UK Members: Sound Off on UK Entertainment

Hi. Yank here.

So, I recently have been enjoying a bit of your UK-produced entertainment, specifically The IT Crowd and the film, This is England, both of which I have very much enjoyed. In the past, I have found myself also enjoying, The Prisoner series, some episodes of Absolutely Fabulous, and of course, reruns of Benny Hill. But apart from these, I must admit I'm not too privy to the UK television and films that should be required viewing (Guy Ritchie and Hugh Grant films, notwithstanding). But I'd like to change that.

So, if the UK members of this site (or other members who are familiar) could recommend some quality shows/films that I (and other interested members) can check out, I/we would be very grateful.

In my queue already:
The Young Ones
The Office (BBC version, of course)

Anything else?

Cheers!

Shows:
The Day Today
Brass Eye
Spaced
(all comedy / satire)

Trying to think of dramas, but all my favourites are American.

Films:
Dead Man's Shoes (by the guy who made This Is England)
My Summer of Love

I was looking for this (the Simon Pegg stuff, yes?) today on Netflix, alas they did not have it. I'll have to scuffle about a bit more online for this.

yes, the Simon Pegg one. it's worth the scuffling.

i've thought of a good drama: State of Play. watch it before the big budget Hollywood mangling of it comes out.

oh, and have you seen Hot Fuzz? more Simon Pegg, and better than Shaun of the Dead in my book.

I assume you're familiar with comedies like Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, and Jeeves and Wooster?

If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan I'd highly recommend the Granada TV series starring Jeremy Brett; it's excellent.

The UK has also produced some pretty great gangster films, like Get Carter, The Long Good Friday, Mona Lisa, and Sexy Beast.

TV comedy:
Father Ted (Irish, not British, but pretty damn essential)
Red Dwarf
Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister

TV Drama:
I Claudius
Cracker
Prime Suspect

TV Documentary:
Any David Attenborough, but The Blue Planet is my favourite

Films:
Secrets & Lies
The 3 Musketeers
Withnail and I
Gregory's Girl
East is East

Garth Marenghis Darkplace - Seriously , go watch the first episode , you'll ever love this or truely hate it

And Peep show is cringe worthy brilliant tv, there is one episode where i was in tears of laughter

Comedy: Black Books.
Green Wing

Drama: Life on Mars.

Spaced will be out on DVD soon in the US - they've been recording commentaries for it, and will be promoting it at the Comic Con.

There's a Brit-Coms group as well.

Brilliant!

Thanks for all the recommendations.

Spaced is due on DVD in the US shortly.

Blake's 7:


Bagpuss:

Black Books, Red Dwarf and Spaced are all you need to know

I'm Alan Partridge (tv).
Extras (tv).
Spitting Image (tv).
Bad News (film).

Jam.

Damn, I forgot about Jam... though I prefered Blue Jam, the radio version. I think it was only released as a single disc best-of CD unfortunately, and probably hard to find these days.

seconded.

what? no "man stroke woman"?

nope...cause its rubbish.

But for some good stuff....how about BIG TRAIN?

jesus, they have canned laughs over there too? ouch.