What is the greatest modern British TV comedy? Vote in Radio Times’ poll

by

TopMob is conducting a major poll to determine which British TV comedies will be considered classics by future generations, and they want your opinion! You can vote now.

British humour is famous around the world and is still very much alive today. However, it’s becoming more difficult to create funny TV shows. Lower budgets and audiences spread across many different channels make it harder to get the funding needed to make people laugh.

However, that doesn’t mean good sitcoms and comedy shows have disappeared from television. In recent years, several new shows have become instant classics, joining the ranks of beloved programs like Fawlty Towers, The Office, and Only Fools and Horses.

RT wants to highlight the best new comedies and the comedians making them. We’re asking for your help to choose the funniest and most noteworthy comedy of the past few years.

What people consider ‘modern’ can differ, but for this survey, we’re defining it as shows that began in the 2010s. This is because very few shows from that decade – only Detectorists – appeared in our 2019 comedy poll, which named Fawlty Towers the best sitcom of all time.

This vote doesn’t change the previous result; it complements it. Your winning shows will stand alongside beloved comedies from the past, giving us a look at where British comedy has been and hinting at exciting possibilities for the future.

We’ve compiled a list of 25 recent comedies, drawing on recommendations from over a dozen professionals in the industry. This includes experts like Jon Petrie, the BBC’s director of comedy, Laurence Rickard, co-creator of ‘Ghosts,’ comedian Phil Wang, and actress Emma Sidi (you can find the complete list of contributors below).

Ultimately, it’s your decision: which of these shows do you think is the best modern comedy? Read more about each one below, including insights from the people who made them, and then cast your vote!

Want to see this content?

This content from Riddle is currently unavailable. To view it, please sign out of your Contentpass account.

Thank you to the participants of our expert panel, who curated the shortlist.

  • Alex Moody (Sky Studios, head of comedy commissioning)
  • Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing co-creator)
  • Charlie Perkins (Channel 4, head of comedy)
  • Daniel Lawrence Taylor (Boarders creator)
  • Emma Sidi (Starstruck)
  • Holly Walsh (Motherland co-creator)
  • Jack Rooke (Big Boys creator)
  • Jon Mountague (Netflix, scripted comedy content creative)
  • Jon Petrie (BBC, director of comedy)
  • Laurence Rickard (Ghosts co-creator)
  • Mawaan Rizwan (Juice creator)
  • Nana Hughes (ITV, head of scripted comedy)
  • Phil Wang (Stand-up comedian)

We spoke with the people behind the nominated shows – the creative teams and stars – to learn what sets them apart. Read on to discover more about each one.

After Life

2019–2022, Netflix

Ricky Gervais touched viewers with his portrayal of Tony Johnson, a grieving widower who expresses his pain through honest and sometimes blunt observations. Gervais notes that grief is rarely discussed openly, but people connect with seeing relatable experiences, even difficult ones, represented on television.

Available on Netflix

Alma’s Not Normal

2020–2024, BBC Two

Sophie Willan truly shone in this series, which drew heavily from her own life, portraying a working-class woman determined to achieve her dreams. Her co-star, Lorraine Ashbourne, who played her grandmother Joan, remains impressed by Willan’s honesty. Ashbourne told RT, “It took a lot of courage for Sophie to be so open while creating this show.”

Available on iPlayer

Big Boys

2022–2025, Channel 4

A surprising friendship blossoms in a messy student house. While the premise might seem familiar, writer Jack Rooke delivers unexpected moments. He explains, “I was inspired by The Royle Family – it could be serious when it needed to be, but it wasn’t afraid to be funny, too.”

Available on Channel 4 streaming

Brassic

2019–2025, Sky Max

Sky’s popular comedy series, starring Joe Gilgun and Michelle Keegan, centers around a group of small-time criminals. According to co-creator Danny Brocklehurst, the show’s success comes from balancing playful humor with very frank language. He explains that while the series tackles important issues, it does so within a lighthearted and funny setting.

Available on NOW

Catastrophe

2015–2019, Channel 4

A surprise pregnancy brought two near-strangers, portrayed by writers Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan, together in a romantic relationship. Delaney remembers they focused on staying true to their vision while creating the story. “We really wrote about what we wanted,” he says, “and that authenticity, I think, is why it worked.”

Available on Netflix

Changing Ends

2023–present, ITVX

In this coming-of-age story set in the 1980s, comedian Alan Carr looks back at some embarrassing moments from his childhood. He explains he challenged himself to write jokes that weren’t reliant on profanity, aiming for humor that genuinely connects with audiences.

Available on ITVX

Chewing Gum

2015–2017, E4

Michaela Coel shines as Tracey Gordon, a woman navigating her desire for sexual freedom while grappling with her religious upbringing. According to executive producer Nana Hughes, Coel offered a fresh and unique perspective on life in a London public housing complex.

Available on Channel 4 streaming

Derry Girls

2018–2022, Channel 4

A brilliant cast portrays a group of quirky Northern Irish high school students, for whom everyday teenage problems feel like the biggest struggles. According to creator Lisa McGee, it’s incredibly rewarding to represent people from her community on screen.

Available on Channel 4 streaming

Detectorists

2014–2022, BBC Four

Mackenzie Crook admits that the idea for ‘Detectorists’ seemed unusual, but the show – about people who enjoy metal detecting – unexpectedly became a source of comfort for many viewers. He initially resisted being called a ‘comfort watch,’ but now understands why it fits. He believes a show can still be funny even if it’s gentle and low-key.

Available on iPlayer

Dreaming Whilst Black

2021–present, BBC Three

Kwabena, an aspiring screenwriter played by Adjani Salmon, is trying to make it in the entertainment industry with a unique show that mixes comedy, workplace situations, love stories, and observations about society. Salmon explains they aren’t following typical sitcom rules, which gives them the freedom to surprise viewers whenever they want.

Available on iPlayer

Fleabag

2016–2019, BBC Three

Phoebe Waller-Bridge became famous thanks to the television version of her stage show. According to Shane Allen, who oversaw the project, it quickly became a massive hit. He credits Waller-Bridge’s unique personality and innovative writing for making “Fleabag” so captivating and successful.

Available on iPlayer

Friday Night Dinner

2011–2020, C4

Family gatherings can be chaotic, and the Goodmans – a TV family inspired by the creator’s own relatives – perfectly captured that stress in a hilarious way. Robert Popper, the show’s creator, admits he enjoys watching things fall apart on screen, saying it’s fun to watch viewers squirm and wonder what will happen next.

Available on Channel 4 streaming

Ghosts

2019–2023, BBC One

The popular show “Creating Ghosts” captivated audiences with its lighthearted take on the paranormal. Star Martha Howe-Douglas recalls it being a huge success, exceeding all expectations. She emphasizes that, at its heart, the show was simply a group of friends enjoying their work together.

Available on iPlayer

Inside No. 9

2014–2024, BBC Two

While not a typical BBC comedy, this unsettling series managed to deliver plenty of laughs over nine seasons, earning its place as a standout show. According to co-writer Steve Pemberton, its unique style – crafted by just two people, himself and Reece Shearsmith – makes it unlikely to be replicated.

Available on iPlayer

Man Like Mobeen

2017–2025, BBC Three

Mobeen (Guz Khan) is a former drug dealer now raising his teenage sister, and this sitcom tackles real-life issues with honesty. Khan describes it as a show about the power of friendship and finding humor in everyday life. He points out that it’s rare to see working-class men on British television portrayed as caring and supportive as the characters in this series.

Available on iPlayer

Mid Morning Matters

2010–2016, Sky Atlantic

Neil and Rob Gibbons brought Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan) back to life with this look at his local radio show in North Norfolk. According to Neil, the show isn’t about large, elaborate scenes like older episodes. Instead, it’s packed with lots of different kinds of jokes, offering a pure, concentrated dose of Alan’s humor.

Available on NOW

Motherland

2016–2022, BBC Two

This series hilariously portrays the everyday struggles of parents in the suburbs, including one dedicated stay-at-home dad. It’s best known for Lucy Punch’s memorable performance as the delightfully snobbish Amanda. According to co-creator Holly Walsh, the show’s appeal lies in the relatable truth that even those who seem to have it all aren’t always happy, which is something everyone can connect with.

Available on iPlayer

Mum

2016–2019, BBC Two

Lesley Manville beautifully portrays Cathy Walker, a widow who gradually develops a connection with her friend Michael (Peter Mullan). According to creator Stefan Golaszewski, the show unfolds slowly, which is a difficult approach to pull off. He adds that the final outcome was likely unexpected.

Available on iPlayer

People Just Do Nothing

2014–2018, BBC Three

This funny and awkward comedy series followed the real people behind an illegal pirate radio station. Asim Chaudhry, who wrote and starred in the show, remembers that the BBC were understandably worried about them – they weren’t professional actors or writers. Despite this, the BBC did support the project and everyone involved learned a lot, though it wasn’t always a smooth process.

Available on iPlayer

Peter Kay’s Car Share

2015—2018, BBC One

Peter Kay and Sian Gibson created a hit with their funny series about everyday drives to work. The show resonated with audiences because of its realistic humor and the subtle romantic connection between the characters. “We had a natural comedic chemistry,” explains Gibson. “The genuine fun we had while filming really shines through in the show.”

Stath Lets Flats

2018–2021, Channel 4

It’s rare for a comedy character to feel so instantly real, but Stath Charalambos (played by Jamie Demetriou) was one of those. The show quickly gained a dedicated audience, even if the properties Stath tried to sell didn’t! “I’m always grateful people enjoyed the show,” Demetriou says.

Available on Channel 4 streaming

Such Brave Girls

2023–present, BBC Three

This hilarious and quirky sitcom, created by Kat Sadler, centers on a mother and her grown daughters and their playfully sharp interactions. According to executive producer Jack Bayles, the show is full of both funny moments and relatable characters, while also honestly exploring difficult topics like trauma and mental health.

Available on iPlayer

This Country

2017–2020, BBC Three

Charlie and Daisy May Cooper brilliantly capture the realities of country life in what many consider one of the best mockumentary-style shows ever made. Shane Allen, a commissioner at the BBC, calls them “comedy geniuses” and believes the show is a modern classic that people will enjoy for years to come.

Available on iPlayer

Toast of London

2012–2020, Channel 4

Matt Berry created the strange and humorous world of the character Steven Toast. He explains to RT that he and co-creator Arthur Mathews focused on what they found funny, trusting Channel 4 would agree. He adds that the channel surprisingly gave them complete creative freedom.

Available on NOW

W1A

2014–2017, BBC Two

The BBC comedy series follows Ian Fletcher (played by Hugh Bonneville) as he navigates the challenges of his job, dealing with both internal office dynamics and public attention. According to creator John Morton, who also developed the character for the show ‘Twenty Twelve,’ the series is about the struggles of organizing important work while getting bogged down in small details.

Available on iPlayer

Download the TopMob: What to Watch app today to get daily TV recommendations, discover new features, and easily add shows to your watchlist!

Authors

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig writes about scripted TV dramas and comedies for TopMob, keeping readers up-to-date on the newest and best shows. Before joining TopMob, he worked at Starburst Magazine and hosted The Winter King Podcast on ITVX. He also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Sheffield.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-02-09 19:10