10 Best Modern British Comedies as voted for by Radio Times readers – from Ghosts to Detectorists

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It’s great to see democracy in action – and the results of the recent vote were really fascinating! Back in February, RT asked us to pick our favorite British comedy shows from recent years. The idea was to focus on the positive and show that there’s still a lot to love about British comedy, even if people sometimes feel down about where the genre is headed.

For this project, we looked at TV shows that began in 2010 or later. This meant we couldn’t include popular shows from the early 2000s like The Office, Gavin & Stacey, and Peep Show, which was a difficult decision.

We knew fans would miss some of their favorite shows, but we wanted to create a list that was different from other polls. Our goal was to highlight and celebrate up-and-coming stars and future legends.

British comedy is known and loved around the world, and has been for many years. To ensure it stays that way, we need to support and appreciate today’s comedians as much as we cherish the legendary ones of the past.

We’re grateful to our expert panel – including commissioners, writers, actors, and comedians of all ages and backgrounds – who carefully reviewed 15 years of British comedy, narrowing down nearly 100 shows to a shortlist of 25. These 25 were then put to a vote by our readers, and the results are now in!

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The recent data shows comedy is still thriving. While the genre, like British TV overall, faces some difficulties, claims that it’s failing are definitely overblown. Our list of the top 10 comedies from the last fifteen years proves just how much funny content has resonated with audiences.

Ricky Gervais continues to dominate UK comedy, as evidenced by the huge popularity of his show, After Life. Known for his bold and often controversial humor, Gervais combines witty observations with surprisingly touching moments, which clearly resonates with audiences. However, looking at the broader picture, it’s clear British viewers enjoy a wide range of comedic styles.

Mackenzie Crook, who worked with Gervais on The Office, comes in at number two, offering a very different kind of comedy. His show, Detectorists, quietly won audiences over with relatable characters and genuinely funny moments. This gentle sitcom celebrates the charm of the British countryside, the people who live there, and the surprising connections they make through shared hobbies.

Rounding out the top three, the sitcom Ghosts continues the tradition of shows like Fawlty Towers, offering memorable characters, clever writing, and energetic physical humor. It likely brought more families together than any other show on our list, with its charming ghosts at Button House appealing to viewers of all ages.

Thanks to your votes, we now know the outcome, and we appreciate everyone who shared their vision for the future of British comedy. We’re excited about the shows coming up – like Small Prophets, Amandaland, Here We Go, and Twenty Twenty Six – and confident that we’ll have plenty of new, beloved comedies to enjoy over the next decade.

10. This Country (2.9%)

Daisy May and Charlie Cooper, who play Kerry and Kurtan, are hilarious together in this realistic and relatable show about growing up in the countryside. You can watch it on iPlayer.

9. W1A (4.0%)

This comedy series takes place at the BBC and follows Ian Fletcher (Hugh Bonneville), a manager who’s constantly given difficult and awkward tasks. You can watch it on iPlayer.

8. Motherland (5.1%)

Julia, a frustrated mother played by Anna Maxwell Martin, tries to fit in with the other parents in her affluent west London neighborhood. You can watch it on iPlayer.

7. Inside No. 9 (5.4%)

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith’s consistently inventive series is known for its darkly funny tone, making it a hit with viewers. You can watch it on iPlayer.

6. Friday Night Dinner (7.7%)

Jackie and Martin Goodman (played by Tamsin Greig and Paul Ritter) invite their sons (Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal) over for a weekly Shabbat dinner, which always ends up being hilariously chaotic. You can watch it on Channel 4’s streaming service.

5. Derry Girls (8.4%)

This show follows a group of Northern Irish teenagers – mostly girls, with one boy – as they deal with typical high school challenges while living through the last years of the Troubles. You can watch it on Channel 4’s streaming service.

4. Peter Kay’s Car Share (8.9%)

John (Peter Kay) and Kayleigh (Sian Gibson), who work at a supermarket, travel to work together, and their commute is full of music, fun, and a developing romantic connection. You can watch it on iPlayer.

3. Ghosts (12.0%)

Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) starts seeing ghosts after a close call with death. These spirits inhabit the grand old house she’s inherited and now lives in with her husband (Kiell Smith-Bynoe). You can watch it on iPlayer.

2 Detectorists (12.6%)

Okay, so I recently stumbled upon this really charming little show. It’s about these two guys, Andy and Lance, who are basically treasure hunters, but not in a glamorous Indiana Jones way. They’re more like… everyday guys with metal detectors, scouring fields across England for lost stuff. It’s surprisingly captivating! You can find it on iPlayer, if you’re looking for something a bit different.

1 After Life (16.8%)

Okay, so this movie follows Tony Johnson, played by Ricky Gervais, who’s really lost after his wife dies of cancer. He’s a journalist, and to cope, he starts covering all the weird and wonderful things happening in this small town called Tambury. It’s a really touching story about finding a reason to keep going. You can find it streaming on Netflix, by the way.

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about TV and streaming drama and comedy for TopMob. Before that, he contributed to Starburst Magazine, hosted the Winter King Podcast on ITVX, and earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

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2026-05-18 19:52