South Bank Show spoof guest starring Timothy Spall as a pissed-artist.
Cool It1986 BBC Television After a number of years on the cabaret circuit, the very talented Phil Cool was given his own series by the BBC in 1985. This was followed with another in 1986 and just one more in 1988.
Crapston Villas
A satire of inner-city life in London made by Spitting Image Productions, Crapston Villas stars foul mouthed plasticine characters living in a squalid apartment block. Written by Sarah Ann Kennedy, and featuring the vocal talents of some of Britain's best known actors and comedians, including Morwenna Banks, Alistair McGowan, John Thomson, Alison Steadman and Felix Dexter.D
Da Ali G Show2000
Ali G (Sacha Baron Cohen) is the voice of 'da yoof' and leader of the West Staines Massive. He talks to unsuspecting public figures about the issues of the day in his own inimitable style.
Dad
The first of two sitcoms to use a Herb Alpert score for its titles (the second being ITV's Hardware).
Dad's Army1968 BBC Television Jimmy Perry and David Croft inaugurally paired for this project. Originally named The Fighting Tigers, it was inspired by Perry's stint in a local defence group as a 17 year old (Private Pike loosely based on himself). The antics of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard clocked up 80 episodes spanning nine years, plus a 1971 film, radio versions, and a stage show. Whilst the strong ensemble cast and appealingly fraternal nature of scenes contribute greatly to Dad's Army's popularity, Arthur Lowe's impeccable portrayal of Captain Mainwaring is clearly the linchpin.
Dad's Army1969 BBC Television
In 1969, with the introduction of colour the title sequence was slighty modified.
Dad's Army ran from 1968 to 1977. It starred Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn, Ian Lavender, James Beck, John Laurie, Arnold Ridley and Bill Pertwee.
The Darling Buds Of May1991 Yorkshire Television The British press went crazy for these "Perfick!" period adaptations of H.E Bates' books about the Larkin family in late 1950s rural Kent - particularly for a young Catherine Zeta Jones as eldest daughter Mariette. Pop's carefree non-conformism, Ma's indifference to him flirting with other women, and tax inspector Cedric Charlton's luck in attracting Mariette's affections while repeatedly distracted from the purpose of his visit proved an immediate Sunday night ratings winner. David Jason, Pam Ferris, and Philip Franks also headed the cast.
Dave Allen at Large1976
Irish comedian Dave Allen intersperses stand up (or sit down in his case) with sketches in this popular BBC series. This clip contains 3 funny sketches courtesy of the man himself.
Dawson & Friends1977 Yorkshire Television Les Dawson made numerous sketch and stand up series with Yorkshire Television from 1969 to 1977. Dawson & Friends consisted of four, one hour specials.
The Dick Emery Show1978 The Dick Emery Show ran from 1963 to 1981. Guest stars included Roy Kinnear and Joan Sims. The series was produced by Harold Snoad.
Dinnerladies1998 - 2000 BBC Television Wood wrote, and starred in, this sitcom set in a factory canteen.
E
Ever Decreasing Circles1984 - 1989 BBC Television Conservative, fastidious Martin Bryce (Richard Briers) is content in suburbia with wife Ann (Penelope Wilton) and their twee friends Howard and Hilda (Stanley Lebor and Geraldine Newman) until the arrival of tall, handsome Paul Ryman (Peter Egan). Martin gets wound up by his new neighbour's effortless charm and relaxed approach to life, regarding Paul's ways opposition to the minuted status quo he took pride in overseeing. There are also many subtle moments of romantic tension between Paul and Ann.
F
Father, Dear Father1968 Thames Television Middle aged divorcee Patrick Glover (Patrick Cargill) is left to look after his two teenage daughters after his wife runs off with his best friend. Comedy of misunderstanding written by Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke.
Fawlty Towers1975 & 1979 BBC Television Then couple John Cleese and Connie Booth refined twelve intricate scripts about a poorly ran hotel in Torquay and in doing so set a benchmark for situation comedy. Cleese, Prunella Scales, Booth, and Andrew Sachs were manager Basil, his wife Sybil, maid Polly, and waiter Manuel respectively, with Ballard Berkeley, Gilly Flower, and Renee Roberts as permanent guests, Brian Hall as Terry the cook in series two, and several other players in stand-out one-off roles (Joan Sanderson as hard-of-hearing Mrs Richards in the episode "Communication Problems" perhaps the prime example).
Filthy Rich & Catflap1987 BBC Television Filthy Rich & Catflap was written by Ben Elton and starred Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson and Nigel Planer.
Frankie Howerd1966 BBC Television One of many standup shows which Frankie Howerd had over his long career.
Full Stretch1993
Porridge creators Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais with a comedy about the misadventures of a limousine hire firm.
The Full Wax1991
American comedian Ruby Wax blends celebrity interviews with comedy in her most famous work.