British Television Comedies for St. George's Day
Blackadder, Jeeves and Wooster, Yes Minister, and more…
Apr 22, 2009
Although Saint George is the patron saint of England, celebration of the day 23 April has become considered “politically incorrect,” among many Britons.
However, perhaps, the day provides the former British Colony of the United States with an excellent excuse to watch some of the British television shows which seem to exemplify quintessential aspects of English society.
To The Manor Born starring Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles
Upon the death of her dull husband, gentry-born Audrey fforbes-Hamilton (Penelope Keith) is forced to move from the ancestral manor, Grantleigh, which is auctioned to pay debts. With the manor bought by the self-made supermarket millionaire Richard DeVere (Peter Bowles), Audrey moves to a cottage on the estate where she can keep a watchful eye and her usual strong hand on the running of the community.
Disputes between Audrey and Richard soon ensue in a Pride and Prejudice styled love-hate relationship, and the rivalry between traditional British life and the trademarks of the trading class make for high quality satire.
Yes, Minister starring Paul Eddington and Nigel Hawthorne
Yes, Minister (1980-1984) and Yes, Prime Minister (1986-1988) satirized the world of the British Parliament and Civil Service, also often making jest of bureaucracy.
Minister of Parliament Jim Hacker (Paul Eddington) wants to make changes and improvements to the establishment, while his traditional Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey (Nigel Hawthorne) works to maintain the status quo and train his minister in the proper ways.
Acting as the translator between the two gentlemen is the goodhearted Private Secretary Bernard Woolley (Derek Fowlds). Because Bernard is still learning about working in the Civil Service, writers Anthony Jay and Jonathan Lynn often cleverly used the character as a means of explaining certain unusual situations to the audience.
Blackadder starring Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson
Blackadder (1983-1989) followed the family tree of “Edmund Blackadder” through several generations. Each of the original four seasons is set against the backdrop of a different historical era, and the comedy of the series often involves satirizing and spoofing the period.
Cynical and often thwarted Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) is an idiotic scheeming prince in the medieval first season. The second season, set in the court of Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson), finds a more debauched and evil Edmund acting as a frustrated noble courtier to a whimsical and flirtatious queen.
By the third season, Edmund’s descendant has declined to serving as eighteenth century butler to the Prince of Wales, future George IV (Hugh Laurie), and the fourth season, Blackadder Goes Forth, shows Captain Edmund Blackadderstationed in the trenches during World War I. Throughout the series he is accompanied by his out-of-step sidekick Baldrick (Tony Robinson), who usually has a “cunning plan.”
Jeeves and Wooster starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie
Jeeves and Wooster(1990-1993) is a witty comedy based on the P.G. Wodehouse stories and books about the characters of the wealthy goodhearted empty-headed, Bertie Wooster (Hugh Laurie) and his wisely intelligent valet Reginald Jeeves (Stephen Fry).
Each fifty minute episode follows the misadventures of the Eton-educated, Oxford graduate Bertie and his equally dim-witted and misguided gentlemen friends, who all turn to the talented servant Jeeves for assistance in their personal muddles.
Keeping Up Appearances starring Patricia Routledge
Keeping Up Appearances (1990-1995) shows the escapades of the social-climbing over-bearing, Hyacinth Bucket, according to her pronounced “Bouquet,” and her long suffering family and neighbors.
The character of Hyacinth is written in the tradition of other commanding middle-aged, middle class, matrons such as Margo Leadbetter (Penelope Keith) of The Good Life (Good Neighbors).
Other British Sitcoms
There are many popular British sitcoms which are not only beloved in Britain but also show a range of realities within England. Only Fools and Horses and the prison-set Porridge each show the world from the angle financially poorer characters.
Equally, hit shows such as Are You Being Served? and Dad’s Army use more unusual settings as the backdrop for British humor, but most Americans, regard the comedies showing and satirizing the ways of social refinement as most typically British.
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