Who is the greatest comedy character in British tv history

[Claret Till I Die]

Tommy Cooper could make people laugh without saying a word so he'd get my vote

[Bfcboyo]

Noel Edmonds.

[Aclaret]

Paddy Mcguinness or Mrs Brown ? Maybe not.

[tim_noone]

Cant believe no ones mentioned Alf Garnett?

[pushpinpussy]

I'm playing it safe so ill say Lenny Henry.

[Bigbopper]

Mick and Montmorency
Bootsy and Smudge

[Rodleydave]

Ken Dodd

[Rodleydave]

oh comedy characters...sorry... not Ken Dodd then... Basil Fawlty

[groove]

My current favourite is Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm....absolutely brilliant. Can't believe its not on one of the main channels - unless its to expensive for them to buy.

How could I forget Larry David. Very clever and very funny is Curb

[Buxtonclaret]

Very nearly an armful!
Tony Hancock.
Then Eric Morecambe .

Always thought Dave Allen was funny too.

[PWBFC]

Another vote for Partridge. Nothing else comes close for me.

[bobinho]

TLOG is quite superb. You either get it, or you don’t, but if you do, it’s world class. Seen it live a couple of times, and my guts were aching for days after.

Bernice the female vicar is a particular favourite, but they are all excellent, especially Geoff Tipps, Pauline, Barbara and Tubbs Tadsyrup . Maybe that’s why I struggle to take Steve Pemberton seriously, despite him being a very good serious actor.

My top three tho...

Norman Stanley Fletcher. RB was an absolute genius.
Edmund Blackadder. RA is an incredibly funny man just to look at, but when insulting sarcastically at full chat, he’s hard to beat.
Winston Ingram. Still Game has to be one of the best sitcoms ever produced, and Winston is involved in all the best scenes. Bit left field I know, especially when you consider I could’ve had Fawlty, Brian Potter, Rigsby, et al but i couldn’t resist.

Honourable mention to Roy Kinnear in “the three musketeers”. The ultimate mumbling, bumbling buffoon.

[Wile E Coyote]

will hay, Alastair sim

[jollyjack]

The whole Still Game crew. Period.

[bfcjg]

Basil Fswlty, Captain Mannering, Blackadder, Brian Potter , The Dick Emery characters Everard, Honky Tonk, Kenny Everett character forget name but catch phrase was its all done in the best possible taste,

[Alanstevensonsgloves]

Basil Fswlty, Captain Mannering, Blackadder, Brian Potter , The Dick Emery characters Everard, Honky Tonk, Kenny Everett character forget name but catch phrase was its all done in the best possible taste,

That will be the delectable Miss Cupid Stunt

[Bordeauxclaret]

Great thread.
Lots of contenders but another vote for Partridge I think.

[dougcollins]

Toe Knee Hand Cock

Is that the guy who appears on the BBC at 5 every night?

He is pretty funny, I'll give you that.

[JohnMac]

Tommy Cooper could make people laugh without saying a word so he'd get my vote

I witnessed it at the Circus Tavern in 1976
He is along with Billy Connelly the funniest bloke I've ever seen.

As for Characters though, far too many to mention but for sketches, Harry Enfield and Friends had some crackers.

In a comedy, Fawlty, Rigsby, Fletcher & Trotter were brilliant.

[tiger76]

I can't believe no-one's mentioned Miss Slocombe and her pussy.

My top 15 for what it's worth, i originally had 10, but i couldn't leave some out.

1) Norman Stanley Fletcher (the great thing about him was he had has flaws, but you always found yourself routing for him)
2)Del Boy (the shows speak for themselves)
3)Basil Fawlty (don't mention the war)
4)Captain Mainwaring (the stand out in a brilliant cast)
5)Miss Slocombe (and her famous pussy)
6)Victor Meldrew (i know number 6,i don't believe it either)
7)Hyacinth Bucket (local girl, so she's got to merit a place)
8)Father Ted (perfect actor for the perfect part)
9)Compo (amazing that he did his own stunts well into his 80's)
10)Mr Bean(amazing what facial expressions Rowan Atkinson can pull)
11)Audrey fforbes-Hamilton(could have picked Margo Leadbitter, but i preferred her in this)
12)Ron Wheatcroft(forgotten alongside Nicholas Lyndhurst, but he was integral to the plot)
13)Dorien Green(her constant bickering with the sisters and their making up was part of my childhood, and now my middle age)
14)Sharon Theodopol-opodous(no i can't pronounce the name either)
15)Tracey Stubbs(couldn't leave the 3rd of the trio out could i,how she had the patience with Dorien and Sharon i'll never understand)

[bobinho]

Forgot to mention the fast show!

Chip Cobb the deaf stuntman was epic. “I don’t need a ladder”.

Rowley Birkin QC played by the fantastic Paul Whitehouse.

Swiss Toni. “Choosing your favourite comedy character Paul, is very much like making love to a beautiful woman”

[bobinho]

Oh, lads. It’s CHARACTERS, not the people that played ‘em.

Just saying like.

[Bin Ont Turf]

Oh, lads. It’s CHARACTERS, not the people that played ‘em.

Just saying like.

I'm just going to mention Stan Laurel.

I know I know, not a British TV character name or on a British TV comedy.

He's the greatest though, and the stomach aches I've had laughing can not be counted.

[Rojales Claret]

Just a mention for Les Patterson & Edna Everage!!

[bfcjg]

Blah de blah de blah de blah.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t1KgMVyJTUU

[The Enclosure]

Ronnie Barker and Alan Partridge get my vote.

[RammyClaret61]

Frank Spencer, Some Mother’s do ave em.

[Hipper]

I'd go for Sergeant Bilko if it wasn't for the detail of not being British. (He was shown on British TV, though.)

I'm rewatching Sykes at the moment, and Deryk Guyler's character PC "Corky" Turnbull is excellent.

Agree with all this.

With Eric Sykes, Hattie Jacques and Guyler, this programme should have been much better though.

I can also add Guyler as Potter in Please Sir, another programme full of memorable characters like the wimpish headmaster and stern Miss Ewell, not forgetting the Welsh Mr Price.

In the end though, despite it not being my favourite comedy programme, I'd have to give another vote for that 'dirty old man', Albert Steptoe.

[joey13]

Cook Pass Babtridge

[Steve1956]

The greatest simpleton in a comedy...has the be Trigger...."alright Dave"