Recently I caught a few old British shows on Sky and realised just how fabulous they were compared to a lot of other US shows. Given the technology available, they managed high quality television and best of all the scripts were really good, the acting great and many were very very funny.
So I have compiled a bit of a list of these shows. You may have forgotten some of them. I know I had. They are in alpha order because, really, it is just too hard to rank them.
‘Allo ‘Allo – 1982 – 1992 - written by David Croft, who also did Dad’s Army, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and Are You Being Served? What a talent. Unfortunately he died on the 27th September 2011. Do you remember “Good moaning”.
Absolutely Fabulous – known to all and sundry as Ab Fab. 1992-2004 The glorious Joanna Lumley as the lush Patsy. Truly hilarious. A real credit to Jennifer Saunders. Remember ditzy Bubbles?
Are you being served? So camp it could be a Carry On film. 1972-1985. The first years were the best as Young Mr Grace would say.
As Time Goes By – 1992-2005 - a vehicle for the simply divine Judi Dench and the ineffably stuff Geoffrey Palmer (not to be confused with the NZ Prime Minister of that name). Written by one of the writers of The Good Life. Subtle and gentle humour.
Birds of a Feather – 1989-1998 – starring Pauline Quirke (the tubby one – who has now in real life lost piles and piles of weight). And Linda Robson as her beautiful but thick sister. Lesley Joseph as neighbour Dorien Green is also a treat. Classy acting in a class based comedy.
Brideshead Revisited – 1981 Atmospheric mini series based on the book by Evelyn Waugh skilfully adapted by John Mortimer. Lush photography. Anthony Andrews as Sebastian Flyte is terrific.
Here are links to the other posts in this series:
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI
We watched Are You Being Served and As Time Goes By when they were shown on our PBS station. The rest are new to me.
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