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1
Top Gear

BBC Two

BBC's hit motoring show is more than just a show to review new cars. Top Gear is essential viewing. Not just for petrol heads, it also has a huge following amongst people with little or no interest in cars - both male and female. This is due to the show's irreverent approach to motoring, the humour and the priceless chemistry between the show's presenters. A global audience of 350 million can't be wrong.moreless
2
Torchwood

BBC Two

Torchwood, a spin-off from the popular sci-fi show Doctor Who, follows a group of investigators working for the secret organisation of the same name. Set in Cardiff, Wales the team specialise in alien technology that has landed on Earth, and crime, whether it be alien or human. The mysterious Captain Jack Harkness is the leader of the equally mysterious Torchwood, and vows to guard humanity against alien threats. Curious PC Gwen Cooper accidentally discovers the group, and soon becomes entangled in a series of events. This leads up to her being hired, and becoming involved in the exciting affairs of the organisation. Together with medic, Owen Harper, and the tech expert, Toshiko Sato, and the impressible Ianto Jones, the five explore the thrilling world of Torchwood.moreless
3
The Office (UK)

BBC Two (ended 2003)

"Trust, encouragement, reward, loyalty... satisfaction. That's what I'm..you know. Trust people and they'll be true to you. Treat them greatly, and they will show themselves to be great." - David Brent.

The Office tells a story of a few people working in a British office working hard to not lose their jobs. This hilarious comedy won a Golden Globe award for best comedy series. It was created by Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant.

David Brent (Ricky Gervais) is a manager of low intelligence and has no sense of humor, but is convinced that he is the best, the most entertaining and the most well liked boss of all time.

Today the show has been sold in more than 60 countries and it even had a remake in America. The Office is the first non-American show nominated in the category of best television musical or comedy for a Golden Globe Award; and Ricky Gervais was the first non-American actor nominated for the lead role in a television comedy for the same award. The Office won both awards and left Sex and the City & Matt LeBlanc empty handed.

When the series aired the first season, they did not even know how popular it would get in some future episodes. The fact that its release on the DVD format proved to be the BBC's best selling comedy release shows its mass popularity and appeal.

The writers at the start did not imagine that a second season would be created and after bowing to pressure to create one they would not do it again for a third. The show ended on a high note after two Christmas specials which tied up knots and rounded off wonderfully the first two seasons.

Opening Theme Song: "Handbags and Gladrags" performed by Fin.

WARNING: some episodes contain quotes with strong language.moreless
4
Red Dwarf

BBC Two

3 Million Years from Earth, the mining ship Red Dwarf Its crew: Dave Lister, the last crew member alive Arnold Rimmer, a hologram simulation of his dead bunkmate Cat, a humanoid, evolved from Lister's cat. Additional: The ship's crew has come across new members: Kryten, a series 4000 mechanoid rescued from the Nova 5 Navigation Officer Kristine Kochanski, from a parallel universe. I am Holly, the ship's computer with an IQ of 6000 (and rapidly decreasing). Message Ends. ========================== Welcome to the Red Dwarf guide. Enjoy the backstory and details of one of the best SF parodies ever created for TV.moreless
5
Fawlty Towers

BBC Two (ended 1979)

The genesis of Fawlty Towers came when John Cleese and the rest of the Pythons went filming in the Southwest of England in May 1971. They were scheduled to spend two weeks at the Gleneagles in Torquay, but cut their stay to one night. It all had to do with the "wonderfully rude" hotel manager, the late Donald Sinclair. Sinclair hated all the guests who had the shortsightedness to stay in the Gleneagles. Worse, Sinclair was only 5'4" and was married to a large, domineering wife. Cleese turned Sinclair into a character for a Doctor in the House script for the BBC in 1973. This was just after Cleese had finished his TV chores on Monty Python's Flying Circus. Cleese wanted to strike out with his now-separated wife, Connie Booth, so the BBC gave both the offer to do a series. It didn't take long at all for Cleese and Booth to make the series out of that Torquay hotel, which they named Fawlty Towers. Cleese cast himself as manager Basil Fawlty, who felt that the main nuisances in a hotel were the guests. Wife Sybil Fawlty was Basil's equal and opposite, the competent co-owner who could lash out at Basil and win on the first stroke. ("We reversed the sizes [of manager and wife]," said the 6'4" Cleese.) Rounding out the regular staff at Fawlty Towers were Andrew Sachs as Manuel, the dumb waiter from Barcelona who could not make sense of Basil's commands (¿Qué?), and Connie Booth as Polly, whose calmness was sorely tested in each of Basil's schemes and cover-ups. While most sitcom writers spend two weeks turning out an episode, John Cleese and Connie Booth spent six weeks writing each episode of Fawlty Towers. Cleese said each program started with two or three plot threads, which start parallel, but begin to intertwine. The best shows, of course, are those in which the plot threads touch at the end. The production team spent nearly an hour editing each minute of every program, spending up to 25 hours on each show. With such intense work put into each episode, Fawlty Towers drew raves around the world, exceeding the success of Monty Python's Flying Circus in some countries. But Cleese limited the run of Fawlty Towers to approximately twelve shows. He did not want to diminish the impact Fawlty Towers has had. And there has been plenty of impact. America tried three times to regenerate the show, none of which worked. The best U.S. homage to the show may be a hotel called "Fawlty Towers" in Cocoa Beach, Florida (near Ron Jon's Surf Shop). Its owners have adopted the pseudonyms Basil and Sybil. The show won 3 BAFTA Awards and one Broadcasting Press Guild Award. Despite being very short - lived and not airing too often, Fawlty Towers is recognised as one of the greatest British TV shows of all time. It was ranked #5 in the British Comedy Guide's list of Top 50 British Sitcoms. Fawlty Towers was voted #1 In the British Film Instuite TV 100. Other awards the show has won are; 'The Royal Television Society Programme Awards'for outstanding creative achievements which went to John Cleese in May 1976, In April 1982, the two episodes of Fawlty Towers that were used as training films won a Queens Award for Export Acheivement, In 2001 the new Fawlty Towers DVD set won the 'Quality Street DVD award' for being the best comedy on DVD, Basil Fawlty was recognised as the most Monstrous Boss on British TV in May 2003 by UK Satellite Channel UK Gold, just beating David Brent from The Office. Fawlty Towers has aired in over 60 countries in places like Tonga, China, Pakistan, Latvia, Malta and Denmark.moreless
6
Extras

BBC Two (ended 2007)

Andy Millman has given up his day job to be an actor, but finds he just can't land the big parts. In fact he's never even had a speaking role, so spends much of his time hanging around on set with fellow extra and best friend Maggie Jacobs. Andy envies the A-list stars but never misses an opportunity to ingratiate himself with them, hoping it will lead to that first elusive line of dialogue.moreless
7
Bottom

BBC Two (ended 1995)

Richard Richard & Edward Elizabeth Hitler, two men with no hope of fitting in with society. Two men who will forever fall foul of life's little jokes, mainly because they are too stupid to avoid them! Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall take an anarchic look into the lives of these two friends who are forever threatening, and committing, violence on each other. This series could be said to be a follow up, of a kind, to The Young Ones. Same stars and same attitude but the young ones are now heading into middle age. A successful series that spawned three live tours [and three videos of these shows] and a big screen film, Guest House Paradiso. Although the film was not released as such it is advertised as a Bottom film on the video release.moreless
8
The Catherine Tate Show

BBC Two

Meet Catherine Tate, the woman who gives a new name to comedy with her brand new show ironically named, The Catherine Tate Show. Featuring various hilarious characters including a lippy teenager named 'Lauren' and a rather rude Old Lady. The show managed to win several awards: 2004: Banff Rockie Award - Best Comedy 2004: British Comedy Award - Best TV Comedy Newcomer 2006: British Comedy Award - Best TV Comedy Actress 2006: RTS Television Award - Best Comedy Performance 2006: RTS Television Award - Best Entertainment 2007: National Television Award - Most Popular Comedy Programme the show was nominated for even more awards: 2004: British Comedy Award - Best TV Comedy Actress 2004: RTS Television Award - Best Make Up Design in Entertainment and Non-Drama Productions 2005: BAFTA TV Award - Best New Writer 2005: BAFTA TV Award - Comedy Programme or Series Award 2005: British Comedy Award - Best TV Comedy Actress 2005: British Comedy Award - People's Choice Award (Polled most votes but award not received) 2005: Emmy - Best Performance by an Actress 2006: BAFTA TV Award - Best Comedy Performance 2006: BAFTA TV Award - Best Comedy Programme or Series "production team" 2006: National Television Award - Most Popular Comedy Programme 2007: BAFTA TV Award - Best Comedy Programme 2007: BAFTA TV Award - Best Make Up & Hair Designmoreless
9
Yes Minister

BBC Two (ended 1984)

This is the story of the endless battles between the Government in the form of Jim Hacker, a brand new Cabinet Minister and the Civil Service of his department run by Sir Humphrey Appleby. Stuck in the middle of it all is civil servant Bernard Whooley.moreless
10
That Mitchell and Webb Look

BBC Two

British sketch comedy gets a makeover in this BBC2 show. Comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb elicit laughs through a brilliant mix of mockumentaries, TV parodies, character sketches and more. In 2007, the first series won Best comedy programme or series at the BAFTA TV awards.moreless
11
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

BBC Two (ended 1981)

Don't Panic! The Hitch Hikers' Guide to the Galaxy is a classic British television series from the early 1980s, starting out as a BBC Radio series of six episodes which grew to twelve episodes, then five best-selling books and a hugely successful TV series (this one). Finally, a feature film appeared in 2005. The creator, the late Douglas Adams, had been a script editor on Doctor Who and he once said the idea for the show came to him while he was lying drunk in a field near Innsbruck. Quirky British humour runs through all formats of the Guide, but what sets this version apart from the others of is the animated graphics created by Rod Lord – unlike anything seen on British TV until then. They inspired the animation in a TVO educational series called Landscape of Geometry (1983). The show won several awards, including BAFTA Awards in 1982 for Best Graphics (Rod Lord), and Best Sound Supervisor (Michael McCarthy), as well as an RTS Television Award 1982 for Most Original Programme.moreless
12
Yes, Prime Minister

BBC Two (ended 1988)

Yes, Prime Minister is the sequel to the popular British series Yes Minister. It aired from 1986 to 1988 and is the story of the continuing battles between Jim Hacker, who is now Prime Minister, and Sir Humphrey, who has been promoted to Cabinet Secretary.

The title sequence is designed by Gerald Scarfe.moreless
13
Miss Marple

BBC Two (ended 1992)

Miss Marple is an amateur detective created by famed mystery writer Agatha Christie. Marple, an elderly spinster, is always able to solve crimes that the professionals cannot, because of her keen eye and her experience with all the foibles of human nature through the years in her home town of St. Mary Mead in England. These 12 BBC productions are adaptations of the 12 novels Christie wrote about Miss Marple, originally published between 1930 and 1976.moreless
14
The League of Gentlemen

BBC Two (ended 2002)

Welcome to Royston Vasey, a small town in northern England inhabited by an odd bunch of people. Amongst the residents you will find Edward and Tubbs, who run the Local Shop; the toad-worshipping Denton family; Dr. Chinnery, the vet who tends to turn sick animals into dead ones; Pauline, the pen-obsessed Job Centre employee; butcher Hilary Briss, who has some very suspicious sausages; and the enigmatic Papa Lazarou.moreless
15
Wonders Of The Solar System

BBC Two (ended 2010)

Professor Brian Cox reviews the true wonders of the solar system.
16
Hyperdrive

BBC Two (ended 2007)

Sci-fi comedy (in the same vein as 'Red Dwarf') set in the year 2151 following the adventures of HMS Camden Lock as it looks after British interests in an ever-expanding galaxy. Nick Frost stars as Commander Michael Henderson tasked with, among other things, encouraging aliens to locate their businesses in Peterborough and to take their holidays in the Lake District. His mixed bag crew consists of brilliant tactician but borderline-psychopath First Officer York; Diplomatic Officer Chloe Teal who has a secret crush on Henderson; Technical Officer Jeffers who hates York and makes note on his mistakes; quiet Navigator Vine; and an Enhanced Human, Sandstrom, who pilots the ship.moreless
17
Neverwhere

BBC Two (ended 1996)

Descend into the shadows of London Below...
Richard Oliver Mayhew (Gary Bakewell) is an ordinary man trying to live an ordinary life in London. When Door (Laura Fraser) stumbles, literally, across his path he is moved to help her. This kindness destroys his normal existence as he is drawn into the world of London Below. Pursued by the evil Mr. Croup (Hywel Bennett) and Mr. Vandemar (Clive Russell), Richard, Door, Hunter (Tanya Moodie) and The Marquis De Carabas (Paterson Joseph) must solve the mystery of the murder of Door's family and find a way to get Richard back home.
Neil Gaiman wrote this series for the BBC. While producing it he decided that he could flesh the world out more in a novel, which he published two years later.moreless
18
Saxondale

BBC Two

In this British-produced comedy, Steve Coogan plays Tommy Saxondale, an ex-roadie with anger management issues and a pest-control business. Tommy is a little arrogant, a little egotistical, and feels the world owes him more respect than it typically shows him. He has an assistant named Raymond who lives in a spare room in Tommy's house, a live-in girlfriend named Magz who owns a T-shirt business, and a receptionist named Vicky who has a tendency to drive him up the wall.moreless
19
The Thick of It (UK)

BBC Two (ended 2012)

Part scripted and part improvised, The Thick of It is a British satirical comedy that takes place inside the gritty world of Westminster politics.
20
Wild China

BBC Two

This documentary captures the dazzling array of landscapes and creatures that can be found across China. The six-part series reveals the little-known natural treasures and secret wildlife havens of China's wildest regions.moreless
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