British comedy has a unique charm that’s hard to resist, and BBC iPlayer is home to some of the best comedy shows around. It has everything from classic comedies to the latest hits. In fact, there’s so much content, you may have trouble deciding what to watch.
If you’re a fan of the British sense of humor, read on for my top 10 recommended BBC comedy TV shows to add to your watch list. If you’re traveling abroad and don’t want to press pause on your favorite series, you can use CyberGhost VPN to access iPlayer just like you do at home.
Quick Guide: How to Watch BBC iPlayer with CyberGhost VPN
- Sign up for CyberGhost VPN and download the app.
- Connect to our streaming-optimized server for BBC iPlayer.
- Watch the best British comedy shows on the BBC!
The 10 Best British Comedy Shows on BBC iPlayer
1. Ghosts
This unique and lighthearted sitcom follows a couple who inherit an abandoned mansion in the countryside, only to find that it’s already inhabited by generations of ghosts. Unimpressed by the couple’s plans to turn the house into a hotel, the spooky inhabitants rebel in the only way they know how – by haunting them.
Despite the premise, Ghosts isn’t scary at all. It’s fun, silly, and unexpectedly touching. Relatable, without being too heavy, it’s the perfect comfort comedy show. Settle down with a mug of hot cocoa and stream all five series of this must-watch show on BBC iPlayer.
2. Gavin & Stacey
Gavin & Stacey is a beloved British sitcom that follows a couple and their families from their first date to getting married and starting a family. The series originally aired from 2007 to 2010, but you can still watch all 20 episodes, plus the one-off Christmas special broadcast, on BBC iPlayer.
Although Gavin & Stacey starts off as a lighthearted romantic comedy, it tackles some serious issues and shows us the many paths relationships can take. The blind-date setup draws you in, but it’s the characters you fall in love with. It’s a show you’ll be happy to rewatch again and again.
3. Fleabag
If you’re looking for something a bit edgier, try Fleabag. Based on Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s one-woman show of the same name, the show follows the titular character as she navigates grief, family drama, and love. Expect plenty of dry humor, sharp acting, and a few unexpectedly devastating moments.
There’s a lot of sex and swearing, so if neither is your cup of tea, you may want to pass on the show. Otherwise, settle in for the ride and enjoy one of the most critically acclaimed series produced by the BBC.
4. Not Going Out
Not Going Out is one of the longest-running sitcoms on British television. The show follows an unmotivated, unemployed thirty-something man as he tries to win over the woman of his dreams. It’s a classic studio comedy with fast-paced jokes and a nostalgic feel.
If you’ve never watched Not Going Out, grab some snacks and settle in for a long haul. BBC iPlayer has all 13 series of the comedy show – over 100 episodes in total.
5. This Country
This mockumentary-style show follows two cousins as they navigate village life in the Cotswolds. This Country is full of observational humor about countryside living and the boredom that often comes with it. Its slow pace gives plenty of time to develop the quirky, lovable characters and the humor is subtle, hilarious, and, on occasion, heartbreaking.
If you’re a fan of The Office or Home, then This Country should be top of your must-watch list. BBC iPlayer has all three series, plus a bonus episode.
6. Dreaming Whilst Black
Dreaming Whilst Black is one of the newest and most critically acclaimed comedies on the BBC. With plenty of sharp satire and lovable characters, it’s no wonder this show has already generated so much buzz.
Series one follows aspiring Jamaican filmmaker Kwabena (played by the award-winning Adjani Salmon, who also co-created the show) as he navigates life in London. Dreaming Whilst Black tackles the challenges of juggling creative ambitions and a day job and touches on issues of class and cultural inequality with a warm – and sometimes excruciating – humor.
7. Am I Being Unreasonable?
Am I Being Unreasonable? is an unexpected comedy-thriller about two moms who become friends. Nic is lonely and grieving when she meets single mom Jen. The two bond on a drunken night, but both conceal dark secrets. Am I Being Unreasonable? has a sinister edge, exploring toxic relationships and mental paranoia, but the show manages to balance the suspense with laugh-out-loud funny moments.
Dark, funny, and a little bit bonkers, if you’re looking for something a little edgier than your typical sitcom, add this title to your watch list.
8. The Office
Delve into the archives to enjoy one of the most influential sitcoms of all time. The Office follows the mundane lives of employees at a Slough paper company, headed up by Ricky Gervais’s character, David Brent. Despite only running for two series, the show became a core part of British popular culture and won multiple awards.
The Office popularized the mockumentary genre and while it may feel a little dated two decades later, the subtle humor and legendary quotes still hit the mark. If you’re a new fan, add it to your favorites list as it’s a show you’ll want to watch again and again.
9. People Just Do Nothing
Another beloved entry in the mockumentary genre is People Just Do Nothing, a show about a group of friends who launch a pirate radio station from their home in West London. Hilarity ensues as their inflated egos prevent them from reaching their musical goals. Though much of the comedy is from the characters’ failures, they’re endearing enough that you end up shedding tears of sadness as well as laughter as their fortunes take a downward turn.
BBC iPlayer has all five series of the BAFTA-winning comedy. There’s also a documentary on the series, which interviews the cast and creators of Kurupt FM as well as celebrity fans of the show.
10. Inside No. 9
The anthology series Inside No. 9 tackles a different story in each episode, with the number nine serving as the only link between episodes. The show is renowned for its perverse humor, plot twists, and surprise endings. Episodes vary in format, theme, and tone, but most are undeniably dark.
Inside No. 9 is a masterclass in comedy-horror writing. Even when you know a twist is coming, you still get blindsided. With series nine set to wrap up the show (for the meantime), it’s the perfect time to binge-watch every episode on BBC iPlayer.
Why Watch BBC iPlayer With a VPN?
BBC iPlayer is only available to UK residents, which can mean missing out when you travel abroad.The good news is, you can use a VPN to change your virtual location back to the UK to access iPlayer. All you have to do is connect to a VPN server in the UK to get a UK IP address and access BBC iPlayer as easily as if you were at home.
It’s convenient to use public Wi-Fi when traveling, but unsecured networks can put your data at risk. A VPN encrypts your web traffic, helping prevent online snoops and cybercriminals from stealing sensitive information, such as your passwords or financial information.
VPN encryption also hides your online activity from your ISP or network provider. If your work or school Wi-Fi network restricts access to streaming platforms, this lets you bypass streaming blocks so you can continue watching your favorite comedy shows on BBC iPlayer. It also lets you bypass activity-based ISP throttling and avoid the associated loss of video quality.
Why CyberGhost Is the Best VPN for Streaming
CyberGhost VPN has everything you need for an easy, secure streaming experience. Our global server network includes streaming-optimized servers for popular streaming platforms, including BBC iPlayer. These servers are checked frequently to make sure they always work with the service, so you don’t have to worry about error messages when traveling abroad.
CyberGhost VPN’s ultra-fast VPN servers let you stream in high resolution with no loss of picture quality. You also get unlimited bandwidth, so you don’t have to worry about running out of data in the middle of your favorite show.
Whether you watch BBC iPlayer on your laptop, smartphone, Android TV, or Amazon Fire TV Stick, CyberGhost VPN has an app for your device. It’s easy to set up and use, and you can connect to our streaming-optimized server for BBC iPlayer with just a few clicks.
You can also configure CyberGhost VPN on your router to cover all your internet-enabled devices. Follow our step-by-step user guide or contact our 24/7 customer support team who can talk you through the setup. Take advantage of CyberGhost’s generous 45-day money-back guarantee to try our VPN risk-free.
Can I Use a VPN to Unblock BBC iPlayer Outside the UK?
Some VPN users connect to a server in the UK to watch BBC iPlayer from outside the country, but this is against our terms of service and is not acceptable.
CyberGhost is a privacy-forward no-logs VPN, meaning we can’t view your online activity and we never share your browsing data. While we don’t know what you’re doing online, you should always comply with BBC iPlayer’s terms of use, our terms of service, and any applicable law, including copyright.
FAQ
Some of the top comedies on the BBC include Dreaming Whilst Black, Am I Being Unreasonable?, Ghosts, and Inside No. 9. All the latest comedy shows, plus old favorites such as The Office and Gavin & Stacey, are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
You can watch old and current BBC comedy shows online on BBC iPlayer. If you live outside of the UK, you can also find many BBC comedies on other streaming services. For example, you can stream Fleabag on Amazon Prime Video in the US.
Last of the Summer Wine, which aired from 1973 to 2010, is the longest-running British comedy series. Not Going Out is the longest-running comedy of recent years, with 13 series airing between 2006 and 2023.
Seinfeld has the highest rating of all comedies on Rotten Tomatoes, while Rick & Morty has the highest rating on IMDB. However, if you rank shows by the number of ratings, Friends comes out top on IMDB, followed by The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, and the US version of The Office.
The Original Kings of Comedy is a stand-up comedy movie that was released in 2000. The four Kings are Steve Harvey, D. L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and Bernie Mac.
A sitcom (or situational comedy) follows a fixed cast of characters for a series of episodes. BBC sitcoms are typically filmed and produced entirely in the UK and cater to a British audience. Popular BBC sitcoms include Ghosts, Gavin & Stacey, and Not Going Out.
Before access to television became widespread, radio was the primary source of entertainment for many families. Old BBC radio comedy programs often feature the same British style of humor that is present in many BBC sitcoms today. You can listen to classic and modern BBC radio comedy shows on the BBC Sounds app.
Leave a comment