For a few good years now until the last year or so it seems the only good TV comedy shows that get shown in the UK have been created by the Americans and nothing us Brit's have created haven't been able to come remotely close to the likes of great US television shows such as Friends, Will and Grace, Scrubs, The Simpsons, etc, infact the only British comedy that even came close was Only Fools and Horses and Men Behaving Badly and thats going back quite some time they stopped making this show in the mid 90's, but in the last year or so it seems the Brits are back creating some of the greatest TV shows ever seen.
If your not familiar with the UK television its very rare when a good TV show gets aired, so its been a privilge to witness so many great show created in the extent of a single year. Here's my run down of the best of British comedy.
Peter Kay
One of the finest comedian's that Britain has to offer is the Bolton Born star Peter Kay, with his great TV series such as That Peter Kay Thing where he takes the roles of ordinary people such as Ice Cream man, Worlds oldest paper boy, Bingo callers etc and somehow turns there day into a piece of comedy genius and the exellent or Phoenix Nights where he plays Brian Potter a disabled club owner this series is co-written by Dave Spikey (Jerry St.Clair) and Neil Fitzmaurice (Rave-on) there amazing look on a less than ordinary Northern working mens club this is possibly one of the greatest TV shows ever seen. Peter Kay also plays one half of the not-so-smart doormen duo Max and Paddy, who never seem to lack an adventure from the doors of the Phoenix Club.
Leigh Francis
The man behind the mask Leigh Francis is the brains behind the TV show "Bo' Selecta!" with his bizarre look at celebrities lifes his hillarious impressions are sure to leave you in stitches of laughter. Leigh Francis also plays the parts of celebrity super fan Avid Merrion who lives with his dead mother (that he keeps in the cupboard) and the Bear who lives in a tree on Hamstead Heath with double glazing, central heating and his dirty foul mouthed vermin neighbour Steven the squirrel. Leigh's views on celebrities lives are so overhyped it makes the show a piece of comedic brilliance, he gives them a whole new accent, wears hidious rubber masks highlighting the celebrities odd facial features and basically taking the piss out of every celebrity known to man.
Matthew Holness
Another fantastic piece of comedy produced by the Brit's would have to no other than Garth Marenghi Dark Place, this amazing show is a spoof Horror show bassed in Dark Place Hospital. The show claims it was so horrorific it was band from Televison and could only be released in 2004. Garth Marenghi's Dark Place takes a look at the happening's surounding Dark Place Hosptial but unlike many other falied attempts of a British version of Scrub's this one really seem's to work, probably because 90% of the shows are based outhside the hospital with some great story lines. With it allegedly being made in the 70's the effects are poor the acting is very week and plots are even worse, but thats what makes it a work of genious, making this show another one to watch, A must buy on DVD.
Matt Lucas & David Walliams
The creators and stars of Little Britian, Matt Lucas (Shooting Stars, Rock Profile) and David Walliams (Spaced, Rock Profile) have produced a superb series here with an extrodinary look at the lives of Britain's population. In this sketch show Lucas & Walliams take the role as almost every character within the series with some of the wackiest, craziest and disturbing characters scene on TV, especially the comedy duo Andy & Lou, the unconvincing transexual Emily Howard, and the down right hillarious Scotish Hotel manager Roy McCooney, after making cameo appearences on vast's amount of comedy programmes and radio shows its about time they got there well deserved TV slot.
Ross Noble
Ross Noble without a dout is the greatest stand up comedian to step foot on this planet. This jesus look-a-like has been doing stand-up comedy since the age of 15, his exellent unique style of comedy which usually involves rambling on about the most random extreme subject i.e sex with monekys, sticking meat to your face, Jesus and Tramps at great lengths. His superb waffling skills are sure to bring you to tears of laughter throughout his entire shows. Although this insane geordie doesn't have a TV show of his own yet (It's about time he did) there are live DVD's, Audio tapes and if your lucky enough live show tickets you can get your hands on over at www.rossnoble.co.uk
Don't get me wrong there's other great TV show's in Britian like Nevermind the Buzzcocks, Room 101, Coupling, The Office, Shooting Stars, Black Books but theres ones that a stated about which are un-original, never been seen before and they work. Its just people are to stupid to give a fuck about them and proceed to spend 40% of there days either watching soap opera's like Coronation Street, Eastenders, D.I.Y programmes which have been repeated 18 billion times or even worse Reality TV shows which are quite possibly the most depressing thing ever seen. Get a grip people stop being so fustrated and angry watch some real TV and let a little humour into your lives.
