British humour carries a strong element of satire aimed at the absurdity of everyday life. Common themes include sarcasm, tongue-in-cheek, banter, insults, self-deprecation, taboo subjects, puns, innuendo, wit and the British class system. These are often accompanied by a deadpan delivery which is present throughout the British sense of humour.British humour 'dictated by genetics' By Andy Bloxham, Daily Telegraph, 10 Mar 2008. Accessed August 2011 It may be used to bury emotions in a way that seems unkind in the eyes of other cultures.What are you laughing at? Simon Pegg The Guardian, 10 February 2007. Accessed August 2011 Jokes are told about everything and almost no subject is off-limits, though a lack of subtlety when discussing controversial issues is sometimes considered insensitive.The Funny Side of the United Kingdom: Analysing British Humour with Special Regard to John Cleese and His Work Page 5 Theo Tebbe, Publisher GRIN Verlag, 2008 . Accessed August 2011 Many British comedy series have become successful internationally, serving as a representation of British culture to overseas audiences.
Themes Some themes (with examples) that underpinned late-20th-century British humour were:Black Humour in British Advertisement By Claudia Felsch, Publisher GRIN Verlag, 2007 . Accessed August 2011
Innuendo Innuendo in British humour is evident in the literature as far back as Beowulf and Geoffrey Chaucer, and it is a prevalent theme in many British folk songs. William Shakespeare often used innuendo in his comedies, but it is also often found in his other plays. One example in Hamlet act 4 scene v reads:
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 (such as those drawn by Donald McGill) became widespread; 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 the Second World War, and characters such as Julian and Sandy on Round the Horne used innuendo extensively. Innuendo also features heavily in many British films and television 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. Innuendo has become a celebrated part of The Great British Bake Off TV cookery programme.
Satire
Disrespect to members of the establishment and authority, typified by: Beyond the Fringe, stage revue (1960–1966). That Was the Week That Was (TW3), late night TV satire on BBC2 (1962–1966). Private Eye, satirical magazine (1961–). 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). Spitting Image, TV puppet comedy lampooning the famous and powerful on ITV (1984–1996). Revived on Britbox, (2020-2021). Drop the Dead Donkey, Channel 4 sitcom recorded close to transmission that satirised the weekly events (1990–1998). Have I Got News for You, a satirical panel game originally on BBC2, now on BBC1 (1990–). The Day Today, Nineties TV satire (1994). Brass Eye, a controversial alternative prime-time show on Channel 4 (1997–2001). The Armando Iannucci Shows, satirical TV show on Channel 4 (2001). The Thick of It, satirical political sitcom (2005–2012). Mock the Week, a satirical current affairs panel game originally on BBC2 (2005–2022), now on TLC (2026–). Time Trumpet, Noughties TV satire (2006). The Last Leg, Channel 4 (2012–). The Bugle, satirical podcast, initially with Andy Zaltzman and John Oliver (2007–).
Absurd
The absurd and the surreal, typified by: The Goon Show, surreal radio show on the BBC Home Service (1951–1960). Bus Driver's Prayer Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, musical group playing songs inspired by the music of the 1920s and comic rock songs (1962–). The Magic Roundabout, a dub parody of a French children's cartoon that gained a cult following (1964–1971). Spike Milligan's Q, sketch show and direct inspiration for Monty Python on BBC2 (1969–1982). Monty Python, comedy troupe, originally noted for performing sketches without conclusions (1969–1983). I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, radio panel game with bizarre games, notably Mornington Crescent and One Song to the Tune of Another on BBC Radio 4 (1974–). The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in radio, book, TV series and film form (1978–). Count Duckula, cartoon show on ITV (1988–1993). Red Dwarf, 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 Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, variety show of sketches and songs in the surrealist genre of comedy on the BBC (1993–1995). Shooting Stars, panel game show with seemingly no rules on BBC2 (1993–2011). Big Train, sketch show with absurd situations performed in a realistic, deadpan style on BBC2 (1998–2002). The Mighty Boosh, comic fantasy containing non-sequiturs and pop-culture references (1998–2009, 2013). The League of Gentlemen, sitcom about the eccentric inhabitants of a fictional northern village Royston Vasey, shown on BBC2 (1999–2002, 2017). Also macabre. Black Books, sitcom about a bookshop owner, with surreal and nonsensical elements, on Channel 4 (2000–2004). The Armando Iannucci Shows, comedy sketch show utilising surrealism (2001). Green Wing, experimental sitcom using surrealism, sped-up/slowed-down camera work and ethereal, dream-like sequences on Channel 4 (2004–2007).
Macabre Black humour, in which topics and events that are usually treated seriously are treated in a humorous or satirical manner, typified by:
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 by Ealing Studios about a man murdering his way to a hereditary position, starring Alec Guinness in numerous roles. The Ladykillers a 1955 black comedy crime film by Ealing Studios about a gang of criminals who must kill an innocent old lady to escape justice. Four Lions, a 2010 film satirising Jihadi terrorists within British Society. Inside No. 9, a black comedy, drama anthology series. (2014–2024)
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 & Stacey The Cockfields Benidorm Father Ted Only Fools and Horses Hancock's Half Hour Till Death Us Do Part Steptoe and Son Porridge Human Remains I'm Alan Partridge The Office The Royle Family Spaced 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 Uncle, starring the comedian and actor Nick Helm Friday Night Dinner, sitcom about a Jewish family celebrating Shabbat Michael McIntyre Ludwig (2024 TV series)
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 and Perry in Harry Enfield and Chums My Family, British TV series Outnumbered, British TV series The Fast Show, notably Competitive Dad Uncle (TV series), starring comedian and actor Nick Helm
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: The Jeeves books by P. G. Wodehouse 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
Also, some comedy series focus on working-class families or groups, such as: Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, sitcom The Royle Family, sitcom Early Doors, sitcom Monty Python's Four Yorkshiremen and Working-class playwright sketches
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, TV series Steptoe and Son, sitcom TV series Rising Damp, sitcom TV series Open All Hours, sitcom TV series Only Fools and Horses, comedy TV series (1981–2003) starring David Jason as Del Trotter The Flashman Papers, books Alan B'stard in The New Statesman, TV series Norman Wisdom Porridge, sitcom TV series Blackadder, comedy TV series Red Dwarf, science fiction comedy TV series and novels Black Books, sitcom TV series on Channel 4 The Fast Show, notably Chris the Crafty Cockney sketch Spaced Billy Connolly, comedian and actor
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