Television series

Not Going Out

A sitcom about a broke, feckless man trying to romance his upstairs neighbour while navigating the chaos of his own incompetence and his friends' various disasters. It's warm-hearted, physical comedy with real affection for its characters—less about zingers than about watching likeable people mess things up together. For anyone who enjoys character-driven comedy over joke density.

TVMaze rating3.9

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Taskmaster2015

Five comedians attempting absurd creative tasks with real wit and vulnerability. Every episode feels genuinely unpredictable, and the relationships between the cast deepen across seasons in ways that matter.

But The format can feel repetitive if you watch too many back-to-back. Some tasks fall flat, and not every comedian's style lands for everyone.

Taskmaster poster

Friday Night Dinner2011

A family sitcom where the comedy emerges from character and situation rather than forced gags. Warm, funny, and genuinely touching about the mess of ordinary life and people who love each other.

But The humour is gentle and understated—if you want rapid-fire jokes, this will feel slow. It takes time to find its rhythm.

Friday Night Dinner poster

Gavin & Stacey2007

A sitcom about two ordinary men in long-term relationships, finding comedy in the everyday disasters of adult life. Deeply funny and unexpectedly moving about friendship, loyalty, and belonging.

But Welsh and West Country accents are heavy and take adjustment. The tone shifts between absurdist and sentimental, which isn't always seamless.

Gavin & Stacey poster

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Community2009

Both are fundamentally about likeable failures learning to care about each other. Neither is interested in making its characters cooler or smarter; the comedy comes from watching them be themselves.

A sitcom about misfits at community college that starts conventional and becomes genuinely innovative. It shares Not Going Out's belief that character relationships matter more than setup-punchline structure, but applies it to an ensemble in ways that deepen over time.

But Tonal shifts are extreme—comedy becomes increasingly surreal and experimental. Later seasons feel uneven, and finding the right entry point is tricky.

Community poster
More like this (8)

The IT Crowd2006

A three-character sitcom set in a basement with ridiculous premises and anarchic energy. Character-driven, quotable, and genuinely hilarious without trying to be clever about it.

But Humour feels slightly dated now. The female character is underdeveloped, and some of the comedy lands harder than others across seasons.

The IT Crowd poster

Peep Show2003

A sitcom told entirely in first-person POV, following two terrible men through their terrible lives. Darkly funny, inventive, and somehow sympathetic to its deeply flawed characters.

But The fixed-camera format can feel claustrophobic. Humour is very dark and relies heavily on cringe; the protagonists rarely grow or improve.

Peep Show poster

Miranda2009

Physical, character-based comedy about an awkward woman navigating work, family, and relationships. Warm-hearted and genuinely invested in its characters beyond the gags.

But Relies heavily on breaking the fourth wall, which some find exhausting. Pacing can feel uneven, and the live-audience format dates it.

Miranda poster

Extras2005

Ricky Gervais as a failed actor working background roles, with cameos from genuinely excellent guest stars. Sharp writing about ambition, failure, and self-delusion, undercut with real pathos.

But Gervais's persona can be grating over time. The show is relentlessly bleak—there's very little warmth, and redemption is not on offer.

Extras poster

Would I Lie to You?2007

A panel show where comedians tell lies or truths and others try to call them out. Genuinely funny, relies on personality rather than scripting, and has real chemistry between regular panellists.

But Format is simple and can feel repetitive. Quality varies significantly depending on who's on the panel that week.

Would I Lie to You? poster

Big School2013

A sitcom about a teacher navigating workplace chaos and an awkward romance. Physical comedy and character work in a British-sitcom tradition, with a likeable cast.

But Never quite finds a consistent tone. Premises feel recycled, and it struggles to decide whether it wants to be absurdist or grounded.

Big School poster

Schitt's Creek2015

Like Not Going Out, it trusts that watching flawed people genuinely care for each other is funnier and more moving than cynicism. Both reject the idea that sitcom characters need to be aspirational.

A wealthy family loses everything and moves to a small town. Starts as broad mockery, evolves into genuine warmth about people learning to depend on each other. Consistently excellent ensemble chemistry.

But First season is quite broad and uneven—it needs time to settle. Some find the Canadian production values or tone too polished compared to rougher British comedy.

Schitt's Creek poster

Please Like Me2013

Both understand that sitcoms can be about real people with real problems, and that doesn't require sacrificing humour. Both prioritize warmth and character observation over joke-rate.

An Australian comedy-drama about a young man and his chaotic group of friends navigating mental illness, heartbreak, and growing up. Genuinely funny, often devastating, and treats its characters with real tenderness.

But Tone shifts violently between comedy and tragedy—some episodes are dark in ways that might blindside you. It's a serious show that happens to be funny, not a funny show that's sometimes touching.

Please Like Me poster

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