British Humour

British humour carries a strong element of satire aimed at the absurdity of everyday life. Common themes include sarcasm, tongue-in-cheek, banter, insults, self-deprecation, taboo subjects, puns, innuendo, wit, and the British class system. These are often accompanied by a deadpan delivery which is present throughout the British sense of humour. It may be used to bury emotions in a way that seems unkind in the eyes of other cultures. Jokes are told about everything and almost no subject is off-limits, though a lack of subtlety when discussing controversial issues is sometimes considered insensitive.The Funny Side of the United Kingdom: Analysing British Humour with Special Regard to John Cleese and His Work
Page 5 Theo Tebbe, Publisher GRIN Verlag, 2008 . Accessed August 2011 Many British comedy series have become successful internationally, serving as a representation of British culture to overseas audiences.

Themes

Some themes (with examples) that underpinned late-20th-century British humour were:Black Humour in British Advertisement
By Claudia Felsch, Publisher GRIN Verlag, 2007 . Accessed August 2011

Innuendo

Innuendo in British humour is evident in the literature as far back as '' Beowulf'' and Chaucer, and it is a prevalent theme in many British folk songs. Shakespeare often used innuendo in his comedies, but it is also often found in his other plays, as in ''Hamlet'' act 4 scene v:

''Young men will do't if they come to't'' / ''By Cock, they are to blame.''

Restoration comedy is notorious both for its innuendo and for its sexual explicitness, a quality encouraged by Charles II (1660–1685) personally and by the rakish aristocratic ethos of his court.

In the Victorian era, Burlesque theatre combined sexuality and humour in its acts. In the late 19th century, magazines such as ''Punch'' began to be widely sold, and innuendo featured in its cartoons and articles.

In the early 1930s, cartoon-style saucy postcards (such as those drawn by Donald McGill) became widespread, and at their peak 16 million saucy postcards were sold per year. They were often bawdy, with innuendo and double entendres, and featured stereotypical characters such as vicars, large ladies and put-upon husbands, in the same vein as the ''Carry On'' films. This style of comedy was common in music halls and in the comedy music of George Formby. Many comedians from music hall and wartime gang shows worked in radio after World War 2, and characters such as Julian and Sandy on ''Round the Horne'' used innuendo extensively. Innuendo also features heavily in many British films and TV series of the late 20th century. The ''Carry On'' series was based largely on smut and innuendo, and many of the sketches of ''The Two Ronnies'' are in a similar vein. Innuendo with little subtlety was epitomised by Benny Hill, and the Nudge Nudge sketch by Monty Python openly mocks the absurdity of such innuendo.

By the end of the 20th century more subtlety in sexual humour became fashionable, as in ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'' and '' Blackadder'', while ''Bottom'' and '' Viz'' continued the smuttier trend. In contemporary British comedy Julian Clary is an example of a prolific user of innuendo.

Satire

Disrespect to members of the establishment and authority, typified by:
*'' Beyond the Fringe'', stage revue (1960–1966).
*''That Was the Week That Was (TW3)'', late night TV satire on BBC2 (1962–1966).
*'' Private Eye'', satirical magazine (1961–).
*''Not the Nine O'Clock News'', satirical sketch show, notable for launching the careers of Rowan Atkinson, Griff Rhys Jones, Pamela Stephenson and Mel Smith on BBC2 (1979–1982).
*''Yes Minister'', political sitcom on BBC2 (1980–1988).
*''Spitting Image'', TV puppet comedy lampooning the famous and powerful on ITV (1984–1996). Revived on Britbox, (2020-).
*''Drop the Dead Donkey'', Channel 4 sitcom recorded close to transmission that satirised the weekly events (1990–1998).
*'' Have I Got News for You'', a satirical panel game originally on BBC2, now on BBC1 (1990–).
*''The Day Today'', Nineties TV satire (1994).
*''Brass Eye'', a controversial alternative prime-time show on Channel 4 (1997–2001).
*''The Armando Iannucci Shows'', satirical TV show on Channel 4 (2001).
*''The Thick of It'', satirical political sitcom (2005–2012).
*''Mock the Week'', a satirical current affairs panel game on BBC2. (2005–2022).
*''Time Trumpet'', Noughties TV satire (2006).
*''The Last Leg'', Channel 4 (2012–)

Absurd

The absurd and the surreal, typified by:
*''The Goon Show'', surreal radio show on the BBC Home Service (1951–1960).
*'' Bus Driver's Prayer''
*''Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band'', musical group playing songs inspired by the music of the 1920s and comic rock songs (1962–).
*''The Magic Roundabout'', a dub parody of a French children's cartoon that gained a cult following (1964–1971).
*Spike Milligan's '' Q'', sketch show and direct inspiration for ''Monty Python'' on BBC2 (1969–1982).
*'' Monty Python'', comedy troupe, originally noted for performing sketches without conclusions (1969–1983).
*''I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue'', radio panel game with bizarre games, notably Mornington Crescent and One Song to the Tune of Another on BBC Radio 4 (1974–).
*''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'', in radio, book, TV series and film form (1978–).
*''Count Duckula'', cartoon show on ITV (1988–1993).
*'' Red Dwarf'', science fiction sitcom on BBC 2 and Dave (1988–1999, 2009, 2012–)
*''Brittas Empire'', Chris Barrie sitcom set in a leisure centre about an annoying manager on BBC1 (1991–1997).
*''The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer'', variety show of sketches and songs in the surrealist genre of comedy on the BBC
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