Britain is best known for its crime series and dramas, but that doesn’t mean it avoids humor. Quite the opposite — each year sees the premiere of several fantastic sitcoms and comedy series. What’s different from American TV is that the UK more often mixes comedy with other genres, such as drama or horror. As a result, a rich mix comes to the audience, who can either enjoy it or reject it, depending on their personal tastes.
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British humor can be often biting, dark, sarcastic, and sometimes even cruel, but it’s intelligent and has the power to make the audience laugh. Of course, every show is different, but as the best series from the 2010s prove, regardless of their story or style of humor, they can all elicit a chuckle and make audiences forget their troubles for awhile.
10After Life
Ricky Gervais is known for his comedy work in sitcoms such asThe OfficeandExtras. His latest authorial piece isAfter Life, a bitter comedy about a man who loses his beloved wife and decides to punish the world by saying exactly what he thinks, no matter the consequences.
Even though Gervais’s character Tony isn’t the most sympathetic person, it’s interesting to see what he comes up with next and what delightful insult he’ll throw at the next person. The dark, sarcastic humor of this show won’t captivate everyone, but those who enjoy this style of comedy are in for a memorable experience.
9Catastrophe
Forming a new relationship can be difficult, especially if a person has to move to a new country because of it. That’s what happens to an American guy, Rob who moves to London when he discovers that the girl he had a short fling with, Sharon, is pregnant.
Both Sharon and Rob have to make sense of their new life and deal with the fact that they’re going to be parents even though they don’t know each other well. The relatable humor of this series, combined with the unforgettable duo, makesCatastrophefar better than its name suggests.
8The End Of The F***ing World
Love stories between young people are nothing new in TV shows but this one chooses a different approach. Seventeen-year-old James thinks he’s a psychopath and decides to kill someone. Alyssa is his future victim who’s interested in him. Unsurprisingly, it all leads somewhere else than originally expected.
Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden give excellent performances in this witty series that manages to characterize some of the problems of the modern world. Plus, it avoids predictability, which keeps the audience invested.
7Fleabag
This show is so unusual that the viewers will either love it or hate it. Creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge stars as a woman who leads a miserable life and seems to hate most people.
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It’s a dark watch, and sometimes sad, but it also works with a type of highly dry humor that many people love. It also doesn’t shy away from intimate scenes, which means it’s not for everyone. However, it’s perfect for adults who love dark humor.
6Ghosts
Even though the first season of this show only premiered in 2019, it already got an American remake that is currently airing.Ghostsfocuses on a young couple that inherits an old house and decides to transform it into a hotel. The only problem is that the ghosts that reside in the house aren’t happy with the decision.
Each episode in the two seasons works with a different, usually hilarious scenario, such as when a movie crew decides to use the house for filming which doesn’t go according to plan. The group of ghosts is highly funny, and each of them is different and unique.
5Good Omens
Who said that the end of the world can’t be funny? Based on Terry Pratchett’s and Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name, this six-episode series follows the adventure of the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley. Even though they should stand against each other, they’re secretly best friends and decide to stop Judgment Day and save the world.
Good Omensis currently streaming on Amazon. Thanks to its intelligent and humorous story as well as excellent actors (Michael Sheen and David Tennant star together), it became a hit andwill get a second seasonas well.
Some of the best shows combine humor and drama. Sharon Rooney stars as Rae, a 16-year-old girl with an eating disorder that negatively impacted her life. As Rae gets better, she’s looking for new friends and might also find love in the process.
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Based on a book, the series is sad at times but also has happier and funnier moments, just like life itself. Rae looks at life in an unusual, refreshing way and her witty remarks, rich imagination and the absurdity of the situations she faces make this three-season show a hidden gem worth discovering.
3Sex Education
Sex Educationbecame a huge hit on Netflixsoon after it premiered, and it now has three seasons. Asa Butterfield stars as a high-school student named Otis who starts helping his classmates and gives them advice about love and sex — even though he has very little personal experience in this area.
The show portrays love and intimacy among teenagers in a candid, heartfelt way. It shows it as something young people put a lot of emphasis on, but also shows how it can lead to funny or embarrassing situations. As such, Otis is a relatable character for everyone who still remembers their awkward teenage years.
2Vicious
Young love is wonderful to withess, but people who have been together for 50 years or more have even more interesting stories. Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi star as couple Freddie (McKellen) and Stuart (Jacobi) who often bicker and insult each other, but they still love one another.
The series has a talented ensemble cast. In addition to the two main actors, it also includes Frances de la Tour and Iwan Rheon. It makes fun of relationships in an intelligent way, and many people will find familiar-looking moments inVicious.
1Zomboat!
The United Kingdom can make fun of everything in its television shows, even a zombie apocalypse. When zombies start roaming the streets of Birmingham, four young people decide to travel to London, hoping for a safe haven. However, doesn’t help their journey that they have the slowest boat on Earth.
The series is intense at times when it comes to killing zombies, but it also works with a lot of humor and jokes, sometimes at the same time.It’s a must-watch for all zombie fansas well as those who enjoy dark humor.
