Fawlty Towers voted best UK sitcom of all time
A panel of UK television experts draws up a list of their finest.
- Published by David Knox
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It only ran for 12 episodes but Fawlty Towers has been voted the best British sitcom of all time, according to a list compiled by a panel of television experts for Radio Times magazine.
And it’s hard to disagree with the #1 pick.
Co-writer and co-star of Connie Booth said: “Fawlty Towers succeeds, I think, because it allows infantile rage and aggression a field day in a buttoned down, well-mannered English society.
“It’s unique in being a farce, with all the plot surprises and precision that the style requires. And it doesn’t hurt that the star of the show is a six-foot-five comic genius. If he was shorter I can’t imagine how it would have worked.”
John Cleese added: “What a cast. I’m proud we are up there with Porridge and Only Fools and Ab Fab and Blackadder and The Office and Reggie Perrin and The Thick of It.”
Here is the list:
Fawlty Towers, 1975-9
Father Ted, 1995-8
I’m Alan Partridge, 1997-2002
Blackadder, 1983-9
Dad’s Army, 1968-77
Only Fools and Horses, 1981-2003
Porridge, 1973-8
The Royle Family, 1998-2012
Absolutely Fabulous, 1992-2012
Dinnerladies, 1998-2000
The Thick of It, 2005-12
The Office, 2001-3
OnePeep Show, 2003-15
The Vicar of Dibley, 1994-2007
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, 1976-9
The Young Ones, 1982-4
Gavin & Stacey, 2007-10
The Good Life, 1975-8
Detectorists, 2014-17
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18 Responses
The sad thing is that in today’s social climate most if not all of those shows couldn’t be made.
Love Thy Neighbour? ???
Hang on…where’s One Foot In The Grave?
Really surprised that Birds of a Feather didn’t make the list.
All of these opinions just go to show how great the British are at making great comedy and knowing when to stop before the jokes run out.
The same can be said about our ABC. Has a similar poll been conducted for Australian comedy?
It’s hard to disagree with Fawlty Towers being the best.It’s interesting to see that most of the series on that list are vintage series from the 70’s 80’s and 90’s.It suggests that they don’t make comedy like they used to.
It was a no-brainer that Fawlty would win and good to see Father Ted right up there … but where’s Black Books and the IT Crowd???
I thought Only Fools & Horses would push Fawlty for the number 1 spot as it ran for over 2 decades and the finales were huge. Also …no Inbetweeners or Men Behaving Badly…????
Could not agree more. Faulty Towers by a mile
No Keeping Up Appearances, Man About the House, Bless This House?
My top 5, in order, would be : Fawlty Towers, The Young Ones, Blackadder, The Royal Family, Dinnerladies.
sorry…The Royle Family….
No taste.
John Cleese yelling all the time just isn’t funny to me.
I bet it was voted by old people.
I agree with u I can think of so many better comedies that were better eg AB FAB, Keeping up Appearances, Little Britian and so many more I can’t remember
No Yes Minister???
Makes it a suspect list.
I was thinking the same.
Yep. That’s my #1. Plus It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and Are You Being Served?
Plus 1 – for It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and Are You Being Served?