My Favourite British Comedies Trivia Quiz

Answer: Peckham

A comedy about the misadventures of two brothers (Del and Rodney Trotter) trying to become millionaires. A classic from the 80s.

Answer: 'The Little Book Of Calm'

This sitcom centres around a perpetually drunk and abusive book shop owner, Bernard, and his long suffering assistant, Manny, as they try to work together in a small bookstore next door to the (relatively) calming influence of Fran.

Answer: Roy Chubby Brown

This rather bizarre series is more a collection of sketches about the fictional people of Royston Vasey that include a butcher with some 'special stuff', two inbred shopkeepers and many others. Interestingly, Royston Vasey is Roy Chubby Brown's real name.

Answer: Paper

This comedy is set in the fictional company of 'Wernham Hogg' in Slough. It is shot as a documentary and follows the attention seeking David Brent and his colleagues as they go through their normal working days in the office.

Answer: Series 2

This show charts the exploits of Lister, Rimmer, Cat, Holly and later Kryten and Kochanski trying to return to Earth 3 million years after a lethal radiation leak caused them to race from it. Red Dwarf is the name of the 'Jupiter Corporation' mining ship they live on for the majority of the programme.

We first see Kryten in Series 2, but he only becomes a regular in Series 3, where he appears to have had a face lift.

Answer: 2

The lives and loves of six twenty somethings is relayed in this sitcom. Unfortunately, the show lost its momentum when Jeff (arguably the best character) left the show at the end of the third series. The first three series are pure comedy gold, though.

Jeff dates Julia and 'the woman with the red shoes' where things end prematurely due to his having two legs (if you haven't seen this before, then describing the hole that Jeff digs himself in this episode would take too long. Watch 'Coupling' and see for yourself the dating disaster that is Jeff Murdoch). He never manages to date the Israeli woman in the first series and although it is mentioned that he has dated Susan, it happened before the show is set.

Answer: A car

Alan Partridge, possibly the worst radio broadcaster in history. Steve Coogan's most famous creation gets his own show and the audience get to watch this very disturbed man's life for twelve episodes as he upsets people left, right and centre. The cringe factor is very high in this comedy. You have been warned!

Throughout the first series Alan lives in the 'Linton Travel Tavern', before moving into a caravan in the second series while his house ('Excalibur Cottage') is being built. He eventually moves in right at the end of the series.

Answer: Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson

The four main series ('The Blackadder', 'Blackadder the Second', 'Blackadder the Third' and Blackadder Goes Forth') chart the various incarnations of Edmund Blackadder and his servant Baldrick through history from medieval England to World War I. There were a few one-off episodes, such as 'Back and Forth' and 'Blackadder's Christmas Carol', as well. It was only the addition of Ben Elton as co writer with Richard Curtis (now of British romantic comedy fame, e.g. 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' and 'Notting Hill' etc) after the first series that established the show in the format that it is remembered for.

Rowan Atkinson (Blackadder) and Tony Robinson (Baldrick) are the only ones to play the same character through all four series. There could be a case for Rowan Atkinson playing a 'non-Blackadder' when he appears in the final episode of series 3 ('Duel and Duality') as Macadder, but he still plays Blackadder in the episode, as well. Stephen Fry is Melchett in series 2 and 4, but in 3 he appears as the Duke of Wellington. Hugh Laurie is George in series 3 and 4, but is Prince Ludwig in series 2.

Answer: The Pyramids

The story of a sarcastic, snobbish, verbose hotel owner called Basil Fawlty and the catastrophes that disturb his peace each and every day. If there was ever a worse candidate for a service job I am yet to meet them!

A classic moment from Fawlty Towers as Basil abuses sarcasm once again.

Basil: "That is Torquay, madam."
Mrs. Richards: "Well, it's not good enough."
Basil: "Well, may I ask what you were hoping to see from a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically..."

Answer: Administrative Affairs

This sitcom follows the career of Jim Hacker M.P. and his two civil servant colleagues, Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley. Most of the plot is concerned with Hacker trying to do things (usually to make himself popular with the voters) while Sir Humphrey attempts (and usually succeeds) to stop him.

The real beauty of this is the fact that it has withstood the test of time very well, almost worryingly so! The politics present in this fictional show are not very different to the ones prevalent in the present day.

A truly brilliant comedy that is probably my personal favourite.