© BBC Mrs Brown's Boys voted sitcom of the century
The people have spoken
Mrs Brown’s Boys is the greatest British sitcom of the 21st Century, according to viewers.
Brendan O’Carroll’s comedy beat The Office into second place in the poll conducted by Radio Times.
Peter Kay’s Car Share was third and Count Arthur Strong fourth, pushing shows such as Peep Show and Phoenix Nights further down the list.
Some major ratings and critical hits, such as I'm Alan Partridge, Not Going Out, Rev, Nighty Night o Catastrophe, failed to make the list at all.
O'Carroll said the result ' vindicates fans’ belief in the show. They kept us on the air. It certainly wasn’t the reviewers.'
He told the magazine: 'There is an audience out there that comedy forgot - that Are You Being Served? audience has been left behind. Us winning this award proves that.'
A total of 14,000 votes were cast from a shortlist compiled by Radio Times critics and experts from the British Film Institute.
Here is the full top 20:
1. Mrs Brown’s Boys
2.The Office
3. Peter Kay’s Car Share
5. The IT Crowd
6. The Thick of It
7. Gavin & Stacey
8. Miranda
9. Raised by Wolves
10. Outnumbered
11.Peep Show
12. Black Books
13. Green Wing
14. The Inbetweeners
15. Bad Education
16. Peter Kay’s Phoenix Knights
17. Yonderland
18. Twenty Twelve/W1A
19. Benidorm
20. Detectorists
At the end of the live episode of Mrs Brown’s Boys earlier this year, O’Carroll, in character, told viewers: ‘It doesn’t seem like there’s anything you can depend on any more. Well let me tell you this – if you ever feel lonely or a bit down, turn on the television and flick to comedy. Have yourself a good laugh: from Dad’s Army to Fawlty Towers and Only Fools And Horses. We’ll be there. You can depend on that.’
Published: 22 Aug 2016
