The funniest British comedy series

The Brits make great comedy. Very often the only bad thing I can say about their TV shows is that they're too short, and when the only negative aspect is the fact that I want more, I know I'm into something good. But not always quality equals popularity so perhaps there are some great shows that might be of your liking but you didn't even know they existed. Here are some of the few that I consider to be genius.

The more popular, American version was based on the original one created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It's only two seasons long with 6 episodes each, but the public wanted another one and Gervais decided to do a Christmas special instead. It blends comedy and drama in a way that you won't know if you should laugh at the awkwardness or feel sorry for the character of Brent, played by Gervais himself. It's a lot more subtle than its American sister, although it can be more immature and adult at the same time.

Created by the same guys as The Office mentioned above, and with the same mix of laughter and tears (in fact I'm not ashamed to admit I've cried watching it). The premise of the show is simple, original and effective: an actor trying to get out of performing as an extra in movies. Each episde there's a guest star playing a hilarious version of themselves.

Brilliant sitcom, it follows the life and thoughts of Mark and Jez, two friends who share an appartment but not much more: one of them is witty, intelectual, pesimistic and socially inept; while the other is unnemployed dreaming of becoming a famous musician and naturally gets along with other people. Things tend to go bad and get worse for them all the time and what makes it hilarios is that we can hear the character's thoughts and appreciate how they contradict their attitudes and actions when they interact with other people. This one's a bit longer, the 7th season is currently being filmed.

Probably the only ongoing show with canned laughs that I can enjoy today. It'll be specially hilarious if you're a geek, since it's centered around Moss and Roy, two IT guys working on the basement of Reynholm Industries, along with Jen, the relationship manager of the IT department. The show is filled with absurd and weird characters, and it becomes very easy to love the three protagonists.

Probably the most absurd and random comedy on the list (without counting the bonus). Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding play two zookeepers who, like on The Peep Show, are very good friends but not very much alike. Most episodes feature one or two original songs and music is a recurring theme in the show (as you can see in the video). The show gets more nonsensical as it progresses. With 3 seasons, there's a movie on the way and an album.

You probably heard of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright from their movie Shaun of the Dead (or maybe you've heard of Wright from his most recent film, Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World); but before they worked on the big screen, they made a little series called Spaced. The writing, the acting and the directing are all brilliant, the cast, memorable, and the whole mood and rhythm of the show are wonderfully done. Tim, a struggling cartoon artist recently dumped by his girlfriend who meets Liz (Jessica Hynes, who also co.wrote the show with Pegg) who's looking for a flat. When she finally finds one it says 'professional couple only', so they decide to pretend. With only two seasons, it's one of those shows you'll be very sad to finish and wish they've done more. The complete show is up on YouTube and Simon Pegg said he has no problem with that, so go ahead and watch it without guilt (and I promise you'll want to buy the DVD once you get to know it anyway).

The comedies above go from the ending years of the 90's to this date, but whether we're talking about Britain or about comedy, something you can't avoid mentioning is Monty Python. They were the pioneers of nonsense and the best at it. Sketches such as the Argument Clinic, the Ministry of Silly Walks or the famous Parrot Sketch are what make the Pythons timeless and funny even if you watch it over and over again. Fawlty Towers is another one you can't miss, it's number one in the British Film Institute's Top 100 and features one of the most rude characters I can think of, Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese. Also on the line of bitter characters there's Blackadder, played by Rowan Atkinson. Each season set in a different time separated by hundreds of years, the ending of the show, set in an unusual mood for this type of show, made it very memorable and acclaimed. If you like sketch shows, be sure to check A Bit of Fry and Laurie, with now famous for his role as Dr. House, Hugh Laurie, and current quiz-master from the show Qi, Stephen Fry.

Another show that deserves a mention is Garth Marenghi's Darkplace Hospital, you can read about in a separate Hub.