Series from 1989
Discover the best in British Comedy from the BBC with this sampler playlist, a beginner’s guide to the greatest comedy to be found with an English acc…
Fry as a put upon headmaster and Laurie as a Puritanical parent who wants to exchange his 'soiled' son kicks off the premiere episode. Useful tips for making poetry convenient is followed by a bookshop in which all the books have been edited for greater British glory. Laurie turns in a great performance as a fraudulent psychic, and the duo round out the episode with description of a censored sketch and its boorish replacement.
When Vivienne reveals on her show that a man is not the father of his former girlfriend's child, he attacks her and in the ensuing brawl a security guard falls on her. She then ends up in hospital and is on the verge of a mental breakdown. In her absence Fern Britton replaces her as the host of The Vivienne Vyle Show, while Helena sacks runner Abigail only for Vivienne to re-instate her.
Edmund, the mostly forgotten son of Richard Duke of York, oversleeps and arrives late for the Battle of Bosworth. After accidently cutting off the head of Richard III and saving the life of the opposition leader Henry Tudor, he finds himself installed as the Duke of Edinburgh. In a bid to be taken more seriously, he changes his name to The Black Adder, and a legend is born.Edmund, the mostly forgotten son of Richard Duke of York, oversleeps and arrives late for the Battle of Bosworth. After accidently cutting off the head of Richard III and saving the life of the opposition leader Henry Tudor, he finds himself installed as the Duke of Edinburgh. In a bid to be taken more seriously, he changes his name to The Black Adder, and a legend is born. Digitally remastered version.
Arrogant conceit compels Basil (John Cleese) to invite a higher class of clientele to Fawlty Towers ("rather than the riff-raff we normally get in here"). Lord Melbury's arrival is quite timely. Basil will do anything for the nobility. With great deference, the proprietor is only too happy to take his Lordship's money.
At the comprehensive school in Darkley Noone, straw-brained, squawking schoolgirl Vicky Pollard explains why she hasn't done her essay on Lord Kitchener. Inside 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Michael is having a meeting with handsome new Treasury aide, Gregory Merchant, until jealous Sebastian decides to interrupt. Transvestite Emily Howard seeks shelter from the rain in a seaside pub. Stingy stage hypnotist Kenny Craig uses his skills to ensure his date only orders the set menu and a soft drink at the Chinese restaurant. Actor "Dennis Waterman" calls upon theatrical agent Jeremy Rent, and Andy demonstrates extraordinary abilities for a wheelchair-bound person when Lou takes him to the local swimming pool.
David Brent is informed by Head Office that his Slough branch of Wernham Hogg paper merchants might be closed down. David’s deep rooted need to be popular triumphs over reality and he immediately promises the staff there will be no downsizing. Ricky, a new temp fresh out of college is shown around the office by David. He is introduced to Tim and Gareth whose fractious relationship is immediately apparent by a fight over a stapler and the construction of a Berlin Wall made from cardboard box files between their desks. In an effort to demonstrate his keen sense of humor, David blames Dawn of stealing Post-It notes and predictably, she does not see the funny side.