British humour - Definition and Overview

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:-

• 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 .
• 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
• The Absurdity and banality of everyday life typified by
  • The Goon Show,
  • The Office and
  • Monty Python.
• 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.
• 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
• 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.