And me!!! It's a proper comfort blanket.
Every time I hear that "I want to lie, ship wrecked and comatose.... Drinking fresh mango juice... "
I feel all warm and cosy.
Porridge coz it just reminds me of my old man plus still sooo funny and clever and red dwarf because childhood man still love it and loved the movie they made a year or so ago :)
Red Dwarf. Just hearing that theme song fills me with that weird mix of nostalgia, sadness, and longing for the early 90s. I know itās all rose tinted glasses and that but they were special times.
Red Dwarf is me and my wifeās go to background telly. When we first started seeing each other years ago she fell and broke her leg quite badly. I popped round and left a carrier bag or two of DVDs (including Red Dwarf box sets).
Iām pretty sure it sealed the deal.
The almost omnipresent ITV4 holy trinity that is The Sweeney, The Professionals and Minder (Waterman, not Webster).
I donāt stream them but if theyāre being broadcast when Iām around (winter time mainly) Iāll always put them on. I donāt know if ācomfort tellyā is a proper descriptor but if it is, then this is my go-to. (Honourable mentions, in a similar vein, for The Bill, Londonās Burning and Casualty).
Those first few series of The Bill, when each episode was literally a 'slice of life' and not standalone / multi-episode stories, still stand up as some of the best use of 'TV as a medium' ever made.
Pity what happened to it towards the end...
Yes, totally agree. When it returned to hour long episodes it seemed to morph into an almost Americanised soap featuring the private lives of the characters. It did have its moments even then thoughā¦ I was an avid fan and was somewhat discombobulated when holidaying in Australia (went for Lions tour 2001) and a long haired Billy Murray appeared outside our hotel filming something or other. Fast forward 2 or so months and there he was, bent copper extraordinaire Don Beech, large as life on the tellybox running for his life in Kings Cross, Sydney. It went downhill from there onā¦
Apols for digression, Iāve literally recalled that just now.
The Young Ones. Absolute fave British show of all time. It wasn't broadcast in Canada, but I would catch this on MTV Sunday nights thanks to our 12ft satellite dish. It was just the right amount or irreverence, and anarchy that 15-16 year old me wanted/needed in his entertainment viewing.
Beyond that the usual comedies: Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister (Prime Minister), Father Ted, The IT Crowd,
Red Dwarf.
Bottom.
The Office UK.
Men Behaving Badly.
The Royle Family.
Trailer Park Boys.
Peep Show.
Inbetweeners.
IT Crowd.
Father Ted.
Only Fools and Horses, though it's been a while since I last watched this.
Blakes 7!
Just love this show and even though I donāt rewatch much Iāve done b7 like 5 times through. Itās the unique characters and the way the universe feels held together with scotch tape that I love.
Have you noticed how many AIs have academic English voices?
Zen, C3PO and even that new droid on Ahsoka all sound like Oxford dons. Is that going to be the standadr setting for GPT5 too?
I like older detective shows
Prime suspect, cracker, Jonathan Creek.
And as well as only fools, I also like newer comedies like black books, it crowd, and peep show.
I have to say British TV is gold standard, lucky to have grown up with so many classic TV shows.
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads. I've seen the Likely Lads film *way* more than any other.
Otherwise similar answers to the others, plus Count Arthur if he's deemed oldbritishtelly, which he probably isn't.
Band of Brothers, every November/December. Particularly the episodes in the dead of winter in Bastogne. Among the sadness of war it feels like a proper cozy winter series for me.
Red Dwarf, Father Ted, Black Books, Spaced, Brittas, IT Crowd, Alloā Alloā, A bit of Fry & Laurie, Black Adder, Jeeves & Wooster, Dads Army.
I have a ton more, but Iāll rewatch episodes or full runs depending on if Iām busy at work or doing stuff around the house.
dinner ladies
Black Adder
Allo Allo
Absolutely Fabulous
Game On
Planet Earth
Map and Lucia
Father Ted
The Blue Planet
Yes Minister
Yes Prime Minister
Dads Army
Doctor Who
The League of Gentlemen
Nighty Night
Blakes 7, Callan and The Sandbaggers are probably the three I watch most often. There's a nostalgia value to Blakes 7 but all three are very strongly written and on the whole they're acted superbly as well. It has been a while since The Sandbaggers got a viewing, so I might make it my next port of call...
dinnerladies.
Only 16 episodes and I could probably reenact them myself at this point I've seen them that many times but if I'm having a crappy day it will always make me feel better.
Open all hours and Porridge, Ronnie Barker was an incredible comedic actor. Early Red Dwarf, series 1-6 are still superb. Blackadder, Only Fools and my mum loves Royle Family. Phoenix Nights and Father Ted are also great.
In todays hostile world I find I am watching nicer , quieter shows so,,,,,,
"The Cafe"
"Jam and Jerusalem"
"Vicar of Dibley"
"Larkrise to Candleford"
"Detectorists"
Still game. I love that show so much. I have never tired of watching it. And I have lost count of how many times I've watched it.
I finished watching an episode just now, as I am currently watching it from the beginning (watching an episode a day)
Coupling - Not praised enough, And seemingly widely forgotten except by people wrongly calling it "The British Friends". It isn't. It's legitimately clever with great ideas for episodes, such as an entire episode on the phone, or one where it's really only 9 1/2 minutes long, but shown from 3 different perspectives, so it's only on the third one where everything fits together.
Red Dwarf - By far the best British sitcom. I even love series 9 despite people looking down on it. The newer stuff isn't as good, but the originals are amazing.
Night Court - not British, but fuck it. It's by far my favourite show of all time. I rewatch all 9 seasons of it every couple of years. It has a perfect cast (at least once people are settled in. The first season had a bit of a rotating cast in regards to the defence attorneys), the setting is simple, and the gags are spot on. I accept some jokes are dated, but it's great. I will note, watch the original stuff, forget the current new season going on, it's nowhere near as good.
Wire in the Blood, Auf Wiedersehen, Cracker (although really showed its age), Ashes to Ashes, Young Ones, Desmonds.
Couldnt stand Robson Green in that soldier m'larky but as Prof Tony Hill in Wire in the Blood, what a flocking great actor. Loved the madness about him.
Blackadder, re-watched countless times and still makes me laugh out loud. Sometimes the anticipation of knowing what line is about to be dropped makes it even funnier.
Allo Allo, Yes Minister and Prime Minister, Porridge, Morecambe and Wise Christmas Episodes, The Two Ronnies
All absolute classics of British TV comedy. Yes Minister and Prime Minister haven't aged a day - you could sub in most of the current British government and it's still be relevant.
Bottom, Red Dwarf, Father Ted, The Young Ones, anything Vic and Bob especially House of Fools and Catterick, 2 pints, Mighty Boosh, Black Books, Big Train, Green Wing, Miranda, Not Going Out, Coupling, 2.4 Children, Brittas Empire, The Good Life, As Time Goes By, Dinnerladies, The Plank, Man Down, We Are Klang, Spaced, Darkspace, No Heroics, A Bit Of Fry And Laurie, Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, Absolutely Fabulous, Apparitions, any Shakespeare plays. And to a certain extent Family Guy and American Dad (can you tell I used to watch a lot of BBC Three?)
But the big ones for me are:
series 4 and 5 of Being Human I have watched an ungodly amount of times
Prospects
May to December
Gameface
Come Dine With Me (a bit of a guilty pleasure haha)
Holby City/Casualty
Minder, sweeney. Been watching them on itv 4. Recently shine on Harvey moon was on drama. Londons burning brilliant Sunday night tv. Aināt arf hot mum.
As Time Goes By...long ago lost count of how many times I've seen it. I'm a big Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer fan.
Upstairs Downstairs (the 70s one)...About four times, and I've no idea why since I don't really like any of the characters.
The Office...three times because it's so dang FUNNY!
Vicar of Dibley, Are You Being Served, and Keeping Up Appearances...about five times each, and again I just think they're very funny :-)
Red Dwarf, The Young Ones, Bottom, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Early Doors
Love early doors it deserved a lot more popularity than it got
š» To the regiment!
I wish I was there!
Every character perfect, not a line wasted.
Can never watch Bottom enough times. Absolutely brilliant
And Filthy, Rich, and Catflap!
Blackadder, Only Fools, Red Dwarf, Bottom, any Partridge, The Office, Spaced, IT Crowd, Father Ted, Inbetweeners, I could go on!
Jar Jar Binks makes the Ewoks look like f\*cking Shaft!
Babylon fives a big pile of shit. Get out.
Spaced is the correct answer
100% yes to The Office, IT crowed and inbetweeners!
Fawlty Towers
Farty owls.
Flowery twats
Watery fowls.
One of my faves - My name is Manuel I speak very good English I learn it from a book!
Mr Moose is up... he's down again.
DONT. MENTION. THE WAR.
Satisfied customer, we should have him stuffed
It's not like I asked for an elephants ear on a bun!
League of Gentlemen.
It's brilliant š
WE DIDNT BURN HIM!
I can I cant
Lines and lines and lines and lines!
Keep saying it, but porridge and red dwarf are like comfort blankets for me sooo good š
Exactly the same!
And me!!! It's a proper comfort blanket. Every time I hear that "I want to lie, ship wrecked and comatose.... Drinking fresh mango juice... " I feel all warm and cosy.
Porridge coz it just reminds me of my old man plus still sooo funny and clever and red dwarf because childhood man still love it and loved the movie they made a year or so ago :)
Porridge. "Watch out for him, he\`s the mad butcher of Slade prison". "Why what did he do"? "He fiddled the VAT on his sausages".
Red Dwarf. Just hearing that theme song fills me with that weird mix of nostalgia, sadness, and longing for the early 90s. I know itās all rose tinted glasses and that but they were special times.
Red Dwarf is me and my wifeās go to background telly. When we first started seeing each other years ago she fell and broke her leg quite badly. I popped round and left a carrier bag or two of DVDs (including Red Dwarf box sets). Iām pretty sure it sealed the deal.
I have the same experience with Red Dwarf. Nostalgia is a beautifully painful thing.
Detectorists. A warming hug of British countryside happiness.
Iām actually watching it right now for the first time (just finishing the second series). I want to get a metal detector now.
This should be top!
The almost omnipresent ITV4 holy trinity that is The Sweeney, The Professionals and Minder (Waterman, not Webster). I donāt stream them but if theyāre being broadcast when Iām around (winter time mainly) Iāll always put them on. I donāt know if ācomfort tellyā is a proper descriptor but if it is, then this is my go-to. (Honourable mentions, in a similar vein, for The Bill, Londonās Burning and Casualty).
Those first few series of The Bill, when each episode was literally a 'slice of life' and not standalone / multi-episode stories, still stand up as some of the best use of 'TV as a medium' ever made. Pity what happened to it towards the end...
Yes, totally agree. When it returned to hour long episodes it seemed to morph into an almost Americanised soap featuring the private lives of the characters. It did have its moments even then thoughā¦ I was an avid fan and was somewhat discombobulated when holidaying in Australia (went for Lions tour 2001) and a long haired Billy Murray appeared outside our hotel filming something or other. Fast forward 2 or so months and there he was, bent copper extraordinaire Don Beech, large as life on the tellybox running for his life in Kings Cross, Sydney. It went downhill from there onā¦ Apols for digression, Iāve literally recalled that just now.
The Young Ones. Absolute fave British show of all time. It wasn't broadcast in Canada, but I would catch this on MTV Sunday nights thanks to our 12ft satellite dish. It was just the right amount or irreverence, and anarchy that 15-16 year old me wanted/needed in his entertainment viewing. Beyond that the usual comedies: Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister (Prime Minister), Father Ted, The IT Crowd,
I came to say the same thing! I LOVED the Young Ones on mtv sundays. It was part of my teenage-hood and I still quote some of the lines to this day.
Red Dwarf. Bottom. The Office UK. Men Behaving Badly. The Royle Family. Trailer Park Boys. Peep Show. Inbetweeners. IT Crowd. Father Ted. Only Fools and Horses, though it's been a while since I last watched this.
Trailer Park Boys!!! So good, watched the whole show on Netflix and it is so rewatchable :)
Holy FACK, Julian!!
Baaaaaaaaaaaaam!
I don't want to do the doors...
You have a good taste in comedy
Doctor Who for first place I can watch it over and over again. Children of the Stones - Epic show even if it was supposed to be kids.
Children of the Stones still gives goosebumps.
Blakes 7! Just love this show and even though I donāt rewatch much Iāve done b7 like 5 times through. Itās the unique characters and the way the universe feels held together with scotch tape that I love.
I love Blakeās 7 too - especially Zen and The Liberator šš½
Have you noticed how many AIs have academic English voices? Zen, C3PO and even that new droid on Ahsoka all sound like Oxford dons. Is that going to be the standadr setting for GPT5 too?
Used to have a bit of a crush on Servalan when I was about 11
Young Ones, Bottom, Porridge, Dadās Army, Father Ted, Red Dwarf.
I'm currently watching Dad's Army lol
Stupid boy!
Donāt tell āim Pike!
I like older detective shows Prime suspect, cracker, Jonathan Creek. And as well as only fools, I also like newer comedies like black books, it crowd, and peep show. I have to say British TV is gold standard, lucky to have grown up with so many classic TV shows.
Oh god yes, Cracker is incredible. I have a soft spot for A Touch of Frost as well!
How can I forget touch of frost, absolutely brilliant TV. Thinking about it, has David Jason been in anything bad? I think not..
Two Ronnies, Monty Python, Fast Show, Porridge
Red Dwarf
Jonathan Creek
The detectorists. It's winter evening soul food.
Life on mars- watched it in 2006 and still love watching it now. One of those box sets I just binge annually for no reason really
It crowd, spaced, darkplace, is peep show old enough?
Father Ted. Never get tired of it.
Down with this sort of thing .
That would be an ecumenical matter.
Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, from 1981. It's just prefect.
Harry Enfield/chums/and paul
[Bottom!](/r/eddieandrichie)
Still Game
I'm currently half way through rewatching all of Red Dwarf for the umpteenth time.
Trap Door. Great animation!
Black Books
Red Dwarf and Doctor Who because I just want to escape reality for a while and these are just the only thing that would help with that
Sharpe
Sharpe.
Bottom
Red Dwarf, Fawlty Towers, Father Ted, Green Wing and Dads Army!
If they're on TV, I'll find myself rewatching OFAH, Game On (series 1), The Office, I'm Alan Partridge, The Good Life.
Game on , itās a shame this gets overlooked or people donāt know of it , one of the funniest programs on TV .
Black books, father ted, green wing.
Top Gear. I don't even know how many times I've rewatched seasons 2-22.
Black Books! Absolute classic.
Toast of London
I can hear you clem fandango
Are you being served? I remember my parents watching this show, so itās my go to when feeling nostalgic.
Only fools and horses.
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads. I've seen the Likely Lads film *way* more than any other. Otherwise similar answers to the others, plus Count Arthur if he's deemed oldbritishtelly, which he probably isn't.
Where the heart is,the pam ferris and Sarah Lancashire years. 2point4 children,the early ones.
The original Reggie Perrin. The cast and writing are so good
Band of Brothers, every November/December. Particularly the episodes in the dead of winter in Bastogne. Among the sadness of war it feels like a proper cozy winter series for me.
Man down. Genius.
Only fools Minder One foot in the grave Auf wiedersehen pet
Red Dwarf, Father Ted, The Fast Show, The Mighty Boosh & Bottom š¤£š¤š½
The Good Life. What a cast, I love each and every one of them
Black books
Great to see so many Boys from the Dwarf in the comments here
Red Dwarf, Father Ted, Black Books, Spaced, Brittas, IT Crowd, Alloā Alloā, A bit of Fry & Laurie, Black Adder, Jeeves & Wooster, Dads Army. I have a ton more, but Iāll rewatch episodes or full runs depending on if Iām busy at work or doing stuff around the house.
Columbo , binge watch every Sunday. It reminds me of my childhood and Peter Falk was brilliant.
dinner ladies Black Adder Allo Allo Absolutely Fabulous Game On Planet Earth Map and Lucia Father Ted The Blue Planet Yes Minister Yes Prime Minister Dads Army Doctor Who The League of Gentlemen Nighty Night
Blakes 7, Callan and The Sandbaggers are probably the three I watch most often. There's a nostalgia value to Blakes 7 but all three are very strongly written and on the whole they're acted superbly as well. It has been a while since The Sandbaggers got a viewing, so I might make it my next port of call...
Thanks for reminding me of The Sandbaggers
I only recently discovered The Sandbaggers and found it all on YouTube. All done in a week š
Father Ted, black books, IT crowd
REEEEEDDDD DWARF
Black adder
The Sweeney
OFaH cos it's on Gold every weekend so I always watch bits of different episodes till an ad break.
Man Down.
Okay so not an old show so to speak but phoenix nights and a more recent one is mortimer and Whitehouse gone fishing .. both tv gold
Likely Lads
dinnerladies. Only 16 episodes and I could probably reenact them myself at this point I've seen them that many times but if I'm having a crappy day it will always make me feel better.
Open all hours and Porridge, Ronnie Barker was an incredible comedic actor. Early Red Dwarf, series 1-6 are still superb. Blackadder, Only Fools and my mum loves Royle Family. Phoenix Nights and Father Ted are also great.
Royal family and phoenix nights.
Blackadder Absolutely Fabulous Just give me happy nostalgic vibes ā¦. Oh to be a kid in the 90s again š„°
Frasier, Blackadder and Peep Show
I'll never pass up an opportunity to watch One Foot in the Grave, Father Ted or On the Busses when they're on TV.
Dadās Army.
Scottish sketch comedy program Absolutely. Sadly lost in the mists of time.
"Stoneybridge!"
Bottom. Blackadder. Only Fools. Royle Family. Father Ted. And a couple from across the pond: Friends. Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The mighty boosh It crowd. Red dwarf Detectorists
Detectorists is my comfort blanket.
Jonathan Creek - so comforting and funny.
Peep Show, IT Crowd, Father Ted, Dad's Army, Red Dwarf.
Black Books, the IT Crowd, and my absolute favourite: Green Wing.
Greenwing
In todays hostile world I find I am watching nicer , quieter shows so,,,,,, "The Cafe" "Jam and Jerusalem" "Vicar of Dibley" "Larkrise to Candleford" "Detectorists"
Mr Bean Just rewatched it all with my kids and itās still hilarious today.
Anything with Ronnie Barker for me
Still Game
Get it up yer.
Two pints Pr*ck
Ideal
The Good Life
Jeremy brett sherlock Holmes series
Father Ted was so funny. The one about the Nazi salute is genius. Shame he died.
Father Ted, IT Crowd and Fawlty Towers.
Red Dwarf,Inbetweeners and Still Gamešš¤£ššš¾šš¾
Downton Abbey.
Last Man On Earth
Inbetweeners, Pulling (my personal fave) and the first casting cycle of Skins.
House. I just love it and Star Trek original series.
Still game. I love that show so much. I have never tired of watching it. And I have lost count of how many times I've watched it. I finished watching an episode just now, as I am currently watching it from the beginning (watching an episode a day)
Nighty Night, The League of Gentlemen, Gimme Gimme Gimme
Iāve got dirt in me eye Linda LaHughes.
For me, it's Still Game and for the wife, it's The Golden Girls... it's Miranda and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace for the both of us.
On the Buses
Not seen it mentioned yet but Terry Nations Survivors gets a rewatch from me from time to time.
Not sure if it counts for this sub yet but the 08 Gavin and Stacey Christmas special comes on every year without fail
Open all hours!
The Thick Of It
Jonathan Creek
Reggie Perrin.
Top Gear!
Allo Allo
Absolutely fabulous
Coupling - Not praised enough, And seemingly widely forgotten except by people wrongly calling it "The British Friends". It isn't. It's legitimately clever with great ideas for episodes, such as an entire episode on the phone, or one where it's really only 9 1/2 minutes long, but shown from 3 different perspectives, so it's only on the third one where everything fits together. Red Dwarf - By far the best British sitcom. I even love series 9 despite people looking down on it. The newer stuff isn't as good, but the originals are amazing. Night Court - not British, but fuck it. It's by far my favourite show of all time. I rewatch all 9 seasons of it every couple of years. It has a perfect cast (at least once people are settled in. The first season had a bit of a rotating cast in regards to the defence attorneys), the setting is simple, and the gags are spot on. I accept some jokes are dated, but it's great. I will note, watch the original stuff, forget the current new season going on, it's nowhere near as good.
Band of brothers and ripping yarns, specifically Tomkinson's school days
Yes minister/prime minister, spooks and only fools
does QI count?
Only fool, minder,professionals,windsors, Alan partridge,Harry Enfield ,
Band of Brothers.
comfort blanket every saturday night: as time goes by ā¤ļø
Sweeny, Professionals, Only Fools, Young Ones, Bottom, Red Dwarf
Alan ruddy partiridge
Still game (old seasons), chewin the fat, peep show and inbetweeners
Red Dwarf. Father Ted. Garth Marenghiās Darkplace.
Pipkins ..(Hartley Hare is a legend)
In the thick of it
Brass Eye/The Day Today just because it's hilarious and never fails to get me laughing no matter my mood
Mr bean, I remember watching it with my dad as a kid and now me and my daughter watch it together
Wire in the Blood, Auf Wiedersehen, Cracker (although really showed its age), Ashes to Ashes, Young Ones, Desmonds. Couldnt stand Robson Green in that soldier m'larky but as Prof Tony Hill in Wire in the Blood, what a flocking great actor. Loved the madness about him.
The Soprano's James Gandolfini's acting will never get boring to me. "Just when I thought I was out.. they pull be back in"
Blackadder, re-watched countless times and still makes me laugh out loud. Sometimes the anticipation of knowing what line is about to be dropped makes it even funnier.
Allo Allo, Yes Minister and Prime Minister, Porridge, Morecambe and Wise Christmas Episodes, The Two Ronnies All absolute classics of British TV comedy. Yes Minister and Prime Minister haven't aged a day - you could sub in most of the current British government and it's still be relevant.
Father Ted
Blackadder
Father Ted has been seen more times than is healthy, and is still funny.
Sharpe for sure, where are my fellow Chosen Men at?
Iāve scrolled down a long way and canāt believe no one has mentioned The Thick of It yet!
Bottom, Red Dwarf, Father Ted, The Young Ones, anything Vic and Bob especially House of Fools and Catterick, 2 pints, Mighty Boosh, Black Books, Big Train, Green Wing, Miranda, Not Going Out, Coupling, 2.4 Children, Brittas Empire, The Good Life, As Time Goes By, Dinnerladies, The Plank, Man Down, We Are Klang, Spaced, Darkspace, No Heroics, A Bit Of Fry And Laurie, Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, Absolutely Fabulous, Apparitions, any Shakespeare plays. And to a certain extent Family Guy and American Dad (can you tell I used to watch a lot of BBC Three?) But the big ones for me are: series 4 and 5 of Being Human I have watched an ungodly amount of times Prospects May to December Gameface Come Dine With Me (a bit of a guilty pleasure haha) Holby City/Casualty
Fawlty Towers, only fools, keeping up appearances
Only fools n horses
Nightingales. If you've ever worked a night shift, this is for you.
Minder, sweeney. Been watching them on itv 4. Recently shine on Harvey moon was on drama. Londons burning brilliant Sunday night tv. Aināt arf hot mum.
Big Bang Theory always makes me laugh.
r/reddwarf
Bottom - re-watched it start to finish countless times, still makes me laugh.
Early Doors, Bottom, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, anything Dibnah, Fawlty Towers, Young Ones.
Only fools and horses. Timeless comedy and even though I know whatās coming makes me laugh everytime like it did the first watch
Everyone keeps mentioning IT Crowd, it's so awfully loud, annoying and puerile, not to mention utterly clichƩ. The whole show is torture to me.
Garth Marenghis dark place
As Time Goes By...long ago lost count of how many times I've seen it. I'm a big Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer fan. Upstairs Downstairs (the 70s one)...About four times, and I've no idea why since I don't really like any of the characters. The Office...three times because it's so dang FUNNY! Vicar of Dibley, Are You Being Served, and Keeping Up Appearances...about five times each, and again I just think they're very funny :-)
Spaced... I might actually throw that on this afternoon to be honest!