Paphos Life

A panel of comedy experts debate Britain’s best comedians, including Ricky Gervais, Peter Kay and Victoria Wood. The fight for the No.1 spot is fierce, but who will have the last laugh?

Fawlty Towers was recently named Britain’s best sitcom, but who is Britain’s best individual comedian?
A brand new one-off special, titled Britain’s Greatest Comedian, is set to premiere on Gold and will countdown the nation's best comics before naming the triumphant winner.
Earlier this year, members of the public chose their favourite comics from England, Scotland and Wales. Gold narrowed down their choices to a list of 30, which includes Ricky Gervais, Peter Kay and Victoria Wood.


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Here's the shortlist for Britain’s Greatest Comedian

Caroline Aherne
Bill Bailey
Jo Brand
Billy Connolly
Ken Dodd
Dawn French
Peter Day
Sir Lenny Henry
Michael McIntyre
Jennifer Saunders
Dave Allen
Ronnie Barker
Kathy Burke
Steve Coogan
Lee Evans
Ricky Gervais
Stan Laurel
Lee Mack
Spike Milligan
Peter Sellers
Rowan Atkinson
Sacha Baron Cohen
John Cleese
Tommy Cooper
Micky Flanagan
Eddie Izzard
Stewart Lee
Rik Mayall
Eric Morecambe
Victoria Wood


* Who would you vote for?

My vote would be Tommy Cooper.

Freddie Starr knocks the spots off most of these.

surprised no politician makes the list

My vote is not on the list: Tommy Handley. He died keeping the UK laughing in its worst hours. Some of the catch-phrases are still used today.

ITMA followed the adventures of Tommy Handley as he undertook a series of (fictional) bizarre jobs that involved working with strange characters. The first series began with Handley working on a private radio station, but he later moved on to work as Minister of Aggravation and Mysteries at the Office of Twerps; the Mayor of seedy seaside resort Foaming at the Mouth; and Governor of the South Sea island Tomtopia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_That_Man_Again

Wouldn't it be just great if Stewart Lee were to win, sadly I think he frightens some people .....

Devil wrote: ↑Sun May 26, 2019 10:54 am My vote is not on the list: Tommy Handley. He died keeping the UK laughing in its worst hours. Some of the catch-phrases are still used today.

ITMA followed the adventures of Tommy Handley as he undertook a series of (fictional) bizarre jobs that involved working with strange characters. The first series began with Handley working on a private radio station, but he later moved on to work as Minister of Aggravation and Mysteries at the Office of Twerps; the Mayor of seedy seaside resort Foaming at the Mouth; and Governor of the South Sea island Tomtopia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_That_Man_Again

Can I do you now Sir?

Michael McIntyre, a comedian?

No Freddie Starr, Jim Davidson, Bob Monkhouse, Tim Vine or Chubby Brown (not everyone’s cup of tea)

My vote would have to be Tommy Cooper.

Has to be Dave Allen. RIP

I would go with Stewart Lee too. He himself would no doubt go with Daniel Kitson though.

I’ve never heard of Stewart Lee.

Oh Tommy Cooper was the best, he made us smile and laugh, remember the show when he collapsed and just waited for him to get up but it was so sad to hear he had passed away, Dimsum

Not safe for work or for people of a nervous disposition:

Tommy Cooper without a doubt.

Catherine Tate

Take your pick real 70s humour.

I was going to post Bernard Manning but thought better.

Bloody class this.

I think if you’re going to compare people in categories like this, then a distinction between ‘comedian’ as in stand-up and comedy actor/ writer needs to happen.

I.e. Stan Laurel was a genius comedy actor and writer but not a stand-up. Some do cover both, such as Ricky Jervais.

Quite a few of the names on the list are/were part of a double act & IMHO ought not be there. I too had never heard of Stewart Lee. Michael McIntyre is cringe worthy. I just cannot watch him. His delivery is too smug!

So, my choice is the late great, Tommy Cooper, Just like that.

Saw Dave Allen live. Rubbish. Like many, I've never heard of Stewart Lee.

My vote would go to Ken Dodd. The comedian's comedian.