Ten awesome UK sitcoms (and where you can watch them)

Once a staple of free Kiwi TV, UK sitcoms have now pretty much become the preserve of Sky TV and various streaming services.

But while Sky’s Jones! channels offer a plethora of choices, many shows that were previously considered funny – It’s not half hot mom, Are you Being Served? – now contain questionable content.

However, there are still classic comedies – old and new – available and Things to watch is there to help you unearth them. We’ve put together a list of 10 of our favorites – and where you can watch them.

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Blackadder (Amazon Prime Vide)

Forget Mister Bean, these were the best hours of Rowan Atkinson. Over the course of four seasons, he played members of the Blackadder family at various important points in British history.

Each episode was filled with terrific verbal and visual gags, brilliant lines, and intrigue so cunning you could line them up and call them weasels.

Black Books (Netflix)

The early 2000s series that made Dylan Moran an unlikely star and introduced the world to Bill Bailey’s comedic styles. The first plays a misanthropic bookseller, while the second has become an accountant who has become an assistant.

Look for a variety of guest stars including Martin Freeman, Rob Brydon, and Johnny Vegas.

Supplements (TVNZ on request)

While many prefer Ricky Gervais’ earlier comedy in the workplace, Office, it’s hard not to love the allure of the celebs getting into this 2000s series. Gervais and Ashley Jensen are two actors who barely pay the bills working as background artists in a succession of film and television productions .

The real joy, however, lies in their hilarious interactions with David Bowie, Daniel Radcliffe, Kate Winslet and Sir Ian McKellen.

Derry Girls (Netflix)

Like Chris O’Dowd’s Moon boy, this is a fabulous Irish coming-of-age series. Set in Northern Ireland during “The Troubles”, it revolves around the misadventures of a group of teenage girls (and an unfortunate boy) attending a local Catholic high school.

Its strength lies in its characters, from the wild child Michelle to the eccentric Orla, the vain Erin and the sarcastic stage thief director Sister Michael. A third series is in development.

Father Ted (Acorn TV)

From his place on the parodies of the Eurovision Song Contest and the Rose of Tralee, to a pretty brilliant tribute to Keanu Reeves’ Speed, using a milk cart, this mid-90s show about a trio of less-than-holy priests is an absolute riot.

Chock full of quotable dialogue, genius gags and tons of charm, it still hits the mark 25 years later.

Fleabag (Amazon Prime Video)

Adapted from her own solo show, Phoebe Waller-Bridge brought her unique worldview to life by keeping the bond with the audience, while adding an array of memorable supporting characters.

But while Olivia Colman and Sian Clifford are fabulous, it was Andrew Scott’s “sexy priest” who set the tone in season two.

Intermediaries (Netflix)

As much a workplace comedy at school as it is about the lives of four disparate teenagers, it was an audience favorite in the late 2000s, winning a viewer-voted Bafta and eventually spawning two feature films at the cinema.

Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, James Buckley, and Blake Harrison are our crazy quartet, while Greg Davies (a former real-life teacher) is the dismissive staff member who has to deal with their antics the most.

The Computer Crowd (Netflix)

Located in the offices of Reynholm Industries in London, this cult series revolved around three employees of the company’s IT department.

There’s the brash Roy Trenneman (Chris O’Dowd), nervous programmer Maurice Moss (Richard Ayoade) and their boss Jen Barber (Katherine Parkinson), who knows next to nothing about what they’re doing.

Man Down (Netflix)

Despite the untimely death of Rik Mayall (who played the main character’s father) before work began on the second season, this midlife crisis comedy ultimately pulled off four sweet seasons between 2013 and 2017.

Greg Davies once again relies on his training to play the angry with the world Dan Davies.

Homeland (Neon)

Now in its third season, this look at the hardships and trauma of middle-class motherhood is one of the funniest shows on television right now.

A scathing response to Australia Housewives, it focuses on an eclectic group of parents who joke, clash, and bond during the daily school run. Each perfectly calibrated episode is filled with hilarious hijinks, identifiable moments, and great banter.