An overview of classic British comedy series from the 80s

Introduction

Recently, there have been several friends, acquaintances, and Youtubers who have expressed an interest in classic British comedy series from the 80s. Being a man of the 80s, I thought I'd share my thoughts on some of the ageless classics. In the past couple of years, I've re-watched these with my eldest son, and he found them hilarious.

The Wikipedia articles for these series are quite comprehensive, so I won't go into much detail about the plot or characters. Instead, I'll just share some of my opinions, the main actors, and share some of the best YouTube clips.

Also, this very interesting video showed up in my feed which mentions a few of the shows below. These tend to be the more mainstream comedies and not cult classics, but are still worth a watch if you haven't seen them. It also illustrates the difference between the ways comedies are made in the various localities. British comedies tend to have seasons of six episodes rather than seemingly endless syndication. They also focus more on distinct characters and storylines rather than the more sketch based approach of American comedies. Finally, there is very rarely any cringe inducing socially conscious messaging in British comedies. Married With Children is a good example of a US show that doesn't do this, and is much better for it.

To my knowledge, all these series are available on BritBox. As a note, if Disney were streaming these, they'd put their 'Maybe unsuitable for Modern Audiences' disclaimer on them.

Black Adder

  • Wikipedia — Four seasons, plus specials
  • Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnerny, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Rik Mayall.
  • Definitely one of the most popular British comedies of all time, and for good reason. The first season is a little rough around the edges, as it used real locations and was still finding its footing. It also quite heavily satirized the works of Shakespeare, but I didn't realise that until rewatching it as an adult. With the benefit of hindsight, I think the first season is my favourite, but the general consensus is the second season is the best. Seasons three and four are also very good, but some of the jokes and catchphrases can get a little repetitive and predictable.
  • Quotes: 'I have a cunning plan!', 'The eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr. Brain has long since departed.', 'I think the phrase rhymes with ‘clucking bell’.'
  • The Stone of Galveston
  • The Devil's Dumplings
  • MacBeth
  • Lord Flashheart

Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister

  • Wikipedia — Two seasons, plus specials
  • Cast: Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds.
  • This should be required watching before anyone is allowed to vote — in the UK, US, or anywhere else. In a recent rewatching, it is still very applicable today for both the UK and US governments (and I'd dare every other country). It is a brilliant satire of the inner workings of government, and the way the civil service manipulates the elected officials and how weak and unprincipled most politicians are. It is also very funny, and the characters are very well developed. The first season is a little slow to get going, but once it does, it is a joy to watch. The financial values mentioned are from the 80s, so multiply by ten to get a rough idea of the current numbers. The writers are former civil servants and have the inside track to the goings on in Whitehall. For example, the 'Communications Room' was actually based on a real event in Pakistan in the 70s.
  • Quotes: 'It is the law of Inverse Relevance: the less you intend to do about something, the more you have to keep talking about it.', 'He's suffering from Politician's Logic. Something must be done, this is something, therefore we must do it.', 'That's one of those irregular verbs, isn't it? I give confidential security briefings. You leak. He has been charged under section 2a of the Official Secrets Act.', 'The Official Secrets Act is not to protect secrets but to protect officials.'
  • The European Ideal
  • The Communications Room
  • St. George's Island
  • Former PM's Memoirs

Red Dwarf

  • Wikipedia — 12 seasons and a one off
  • Cast: Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn.
  • The first two seasons develop the characters and set up the world, seasons three through six are peak Red Dwarf, and the remaining seasons are somewhat hit and miss, and some of the plot lines are recycled. Rimmer is a key character, and when he's not there in some seasons the humour just isn't the same. Sorry Miss Arnett, but I don't think the writers knew how to write your character to be as funny as Rimmer. It is science fiction, and it does a reasonable job retaining plausible deniability to the realities of science. However, it never lets the science get in the way of the comedy.
  • Quotes: 'Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.', 'Everybody's dead, Dave.', 'Of course, lager! The only thing that can kill a vindaloo!'
  • Rimmer's Haircut
  • Teaching Kryten to Lie
  • Talkie the Toaster
  • Holoship Recon

Coupling

  • Wikipedia — Four seasons
  • Cast: Jack Davenport, Sarah Alexander, Richard Coyle, Gina Bellman, Kate Isitt, Ben Miles.
  • This is definitely the most mature comedy in this list; it covers the romance of Steven and Susan and their friends navigating the dating scene in their twenties. It is set in the era of VHS tapes and landlines, and the humour is very much based on the awkwardness of dating and relationships. Jeffrey is the key character, and the last season without him is just not the same. Don't watch the US attempt at a remake, it is a travesty and an insult to the original. It has mostly the same lines, but the delivery is all wrong and it just isn't funny.
  • Concepts (pithy quotes aren't really applicable): 'The nudity buffer', 'The sock gap', 'Porn buddies'
  • Sofa Parasites
  • Jeffrey attempting to chat up a girl
  • The Melty Man
  • The Cupboard of Love

The Young Ones

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

  • Wikipedia — One season
  • Cast: Simon Jones, David Dixon, Mark Wing-Davey, Sandra Dickinson, Stephen Moore, Peter Jones.
  • A single season based on Douglas Adams' book of the same name. Covers the entire book, unlike the very poor 2005 movie attempt that covers about half.
  • Quotes: 'Don't Panic.', 'The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't.', 'If there's anything more important than my ego around, I want it caught and shot now.', 'Fourty-two'
  • The Babel Fish
  • Milliway's Dish of the Day
  • Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster
  • Infinite Improbability Drive

Have I Got News for You

  • Wikipedia — 71 seasons since 1990 and still going
  • Cast: Paul Merton, Ian Hislop, a guest host each week.
  • On the nose political satire that pulled no punches. No quarter was offered or taken from the teams or the hosts, and it was always hilarious. Ian Hislop (one of the team captains) is the editor of Private Eye, a publication known for getting sued on a regular basis for libel. His lawyers recommended a slew of ideas to avoid getting sued, but he said they all boiled down to saying 'allegedly' at the end of any accusation, provable or not. Unfortunately, the seasons since about 2015 just aren't funny. I'm really not sure why, it's the same people in the same format of show, the humour just doesn't land. Watch the old episodes to get the most out of the show, they still work even though the current events mentioned are from over a decade ago.
  • The biggest fare dodger
  • Fruitcake or Loony
  • FIFA Enquiry
  • Putin is Gay
  • Why one of the presenters was cancelled
  • Brian Blessed being Brian Blessed

Drop the Dead Donkey

  • Wikipedia — Four seasons
  • Cast: Geoffrey Palmer, Ian Dowling, Stephen Tompkinson, Don Warrington.
  • A dysfunctional newsroom with a diverse set of characters. The new manager is a font of meaningless manager-speak, such as 'Could we interlock brain spaces in my work area?'. A great example of mocking modern day newsrooms.
  • Quotes: 'He is like a eunuch's memories, full of bollocks.'
  • Damien's Props
  • Drug Disposal
  • Iraq War
  • The Day after the Christmas Party

Not the Nine O'Clock News

Bottom

  • Wikipedia — Three seasons
  • Cast: Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmonson.
  • More slapstick humour from two of the Young Ones.
  • Quotes: 'That's right, me old cockaleeky-mate-flap-sparrow-Cockney-rhyming-bollocks!', 'Don't touch my brick while I'm gone... I said "brick"! Not "penis"!', 'No you bloody well won't! The last one you had has a half-life of five hundred years! We should have your rectum sealed in concrete and dumped in the north sea. Now hurry up and eat your breakfast before Saddam Hussein gets a whiff of your bot and tries to dump you on the Kurds!'
  • Sprouts of Evil
  • Hunting a Womble
  • Disposing of the gas man
  • A Money Making Idea!

Fawlty Towers

One Foot in the Grave

Honourable mentions — which I may flesh out in the future.

Keeping up Appearances

The New Statesman

Bluestone 42

Chelmsford 123

Whoops Apocalypse

  • I forgot Rik Mayall was in this — SAS scene