British Sitcom History Podcast
A podcast that looks back at the wonderful world of British sitcoms. It explores the history, characters, and cultural impact of classic and lesser-known UK comedy series. Episodes revisit favourite moments and behind-the-scenes stories from British television comedy.
Episodes
To Hull and Back (Only Fools and Horses)
You can't talk about Only Fools and Horses without getting stuck in to one of the many christmas specials. We've chosen a fan favourite in To Hull and Back, which involves our boys getting involved with diamond smuggling. We also take a closer look at the career of John Challis.
Only Fools and Horses (Series 4+5) Part 2
This week we delve further into series 4 and 5 of Only Fools and Horses as well as everybody's least favourite special, A Royal Flush. We also take a closer look at some of the major supporting characters like Trigger and Mickey Pearce.
Only Fools and Horses (Series 4+5) Part 1
We are back in Peckham! Having previously looked at the "Grandad Years", now we take on Uncle Albert and some of the other players who are starting to populate the world of Del and Rodney. Are these the peak years of Only Fools and Horses?
The Savages
This week we are following on from our Simon Nye connection to take a look at a much more obscure sitcom. 2001's The Savages is a pretty basic domestic sitcom but has some interesting elements, including Marcus Brigstocke as the lead and Geoffrey Palmer as his dad.
Is It Legal? (Part 2)
Here is Part 2 of our look at Simon Nye's Is It Legal? starring the great Imelda Staunton. This week, we take a close look at Patrick Barlow and have good things to say about the physical comedy in the show.
Is It Legal? (Part 1)
This month we are looking at the somewhat forgotten mid nineties sitcom Is it Legal?
Coming from Simon Nye while still riding high on the success of Men Behaving Badly, the show features theatre star Imelda Staunton in a relatively rare lead role.
James Gilbert Deep Dive
As part of our look at early Last of the Summer Wine, we came across the name of James "Jimmy" Gilbert, who was a big cheese at the BBC for many years. He played a big part in the satire boom of the sixties, brought The Two Ronnies together, and commissioned some of your favourite sitcoms.
I found an in depth interview with him and listened to it all so you don't have to! But if you want to anywa
Spanner's Eleven (Seven of One)
This week we're having a look at one of the episodes from Seven of One, an anthology series designed to find sitcoms built around Ronnie Barker. The series spawned two huge successes, Porridge and Open All Hours. But this one didn't.
Written by Roy Clarke at the same time he was birthing Last of the Summer Wine, Spanner's Eleven sees Ronnie Barker as the incompetent manager of an incompetent lowe
Last of the Summer Wine (The Blamire Years) Part 2
Part 2 of our look at just the tip of the long-running Last of the Summer Wine. We finish our analysis of the episode, marvel at the technical set dressing of a church, and take a closer look at the work of Michael Bates.
Last of the Summer Wine (The Blamire Years) Part 1
This week we begin an epic journey into the world's longest running sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine. We'll start by looking at just the first two series, after which Michael Bates left.
Here, we talk about the meandering and pointless nature of the first series, and we get a closer look at the careers of Peter Sallis and Bill Owen.
Sex Lives of the Potato Men
This month we've been looking at Ideal so what better opportunity to take a look back at an early acting appearance from Johnny Vegas in the infamously bad Sex Lives of the Potato Men.
Co-starring Mackenzie Crook, hot off The Office, and featuring surprisingly large supporting roles from Dominic Coleman and Mark Gatiss, this film is also packed with other Britcom cameos. It's also pretty crap and
Ideal (Part 2)
This week we continue our in-depth investigation into what exactly Ideal is and what it became as it carried on for several years. We also look at the career of Johnny Vegas and try and parse the blurred line between comedian and comedy character. And to top it all we have a report from the Ideal 25th Anniversary live stage show, which Allen went to see last year.
Ideal (Part 1)
This week we find ourselves in the 21st Century to take a detailed look at cult favourite Ideal. Written by Graham Duff and starring Johnny Vegas, Ideal enjoyed a surprisingly long run for a slightly weird little show with more interest in music than story structure.
This is definitely one of the more interesting shows we've looked at and it sparks off discussions on the nature of art versus comm
Career of Caroline Aherne (with David Scott)
Writer David Scott has just released a new book looking at the career of Caroline Aherne so we got him into the virtual studio for a discussion. We go on at length about how much we love The Royle Family but also take on Mrs Merton, The Fast Show, The Fattest Man in Britain, and Dossa and Joe.
Caroline Aherne: Rebel in Disguise is available in all good book shops, and some bad ones as well.
Man About the House (film)
Released in 1974, the Man about the House film drops right in the peak of seventies Britcom film spin-offs. Usually that means reworked material and a few pairs of Bristols but that's not what we get here. Join us on a journey of discovery to see Robin and Chrissy getting closer than ever before and a deep dive on the history of Hammer Films.
Man About the House (Part 2)
It's part 2 of our look at Man About the House and this week we're focusing on Richard O'Sullivan and what happened as the series progressed. In a fairly unusual move for a sitcom, the show has a definitive ending, not that we necessarily like where it goes. We address the "Norman Eshley problem" and have a side by side comparison with the American remake, Three's Company.
Man About the House (Part 1)
Now in video! We're back and it's a soft relaunch as we go full time into the sitcom game. We start up with an absolute classic of the early seventies in Man About the House. Ostensibly about the absolute scandalous idea of two birds living with a fella, the series soon becomes a will they/won't they between Robin and Chrissy, played by the sitcom powerhouses of Paula Wilcox and Richard O'Sullivan
I'm Sorry, Prime Minister (theatre review)
Allen has been to see the latest sitcom related stage show - I'm Sorry, Prime Minister. An updated look at the characters from Yes, Minister, the play is written by the show's original creator Jonathan Lynn and stars Griff Rhys Jones and Clive Francis.
Is it a faithful addition to the canon or a Fawlty Towers style cash-in?
Ghosts Christmas Special
It's christmas so we're heading back to Button House for a family get-together. Julian finds that the true meaning of christmas is learning to love again and Mike's family have come round to wind him up. All this and more in our special festive edition looking at Ghosts!
Are You Being Served? 2016 Reboot
We promise this is our last venture into the world of Grace Brothers but this 2016 reboot was too good to miss. Loads of top comedy actors and a seemingly genuine attempt to recreate the magic that actually works pretty well. But at the end of the day, what's the point?
Blackadder II Historical Context
As we recently looked at series 2 of Blackadder, we thought we'd go over it in a bit more detail and see just how historically accurate it all is.
Grace & Favour (plus Beane's of Boston)
To get even further into the Are You Being Served universe, we take a look at the frankly unnecessary retooling that was Grace & Favour, getting the band back together for one last tour. But before that, we take a quick look at the failed pilot for an American remake, entitled Beane's of Boston, and a slightly more successful Australian remake.
Are You Being Served? Film Spinoff
If you had a successful sitcom in the seventies then the only logical thing to do was to send your characters on holiday for the silver screen version. Are You Being Served was no exception and in the 1977 film spinoff we get all our favourites enjoying the baking hot sun of Elstree Studios.
Okay, it's not a great film overall but is it true to the spirit of the show?
Trollied (Part 2)
This week we pop into Valco in Warrington for a big shop that includes Carl Rice and Beverly Rudd. We also take a look at what happens in the later series as the show goes from sketch-like o soap-like. But we still like it for some reason.
Trollied (Part 1)
This week we're taking a look at the Sky sitcom Trollied. Set in a supermarket in Warrington, the show ran for several years in the 2010s but because it wasn't on proper telly we didn't really notice. But it's actually quite good so let's get up to speed.
The Marriage Lines (Part 2)
In part two of our look at The Marriage Lines, we get up close and personal with the career of Prunella Scales and get nostalgic about the 1960s (even though neither of us were born then).
The Marriage Lines (Part 1)
This week, we take a look at early domestic sitcom The Marriage Lines. The first big hit for sitcom royalty Richard Briers and Prunella Scales, the show ran for five series but only two remain on record today.
Hippies (Part 2)
It's time for part 2 of our look at Hippies, in which we take a closer look at Julian Rhind-Tutt and Darren Boyd and make unnecessarily personal comments about their looks. We also get into Simon Pegg's childhood because Allen has read Pegg's autobiography!
Hippies (Part 1)
Hippies was a coming together of a lot of up and coming talent right at the end of the 20th century, but something about it doesn't quite click. We dig deep to see what's going on.
Blackadder II (Part 2)
It's Part 2 of our look at the second series of Blackadder, in which we take a closer look at Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson. Plus, Gareth refreshes his hot take on Rik Mayall.
Blackadder II (Part 1)
After a disappointing first series, Blackadder was reborn with the help of Ben Elton and became one of the iconic pieces of British sitcom. Here we discuss how Blackadder got sexy and the evolution of the characters.
No Job for a Lady (Part 2)
Part 2 of our look at No Job for a Lady. Expect thirty year old political references and inevitable comparisons to Yes, Minister.
No Job for a Lady (Part 1)
No Job for a Lady may not be the best remembered show but it is a fascinating snapshot of the world of British politics in the early nineties. Here we get up close and personal with George Baker and ask the important questions, such as "How posh is Penelope Keith?"
Are You Being Served? (Part 2)
Part 2 of our look back at Are You Being Served? including an attempt to understand the strange and wonderful life of writer Jeremy Lloyd.
Are You Being Served? (Part 1)
Are You Being Served? is an absolute classic of British sitcom and part of the very large catalogue of work from David Croft. As such, it has way too many characters and goes on about five years longer than it should have... but does it hold up for today's sophisticated audience or is it as wet as Mrs. Slocombe's pussy?
Bonus Episode - Ghosts Timeline
We had so much to talk about when we watched Ghosts that we've come back for more. In this bonus episode, we take a deep dive on the timeline of the Ghosts and get a bit of contextual history around their specific time periods.
Bonus Episode - Live Comedy Events 2024
Just a quick bonus as we prepare for the new series. Allen has been immersing himself in the world of comedy and going to a few live events and meeting the big nobs from the world of light entertainment. Here he shares his experiences.
In this episode we talk about Su Pollard: Fully Charged; An Afternoon with Gloria ( Melvin Hayes); Why We Love Steve Brown; and Hambledon Productions take on Hanco
Till Death Us Do Part (Christmas special)
For this year's christmas special we are venturing back to the Garnett household in 1966 where the family are upholding all the christmas traditions such as falling out and throwing stuff at the wall.
Ghosts (Part 2)
Part 2 of our look at Ghosts, which we're classing as very recent history in the world of sitcom.
This week we are taking a look at some more of the actors such as Simon Farnaby and (spoiler alert) going all the way to the end and discussing how they closed it all off.
This is the end of our regular series for now but there will be a Christmas special next week so enjoy!
Ghosts (Part 1)
This week we are doing our most recent sitcom yet with Ghosts. They officially closed off the series with a christmas special in 2023 so now is our chance to look back at what is arguably one of the best mainstream sitcoms of the last twenty years.
The Other One (Part 2)
Part 2 of our look at The Other one in which we delve into the very odd second series and have a closer look at the comedy career of Michael Gambon.
The Other One (Part 1)
Thanks to a listener poll, this week we are taking on the relatively obscure seventies sitcom The Other One. Richard Briers teams up once again with the writers Esmonde and Larbey in the immediate aftermath of their biggest hit, The Good Life. Michael Gambon makes a relatively rare sitcom appearance to make up the odd couple who meet and become friends on a package holiday to Spain.
This is a fas
Phoenix Nights (Part 2)
Part 2 of our breakdown of Phoenix Nights as we continue to struggle with the urge to quote every single line. We do love it so but we take time to look at the further careers of writers Dave Spikey and Neil Fitzmaurice as well as asking the question: Peter Kay - git?
Phoenix Nights (Part 1)
Part 1 of our take on Phoenix Nights, a personal favourite for both of us so prepare yourself for some nostalgia and laughter but also we try and take an in-depth and completely speculative look at the psychology of Peter Kay.
Desmond's (Part 2)
Part 2 of our look at Desmond's and this week we get up close and personal with the writer and creator Trix Worrell and of course we take a look at the (lesser) sequel/spin-off, Porkpie.
Desmond's (Part 1)
Desmond's was the culmination of a big push in the 80s (mostly by Channel 4) to have wider cultural and racial representation on TV. But this was no box ticking exercise; at its heart it is a down-the-line family sitcom but it does it oh so well.
Norman Beaton, Carmen Munroe, Rom John Holder; these were performers at the top of their game captured in a perfect recipe for comedy.
Whoops Apocalypse (Part 2)
Part 2 of our look at Whoops Apocalypse takes us to the White House and the Kremlin and we also take a look at the film version of the same idea (but it's not a spin-off). We also take a closer look at Richard Griffiths and find out he's not quite what we expected.
Whoops Apocalypse (Part 1)
Today we go back to the eighties and Cold War paranoia with the relatively obscure Whoops Apocalypse. More interesting for its position in the history of comedy than for its actual content, could this show be the glue between the sixties satire boom and the alternative comedy of the eighties?
Keeping Up Appearances (Part 2)
Part 2 of our look at Keeping Up Appearances and we do our best not to be too negative!
Keeping Up Appearances (Part 1)
Maybe it's just our age but it feels like Keeping Up Appearances was almost ever present when we were growing up. But how does it hold up in the cold light of day? Could it be a timeless classic or is Hyacinth Bucket a true britcom villain?
Fawlty Towers - The Play (a review)
Allen went to the opening night of the brand new West End show Fawlty Towers - The Play and gives us his totally objective review. Is it going to be the sitcom successor to the Only Fools and Horses Musical and take theatreland by storm? Or is it a lazy cash grab from John Cleese?
Red Dwarf USA
We recently looked at the peak years of Red Dwarf, a show that was so good that even the Americans had a go at it. There were two attempts (more like one and a half) at pilots for a US series and footage has unofficially leaked out. So let's have a look at them!
Yes Minister (Guesting on Modern British History Podcast)
In this bonus episode, Gareth is a guest on The Modern British History Podcast. Harry White is the host and he generally looks at the modern (post war) British political scene. In this episode, he invited Gareth on to discuss the eighties sitcom Yes Minister and they discuss how it caricatures the civil service of the time. And have things changed forty years later?
Find more from Harry here:
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Rising Damp - Christmas Special
It's christmas! Time for cheer and good will to all men (or women). Unless you're Rigsby, in which case it's time to be a miserable git as always. But will he ruin the day for everyone else?
We look at the Rising Damp christmas special from 1975 and see how it measures up to our own miserable christmas experiences.
Please Sir! (film)
In 1971, the TV sitcom Please Sir! got itself a big screen spin off. We're joined by Sol Harris of Diminishing Returns Podcast to see if it makes the transition smoothly, despite a change in cast member and a distinct lack of Potter.
Fleabag - Live Show
Fleabag, the iconic series that defined a generation, was based on a theatrical one-person show that Phoebe Waller-Bridge wrote and performed a few years before the TV people got involved. In 2019, she did that show again for the benefit of an audience (and cameras) as part of the National Theatre Live project.
We watched it! And then inevitably compared it to the TV show.
Fleabag (Part 2)
It's part 2 of our discussion on (probably not really a sitcom) Fleabag, in which we continue to dissect in excruciating detail Phoebe Waller-Bridge's iconic series and then the rest of her career as well.
Fleabag (Part 1)
British Sitcom History takes on its most modern show yet as we travel all the way back to 2016 to look at the generation defining Fleabag.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge got the Guardianistas chattering with her frank portrayal of a woman dealing with grief and loneliness but how does it stand up when looked at by two slightly chippy middle aged men from Yorkshire? And is it even a sitcom? (No)
Red Dwarf - The Peak Years (Part 2)
We're back for part 2 of our look at the peak years of Red Dwarf. We're making a close inspection of The Inquisitor and having a peruse of the other work that the boys from the Dwarf did in the 90s. Spoiler - they're all crap.
Red Dwarf - The Peak Years (Part 1)
We're back in deep space for our second visit to the Jupiter Mining Corp vessel Red Dwarf. The computer's different and now there's an android doing the ironing; what's all that about?
We take a look at the significant changes that turned Red Dwarf from a quirky space based sitcom into a sci-fi cult classic.
Chance in a Million (Part 2)
For part 2 of our review of Chance in a Million, we get stuck into an episode and take a closer look at the sitcom history of Brenda Blethyn. We also try and get into the minds of the writers to see where they get their crazy ideas.
Chance in a Million (Part 1)
Chance in a Million is an early channel 4 sitcom that is today mostly only remembered for the central performance of Simon Callow. Allen says it's idiosyncratic, Gareth says it's a load of old toss. Is there anything to be said for revisiting this bizarre eighties show?
Game On (Part 2)
Part 2 of our look at Game on and we continue our analysis of a specific episode and take a look at how the show changed over the three series. And we even have time to do a sidebar on Hat Trick Productions, who have brought us several legendary sitcoms.
Game On (Part 1)
It's always more distressing when we delve into the nineties as we have to address what we were up to at the time. This week, we look at Game On, the cult success that plays into the lad culture that was so prevalent at the time.
Will it live up to our memories of it and how similar was it to Gareth's mid-nineties London life?
Please Sir! (Part 2)
It's part 2 of our look at old school favourite Please Sir!
This week, we finish looking at the episode and look at the legacy of the show, which actually split into two sitcoms when the original kids left. We also take a look at what became of the kids from Fenn Street in their later careers.
Please Sir! (Part 1)
Today we're going old school. All the way back to 1969 for LWT's Please Sir!
Set in a London comprehensive and featuring the roughest bunch of fifteen year olds you've ever seen, has time and cancel culture caught up with the show yet?
Hi-de-Hi! (Part 2)
In part 2 of our review of Hi-de-Hi!, we have a look at some of the supporting actors, consider the changes that came in the later series, and ask the usual question of, "is it healthy to watch 60 episodes of a show in three weeks?"
Hi-de-Hi! (Part 1)
Our new series starts with eighties classic Hi-de-Hi!, which means we finally get to deal with Jimmy Perry and David Croft. We also look at the principal actors, including Su Pollard and Ruth Madoc.
Series 4 Quiz
Are you smarter than a 47 year old? To round off series 4 of the British Sitcom History Podcast, we have a quiz (loosely) based on the things we've just watched. There is a whole section on Oscar nominated sitcom stars, Coronation Street connections, and stand ups in sitcom. Play along and try and beat Gareth.
Only Fools and Horses Musical - A Review
BSH takes a field trip to visit The Royal Theatre Haymarket and say its goodbyes to the musical version of Only Fools and Horses. Allen saw it several years ago when it first started and wasn't that impressed, so will he have a better time with an American in tow and sitting in the worst seat in the house?
I Only Arsked!
I Only Arsked! has a special place in sitcom history because it was the first film spin-off ever. After the success of the first series of The Army Game, (most of) the original cast came together to make a film before they all went off to do Carry On films for twenty years.
How does it hold up after 55 years?
Porridge (film)
This week, we're taking a look at the film spin off from Porridge. It's one of the best sitcoms ever and probably one of the better of the film offerings as well but it's not exactly perfect.
Miranda (Part 2)
Part 2 of our clinical dissection of Miranda and this time we consider the influence of clowning techniques on the show and discuss the degradation of the show in the third series.
Miranda (Part 1)
For the last show of our series, we're looking at modern classic Miranda, from the mind of Miranda Hart. Can a 21st century audience empathise with a posh protagonist? Can a sitcom that ended eight years ago already feel out of date?
The Black Adder (Part 2)
Part 2 of our look at the first series of Blackadder includes closer inspections of Miriam Margolyes and Jim Broadbent as well as the original unaired pilot.
The Black Adder (Part 1)
This week we begin an epic journey through centuries of English history with the first series of Blackadder. The Black Adder sees Rowan Atkinson as spare to the throne and we're looking at episode four, where he is forced to marry the Infanta of Spain.
Up the Elephant and Round the Castle (Part 2)
Part 2 of our look at the 80s Jim Davidson vehicle Up the Elephant and Round the Castle and this week we also take a look at the supposed sequel Home James!, even though it was completely different and had no resemblance to the former.
Up the Elephant and Round the Castle (Part 1)
This week we take a look at the oft forgotten 80s sitcom designed as a vehicle for the unbound comic talent of Jim Davidson, Up the Elephant and Round the Castle. It wasn't good then and it's even worse now but is there anything of value to be salvaged from it?
dinnerladies (Part 2)
In part 2 of our look at Victoria Wood's dinnerladies, we take a closer look at Julie Walters and Maxine Peake and see how the series came to an end.
dinnerladies (Part 1)
This week we start our look at Victoria Wood's dinnerladies. In many ways it is classic sitcom in its purest form but does it also break the rules occasionally?
