Channel 4 is home to some of the best sitcoms available to stream for free including some of my personal all-time favourites, Father Ted, IT Crowd and Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace. I can also highly recommend Big Boys, Stath Let’s Flats. Here are the best sitcoms from the UK and US to add to your watchlist.
More best lists on Channel 4:
Dramas On Channel 4 ~ Comedies On Channel 4 ~ Films On Channel 4 ~ Foreign Dramas On Channel 4 ~ New Movies And TV Shows On Channel 4 ~ True Crime Shows On Channel 4
Award-Winning & Critically Acclaimed Sitcoms
Frasier (1993–2004) – [Comedy/Slice of Life]
For fans of: Cheers, The Office (US), Veep
Kelsey Grammer stars as Dr. Frasier Crane, a pompous radio psychiatrist navigating family, friendship, and farce in Seattle. With David Hyde Pierce and Jane Leeves, the ensemble delivers razor-sharp wit and emotional depth. It’s highbrow comedy with heart—and a record-breaking Emmy haul.
Modern Family (2009–2020) – [Comedy/Mockumentary]
For fans of: Parks and Recreation, The Middle, Schitt’s Creek
This mockumentary-style sitcom follows three interconnected families through parenting chaos, generational clashes, and heartfelt moments. Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, and Ty Burrell lead a cast that balances slapstick with sincerity. It’s warm, witty, and endlessly quotable.
Derry Girls (2018–2022) – [Comedy/Coming-of-Age]
For fans of: Sex Education, My Mad Fat Diary, The Inbetweeners
Set in 1990s Northern Ireland, this BAFTA-winning gem follows a group of Catholic schoolgirls (and one English boy) through adolescence and political unrest. Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Nicola Coughlan shine in a show that’s as poignant as it is hilarious. It’s riotous, rebellious, and deeply human.
Peep Show (2003–2015) – [Comedy/Dark Humor]
For fans of: Fleabag, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Office (UK)
David Mitchell and Robert Webb play dysfunctional flatmates in this cult classic told entirely through POV shots and internal monologues. It’s awkward, bleak, and brutally funny. A masterclass in cringe comedy.
Father Ted (1995–1998) – [Comedy/Satire]
For fans of: Blackadder, The Vicar of Dibley, Toast of London
Three priests exiled to a remote Irish island bumble through parish life in this surreal, beloved sitcom. Dermot Morgan and Ardal O’Hanlon deliver iconic performances in a show that’s equal parts absurd and affectionate. Catholic guilt has never been so funny.
The IT Crowd (2006–2013) – [Comedy/Workplace]
For fans of: Silicon Valley, Superstore, Spaced
Chris O’Dowd, Richard Ayoade, and Katherine Parkinson star as socially inept tech workers in a basement office. It’s quirky, quotable, and full of surreal detours. Turn it off and on again—it still works.
Stath Lets Flats (2018–2021) – [Comedy/Absurdist]
For fans of: I Think You Should Leave, Man Down, The Office (UK)
Jamie Demetriou plays Stath, a catastrophically incompetent letting agent in this BAFTA-winning comedy. It’s awkward, surreal, and full of linguistic chaos. A masterclass in character-driven cringe.
We Are Lady Parts (2021– ) – [Comedy/Music]
For fans of: Girls5eva, Chewing Gum, Broad City
An all-female Muslim punk band navigates gigs, identity, and friendship in this bold, Peabody-winning series. Created by Nida Manzoor, it’s loud, funny, and refreshingly original. Representation rocks—and so does the soundtrack.
Drop the Dead Donkey (1990–1998) – [Comedy/Satire]
For fans of: The Thick of It, Brass Eye, W1A
Set in a fictional newsroom, this BAFTA-winning sitcom blends scripted chaos with real-world headlines. Stephen Tompkinson and Neil Pearson anchor a cast of media misfits. It’s sharp, topical, and still relevant.
Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006) – [Comedy/Family]
For fans of: The Simpsons, Arrested Development, The Middle
Frankie Muniz stars as a gifted middle child in a chaotic household led by Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek. Its single-camera format and fourth-wall breaks redefined family sitcoms. Smart, anarchic, and emotionally grounded.
Chewing Gum (2015–2017) – [Comedy/Coming-of-Age]
For fans of: Fleabag, We Are Lady Parts, Insecure
Michaela Coel’s breakout series follows Tracey, a religious virgin navigating sex, identity, and London life. It’s bold, messy, and hilariously unfiltered. A BAFTA Breakthrough that launched a powerhouse.
Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace (2004) – [Comedy/Parody]
For fans of: Toast of London, The Mighty Boosh, Danger 5
Matthew Holness and Richard Ayoade spoof 1980s horror TV with lo-fi effects and high-concept nonsense. It’s meta, surreal, and endlessly quotable. A cult classic that rewards repeat viewings.
Comic Strip Presents… (1982– ) – [Comedy/Anthology]
For fans of: Monty Python, Inside No. 9, The Young Ones
This pioneering anthology series launched alternative comedy in the UK, featuring Rik Mayall, Dawn French, and Jennifer Saunders. Each episode is a genre parody with anarchic flair. It’s historic, influential, and still wild.
Black Books (2000–2004) – [Comedy/Workplace]
For fans of: Spaced, Father Ted, Toast of London
Dylan Moran plays Bernard Black, a misanthropic bookshop owner with a taste for wine and chaos. With Bill Bailey and Tamsin Greig, it’s a BAFTA-winning ode to dysfunction. Reading is optional—laughing isn’t.
Big Boys (2022– ) – [Comedy/Coming-of-Age]
For fans of: Derry Girls, Sex Education, Fresh Meat
Jack Rooke’s semi-autobiographical comedy follows two mismatched uni flatmates navigating grief, sexuality, and friendship. It’s tender, funny, and full of emotional honesty. A breakout hit with heart.
Back (2017–2021) – [Comedy/Dark Humor]
For fans of: Peep Show, Succession, The Detectorists
David Mitchell and Robert Webb reunite in this dark comedy about inheritance, identity, and suspicion. It’s dry, twisted, and quietly brilliant. Family ties have never felt so threatening.
The Inbetweeners (2008–2010) – [Comedy/Teen]
For fans of: American Vandal, Skins, Derry Girls
Four teenage boys stumble through adolescence with crude jokes, failed romances, and endless humiliation. It’s culturally iconic, endlessly quotable, and painfully relatable. British cringe at its finest.
Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005) – [Comedy/Family]
For fans of: King of Queens, Home Improvement, Modern Family
Ray Romano stars as a sportswriter juggling family chaos and passive-aggressive parents. Patricia Heaton and Doris Roberts round out a cast that nails domestic dysfunction. It’s warm, sharp, and Emmy-winning.
The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019) – [Comedy/Nerd Culture]
For fans of: Community, How I Met Your Mother, Young Sheldon
A group of socially awkward scientists navigate love, friendship, and pop culture in this global hit. Jim Parsons leads a cast that made geek chic mainstream. Smart jokes, big laughs, and massive ratings.
The Curse (2022– ) – [Comedy/Crime]
For fans of: Brassic, Inside No. 9, Fargo
A group of petty criminals stumble into a gold heist in 1980s London, triggering chaos and paranoia. Allan Mustafa and Tom Davis lead this genre-bending crime-comedy with style and swagger. It’s funny, tense, and full of retro grit.
GameFace (2017–2019) – [Comedy/Romance]
For fans of: Fleabag, This Way Up, Catastrophe
Roisin Conaty stars as Marcella, a chaotic actress navigating therapy, auditions, and heartbreak. It’s heartfelt, hilarious, and full of messy charm. Life’s a disaster—and she’s laughing through it.
Cult Favorites & Notable Comedies
PhoneShop (2010–2013) – [Comedy/Workplace]
For fans of: People Just Do Nothing, The Office (UK), Man Like Mobeen
Set in a mobile phone store, this cult hit delivers rapid-fire dialogue and absurd sales tactics. It’s loud, fast, and full of quotable chaos. Retail never looked so ridiculous.
Green Wing (2004–2006) – [Comedy/Surreal]
For fans of: Scrubs, Spaced, The Mighty Boosh
Set in a hospital with no medical logic, this surreal sitcom blends sketch comedy with ensemble drama. Tamsin Greig, Stephen Mangan, and Mark Heap lead a cast of lovable lunatics. It’s weird, wonderful, and wildly inventive.
Desmond’s (1989–1994) – [Comedy/Family]
For fans of: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Citizen Khan, The Real McCoy
Set in a Peckham barbershop, this groundbreaking British sitcom centers on a Guyanese family and their vibrant community. Norman Beaton leads a cast that brought Caribbean culture to primetime with warmth and wit. It’s joyful, historic, and still beloved.
Dead Pixels (2019–2021) – [Comedy/Gaming]
For fans of: Mythic Quest, The Guild, Spaced
Three friends escape real life through an online fantasy game—until the lines between digital and reality blur. Alexa Davies and Will Merrick star in this sharp, niche comedy full of gamer in-jokes and social awkwardness. It’s chaotic, clever, and surprisingly heartfelt.
Crashing (2016) – [Comedy/Romance]
For fans of: Fleabag, Lovesick, Fresh Meat
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s pre-Fleabag gem follows a group of twenty-somethings living as property guardians in a disused hospital. It’s messy, flirty, and full of emotional landmines. A chaotic love letter to arrested development.
Hullraisers (2022– ) – [Comedy/Working-Class]
For fans of: Derry Girls, Mum, This Country
Three women juggle motherhood, ambition, and friendship in Hull in this warm, working-class comedy. Lucy Beaumont’s writing brings authenticity and bite, while Leah Brotherhead leads with charm. It’s loud, proud, and refreshingly real.
Chelmsford 123 (1988–1990) – [Comedy/Historical]
For fans of: Blackadder, Up Pompeii!, Plebs
Set in Roman Britain, this cult sitcom pits a pompous Roman governor against a cunning Celtic chieftain. It’s full of anachronisms, slapstick, and sly satire. History class was never this silly.
Sean’s Show (1992–1993) – [Comedy/Meta]
For fans of: The Larry Sanders Show, Garry Shandling’s Show, Look Around You
Sean Hughes breaks the fourth wall in this surreal, self-aware sitcom that plays like a stand-up set with a plot. It’s inventive, introspective, and way ahead of its time. A hidden gem of 1990s alt-comedy.
The Book Group (2002–2003) – [Comedy/Drama]
For fans of: Smack the Pony, Teachers, Enlightened
An American woman in Glasgow starts a book club and accidentally assembles a group of misfits with secrets. Anne Dudek and Rory McCann star in this smart, melancholic comedy. It’s literary, lonely, and quietly brilliant.
Raised by Wolves (2015–2016) – [Comedy/Family]
For fans of: Outnumbered, The Middle, Shameless (UK)
Caitlin Moran’s semi-autobiographical sitcom follows a large, eccentric family of homeschooled girls in Wolverhampton. It’s feminist, filthy, and full of heart. A love letter to weird childhoods and strong matriarchs.
The Horne Section TV Show (2022– ) – [Comedy/Musical]
For fans of: Taskmaster, Flight of the Conchords, The Goes Wrong Show
Alex Horne and his band blur the line between sitcom and variety show in this meta-musical comedy. It’s chaotic, tuneful, and full of celebrity cameos. A joyful mess with perfect timing.
The Change (2023– ) – [Comedy/Feminist]
For fans of: Detectorists, Alma’s Not Normal, This Way Up
Bridget Christie stars as a woman who ditches domestic life and heads to the forest after a midlife crisis. It’s whimsical, wise, and quietly radical. Menopause meets myth in this lyrical comedy.
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