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10 British Comedies So Absurd They're Actually Hilarious

10 British Comedies So Absurd They're Actually Hilarious
Image credit: Channel 4, BBC, Sky Showcase

A myriad of British humor, absurdities, and tales so wild, they must be seen to be believed.

1. Stath Lets Flats

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Lean in; let me spin you a tale. Stath, a bumbling estate agent, has one dream: to conquer London's cutthroat property market. But alas! His ineptitude knows no bounds. In a world where selling property is war, our dear Stath constantly shoots himself in the foot. Flats, drama, and a mix of utterly bonkers characters? It's a symphony of chaos! If you've ever dealt with a clueless estate agent, this might feel eerily familiar, with a generous dollop of slapstick.

2. Mum

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Picture this: Cathy, a recently widowed middle-aged woman, finds love in the unlikeliest places. Drama? Sure. But it's the quirky ensemble of family and friends that truly steals the show. Ever attended an awkward dinner? Well, every episode here feels like one. You'll cringe, you'll laugh, and then you'll cringe some more. Can love blossom amidst a hurricane of absurdity? Step into Cathy's shoes and find out.

3. Ghosts

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A couple inherits a manor. Sounds fancy, right? Plot twist: it's haunted. But these aren't your typical boo-hoo ghosts. They're a hilarious mishmash from various eras, each more peculiar than the last. A caveman, a disgraced politician, and a scout leader? It's a ghostly party, and everyone's invited. The living couple, caught in this spectral sitcom, tries to make the best of it. Imagine Downton Abbey but if the downstairs staff were translucent and, well, dead.

4. This Country

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Let's jaunt over to rural England, shall we? Life's slow. Internet's slower. And there's this pair of cousins, Kerry and Kurtan, living out their mundane lives with grand ambitions. Think of them as big fish in a really, really small pond. The mockumentary style? A cherry on this comedic pie. It's like peering into the lives of those neighbors you never really got but couldn't help watching. Is it loveable? Absolutely. Will it make you rethink moving to the countryside? Possibly.

5. The Reluctant Landlord

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Ever inherited a pub? No? Well, neither have I. But Romesh Ranganathan has, albeit begrudgingly. He'd rather be anywhere but there, serving pints and dealing with the local riffraff. It's not just about pulling a pint; it's about the pandemonium that ensues. The pub regulars are a class act, presenting a cocktail of quirks, ensuring Romesh's dream of a calm life is always a drink too far.

6. Back

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Steven once had aspirations. Big dreams. But, as fate would have it, he's thrust back into his family's life, and more importantly, their pub. But here's where the story takes a turn. Andrew, an old foster brother, breezes into town. Smooth talker. Charmer. Everything Steven isn't. But can you really trust this new face? It's a play of power, ambition, and ridiculously funny misunderstandings. Is it a brotherly bond or an all-out war? Grab some popcorn; you won't want to miss this duel.

7. Hold the Sunset

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So, Edith and Phil have a plan: retire, leave the bustling city, and embrace the sunset years together in a quiet, countryside retreat. But when Edith's 50-year-old son decides to move back home, their idyllic dreams screech to a halt. With an extra child in tow, can love (and patience) conquer all? It's a merry dance of love, dreams, and comedic despair, all wrapped in a not-so-tight family bow.

8. Year of the Rabbit

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Victorian London. Dark alleys. Shadowy figures. And then there's Detective Rabbit. He's rough around the edges, has a penchant for drink, and boasts methods that are, let's say, unorthodox. Alongside his mismatched partners – a rookie and a posh female from the upper echelons – they tackle crime in the grittiest, goofiest ways possible. Think of it as Sherlock Holmes, but if Watson were constantly facepalming.

9. Don't Forget the Driver

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Hop aboard the world of coach tours with Pete, a driver navigating more than just roads. From dealing with quirky passengers to managing personal drama, his plate's piled high. Each journey? A rollercoaster. And if life wasn't chaotic enough, there's a refugee stowaway to deal with. What ensues is a delightful mess of morals, mishaps, and, yes, the occasional seaside view.

10. Timewasters

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Jazz? Time travel? Sign me up! A struggling London jazz band finds an elevator that takes them, of all places, to the 1920s. Black musicians in a time when race relations were...dicey. Navigating societal norms, finding love, and ensuring they don't alter the course of history becomes their daily grind. Think of it as Back to the Future, but with more sax and fewer skateboards.