British humour

British humour is a somewhat general term applied to certain comedic motifs that are often prevalent in humour in the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth.^[1]

A strong theme of sarcasm and self-deprecation, often with deadpan delivery, runs throughout British humour.^[2] Emotion is often buried under humour in a way that seems insensitive to other cultures.^[3] Jokes are told about everything and almost no subject is taboo, though often a lack of subtlety when discussing controversial issues is considered crass.^[4] Many UK comedy TV shows typical of British humour have been internationally popular, and have been an important channel for the export and representation of British culture to the international audience.

Themes

Some themes (with examples) that underpinned late 20th century British humour were:^[5]

Innuendo

Innuendo in British humour is evident in the literature as far back as Beowulf and Chaucer, and it is a prevalent theme in many British folk songs. Shakespeare often used innuendo in his comedies, but it is also often found in his other plays, as in Hamlet act 4 scene v:

Young men will do't if they come to't / By Cock, they are to blame.

Restoration comedy is notorious both for its innuendo and for its sexual explicitness, a quality encouraged by Charles II (1660–1685) personally and by the rakish aristocratic ethos of his court.

In the Victorian era, Burlesque theatre combined sexuality and humour in its acts. In the late 19th century, magazines such as Punch began to be widely sold, and innuendo featured in its cartoons and articles.

In the early 1930s, cartoon-style saucy postcards became widespread, and at their peak 16 million saucy postcards were sold per year. They were often bawdy, with innuendo and double entendres, and featured stereotypical characters such as vicars, large ladies and put-upon husbands, in the same vein as the Carry On films. This style of comedy was common in music halls and in the comedy music of George Formby. Many comedians from music hall and wartime gang shows worked in radio after World War 2, and characters such as Julian and Sandy on Round the Horne used innuendo extensively. Innuendo also features heavily in many British films and TV series of the late 20th century. The Carry On series was based largely on smut and innuendo, and many of the sketches of The Two Ronnies are in a similar vein. Innuendo with little subtlety was epitomised by Benny Hill, and the Nudge Nudge sketch by Monty Python openly mocks the absurdity of such innuendo.

By the end of the 20th century more subtlety in sexual humour became fashionable, as in Not the Nine O'Clock News and Blackadder, while Bottom and Viz continued the smuttier trend. In contemporary British comedy Julian Clary is an example of a prolific user of innuendo.

Satire

Disrespect to members of the establishment and authority, typified by:

Beyond the Fringe, stage revue from the 1960s
That Was The Week That Was (TW3), late night TV satire on BBC2 (1962–1966)
The Comic Strip Presents..., a series of short satirical films on both BBC2 and Channel 4 (1982-)
Private Eye, satirical magazine
Not the Nine O'Clock News, satirical sketch show, notable for launching the careers of Rowan Atkinson, Griff Rhys Jones, Pamela Stephenson and Mel Smith on BBC2, (1979–1982).
Yes Minister, political sitcom on BBC2 (1980–1988).
Drop the Dead Donkey, Channel 4 sitcom recorded close to transmission that satirised the weekly events (1990–1998)
Spitting Image, TV puppet comedy lampooning the famous and powerful on ITV (1984–1996).
Brass Eye, a controversial alternative prime-time show on Channel 4 (1997–2001).
Discworld, a series of fantasy books written by Terry Pratchett, heavy with irony criticizing various aspects of society
Have I Got News for You, a satirical panel game originally on BBC2, now on BBC1 (1990-)
The Young Ones, a cult sitcom starring Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer and Christopher Ryan on BBC2 (1982–1984).
Mock the Week, a satirical current affairs panel game on BBC2. (2005-)
The Day Today, Nineties Satire (1994).
Time Trumpet, Noughties Satire TV show (2006).
The Armando Iannucci Shows, satirical TV show on Channel 4 (2001).
The Thick of It, satirical political sitcom (2005-2012).

Absurd

The absurd and the surreal, typified by:

Count Duckula, a cartoon show on ITV (1988–1993).
The Goon Show, a surreal radio show on the BBC Home Service (1951–1960).
Spike Milligan's Q, a sketch show and a direct inspiration for Monty Python on BBC2 (1969–1982).
Monty Python, a comedy troupe, noted for performing sketches with no conclusions originally (1969–1983).
Green Wing, an experimental sitcom that utilises surrealism, sped-up/slowed-down camera work, and ethereal, dream-like sequences on Channel 4 (2004–2007).
Big Train, a sketch show with absurd situations performed in a realistic, deadpan style on BBC2 (1998–2002).
Shooting Stars, a panel game with seemingly no rules on BBC2 (1993–2011).
I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, a radio panel game with bizarre games, notably Mornington Crescent and One Song to the Tune of Another on BBC Radio 4 (1974-).
The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, a variety show of sketches and songs in the surrealist genre of comedy on the BBC (1993–1995).
Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, a musical group playing songs inspired by the music of the 1920s and comic rock songs
The Mighty Boosh, a comic fantasy containing non-sequiturs and pop-culture references (1998-).
"Bus Driver's Prayer"
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in radio, book, TV series and film
The Armando Iannucci Shows, a comedy sketch show utilising surrealism (2001).
Black Books, a sitcom about a Bookshop owner, flavoured with surreal and nonsensical elements on Channel 4 (2000–2004).
Red Dwarf, a science fiction sitcom on BBC 2 and Dave (1988-1999, 2009, 2012-)
Brittas Empire, Chris Barrie sitcom set in a leisure centre about an annoying manager on BBC1 (1991–1997).
The Magic Roundabout A dub parody of a French children's cartoon that gained a cult following (1964–1971).

Macabre

Black humour, in which topics and events that are usually treated seriously are treated in a humorous or satirical manner, typified by:

The League of Gentlemen, a cult comedy revolving around the bizarre inhabitants of the fictional town Royston Vasey
Nighty Night, a TV series about a sociopathic beauty therapist who fakes her husband's death in order to steal her disabled neighbour's husband
Jam, an unsettling TV sketch comedy with an ambient music soundtrack
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, a horror comedy revolving around the supernatural, and is set in a hospital in the 1980s
Murder Most Horrid, a TV series in which Dawn French plays murderesses and victims.
Snuff Box, a sketch show about a hangman (Matt Berry) and his assistant (Rich Fulcher), who make jokes or light-hearted conversation while hanging men.
Death at a Funeral, a 2007 black comedy film.
Kind Hearts and Coronets, a film about a man murdering his way to a hereditary position, starring Alec Guinness in numerous rôles.
Four Lions, a 2010 film satirising Jihadi terrorists within British Society.

Surreal and chaotic

Vic Reeves Big Night Out (1990 and 1991) a parody of the variety shows which dominated the early years of television, but which were, by the early 1990s, falling from grace.
Bottom (1991–1995) noted for its chaotic humour and highly violent slapstick.
The Young Ones (1982–1984), a British sitcom about four students living together. It combined traditional sitcom style with violent slapstick, non sequitur plot-turns and surrealism.

Humour inherent in everyday life

The humour, not necessarily apparent to the participants, inherent in everyday life, as seen in:

Gavin and Stacey
Only Fools and Horses
Hancock's Half Hour
Till Death Us Do Part
Steptoe and Son
Human Remains
I'm Alan Partridge
The Office
The Royle Family
Spaced (a sitcom depicting the realistic, everyday lives and emotional dramas of two London-dwelling twentysomethings, also incorporating aspects of surreal and absurd comedy)
Peep Show
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
One Foot in the Grave
Monkey Dust
The IT Crowd
The Inbetweeners
The Vicar of Dibley
The Giles cartoons
Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No 42, TV programme featuring an Indian family, starring Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal
Come Dine with Me, reality cookery programme where eccentric cooks and their guests are often mocked by narrator Dave Lamb
Citizen Khan, a sitcom about a British Asian family in Birmingham.

Adults and children

The 'war' between parents/teachers and their children, typified by:

The Beano and The Dandy, comics of publisher D C Thomson
Just William, books by Richmal Crompton
Molesworth books by Geoffrey Willans and illustrated by Ronald Searle
St Trinian's books and films also originated by Ronald Searle
Kevin the Teenager and Perry in Harry Enfield and Chums
My Family, British TV Series
Outnumbered, British TV Series
The Fast Show, notably Competitive Dad

British class system

The British class system, especially class tensions between characters; and pompous or dim-witted members of the upper/middle classes or embarrassingly blatant social climbers, typified by:

Jeeves and Wooster, books by P. G. Wodehouse (later played by Fry and Laurie)
Dad's Army, comedy TV series
Rising Damp, comedy TV series
Fawlty Towers, comedy TV series
Keeping Up Appearances, comedy TV series
You Rang, M'Lord?, comedy TV series
Absolutely Fabulous, comedy TV series
To the Manor Born, comedy TV series
Blackadder, comedy TV series
The New Statesman, political comedy TV series
Yes Minister, political comedy TV series
Red Dwarf, science fiction comedy TV series and novels
The Fast Show, notably Ted & Ralph and The 13th Duke of Wymbourne sketches
Are You Being Served, department store comedy TV series
Monty Python's Upper Class Twit of the Year sketch

Lovable rogue

The lovable rogue, often from the impoverished working class, trying to 'beat the system' and better himself, typified by:

Arthur Daley in Minder
The Andy Capp cartoon strip created by Reginald Smythe
The Likely Lads
Steptoe and Son
Rising Damp
Open All Hours
Only Fools and Horses comedy TV series (1981–2003) starring David Jason as Del Trotter
Flashman books
Alan B'stard in The New Statesman
Norman Wisdom
Porridge
Blackadder, comedy TV series
Red Dwarf, science fiction comedy TV series and novels
Black Books
The Fast Show, notably Chris the Crafty Cockney sketch
Run Fatboy Run

Embarrassment of social ineptitude

The embarrassment of social ineptitude, typified by:

Mr. Bean, comedy TV series starring Rowan Atkinson
The Office, comedy TV series starring Ricky Gervais
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, comedy series starring Michael Crawford
Alan Partridge, comedy TV series starring Steve Coogan
Count Arthur Strong, radio show
Extras
One Foot In The Grave, comedy TV series, 1990 to 2000
Peep Show TV series
Miranda, BBC TV comedy series from 2009, starring Miranda Hart
The Inbetweeners, Channel 4 comedy series detailing the last years of sixth form for a group of average teenage boys
Citizen Khan , a sitcom about a British Asian family in Birmingham.
Derek

Race and regional stereotypes

The An Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman joke format is one common to many cultures, and is often used in English, including having the nationalities switched around to take advantage of other stereotypes. These stereotypes are somewhat fond, and these jokes would not be taken as xenophobic, this sort of affectionate stereotype is also exemplified by 'Allo 'Allo!, this programme, although set in France in the second World War, and deliberately performed in over the top accents, mocked British stereotypes as well as foreigners. This also applies to a lot of the regional stereotypes in the UK. Regional accent and dialect are used in such programmes as Hancock's Half Hour, Auf Weidersehen, Pet and Red Dwarf, as these accents provide quick characterisation and social cues.

Although racism was a part of British humour, it is now frowned upon, and acts such as Bernard Manning and Jim Davidson are pilloried. Most racist themes in popular comedy since the 1970s are targeted against racism rather than in sympathy. Love Thy Neighbour and Till Death Us Do Part were both series that dealt with these issues when the United Kingdom was coming to terms with an influx of immigrants. Fawlty Towers featured the mistreatment of the Spanish waiter, Manuel, but the target was the bigotry of the lead character. More recently, The Fast Show has mocked people of other races, notably the Chanel 9 sketches, and Banzai has mimicked Japanese games shows, which have an exaggerated sense of violence, sex and public absurdity. Goodness Gracious Me turned stereotypes on their heads in sketches such as 'Going for an English' and when bargaining over the price of a newspaper.

Bullying and harsh sarcasm

Harsh sarcasm and bullying, though with the bully usually coming off worse than the victim - typified by:

On the Buses, Arthur toward his wife, Olive
Blackadder, Edmund Blackadder toward his sidekick, Baldrick
The Young Ones, comedy TV series
Fawlty Towers, Basil Fawlty toward his waiter, Manuel
The New Statesman, satirising a domineering Conservative Member of Parliament
The Thick of It, satirising the spin culture prevalent in Tony Blair's heyday
Never Mind the Buzzcocks, satirical music based panel show
Mock The Week, satirical news based panel show
Black Books, where Bernard Black attacks his assistant, Manny
Bottom, in which Richie attacks Eddie with little or no provocation, usually resulting in Eddie violently (often near-fatally) retaliating.
The Ricky Gervais Show, Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais mocking Karl Pilkington's unique outlook on life.

Parodies of stereotypes

Making fun of British stereotypes, typified by:

Beyond the Fringe
That Was the Week That Was (TW3), late night TV satire
Little Britain
The Fast Show
The Young Ones
Harry Enfield's Television Programme
French and Saunders
The Day Today
Brass Eye
Citizen Smith parodied the disaffected left-wing anarchist
Mind Your Language, late 1970s sitcom
Goodness Gracious Me
Monkey Dust
Blackadder
Phoneshop
Monty Python
Hale and Pace
Ali G
Citizen Khan, a sitcom about a British Asian family in Birmingham.

Tolerance of, and affection for, the eccentric

Tolerance of, and affection for, the eccentric, especially when allied to inventiveness

Heath Robinson cartoons
Professor Branestawm books
Wallace and Gromit animations
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, situation comedy starring Leonard Rossiter
Morecambe and Wise, comedy show starring Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise
Last of the Summer Wine, the longest running TV comedy series in the world. (Started 1973)
A Bit of Fry and Laurie, sketch show written by and starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie noted for its eccentric and inventive use of language
The Vicar of Dibley, a sitcom in which Dawn French plays a female vicar whose parishioners are archetypically eccentric and mad
QI or Quite Interesting, a panel game where points are given for being quite interesting and points are taken away for common misconceptions.
The Fast Show, notably Rowley Birkin QC sketch

Pranks and Practical Jokes

Usually, for television, the performance of a practical joke on an unsuspecting person whilst being covertly filmed.

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