The history of scheming Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) and his downfalls from the dark ages to the present day delighted viewers throughout near 20-years of broadcast.

Interesting Facts
Corporal Jones, in the 'Blackadder Goes Forth' episode 'Corporal Punishment' was named after the 'Dad's Army' character played by Clive Dunn.

Even top comedy writers have to respect the facts of vegetable life now and again and Ben Elton seems to have got the hilarious sounding turnip confused with the thingy-shaped but unfunny sounding parsnip. In one episode Baldrick had to cook up a comic turnip for some important guests, so the props department cleverly supplied a veg hybrid which spared Ben's blushes!

In the fictional town of Walmington-on-Sea, a ragbag collection of Local Defence Volunteers 'protect' the UK during World War Two.

Interesting Facts
The only member of the cast to have actually served in the Home Guard was John Laurie. Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, and Clive Dunn were in the regular army.

A US version of Dad's Army screened in America by ABC on 10th August 1976, failed to make it past the pilot stage - perhaps because the US was never seriously in need of military invasion and didn't appreciate the old codgers' last stand concept.

Intolerable hotelier Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) and his domineering wife Sybil (Prunella Scales) run probably the worst hotel in Torquay.

Interesting Facts
During the Gulf War in January 1991, it is claimed that President George Bush relaxed by watching 'Fawlty Towers' videos.

The show frequently overran its 30 minute slot. One episode - The Psychiatrist - runs at over 36 minutes!

Middle class suburbanite Tom Good quits the rat race and tries, with the help of doting wife Barbara, to subsist by turning his back garden into a farm.

Interesting Fact
It was customary to have a 'do' after finishing a run of the show. On one occasion Penelope made chilli for everybody. Late that night everybody made a mad dash to the loo - later Penelope realised one must soak the beans for a day to remove the arsenic!

Richard Wilson starred as the accident prone pensioner forever creating havoc for wife Annette Crosby.

Interesting Facts
The first £1m winner of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' was scheduled opposite the final 'One Foot in the Grave'. ITV said it was a coincidence.

The day after the last episode was screened, fans of the series began laying flowers outside Shawford Railway Station in Hampshire, where the scene of Victor being run over was filmed.

Del Boy and his kid brother Rodney live in a tower block in London, from which they run a dodgy sales firm.

Interesting Facts
Jim Broadbent, Enn Reitel, Robin Nedwell and Billy Murray all nearly became Del Boy. But David Jason won through in the end.

Antony Hopkins is one of the show's biggest fans - he had a part written for him in 1989 - but had to pull out for Silence of the Lambs.

Ronnie Barker and David Jason ran the cosiest and quirkiest corner shop in the land.

Interesting Facts
Stephanie Cole, Barbara Flynn, Kathy Staff, Liz Dawn and a very young Keith Chegwin all played cameos in 'Open All Hours'.

External shots for the series were filmed outside a corner shop in Doncaster and the interior was actually a hairdressing salon given a makeover by BBC designers.

Old lag Stanley Fletcher shares a cell with young idealist Lennie Godber. The pair help each other through the perils of prison life.

Interesting Fact
Porridge started life as a pilot called 'Prisoner and Escort' which was part of a series called 'Seven of One'. This also spawned 'Open All Hours'.

The famous Slade prison gate belonged to St Albans Prison - now HQ for a mineral water company.

Geraldine Granger is the jolly, down-to-earth vicar of a small country village frequented by oddball locals.

Interesting Facts
The creator of 'The Vicar of Dibley' is Richard Curtis; the man responsible for 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', 'Notting Hill', and 'Love Actually'.

Political satire based in the offices of MP Jim Hacker, whose policies and principals are forever under siege by wily civil servant Sir Humphrey Appleby.

Interesting Facts
Reportedly Margaret Thatcher's favourite sitcom, and just to be impartial, it was Tony Benn's favourite too!

Yes Minister was the first programme to win the Bafta 'Best Comedy' award three years in succession.