Fifteen Iconic Comedy Moments
"From Chandeliers to Curry Orders: 15 of the Most Iconic Moments in British Sitcom History"
British sitcoms have given us many things: unforgettable characters, endlessly quotable lines, and moments of such pure, chaotic brilliance that they’ve etched themselves into the national psyche. Whether it’s a chandelier crashing down or a man passionately defending his curry order, these scenes are more than just comedy gold—they're part of our cultural fabric. Here’s a celebration of the most iconic, most side-splitting, and most brilliantly British moments ever broadcast.
A Touch of Glass
In one of the greatest setups-and-payoffs in comedy history, Del Boy and Rodney, tasked with carefully removing a priceless chandelier, stand triumphantly ready with their tools… under the wrong one. Cue the agonising slow-motion crash of crystal glory and two stunned faces that somehow say, “we really thought we had it.”
Del Falls Through the Bar
It’s only a few seconds long, but it's legendary. Del, ever the smooth operator, leans on a non-existent bar flap mid-flirt, disappearing into the abyss with a suave “play it cool” face frozen in time. Trigger’s delayed double-take is the cherry on top.
Don’t Mention the War!
In The Germans, John Cleese’s Basil Fawlty crumbles into a goose-stepping, mock-Hitler mess in front of actual German guests—after telling Polly, “Don’t mention the war!” A masterclass in escalating absurdity, and the most British way of not handling awkwardness.
Basil vs. Car
We’ve all been there: something doesn’t work and we think violence might help. When Basil’s car refuses to start, he gives it a “damn good thrashing” with a tree branch. Cathartic, ridiculous, and somehow deeply relatable.
Don’t Tell Him, Pike!
When a captured German officer asks for young Pike’s name, Captain Mainwaring barks, “Don’t tell him, Pike!”—accidentally revealing it in the same breath. It’s a perfectly timed moment that’s been repeated by dads across Britain for decades.
The Lingerie Department
Father Ted, Dougal, and their fellow priests - very much not of this world, find themselves stuck in a lingerie department, panicking like they’re trapped in a horror film. Their frantic run through racks of knickers is pure farcical heaven.
The Racist Accusation – “I’m Not A Racist!”
In a brilliantly escalating farce, Ted tries to clear his name after an innocent comment is taken the wrong way. As he spirals deeper into awkward explanations, he ends up peering out of a window—where a smudge above his lip just so happens to make him look like he’s doing a Hitler impersonation accompanied by a salute. The neighbours’ horrified faces say it all. It’s cringe comedy at its most iconic.
David Brent’s Dance
The dance. Oh, the dance. David Brent, determined to impress (and failing with gusto), performs the world’s most uncomfortable dance routine. It's a cringe-inducing ballet of dad moves and desperation, and no wedding dancefloor has ever recovered.
The Puddle
The setup is classic slapstick: the Vicar, in search of romance, hops into what she thinks is a shallow puddle… and vanishes. Completely submerged. The sheer audacity of the shot makes it one of the funniest faceplants in telly history.
Edwina and Patsy Fall Out the Car
Edwina has already fallen at the feet of a police officer but it’s Joanna Lumley as Patsy: eternally glamorous, terminally sloshed, who gets the biggest laugh. The moment she tumbles out of a car in a haze of designer labels and gin, legs akimbo, is peak Ab Fab. Fashion may fade, but falling over drunk is forever.
“Wibble”
In Blackadder Goes Forth, as Edmund tries to dodge the trenches by pretending to be mad, he delivers a brilliantly unhinged performance, complete with underpants on head, pencils up nose, and the immortal line: “Wibble.” As mad as it gets, and twice as clever.
Buried Alive
Victor Meldrew’s misfortunes reach new heights (or depths) when he ends up buried up to his neck by an exasperated gardener. It's a surreal, morbidly funny image, made even better by his resigned muttering. Classic Victor.
Jim and Denise’s Bathroom Heart-to-Heart
For all its laughs, The Royle Family was quietly profound. Jim and pregnant Denise sharing a tearful, heartfelt moment in the bathroom is unexpectedly tender, and proof that sitcoms can hit you right in the feels—between cups of tea and sarcastic one-liners.
Frank on Roller Skates
Frank Spencer, the human calamity, on roller skates, clinging to a moving bus. It’s Buster Keaton meets suburban Britain. His squeaky-voiced chaos knows no bounds, and this sequence has "iconic" written all over it (probably in skid marks).
Smithy’s Curry Order
Never has a takeaway order sounded so majestic. Smithy’s impassioned, encyclopaedic monologue about curries, sides, and non-sharing etiquette is both hilarious and weirdly inspirational. Forget Shakespeare—this is true poetry.
Whether it's pratfalls or pathos, awkward silences or extravagant chaos, British sitcoms have given us a treasure trove of moments that we’ll be quoting and re-enacting forever. And let’s be honest: if you've never yelled “Wibble!” in public, are you even British?
Published on April 10th, 2025. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.
