50 Fun Facts About British Sitcoms

Which singer's No. 1 song gave the sitcom The Young Ones its name?

Cliff Richard's song was sung by the cast over the opening credits, and in 1986 they joined him and Hank Marvin on 'Living Doll', which topped the chart.

Which Monty Python member wrote and sang the theme song of One Foot in the Grave?

Eric Idle's theme carried the show through to its 2000 finale, in which Victor Meldrew is killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Which Steptoe and Son actor played Albert, then Paul McCartney's grandfather in A Hard Day's Night?

Wilfrid Brambell's Albert first appeared in 'The Offer', a 1962 Comedy Playhouse one-off so well received that Galton and Simpson quickly wrote a full series.

Under what title did America see the Surbiton self-sufficiency sitcom starring Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal?

Good Neighbors was the American title because the US already had a short-lived sitcom of its own called The Good Life.

Which Star Wars actress played Rob's mother in Catastrophe, her last on-screen television role?

Carrie Fisher died in December 2016, days after filming her scenes for series 3, and that series' last episode ends with the words 'For Carrie'.

Which comedian was Martin Clunes's first flatmate in Men Behaving Badly, before Neil Morrissey's Tony?

Harry Enfield felt ill-suited to sitcom and quit after series one, and the network nearly ended the show before Neil Morrissey came in as Tony.

Which actor joined Fleabag's second series as the priest that Fleabag falls for?

Andrew Scott's priest is never given a name, so the character became known everywhere simply as the 'Hot Priest'.

Which wartime entertainer sang the Dad's Army theme for 100 guineas, dying less than a year later?

Bud Flanagan's theme was a new pastiche of the wartime songs he had sung with Chesney Allen, yet at the time many believed it was a real wartime song.

Which BBC wartime drama about a Resistance escape line did 'Allo 'Allo! set out to parody?

Secret Army was spoofed so closely that 'Allo 'Allo! borrowed some of its characters and storylines, from the café owner's affair to the forged paintings.

Which Twilight actor replaced Andy Samberg in BBC Three's Cuckoo, playing the missing hippie's lost son?

Taylor Lautner took over in 2014 as Dale, the son Cuckoo never knew he had, because Samberg's schedule had made a second series uncertain.

Which actor plays The IT Crowd's technical genius Maurice Moss?

Richard Ayoade was the only original cast member NBC kept for its American remake, reprising Moss in a 2007 pilot that never made it to air.

Which Friends actor won a Golden Globe for playing a satirical version of himself in Episodes?

Matt LeBlanc's show-within-the-show turns the writers' award-winning boarding-school comedy into Pucks!, a slapstick comedy about a hockey coach.

Which Fawlty Towers episode has Basil running a fire drill while Sybil is in hospital with an ingrowing toenail?

The Germans also left Andrew Sachs with chemical burns when the smoke effect on Manuel's clothes soaked through during filming.

Which Craggy Island priest, played by Frank Kelly, shares the parochial house with Ted and Dougal?

Father Jack Hackett was Frank Kelly's part for all three series, and Dermot Morgan, who played Ted, died of a heart attack one day after filming on the third series wrapped.

Which actor plays The Royle Family's armchair-bound patriarch Jim, forever muttering 'my arse'?

Ricky Tomlinson, Jim, had been jailed in the 1970s as a Shrewsbury building-strike picket, and in 2021 the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction.

Which Keeping Up Appearances character, Daisy's 'bone idle' husband, is played by Geoffrey Hughes?

Onslow's actor Geoffrey Hughes had played Coronation Street's Eddie Yeats, and returned briefly in 1987 for Hilda Ogden's farewell.

Which chief Yellowcoat at Maplins in Hi-de-Hi! was played by Ruth Madoc?

Gladys Pugh spent the series smouldering over innocent camp manager Jeffrey Fairbrother, and looked down on chalet maid Peggy's dream of becoming a Yellowcoat.

Which Carry On regular co-starred with Tony Hancock on radio and television in Hancock's Half Hour?

Sid James lost his place after the 1960 series, partly because Tony Hancock feared they were becoming a double act.

Which 1973 sequel reunited James Bolam and Rodney Bewes as Bob and Terry?

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? stars Rodney Bewes and James Bolam later fell out; Bewes said they never spoke again, though Bolam denied any rift.

Which 1985 BBC sequel brought back Warren Mitchell as bigoted Alf Garnett from Till Death Us Do Part?

In Sickness and in Health carried on after Dandy Nichols, who played Alf's wife Else, died in 1986, and it ran until 1992.

Which ITV sitcom about Luxton's Stan Butler and Jack Harper spawned three feature films?

On the Buses was turned down by the BBC, which saw little comedy in a bus depot, so its writers took it to London Weekend Television instead.

Which 1978 sequel to Porridge followed Ronnie Barker's Fletcher after his release from Slade?

Going Straight lasted just six episodes: Ronnie Barker agreed to only one series, having already ended Porridge so he wouldn't get stuck in one character.

Which sitcom did Eric Chappell adapt from his 1973 stage play The Banana Box?

Rising Damp's Philip claims to be an African chief's son, but the 1980 film finally reveals he is really from Croydon.

Which sitcom's Audrey fforbes-Hamilton loses her estate to supermarket millionaire Richard DeVere?

To the Manor Born began when Peter Spence was asked for a new vehicle for Penelope Keith after The Good Life, and made her an inversion of social-climbing Margo.

Which writing duo created Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister?

Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn's show was Margaret Thatcher's favourite, and in 1984 she performed a sketch with its stars at an award ceremony.

Which West Yorkshire town was the setting and filming base of Last of the Summer Wine for 37 years?

Holmfirth was home to Roy Clarke's show for 37 years, and its filming locations became a worldwide tourist attraction.

Which 1973 ITV flatshare sitcom spawned the spin-offs George and Mildred and Robin's Nest?

Man About the House was remade in America as Three's Company, with Robin Tripp reworked as John Ritter's Jack Tripper.

Which group does Robert Lindsay's Wolfie Smith lead in Citizen Smith, demanding 'Power to the People'?

The Tooting Popular Front's revolution never quite came, though in one episode Wolfie's gang stole an army tank for the cause.

Which Ronnie Corbett sitcom's 41-year-old librarian Timothy Lumsden is forever told 'Language, Timothy!'?

Sorry!'s famous rebuke comes from Timothy's dad, Sidney, who mistakes his son's innocent remarks for rude ones.

Which sitcom unites sisters Sharon and Tracey in Chigwell after their husbands are jailed for robbery?

Birds of a Feather's creators pitched a revival to the BBC, which offered only a Christmas special, so ITV brought it back in 2014 to 7.8 million viewers.

Which Channel 4 sitcom set in a Peckham barbershop, starring Norman Beaton, ran for 71 episodes?

Desmond's ended in 1994 because of Norman Beaton's health, and he died just days before its final episode was broadcast.

In which sitcom does Nicholas Lyndhurst's Gary Sparrow reach wartime London through Duckett's Passage?

Goodnight Sweetheart has Gary leading a double life, married to Yvonne in the present while romancing wartime barmaid Phoebe.

Which Channel 4 newsroom sitcom was recorded close to transmission so it could joke about real news?

Drop the Dead Donkey's cast were often handed new topical lines hours before recording, and Robert Maxwell's death nearly ruined a whole episode.

Which Victoria Wood sitcom is set almost entirely inside HWD Components, a fictional Manchester factory?

Dinnerladies lasted just two series and 16 episodes, but its canteen crew has since been adapted for the stage.

Who co-created Spaced with Simon Pegg, playing Daisy Steiner opposite his Tim Bisley?

Jessica Hynes, then credited as Jessica Stevenson, co-wrote Spaced, whose Daisy and Tim pose as a couple to rent a flat offered to professional couples only.

Which comedian plays Manny, the accountant who walks into Black Books seeking The Little Book of Calm?

Bill Bailey's Manny accidentally eats The Little Book of Calm, turns serene, and quits accountancy to work in the bookshop.

Which Peter Kay sitcom about a Bolton working men's club spun off Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere?

Phoenix Nights' owner Brian Potter had already lost two clubs, the Aquarius to a flood and the Neptune to fire.

Which Steven Moffat sitcom grew out of his relationship with producer Sue Vertue?

Coupling was remade by NBC as a possible Friends replacement, but the American version was cancelled after only four episodes had aired.

Which Steve Coogan sitcom has its fallen TV host living in a roadside hotel and presenting on Norwich radio?

In I'm Alan Partridge, Alan pretends to live with his biggest fan, Jed, until TV executives discover that Jed's house holds a shrine to him.

Which Peep Show character, Jeremy's drug-taking bandmate, is played by Matt King?

Super Hans's real name was finally given as Simon at his wedding, though the writers said they weren't ready to commit to Simon.

Which catchphrase-laden sitcom does Andy Millman star in during the second series of Extras?

When the Whistle Blows becomes a hit of cheesy catchphrases that critics despise, after BBC producers force Andy to compromise his vision.

Which comedian plays Outnumbered's dad Pete Brockman, opposite children given prompts rather than scripts?

Hugh Dennis later married Claire Skinner, who played his on-screen wife Sue, and the pair wed quietly in 2022.

Which actor plays Miranda's chef Gary Preston, the university friend who buys the restaurant next door?

Tom Ellis's Gary finally married Miranda at his own restaurant in the show's last episode, after years of will-they-won't-they.

Which spin-off of Motherland follows Lucy Punch's pushy Amanda, with Joanna Lumley back as her mother?

Amandaland has newly divorced Amanda forced to downsize to less affluent South Harlesden.

Which BBC Three mockumentary follows cousins Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe around a Cotswolds village?

This Country was written by and stars siblings Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper, whose father plays Kerry's dad, and Daisy May also voices the never-seen mother under the name Ivy Woodcock.

Which Ben Elton sitcom casts David Mitchell as Shakespeare, its title taken from a rival's insult?

Upstart Crow quotes Robert Greene's sneer at 'an upstart Crow, beautified with our feathers', and premiered in May 2016 during the 400th-anniversary commemorations of Shakespeare's death.

Which Scottish sitcom's pensioners Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade were regulars in the sketch show Chewin' the Fat?

Still Game actually started as a stage play in which Jack, Victor and Winston are trapped in Victor's flat by a broken lift.

Which actor plays Jim, the Goodmans' odd neighbour in Friday Night Dinner, who fears his own dog Wilson?

After Wilson dies in series five, Mark Heap's Jim names his next dog Milson, and viewers fell for her too.

Which Derry Girls nun was played by Siobhán McSweeney?

Sister Michael won Siobhán McSweeney a BAFTA for female comedy performance in 2023, which she celebrated with champagne, Hula Hoops and a cry.

Which Toast of London hipster, on work experience at the recording studio, is told 'Yes, I can hear you'?

Clem Fandango always greets Toast by asking whether he can hear him, so Toast's weary 'Yes, I can hear you, Clem Fandango' became the show's defining line.