Television series
Limmy's Show
- Comedy
- Dip in and out
Limmy's Show is a sketch and character comedy that captures the internet sensibility that made Limmy a cult figure online. It's anarchic, visually inventive, sometimes uncomfortably dark, and moves at a pace that rarely lets you settle. Perfect for people who love absurdist comedy with real craft underneath the chaos.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you like sketch comedy that lurches between the mundane and the unhinged, where a deadpan character piece can turn strange in a single cut and the Scottish voices carry as much of the joke as the premise.
Skip it if you want a sketch show with a steady rhythm and recurring setups you can settle into, since this one jumps between styles constantly and some bits land flat or feel like they barely finished.
What it asks of you: Each episode runs about half an hour across three series, so it is short and easy to dip into, but you need to stay alert, because the tone and form shift without warning.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The League of Gentlemen1999
British sketch comedy that proves the form can be genuinely disturbing and hilarious in equal measure. Dark character work, grotesque creations, and a willingness to make you deeply uncomfortable.
But Aggressively bleak and often cruel. Some sketches overstay their welcome, and the humour feels very of-the-moment in ways that haven't always aged brilliantly.
Monty Python's Flying Circus1969
The template for absurdist sketch comedy that influenced everyone who came after, including Limmy. Anarchic structure, complete commitment to the bit, and the invention of visual gags that still land.
But Padded with padding. Some sketches feel like they're killing time between the good ones. The pacing is glacial compared to modern comedy.
That Mitchell and Webb Look2006
Sketch comedy with real intelligence behind it. Mitchell and Webb build recurring characters and situations with genuine affection for the form. Smart without being smug.
But Relies heavily on British cultural reference points and in-jokes. Quieter than Limmy—if you want constant velocity energy, this moves too slowly.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Limmy's Show
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Nope2022
Both share a fascination with how the eye works—what we see, what we miss, how we frame reality. Limmy's casual violence and visual gags are always about perspective; Peele makes that the entire point of his film.
Jordan Peele builds horror and sci-fi around the comedic idea of what happens when witnesses to the unbelievable try to film proof. Visually playful, genuinely unsettling, structured like a sketch that builds into something larger.
But Long stretches with minimal dialogue. More interested in mood and visual storytelling than narrative momentum. Frustratingly opaque about what it's actually showing you.
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Reece Shearsmith and Jeremy Dyson craft standalone 30-minute worlds that are darkly funny, formally ambitious, and contain actual plot twists. Comedy that trusts the audience.
But Increasingly focused on mystery-box storytelling rather than laughs. Later seasons prioritize surprise over comedy, which can feel smug.
The Day Today1994
Anarchic comedy news spoof with genuine visual invention and a commitment to non-sequiturs. Influenced everyone making comedy online. Still feels genuinely weird.
But Dated references and in-jokes that require deep British comedy knowledge. Some bits go nowhere intentionally, which can feel like a waste of time.
Brass Eye1997
Chris Morris's sketch show disguised as a news programme. Fearlessly satirical, visually sophisticated, and willing to upset for a reason. Comedy with actual stakes.
But Deliberately provocative to the point of discomfort. Satire about predatory journalism and moral panic doesn't always land as intended.
Big Train1998
Sketch show with a painterly eye for composition and a love of recurring characters. Less concerned with punchlines than with sustaining absurd worlds. Genuinely inventive.
But Often prioritizes weirdness over laughs. Some sketches feel like extended acting exercises rather than comedy.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar2023
Wes Anderson adapts a Roald Dahl story as a visually meticulous, narratively unconventional piece. Proves that sketch-like structure and formal play can work in long form with a strong voice.
But Self-conscious to the point of distraction. Anderson's style can feel more important than the story. Shorter films in the package are more interesting than the title feature.
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway2002
A sketch show masquerading as light entertainment. Ant and Dec's chemistry and genuine affection for comedy craft makes this more interesting than its Saturday night slot suggests.
But Deliberately populist. If you want challenging or edgy, this is safe, family-friendly entertainment. Production values matter more than punch.
Severance2022
Both find comedy and unease in the gap between what people are saying and what they're actually experiencing. Limmy's characters are trapped in loops; Severance's characters are trapped in systems. Same formal DNA, opposite genres.
Dan Erickson builds a high-concept thriller around a single unsettling idea, executed with formal precision. Character sketches become psychological horror. Visually composed like each scene is a short film. Comedy lurks in the weird banality.
But Deliberately paced. The plot barely moves. Season one ends with almost no answers. Requires genuine commitment and tolerance for unease as a narrative strategy.
People
Cast
Alan McHughVarious- Kirstin McLeanVarious
Paul McColeVarious- Brian LimondVarious
Recommended by
The League of Gentlemen, Snuff Box, Man Down, Come Fly with Me, Monkey Dust, Chewin' the Fat, Jam, Shooting Stars, Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle, Ideal