Angerr

Hello there,

I am probably missing on the term "sitcom" here - why Monty Python's flying circus was not in some of the polls? Here in Czech Republic it's one of the most favourite British TV series and it's certainly a favourite of mine. The phrase "British sitcom"/ "British series" is regarded as a sign of quality in our country and other popular ones which are repeatedly shown on our TV are Red Dwarf, Yes Minister/Yes prime minister, Black Books, Fawlty Towers, Mr. Bean and probably some more which I don't know of from the top of my head.

btw. excellent website, hope I won't be much of an intruder:)

Steve Crook

Hello Angerr,
There's usually a difference between a sitcom and a sketch comedy.
The word "sitcom" is short for "situation comedy" and it needs a situation that the characters are in from one episode to the next. They also have a regular cast of characters and we find those characters in the same situation in every episode. The situation is usually a fairly restricted place like the space ship in Red Dwarf or the government offices in Yes Minister / Yes Prime Minister or the hotel in Fawlty Towers. Programmes like Monty Python's Flying Circus or single person shows like The Benny Hill Show are sketch shows with a collection of short sketches and although they might have repeated characters, the whole show isn't just about those characters.

Does that explain it?

Steve

David Brent

There is a difference between exposure and over exposure.
About five years I think.

Dave.

Angerr

Yes, thanks very much Steve. It would be interesting to have a poll on British sketch shows, though I wonder how many there are. Certainly not so many as sitcoms?

Moor Larkin

The Final promises to be a classic !

kawolski

I cannae wait man,
jumpers for goal posts,
marvellous, isn't it.

Hang on a minute, lads.
I've got a great idea.

David Brent

Unfair.....unfair....how can anyone choose between two British comedy classics?

Dave.

David Brent

I think we may have to call for a re-vote.

I do not think that it will effect the final result but I seem to have found what looks like a voting discrepancy in the Best British Sitcom Poll.

In Round 2 Pot 1 the series Father Ted received only one vote. It was clearly beaten by other comedies in the listing.
Yet Father Ted made it through to the next round appearing in Round 3 Tie 8 where it came up against Only Fools and Horses.

Worth checking I think.

Dave.

DB7

It was a very late addition due to an oversight on my part; so received a bye to the next round.

GRAEME

An agonising decision. FT has some of the funniest episodes of comedy ever broadcast. But S&S is the quintessential sitcom - classic characters in a classic situation. Believable drama AND frequently hillarious. I went for Steptoe.

hhhhancock

As you can gather from my ID I love Tony Hancock but strangely the sitcom that never fails to amuse me is One Foot............ Now if David Renwick had written for Hancock after Galton and Simpson what a marvellous combination that would have been.

Moor Larkin

Mmmm.

Bit like Danger Man and The Prisoner. Do you go for protracted brilliance or brief perfection............

Freddy

Steptoe and Son has the longevity, 57 episodes.

David Brent

Seems we have a winner.

The poll closed with Steptoe and Son ahead of Fawlty Towers by two votes.

A most worthy winner.

I was surprised that the final only attracted 18 votes in total from members.
I thought the guys and girls on the forum were more passionate about their favourite tele sitcoms than that.

Dave.

Fellwanderer

To be honest, I simply missed voting in the later rounds as it didn't stand out clearly.

Would it have made any difference if I had, since there were two votes in it - obviously not! However, I'm more than content that the final was slugged out between two truly great series, both of which is a credit to British television and, especially, the BBC.

All the best
FELL

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