Category: Series

Love It or Hate It: ‘2point4 Children’ and ‘My Family’

These two shows represent opposite ends of the sitcom spectrum. While ‘2point4 Children’ was written almost singlehandedly by Andrew Marshall, pushing the boundaries of reality, ‘My Family’ imported the high-efficiency American “writers’ room” model that forever changed – and divided – British television.

In this video we compare these two British family sitcoms. Both BBC hits, they differ in tone and style – one embraces suburban absurdity, the other a quick-paced format. Their distinct approaches divide fans and highlight unique trends in British comedy.

Love It or Hate It: Chef!

‘Chef!’ was a distinctive BBC sitcom that starred Lenny Henry. He wanted to star in a sitcom that would be different from the character-driven sketch comedy he had previously been in.

He came up with the idea that was developed with Peter Tilbury to become the first episode. Although Henry wanted to play a character that was a “monster” – the arrogant, tyrannical, yet brilliant chef Gareth Blackstock – he initially had concerns about playing such an abrasive character, so they tried to make Gareth Blackstock a character you could root for despite his flaws.

Love It or Hate It: Only Fools and Horses

We’re going to Peckham to look at a true titan of British comedy: Only Fools and Horses.

For decades, dodgy schemes of Del Boy and Rodney Trotter have defined the ‘mange tout’ spirit of the working class, giving us some of the most iconic moments in television history. But does every episode truly hold up as ‘lovely jubbly’ by modern standards? In this video, we’re breaking down the genius of John Sullivan’s writing and the legendary chemistry of the cast, while also taking an honest look at the dated tropes and hit-or-miss later specials that complicate its legacy. Is it still a masterpiece, or has the yellow three-wheeler finally run out of road?

Love It or Hate It: Desmond’s

In this video I’m diving into a show that’s sparked some serious debate, Channel 4’s Desmond’s.

From your comments it’s clear there’s a lot of love out there for the gang at the barber shop. But equally, some of you are… well, let’s just say less enthusiastic. Whether you binged every episode or switched off after five minutes, Desmond’s certainly left an impression. In this video, we’re going to explore why this ground-breaking show generated such strong reactions.

More of The UK’s Forgotten 2000s Sitcoms

Amidst the rise of cringe humour and realism, there were still plenty of ambitious and sometimes awkward sitcoms that didn’t quite make it.

We have a selection of four curious relics from this time, including a divisive Irish comedy, an early outing for a massive star, and an intentionally awful cult hit.

More of The UK’s Forgotten 1990s Sitcoms

In this video we dive into the 1990s. This was a decade that gave us the golden age of edgy, groundbreaking comedy like Father Ted, Bottom, and I’m Alan Partridge. But amid the explosion of ‘Cool Britannia’ humour, plenty of traditional sitcoms failed to land, or were simply lost in the schedules.

Just glancing at these titles, they’re quite an eclectic bag of all sorts! Let’s take a look at four forgotten nineties sitcoms, starting with one that dared to mix comedy with controversy.

More of The UK’s Forgotten 1980s Sitcoms

The 1980s saw both popular hits like Only Fools and Horses plus a range of unusual, politically charged comedies that quickly faded from memory. This video highlights the quirky narrative of That Beryl Marston, the Soviet-satire Comrade Dad, and the infidelity farce Dogfood Dan And The Carmarthen Cowboy. We also cover The Nineteenth Hole, a sitcom so controversial it was dropped mid-run by one ITV station.

Join me to revisit these mostly forgotten comedies.

More of The UK’s Forgotten 1970s Sitcoms

While the 1970s in Britain are remembered for iconic sitcoms like Porridge, Fawlty Towers, and The Good Life, many lesser-known comedies have faded from memory. This era of social change brought both new freedoms and controversies, reflected in shows such as ‘Now Take My Wife’, ‘Casanova ‘73’, ‘Get Some In!’, and ‘Well Anyway’. This video revisits these overlooked sitcoms, highlighting their unique contexts and contributions to British comedy.

More of The UK’s Forgotten 1960s Sitcoms

The 1960s. A decade defined by revolution in music, fashion, and culture. But while we all remember The Beatles, Carnaby Street, and the Moon landing, what about the comedies that kept Britain laughing?

You know Dad’s Army. You know Steptoe and Son. But for every TV titan that endured, there’s a whole generation of brilliant, bizarre, and boundary-pushing sitcoms that have been almost entirely erased from history.

In this video, we’re dusting off the archives to explore four of the ‘forgotten’ favourites from the era, including one of the strangest, most ambitious, and most lost sitcoms ever made. Get ready for a trip back to the golden age of British comedy… that almost nobody remembers.