View source for Britain's Best Sitcom

{{Short description|British TV series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Primary sources|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox television
| image                =
| image_size           =
| image_alt            =
| caption              =
| genre                = [[Documentary series|Documentary]]
| creator              =
| developer            =
| writer               = See [[#Episodes|list of episodes]]
| director             = See [[#Episodes|list of episodes]]
| creative_director    =
| presenter            = See [[#Episodes|list of episodes]]
| starring             =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme            =
| endtheme             =
| composer             =
| country              = United Kingdom
| language             = English
| num_series           = 1
| num_episodes         = 12
| list_episodes        = 
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
* Ricky Kelehar<br/>{{small|(episodes 2–11)}}
* Robin Ashbrook<br/>{{small|(episode 12)}}<ref name="bcg_credits">{{cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/britains_best_sitcom/cast_crew/full/ |title=Full ''Britain's Best Sitcom'' cast and crew credits |website=[[British Comedy Guide]] |access-date=31 March 2025}}</ref>
}}
| producer             = See [[#Episodes|list of episodes]]
| editor               =
| location             =
| cinematography       =
| camera               = 
| runtime              = {{plainlist|
* 180 min. {{small|(ep. 1)}}
* 60 min. {{small|(ep. 2–11)}}
* 90 min. {{small|(ep. 12)}}
}}
| company              = [[BBC Manchester]]
| channel              = [[BBC Two]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|2004|01|10|df=yes}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2004|03|27|df=yes}}
| related              = <!-- To be used only for remakes, spin-offs, and adaptations. -->
}}

'''''Britain's Best Sitcom''''' is a 12-episode [[documentary series]] that [[BBC Two]] transmitted from 10 January to 27 March 2004. It was part of a nationwide media campaign and [[opinion poll]] conducted by the [[BBC]] in 2003 and 2004.

The BBC asked television viewers to select their favourite [[British sitcom|British situation comedies]] from a list of 100, with the option to supply one [[write-in candidate]]. In the first poll, conducted in August 2003, viewers could vote via telephone or the BBC's website; the second, conducted January–March 2004, added the option of voting by [[text message]]. This second poll coincided with the television programme, which celebrated the top 50 sitcoms from the first poll, and urged viewers to vote their preference from the top 10.

In the three-hour premiere episode, [[Jonathan Ross]] summarised the progress of the poll, and presented video clips from the bottom 40 of the 50 sitcoms that received the most votes.<ref name="2004_press_release" /> Each of the next ten weekly episodes, one hour in length, focused on one [[sitcom]].<ref name="2003_press_release">{{Cite press release |date=30 December 2003 |title=BBC TWO asks the nation what is Britain's Best Sitcom? |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/12_december/30/best_sitcom.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418225813/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/12_december/30/best_sitcom.shtml |archive-date=18 April 2005 |publisher=BBC |location=London |access-date=8 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="2004_press_release" /> In each episode, a different presenter advocated a particular sitcom, delivering 20 reasons why it deserved viewers' votes.<ref name="2003_press_release" /><ref name="2004_press_release" /> The sitcom's writers and actors, as well as celebrity viewers, also shared their own perspectives and memories. In the 90-minute finale, transmitted live, Jonathan Ross announced the top sitcom to be ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''.

''Britain's Best Sitcom'' was preceded by the BBC Two programmes ''[[Great Britons]]'' (2002) and ''[[The Big Read]]'' (2003), each of which was also based on national opinion polls.

==Structure of the polls==
===Round one: Selecting the top 50===


Before the opening the poll, the [[BBC]] compiled a list of 100 "top [British] sitcoms" based on input from "sitcom writers and TV comedy experts".<ref name="ballot">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/vote.shtml |title=Britain's Best Sitcom - Your Vote |date=28 July 2003 |website=[[BBC Online|BBCi]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20030815093613/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/vote.shtml |archive-date=15 August 2003}}</ref> This list constituted the nominees for the first of the two rounds of votes solicited from the public.

The BBC posted a homepage and ballot [[web page]] for the Britain's Best Sitcom poll to the [[BBC Online|BBCi]] website on 28 July 2003. In August, they advertised the poll in the ''[[Radio Times]]'' magazine, on the BBCi website, and via the national [[teletext]] service [[Ceefax]],<ref name="2004_press_release" /> inviting the public to "have your say"<ref name="ballot" /> and "play {{Smallcaps|your}} part in a major television event".<ref name="homepage">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/ |title=Britain's Best Sitcom - Your Vote |website=[[BBC Online|BBCi]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20030815092902/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/ |archive-date=15 August 2003}}</ref>

The ballot required voters either to select 10 sitcoms from the list, or to select nine and then nominate a [[write-in candidate]].<ref name="ballot" /> Voters could not rank their 10 selections by preference. Votes by telephone incurred a charge of 10 pence per minute.<ref name="homepage" /> On 30 December 2003, the BBC published a [[press release]] promoting the forthcoming ''Britain's Best Sitcom'' series on BBC Two, and listing the 50 sitcoms that received the most votes. The list was alphabetical; it did not reveal the number of votes that any sitcom received, or its rank in the list. It contained no write-in candidates.<ref name="2003_press_release" />

===Round two: The top 10===
====The launch====
On 10 January 2004, the BBC published another press release to promote the series, which was to begin that night on BBC Two.<ref name="2004_press_release">{{Cite press release |title=The battle of the sitcoms begins... |date=10 January 2004 |publisher=BBC |location=London |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/01_january/10/sitcom_top_ten.shtml |access-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> The press release provided more details about the programme and the vote, including an alphabetical list of the 10 finalists, and a ranked list of the rest of the top 50 sitcoms. The premiere episode of ''Britain's Best Sitcom'' began at 9 PM and concluded at midnight.<ref name="genome_launch">{{cite web |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3ecbd598e5a2474daef137f99ef1d034 |title=Britain's Best Sitcom: The Launch |website=[[BBC Genome Project]] |publisher=BBC |access-date=2025-03-30}}</ref> From ''[[Goodnight Sweetheart (TV series)|Goodnight Sweetheart]]'' (number 50) to ''[[Father Ted]]'' (number 11), it counted down the 40 highest-ranked sitcoms that did not receive enough votes to place it in the top 10.<ref name="2004_press_release" />

====The vote====
Each of the next 10 episodes of ''Britain's Best Sitcom'' was one hour long, and devoted to one of the 10 finalists. The "celebrity advocate" in each episode gave 20 reasons why their sitcom was the best. Their arguments were illustrated by video clips from the sitcom. On-screen messages in the episodes, as well as web pages in the BBC's website, and listings in the ''Radio Times''—informed viewers and readers that they could vote by telephone, by [[text message]] ([[Short Message Service|SMS]]), or online. Voting by text message was only possible in this final round of voting. Votes by telephone were less expensive than in the first round, because they lasted no more than one minute. A vote by telephone cost 10 pence; a vote by text message incurred a charge of 10–12 pence, depending on the [[mobile network operator]].<ref name="2004_press_release" /> For each of the finalists, online voters had access to an essay about the sitcom (from the BBCi Guide to Comedy), a selection of quotes from the advocate's arguments and from online comments, and an annotated video clip of a scene from one episode.<ref name="ballot2">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/vote.shtml/ |title=Britain's Best Sitcom - Vote |website=BBCi |publisher=BBC |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040223053953/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/vote.shtml/ |archive-date=23 February 2004}}</ref>

The poll opened at 9 PM on 10 January 2004 (when the ''Britain's Best Sitcom'' premiere began). The voting rules allowed up to five people per household to vote. After the transmission of each weekly episode, viewer's had an opportunity to change their vote.<ref name="rules">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/vote_rules.shtml |title=Britain's Best Sitcom - Voting rules |website=BBCi |publisher=BBC |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040208082704/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/vote_rules.shtml |archive-date=8 February 2004}}</ref><ref name="vote_thanks">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/vote_thanks.shtml |title=Britain's Best Sitcom - Thankyou for voting |website=BBCi |publisher=BBC |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040112040844/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/vote_thanks.shtml |archive-date=12 January 2004}}</ref> The BBC collected [[demographic profile]] data as part of the poll. It required online voters to answer three [[market segmentation]] questions: whether they are male or female; which region of the UK they live in, and which age group they belong to.<ref name="ballot2" /><ref name="rules" /> Voting closed on the night of 27 March 2004.<ref name="rules" />

====The result====
Near the end of the live, final episode of ''Britain's Best Sitcom'', [[Jonathan Ross]] announced ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'' to be the top sitcom by popular vote. After the programme's conclusion, the BBC published a ranked list of all 100 sitcoms on their website, along with the official vote tally for the top 10.<ref name="top10">{{Cite web |year=2004 |title=The Final Top Ten Sitcoms |url=http://www.bbcattic.org/sitcom/winner.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013160237/http://www.bbcattic.org/sitcom/winner.shtml |archive-date=13 October 2014 |access-date=8 October 2014 |website=bbcattic.org |publisher=[[BBC]] |location=London}}</ref><ref name="top10_info">{{Cite web |year=2004 |title=Britain's Best Sitcom: The Top 10 |url=http://www.bbcattic.org/sitcom/top10.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013155339/http://www.bbcattic.org/sitcom/top10.shtml |archive-date=13 October 2014 |access-date=8 October 2014 |website=bbcattic.org |publisher=[[BBC]] |location=London}}</ref><ref name="11-100">{{Cite web |year=2004 |title=Britain's Best Sitcom: Top 11 to 100 |url=http://www.bbcattic.org/sitcom/top11to100.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013153757/http://www.bbcattic.org/sitcom/top11to100.shtml |archive-date=13 October 2014 |access-date=8 October 2014 |website=bbcattic.org |publisher=[[BBC]] |location=London}}</ref>

==Episodes==
{{Episode table |total_width=auto |overall= |title= |director= |directorR=<ref name="bcg_credits" /> |writer= |writerR=<ref name="bcg_credits" /> |Aux1= |aux1T=Presented by |Aux1R=<ref name="bcg_credits" /><ref name="2004_press_release" /> |Aux2= |Aux2T=Produced by |Aux2R=<ref name="bcg_credits" /> |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|Title=The Launch
|DirectedBy=Andy Devonshire
|WrittenBy=[[Robin Ince]], [[Steve Punt]], Lloyd Stanton
|Aux1=[[Jonathan Ross]]
|Aux2=Shirley Hunt Benson, Will Bryant, Stephen McGinn, Cybele Rowbottom<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2199830/fullcredits |title=''Britain's Best Sitcom'' The Launch (TV Episode 2004) Full Cast & Crew |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=31 March 2025}}</ref>
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|1|10|df=yes}}<ref name="2004_press_release" /><ref name="genome_launch" />
|EpisodeNumber=1
|ShortSummary=Jonathan Ross recaps the 50 top British sitcoms, as determined by an electronic poll conducted in 2003.
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=Blackadder
|DirectedBy=[[Garry John Hughes]]
|WrittenBy=[[Phill Jupitus]]
|Aux1=[[John Sergeant (journalist)|John Sergeant]]
|Aux2=[[Garry John Hughes]]
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|1|17|df=yes}}
|EpisodeNumber=2
|ShortSummary=John Sergeant advocates ''[[Blackadder]]'', a series of historical farces that premiered in 1983 on [[BBC1]].
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=Fawlty Towers
|DirectedBy=Matt O'Casey
|WrittenBy=[[Jack Dee]]
|Aux1=[[Jack Dee]]
|Aux2=Matt O'Casey
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|1|24|df=yes}}
|EpisodeNumber=3
|ShortSummary=Jack Dee advocates ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'', a comedy set in a dysfunctional hotel that premiered on [[BBC2]] in 1975 and ran for two series.
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=The Good Life
|DirectedBy=[[Becky Martin]]
|WrittenBy=[[Robin Ince]], Richard Webber
|Aux1=[[Ulrika Jonsson]]
|Aux2=Mark Turnbull
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|1|31|df=yes}}
|EpisodeNumber=4
|ShortSummary=Ulrika Jonsson advocates ''[[The Good Life (1975 TV series)|The Good Life]]'', a sitcom about a middle-class English couple who make an attempt at farming at their house in the southwest London suburb of [[Surbiton]]. It premiered on [[BBC1]] in 1975.
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=Yes Minister
|DirectedBy=[[Andy Devonshire]]
|WrittenBy=[[Armando Iannucci]]
|Aux1=[[Armando Iannucci]]
|Aux2=Verity Newman
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|2|7|df=yes}}
|EpisodeNumber=5
|ShortSummary=Armando Iannucci advocates ''[[Yes Minister]]'' and ''[[Yes, Prime Minister]]'', a [[political satire]] that premiered on [[BBC2]] in 1980 and its sequel.
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=One Foot in the Grave
|DirectedBy=Elaine Shepherd
|WrittenBy=Lloyd Stanton
|Aux1=[[Rowland Rivron]]
|Aux2=Elaine Shepherd
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|2|14|df=yes}}
|EpisodeNumber=6
|ShortSummary=Rowland Rivron advocates ''[[One Foot in the Grave]]'', a [[dark comedy]] about the trials of an elderly curmudgeon and his longsuffering wife. It premiered on [[BBC1]] in 1990.
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=Porridge
|DirectedBy=Stephen Franklin
|WrittenBy=[[Johnny Vaughan]], [[Steve Punt]]
|Aux1=[[Johnny Vaughan]]
|Aux2=Stephen Franklin
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|2|21|df=yes}}
|EpisodeNumber=7
|ShortSummary=Johnny Vaughan advocates BBC1's ''[[Porridge (1974 TV series)|Porridge]]'' (1975–1978), about two men—one middle-aged, the other a young newcomer—serving time in a British prison.
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=Only Fools and Horses
|DirectedBy={{?}}
|WrittenBy={{?}}
|Aux1=[[David Dickinson]]
|Aux2=Gerard Barry
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|2|28|df=yes}}
|EpisodeNumber=8
|ShortSummary=David Dickinson advocates ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', which centres on an ambitious [[Cockney]] [[market trader]] called [[Del Boy]]. It premiered on BBC1 in 1981.
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=Open All Hours
|DirectedBy=Andrew Nicholson
|WrittenBy={{?}}
|Aux1=[[Clarissa Dickson Wright]]
|Aux2=Andrew Nicholson
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|3|6|df=yes}}
|EpisodeNumber=9
|ShortSummary=Clarissa Dickson Wright advocates ''[[Open All Hours]]'', which premiered on BBC2 in 1973. It concerns a [[South Yorkshire]] shopkeeper and his wistful nephew.
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=The Vicar of Dibley
|DirectedBy=Karina Brennan
|WrittenBy=Stuart Maconie
|Aux1=[[Carol Vorderman]]
|Aux2=Karina Brennan
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|3|13|df=yes}}
|EpisodeNumber=10
|ShortSummary=Carol Vorderman advocates ''[[The Vicar of Dibley]]'', in which Geraldine, the buxom new vicar of a small village in [[Oxfordshire]], lives among a colourful cast of characters there – and encounters some opposition. BBC1 premiered ''The Vicar of Dibley'' in 1994.
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=Dad's Army
|DirectedBy=Norman Hull
|WrittenBy=[[Andre Vincent]], Phil Wilding
|Aux1=[[Phill Jupitus]]
|Aux2=Norman Hull
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|3|20|df=yes}}<ref name="genome_army">{{cite web |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bc37a7f2fa03448c9eb5d52980f67c74 |title=Britain's Best Sitcom: Dad's Army |website=[[BBC Genome Project]] |publisher=BBC |access-date=2025-03-30}}</ref>
|EpisodeNumber=11
|ShortSummary=Phill Jupitus advocates ''[[Dad's Army]]''. Set during the [[Second World War]], it introduces viewers to an unlikely group of [[Home Guard (United Kingdom)|Home Guard]] volunteers on England's south coast.  The series ran from 1968 on BBC1.
|LineColor=
}}

{{Episode list
|Title=The Top 50 Countdown
|DirectedBy=[[Alex Hardcastle]]
|WrittenBy={{?}}
|Aux1=Jonathan Ross
|Aux2=[[Alex Hardcastle]]
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2004|3|27|df=yes}}<ref name="genome_countdown">{{cite web |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f5c8df6dc65e4c5bb9379f6b1d1d0a83 |title=Britain's Best Sitcom: the Top 50 Countdown |website=[[BBC Genome Project]] |publisher=BBC |access-date=2025-03-30}}</ref>
|EpisodeNumber=12
|ShortSummary=All 10 advocates return for this live finale. Jonathon Ross counts down the top 50 sitcoms once again before announcing which of the finalists received the most votes from viewers.<ref name="2004_press_release" /><ref name="2003_press_release" /><ref name="genome_countdown" />
|LineColor=
}}
}}

==The ''Britain's Best Sitcom'' Top 100==

{| class="wikitable sortable center"
|+ Top 100 sitcoms<ref name="top10" /><ref name="11-100" />
|-
! scope="col" | Rank
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Years transmitted<br/>{{small|(as of 2003)}}
! scope="col" | Channel
! scope="col" | Number of votes
|- style="background-color: #e6f5c9"
! scope="row" | 1
| ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''
| 1981–1993, 1996, 2001–2003{{efn-lr|BBC One transmitted "[[Sleepless in Peckham]]", the 2003 Christmas special and final episode of ''Only Fools and Horses'', between the first and final rounds of voting.}}
| [[BBC1]]
| 342,426
|- style="background-color: #fff2ae"
! scope="row" | 2
| ''[[Blackadder]]''
| 1983–1989, 1999
| [[BBC1]]
| 282,106
|- style="background-color: #fff2ae"
! scope="row" | 3
| ''[[The Vicar of Dibley]]''
| 1994–2000{{efn-lr|Britain's Best Sitcom preceded the ''Vicar of Dibley'' Christmas and New Year specials transmitted by BBC One in 2004–2007.}}
| [[BBC1]]
| 212,927
|- style="background-color: #fff2ae"
! scope="row" | 4
| ''[[Dad's Army]]''
| 1968–1977
| [[BBC1]]
| 174,138
|- style="background-color: #fff2ae"
! scope="row" | 5
| ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''
| 1975–1979
| [[BBC2]]
| 172,066
|- style="background-color: #fff2ae"
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 6
| ''[[Yes Minister]]''
| 1980–1982, 1984
| rowspan="2" | [[BBC2]]
| rowspan="2" | 123,502
|- style="background-color: #fff2ae"
| ''[[Yes, Prime Minister]]''
| 1987–1988
|- style="background-color: #fff2ae"
! scope="row" | 7
| ''[[Porridge (1974 TV series)|Porridge]]''
| 1974–1977
| [[BBC1]]
| 93,902
|- style="background-color: #fff2ae"
! scope="row" | 8
| ''[[Open All Hours]]''
| 1976–1985
| [[BBC1]]
| 67,237
|- style="background-color: #fff2ae"
! scope="row" | 9
| ''[[The Good Life (1975 TV series)|The Good Life]]''
| 1975–1978
| [[BBC1]]
| 40,803
|- style="background-color: #fff2ae"
! scope="row" | 10
| ''[[One Foot in the Grave]]''
| 1990–2000
| [[BBC1]]
| 31,410
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 11
| ''[[Father Ted]]''
| 1995–1998
| [[Channel 4]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 12
| ''[[Keeping Up Appearances]]''
| 1990–1995
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 13
| ''[['Allo 'Allo!]]''
| 1982–1992
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 14
| ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]''
| 1973–2003{{efn-lr|The first round of voting preceded series 25–31 of ''Last of the Summer Wine''. [[Last of the Summer Wine series 31|Series 31]] concluded in 2010.}}
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 15
| ''[[Steptoe and Son]]''
| 1962–1974
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 16
| ''[[Men Behaving Badly]]''
| 1992–1998
| [[ITV1|ITV]] {{small|(series 1–2)}}<br>[[BBC1]] {{small|(series 3–7)}}
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 17
| ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]''
| 1992–1996, 2001–2003{{efn-lr|The first round of voting preceded [[Absolutely Fabulous series 5|''Absolutely Fabulous'' series 5]] (October–December 2003), the 2004 Christmas special, and the [[Absolutely Fabulous: 20th Anniversary|''20th Anniversary'']] series (2011–2012).}}
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 18
| ''[[Red Dwarf]]''
| 1988–1999{{efn-lr|name=dwarf}}
| [[BBC2]]{{efn-lr|name=dwarf|Britain's Best Sitcom preceded the ''Red Dwarf'' revival series and specials transmitted by [[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]].}}
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 19
| ''[[The Royle Family]]''
| 1998–2000{{efn-lr|Britain's Best Sitcom preceded the five [[List of The Royle Family episodes#Specials_(2006–2012)|''Royle Family'' specials]] that BBC One transmitted in 2006–2012.}}
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 20
| ''[[Are You Being Served?]]''
| 1972–1985
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 21
| ''[[To the Manor Born]]''
| 1979–1981{{efn-lr|Britain's Best Sitcom preceded the ''To the Manor Born'' [[List of To the Manor Born episodes#Christmas_Special_.282007.29|Christmas special]] that BBC One transmitted in 2007.}}
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 22
| ''[[Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em]]''
| 1973–1978
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | 23
| ''[[The Likely Lads]]''
| 1964–1966
| [[BBC1]]
| rowspan="2" {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
| ''[[Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?]]''
| 1973–1974
| [[BBC2]]
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 24
| ''[[My Family]]''
| 2000–2003{{efn-lr|The first round of voting preceded the ''My Family'' 2003 Christmas special, as well as [[List of My Family episodes#Series_5_.282004.E2.80.9305.29|series 5–11]] and their respective Christmas specials (2004–2011). Since series 11 had no Christmas special, that series' final episode was the programme's send-off.}}
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 25
| ''[[The Office (British TV series)|The Office]]''
| 2001–2002{{efn-lr|name=office|The first round of voting preceded [[The Office Christmas specials|''The Office'' Christmas specials]] (2003) and [[List of The Office (British TV series) episodes#The_Return_of_Brent_(2013)|''The Return of Brent'']] (2013).}}
| [[BBC2]]{{efn-lr|name=office}}
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 26
| ''[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]''
| 1990–1998
| [[Channel 4]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 27
| ''[[Rising Damp]]''
| 1974–1978
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 28
| ''[[Dinnerladies (TV series)|dinnerladies]]''
| 1998–2000
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 29
| ''[[As Time Goes By (TV series)|As Time Goes By]]''
| 1992–2002{{efn-lr|Britain's Best Sitcom preceded the [[List of As Time Goes By episodes#Series_10_(2005)|''As Times Goes By'' reunion specials]] transmitted by BBC One in 2005.}}
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 30
| ''[[Hancock's Half Hour]]''
| 1956–1961
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 31
| ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]''
| 1982–1984
| [[BBC2]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 32
| ''[[Till Death Us Do Part]]''
| 1965–1975
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 33
| ''[[Butterflies (TV series)|Butterflies]]''
| 1978–1983
| [[BBC2]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 34
| ''[[The Thin Blue Line (British TV series)|The Thin Blue Line]]''
| 1995–1996
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 35
| ''[[The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin]]''
| 1976–1979, 1982
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 36
| ''[[Phoenix Nights]]''
| 2001–2002
| [[Channel 4]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 37
| ''[[Waiting for God (TV series)|Waiting for God]]''
| 1990–1994
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 38
| ''[[Birds of a Feather (TV series)|Birds of a Feather]]''
| 1989–1998
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 39
| ''[[Bread (TV series)|Bread]]''
| 1986–1991
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 40
| ''[[Hi-de-Hi!]]''
| 1980–1988
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 41
| ''[[The League of Gentlemen]]''
| 1999–2002
| [[BBC2]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 42
| ''[[I'm Alan Partridge]]''
| 1997–2002
| [[BBC2]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 43
| ''[[Just Good Friends]]''
| 1983–1986
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 44
| ''[[2point4 children]]''
| 1991–1999
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 45
| ''[[Bottom (TV series)|Bottom]]''
| 1991–1995
| [[BBC2]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 46
| ''[[It Ain't Half Hot Mum]]''
| 1974–1981
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 47
| ''[[The Brittas Empire]]''
| 1991–1997
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 48
| ''[[Gimme Gimme Gimme (TV series)|Gimme Gimme Gimme]]''
| 1999–2001
| [[BBC2]] {{small|(series 1)}}<br>[[BBC1]] {{small|(series 2–3)}}
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 49
| ''[[Rab C. Nesbitt]]''
| 1988–1999{{efn-lr|Britain's Best Sitcom preceded the ''Rab C. Nesbitt'' [[List of Rab C. Nesbitt episodes#Christmas_Special_(2008)|2008 Christmas special]], as well as [[List of Rab C. Nesbitt episodes#Series_9_.282010.29|series 9–10]] (2010–2011) and the [[List of Rab C. Nesbitt episodes#New_Year_Special_.282014.29|New Year special]] (January 2014).}}
| [[BBC2]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|- style="background: #fff"
! scope="row" | 50
| ''[[Goodnight Sweetheart (TV series)|Goodnight Sweetheart]]''
| 1993–1999
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 51
| ''[[Up Pompeii!]]''
| 1969–1970, 1975, 1991
| [[BBC1]]<br>[[ITV1|ITV]] {{small|(1991 special)}}
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 52
| ''[[Ever Decreasing Circles]]''
| 1984–1989
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 53
| ''[[On the Buses]]''
| 1969–1973
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 54
| ''[[Coupling (UK TV series)|Coupling]]''
| 2000–2002{{efn-lr|Britain's Best Sitcom preceded the [[List of Coupling episodes#Series_4_(2004)|fourth series of ''Coupling'']], which [[BBC Three]] transmitted May–June 2004.}}
| [[BBC2]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 55
| ''[[George and Mildred]]''
| 1976–1979
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 56
| ''[[A Fine Romance (1981 TV series)|A Fine Romance]]''
| 1981–1984
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 57
| ''[[Citizen Smith]]''
| 1977–1980
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 58
| ''[[Black Books]]''
| 2000–2002{{efn-lr|The first round of voting preceded the [[Black Books#Series_3_(2004)|third series of ''Black Books'']], which Channel 4 transmitted March–April 2004.}}
| [[Channel 4]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 59
| ''[[The Liver Birds]]''
| 1969–1996
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 60
| ''[[Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps]]''
| 2001–2003{{efn-lr|The first round of voting preceded [[List of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps episodes#Series_4_.282004.29|series 4–9]] of ''Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps''. The series concluded in 2011.}}
| [[BBC2]] {{small|(series 1)}}<br>[[BBC Choice]] {{small|(series 2)}}<br>[[BBC Three]] {{small|(series 3 onward)}}
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 61
| ''[[The New Statesman (1987 TV series)|The New Statesman]]''
| 1987–1994
| [[ITV1|ITV]]<br>[[BBC1]] {{small|(1994 special)}}
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 62
| ''[[Sykes (TV series)|Sykes]]''
| 1972–1979
| rowspan="2" | [[BBC1]]
| rowspan="2" {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
| ''[[Sykes and a...]]''
| 1960–1965
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 63
| ''[[Please Sir!]]''
| 1968–1972
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 64
| ''[[Dear John (UK TV series)|Dear John]]''
| 1986–1987
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 65
| ''[[Barbara (TV series)|Barbara]]''
| 1995–2003
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 66
| ''[[Spaced]]''
| 1999–2001
| [[Channel 4]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 67
| ''[[Bless This House (British TV series)|Bless This House]]''
| 1971–1976
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 68
| ''[[Love Thy Neighbour (1972 TV series)|Love Thy Neighbour]]''
| 1972–1976
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 69
| ''[[Man About the House]]''
| 1973–1976
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 70
| ''[[Desmond's]]''
| 1989–1994
| [[Channel 4]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 71
| ''[[Duty Free (TV series)|Duty Free]]''
| 1984–1986
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 72
| ''[[All Gas and Gaiters]]''
| 1966–1971
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 73
| ''[[Happy Ever After (UK TV series)|Happy Ever After]]''
| 1974–1979
| rowspan="2" | [[BBC1]]
| rowspan="2" {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
| ''[[Terry and June]]''
| 1979–1987
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 74
| ''[[Only When I Laugh (TV series)|Only When I Laugh]]''
| 1979–1982
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 75
| ''[[Brass (TV series)|Brass]]''
| 1983–1990
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 76
| ''[[The Rag Trade]]''
| 1961–1978
| [[BBC1]] {{small|(series 1–3)}}<br>[[ITV1|ITV]] {{small|(series 4–5)}}
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 77
| ''[[Sorry! (TV series)|Sorry!]]''
| 1981–1988
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 78
| ''[[Kiss Me Kate (TV series)|Kiss Me Kate]]''
| 1998–2000
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="6" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 79
| ''[[Doctor in the House (TV series)|Doctor in the House]]''
| 1969–1970
| rowspan="5" | [[ITV1|ITV]]
| rowspan="6" {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
| ''[[Doctor at Large (TV series)|Doctor at Large]]''
| 1971
|-
| ''[[Doctor in Charge]]''
| 1972–1973
|-
| ''[[Doctor at Sea (TV series)|Doctor at Sea]]''
| 1974
|-
| ''[[Doctor on the Go]]''
| 1975–1977
|-
| ''[[Doctor at the Top]]''
| 1991
| [[BBC1]]
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 80
| ''[[I Didn't Know You Cared]]''
| 1975–1979
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 81
| ''[[Shelley (TV series)|Shelley]]''
| 1979–1992
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 82
| ''[[Nearest and Dearest]]''
| 1968–1973
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 83
| ''[[Fresh Fields]]''
| 1984–1986
| rowspan="2" | [[ITV1|ITV]]
| rowspan="2" {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
| ''[[French Fields]]''
| 1989–1991
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 84
| ''[[The Army Game]]''
| 1957–1961
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 85
| ''[[Robin's Nest (TV series)|Robin's Nest]]''
| 1977–1981
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 86
| ''[[The Dustbinmen]]''
| 1969–1970
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 87
| ''[[Whoops Apocalypse]]''
| 1982
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 88
| ''[[My Wife Next Door]]''
| 1972
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 89
| ''[[Never the Twain]]''
| 1981–1991
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 90
| ''[[Nightingales (UK TV series)|Nightingales]]''
| 1990–1993
| [[Channel 4]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 91
| ''[[Early Doors]]''
| 2003{{efn-lr|Britain's Best Sitcom preceded [[Early Doors#Series_2|''Early Doors'' series 2]], which BBC Two transmitted September–October 2004.}}
| [[BBC2]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 92
| ''[[Agony (TV series)|Agony]]''
| 1979–1981
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 93
| ''[[The Lovers (1970 TV series)|The Lovers]]''
| 1970–1971
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 94
| ''[[Father, Dear Father]]''
| 1968–1973
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 95
| ''[[Hot Metal]]''
| 1986–1989
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 96
| ''[[...And Mother Makes Three]]''
| 1971–1973
| rowspan="2" | [[ITV1|ITV]]
| rowspan="2" {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
| ''[[...And Mother Makes Five]]''
| 1974–1976
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 97
| ''[[Life with The Lyons]]''
| 1955–1960
| [[BBC1]] / [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 98
| ''[[Marriage Lines]]''
| 1961–1966
| [[BBC1]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 99
| ''[[A Sharp Intake of Breath]]''
| 1977–1981
| [[ITV1|ITV]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|-
! scope="row" {{Rh2|align=center}} | 100
| ''[[No Problem! (TV series)|No Problem!]]''
| 1983–1985
| [[Channel 4]]
| {{n/a|Undisclosed}}
|}

===Notes===
{{notelist-lr}}

==Background==
''Britain's Best Sitcom'' was BBC Two's third television programme based on nationwide opinion polls between 2002 and 2004. It was preceded by the ''[[The Big Read]]'' (18 October – 13 December 2003) and ''[[Great Britons]]'' (20 October – 24 November 2002).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/britains_best_sitcom/ |title=''Britain's Best Sitcom'' |website=[[British Comedy Guide]] |access-date=30 March 2025}}</ref> ''The Big Read'' was based on a poll asking for readers' favourite novels; ''Great Britons'' was based on the 100 Great Britons poll, which asked members of the public to nominate people who were born in or lived in the [[British Isles]] (including [[Ireland]]), and who "played a significant part in the life of the British Isles."

All three polls were conducted during the tenure of [[Jane Root]] as controller of BBC Two.<ref name="2004_press_release" /><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bbc.com/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/05_may/11/big_read.shtml |date=11 May 2004 |title=BBC Big Read makes a big impact - one in three viewers say they will read more as a result |publisher=BBC |location=London |access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2208532.stm |title=BBC reveals 100 great British heroes |date=22 August 2002 |author=Staff writer |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=30 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/10_october/19/great_britons.shtml |title=BBC TWO reveals the ten greatest Britons of all time |date=19 October 2002 |publisher=BBC |location=London |access-date=30 March 2025}}</ref> Root served as the channel's controller (executive director of programming) from 1999 until 2004, when she left the BBC to head [[Discovery Networks]] in the United States.

==See also==
{{Portal|Television|United Kingdom}}

* ''[[Great Britons]]'' (2002)
* ''[[The Big Read]]'' (2003)
* [[Market research]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Lewisohn |title=Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy |publisher=[[BBC Consumer Publishing]] |year=2003 |isbn=0-563-48755-0 |edition=Revised 2nd |oclc=52830784 |ref=none}}

==External links==
* {{webarchive |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20030815092902/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/ |date=15 August 2003 |title=Britain's Best Sitcom}}
* {{British Comedy Guide|tv|britains_best_sitcom}}
* {{IMDb title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:BBC Two original programming]]
[[Category:BBC television documentaries]]
[[Category:BBC television comedy]]
[[Category:2004 in British television]]
[[Category:2004 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2004 British television series endings]]
[[Category:Top television lists]]
[[Category:British television-related lists]]
[[Category:Television series about television]]