Press Releases & Press Packs

10.01.04

TV ENTERTAINMENT

The battle of the Sitcoms begins...

Britain's Best Sitcom announces its top ten which includes a chocolate-munching vicar, an intolerable hotelier who runs a shambolic hotel in Torquay, two loveable brothers from Peckham, a miserly shopkeeper, a prison inmate, a middle-aged MP, a collection of Home Guard volunteers, a self-sufficient married couple, a cantankerous retired man and a journey though history with Blackadder.

The British public have had their say and tonight (Saturday 10 January) Jonathan Ross counted down the nation's favourite British sitcoms of all time from Goodnight Sweetheart at number 50 to the top ten in random order.

Presenter Jonathan Ross says: "British sitcoms have been pleasuring us for over 50 years with more than 800 hitting our screens and in Britain's Best Sitcom we will be reliving some of those unforgettable memories from Felicity Kendall's bottom to Jim Royle's 'arse'.

"To get to the top ten, we've sifted through the sands of comedy to reveal ten nuggets of pure gold."

Viewers are being asked to vote for their favourite British sitcom ever from the final ten by phoning 09011 986633, by SMS to 80024 or online at www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom.

The top ten, in alphabetical order, listed with their celebrity advocate, is as follows:

Over the next ten weeks, each of the ten celebrity advocates will have one hour to give their top 20 reasons why their nominated sitcom is the best and to convince viewers to get voting.

Only one name can come out on top so it's down to the advocates to use their powers of persuasion.

The series continues on Saturday 17 January at 9.00pm on BBC TWO with John Sergeant making the case for Blackadder and will then return every Saturday night.

All the advocates will come together at the end of the series for one last chance to convince the voters in a live finale where Britain's Best Sitcom will be decided once and for all and will be announced live by Jonathan Ross.

Jane Root, Controller of BBC TWO, says: "The list of top ten sitcoms covers a real range of shows from different eras, and each of the ten documentaries on the top sitcoms are packed with interesting facts, interviews and unseen footage.

"I think it will be really tough for viewers to pick their favourite and it's a credit to British comedy that the competition is so strong."

www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom

How to vote for your favourite British Sitcom

Viewers can vote for the programme they would like to be the best British sitcom, from the top ten, from the end of the launch programme on 10 January. They can vote by phoning 09011 986633, online at www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom or by SMS to 80024.

Calls cost 10p per call and last for one minute, text messages cost between 10p and 12p depending on the service provider.

Britain's Best Sitcom on the web

www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom

As well as being able to place your vote, the website contains additional material including the lowdown on the top ten, with related links and biographies; a message board giving viewers and voters the chance to give their views on their favourite sitcom; competitions; screensavers and downloads.

You'll also be able to send an e-card of your favourite sitcom to a friend.

Notes to Editors

The BBC launched a poll in August in the Radio Times, on CEEFAX and on the BBC website asking people to vote for their favourite sitcom from a nominated list of 100 programmes - or they could add their own programme if it was missing from the original list.

Voting could take place via BBCi, phone or post.

The full countdown from 50 to 11

11. Father Ted
12. Keeping Up Appearances
13. 'Allo 'Allo!
14. Last of the Summer Wine
15. Steptoe and Son
16. Men Behaving Badly
17. Absolutely Fabulous
18. Red Dwarf
19. The Royle Family
20. Are You Being Served?
21. To The Manor Born
22. Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
23. The Likely Lads
24. My Family
25. The Office
26. Drop the Dead Donkey
27. Rising Damp
28. dinnerladies
29. As Time Goes By
30. Hancock's Half Hour
31. The Young Ones
32. Till Death Us Do Part
33. Butterflies
34. The Thin Blue Line
35. Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
36. Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
37. Waiting for God
38. Birds of a Feather
39. Bread
40. Hi-de-Hi!
41. The League of Gentlemen
42. I'm Alan Partridge
43. Just Good Friends
44. 2.4 Children
45. Bottom
46. It Ain't Half Hot Mum
47. The Brittas Empire
48. Gimme Gimme Gimme
49. Rab C. Nesbitt
50. Goodnight Sweetheart

Related releases

BBC TWO asks the nation what is Britain's Best Sitcom? (30.12.03)

Freeview offers the BBC's eight television channels, interactive services from BBCi, as well as 11 national BBC radio networks.

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