Gentle Comedies - The Definitive Guide

Barrychuckle

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Staff member
Several years ago I started a thread asking for suggestions for other comedies which were gentle in nature like LOTSW. The thread has proved pretty popular with 38,000 views and over 400 replies. @BruceC suggested collating the replies so I've tried to do just that.

So here is that list as a point of reference, I've tried to put it in alphabetical order - sorry if I've forgotten anything but I've had to scan read over 400 posts!

After Henry
All Gas & Gaiters
Are You Being Served
As Time Goes By
Barbara
Beast (feat Alexander Armstrong)
Bless Me Father with Arthur Lowe
Bloomers
Brush Strokes
Butterflies
Clarence with Ronnie Barker with Josephine Tewson
Dear John
Dear Ladies (Hinge & Bracket)
Didn't Know You Cared with Robin Bailey and John Comer.
Dinnerladies
Doc Martin
Early Doors
Ever Decreasing Circles
Father, Dear Father with Patrick Cargill
For the Love of Ada
Fresh & French Fields
Full House
Goodnight Sweetheart
Grace and Favour, the spin-off from Are you being served
Hallelujah!
Heartburn Hotel
Hi-De-Hi
In Loving Memory with Thora and Christopher Beeney
Jeeves & Wooster
Keeping Up Appearances,
Man About The House
Me and my Girl with Richard O'Sullivan.
Mind Your Language
Monarch Of The Glen
Nearest and Dearest
Oh Dr Beeching!
One Foot In The Grave
Open All Hours
Potter (Arthur Lowe)
Rich tea and sympathy.
Rising Damp
Robins Nest
Selwyn Froggit
Soime Mothers Do Have 'em
That's my Boy
The Good Life
The Magnificent Evans with Ronnie Barker
The Other One with Richard Briers and Michael Gambon.
The Upper Hand
The Vital Spark
Three up Two Down
To The Manor Born
Two In Clover
Uncle Silas
Vicar Of Dibley
Waiting For God
Yes Minister
You Rang MLord [comedy drama]
 
Nice list. I like how you have boxes around the episode titles. Plus in alphabetical order. Way better than the list I made.
 
Nice list. I like how you have boxes around the episode titles. Plus in alphabetical order. Way better than the list I made.
I have to admit that’s just my lack of IT skills :fp:

I pasted them all into Excel to put them into alphabetical order then couldn’t work out how to take the borders off again !!!
 
So many I've never heard of LOL... Good luck trying to binge that lot... Say an average of 10 episodes per show - some more some less?

Sadly the list will disappear into oblivion off the bottom of the thread :)
 
I added a few things.. and it aint half hot mum

Show nameYearsSeriesEpisodes
After Henry1988 to 1992438
All Gas & Gaiters 1966 to 197133
Are You Being Served1972 to 19851070
As Time Goes By1992 to 20051067
Barbara1999 to 2003329
Beast (feat Alexander Armstrong)2000-2001212
Bless Me Father with Arthur Lowe1978 until 1981321
Bloomers197915
Brush Strokes1986 to 1991540
Butterflies1978 to 1983430
Clarence 1988 16
Dear John1986 to 1987214
Dear Ladies (Hinge & Bracket)1983 and 1984320
Didn't Know You Cared1975-1979427
Dinner ladies1998 to 2000216
Doc Martin 2004 and 20191079
Early Doors2003 and 2004.212
Ever Decreasing Circles1984 and 1989427
Father, Dear Father with Patrick Cargill1968 to 1973745
For the Love of Ada1970 and 1971427
Fresh & French Fields1984 and 1986427
Full House1985 to 1986320
Goodnight Sweetheart1993 to 1999659
Grace and Favour1992 to 1993212
Hallelujah!1983 to 1984215
Heartburn Hotel1988213
Hi-De-Hi1981 to 1988958
In Loving Memory1979 to 1986537
Jeeves & Wooster1990 to 1993423
Keeping Up Appearances,1990 to 1995544
Man About The House1973 to 1976639
Me and my Girl with Richard O'Sullivan.1984 to 1988652
Mind Your Language1977 to 1985442
Monarch Of The Glen2000 to 2005 764
Nearest and Dearest1968 to 1973745
Oh Dr Beeching!1996 to 1997220
One Foot In The Grave1990 to late 2000642
Open All Hours1976 to 1985426
Potter (Arthur Lowe)1979 to 1983320
Rich tea and sympathy.199116
Rising Damp1974 to 1978428
Robins Nest1977 to 1981648
Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt1974 to 1978429
Some Mothers Do have em1973 to 1978323
That's my Boy1981 to 1986537
The Good Life1975 to 1978430
The Magnificent Evans 198416
The Other One1977 to 1979213
The Upper Hand1990 to 1996794
The Vital Spark1965 to 1974321
Three up Two Down1985 to 1989425
To The Manor Born1979 to 1981320
Two In Clover1969 to 1970213
Uncle Silas
Vicar Of Dibley1994 to 2000320
Waiting For God1990 to 1994547
Yes Minister1980 to 1988539
You Rang MLord1988 tol 1993426
It Ain't Half Hot Mum1974 and 1981856
 
In a similar vein to 'As Time Goes By' there is also 'A Fine Romance'. With Dame Judi Dench and her real life husband Micheal Williams. Not quite as on par as ATGB but still enjoyable.
 
In a similar vein to 'As Time Goes By' there is also 'A Fine Romance'. With Dame Judi Dench and her real life husband Micheal Williams. Not quite as on par as ATGB but still enjoyable.
I'm halfway through s3 of ATGB, I find them a bit hit and miss. They are genuinely funny in parts and definitely meet the criteria of a gentle comedy. The Alistair character gets up my nose a bit, but I'm guessing his character may be designed to be annoying!

I do like Lionel s curmudgeonly moods sometime they do make me chuckle, whilst Dame Judy is undoubtedly an amazing actress I struggle again with her character. I'm definitely going to persevere through the entire series as they certainly and easy watch.
 
Barry, I agree there are some episodes that are not as great as others but I try not to let them detract from the series as a whole.

Personally, I wanted to see Lionel and Jean back together again as a couple. To me that seemed to be the start of the premise of the show. When they both tried to prove to the other that they were both 'still game' and able to attract new partners. The hopeless romantic in myself had me wishing otherwise.

Alistair's near perpetual exuberance I find can be a little tiring at times. That's just the way his character is. He does come to genuinely like and care for Lionel, Jean and crew. At first I felt he was just helping Lionel with his book because of the connection through his Dad. Alistair is a good guy though and he does mean well.

Glad you feel you are able to continue to watch and hopefully enjoy the rest of the series.
 
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