Online Encyclopedia
British humour
British humour has a reputation for being puzzling to non-British speakers of English. Nonetheless, many UK comedy TV shows which use it as a basis have been internationally popular.
Some themes which underpin twentieth-century British humour were:-
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Smut and innuendo with sexual and scatological themes, typified by
- the seaside postcards of Donald McGill ,
- the humour of Benny Hill,
- the series of Carry On films, and
- the comic magazine VIZ .
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Disrespect to members of the establishment and authority typified by
- Beyond the Fringe, stage revue from the 1960s
- Private Eye, satirical magazine
- Spitting Image TV puppet comedy lampooning the famous and powerful
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The Absurdity and banality of everyday life typified by
- the Goons, and
- Monty Python.
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The War between parents/teachers and their children. Typified by
- the Beano and the Dandy comic books of publisher D C Thompson.
- The Just William books by Richmal Crompton.
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The British class system especially pompous or dim-witted members of the upper / middle classes. Typified by
- the Jeeves and Wooster books of P. G. Wodehouse , and
- the Dad's Army comedy TV series
- Fawlty Towers comedy TV series.
- You Rang M'Lord? comedy TV series
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The embarrassment of social ineptitude. Typified by
- Mr Bean comedy TV series staring Rowan Atkinson
- Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em comedy TV series staring Michael Crawford.
British comedy and British sitcoms blend elements of all of these in varying weaves.
Last updated: 02-24-2005 15:02:15