From Monty Python to The Benny Hill Show, from Fawlty Towers to Mr. Bean and from Keeping Up Appearances to The Office, British comedy has always found a global audience to delight and enthrall.
Monty Python
The Monty Python team, consisting of John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam, first hit our screens in 1969 with their satirically groundbreaking Flying Circus and are still, 40 years on, referred to as "The Beatles of Comedy" for their outstanding, arguably peerless contribution to their art.
Python has taken on legendary status in many countries around the world, particularly in the USA, where its influence can be seen in programmes ranging from Saturday Night Live to South Park.
Fawlty Towers: The Most Popular Sitcom of All Time?
Fawlty Towers, written by ex-Python, John Cleese, was set in a hotel in Torquay, on the "English Riviera" and depicted life at an extremely badly-run establishment. Each week, the staff and guests at the hotel would find themselves in increasingly crazy and bizarre situations.
Only 12 episodes were ever made, the first six in 1975 and the second six in 1979. The show has since been shown in over 60 countries, including: China, Finland, Tonga, Denmark, Malta, Latvia and Spain (where Manuel the Spanish waiter is portrayed as a Mexican). It also remains a favourite in Germany, despite the famous "Don't mention the War" episode.
In 2004, Fawlty Towers topped a BBC poll to find the most popular British sitcom among foreign viewers, with Keeping Up Appearances second and Blackadder Goes Forth third.
British Visual Comedy: The Benny Hill Show and Mr. Bean
The Benny Hill Show, a light-hearted, sexually suggestive romp of a sketch show, ran from 1969 to 1989 and has been shown in over 140 countries, including India, Italy, France, Australia and the USA. It was so popular in China, that when Hill died in 1992, normal scheduled programming was interrupted to make the announcement.
Aired for the first time in 1990 and ending in 1995, Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean has been seen in over 200 countries, sold in excess of 14 million DVDs and appeared in two feature films, Bean in 1997and Mr. Bean's Holiday in 2007.
British Comedy: More Recent Success Stories
Since the turn of the century, The Office and Little Britain have continued to carry the torch for British comedy abroad.
The Office was different to the traditional sitcom format, in that it was filmed without a laughter track and as if it were a fly-on-the-wall documentary. An American version met with critical and commercial acclaim and there have now been versions made in France, Germany, Quebec and Chile.
As well as being broadcast in over 50 countries, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium and Singapore, Little Britain writers, Matt Lucas and David Walliams transported some of their more familiar characters to the United States for Little Britain USA in 2008.
Conclusion
Despite the "weird" British sense of humour, the evidence clearly indicates that British comedy has, since the days of Monty Python, travelled exceptionally well to all four corners of the globe.
While the exact reason why remains unclear, it may be that British comedians are particularly good at portraying the underdog in all manner of weird and wonderful situations, something that people, from whatever walk-of-life can relate to.
Another reason may be that the visual gags in comedies, such as Fawlty Towers, Mr. Bean and Little Britain can be enjoyed by anyone, irrespective of their nationality.
Or, it could just be that British comedy is very well-written, with a keen eye for detail and a deep desire to entertain. Watch some of the shows mentioned above and decide for yourself.
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