2. The Shipmans/West Gavin And Stacey
Gavin and Stacey is the quintessential british sitcom; it's centred around a blended family with a rich crop of zany characters on both sides of the Severn Bridge toll both. While we're thrown right in at the deep end with most comedies however, we witness every development in Gavin's relationship with Stacey from their first date in London to her miracle pregnancy at the end of the series and the whole rollercoaster in between. The funny thing about Gavin and Stacey is that in the grand scheme of things, the title characters are actually quite dull. Stacey at times comes across as a ditz of the not-so-cute variety, Gavin is the biggest kill joy this side of the equator and both of them act like spoilt children when things aren't going their way, which apparently makes them a match made in heaven. It might be going a bit far to suggest they're unlikeable, nevertheless in all conversations I've had about the cast, I'm yet to hear either of their names mentioned as anyone's favourite. The real reason behind the show's massive following is the supporting family people like Pam, Gavin's fake vegetarian Mother with a fetish for Charles and Camilla which she enacts with the comparatively level-headed husband Mick or their bickering neighbours Pete and Dawn, who can neither live with or without each other and aren't averse to inviting a third party to the bedroom to spice up their marriage. There's much to love about the Shipmans, but if I had to choose which clan to be adopted into I'd send my luggage to Gwen of Barry Town Glamorgan. Between her legendary omelettes, elderly Doris' man-eating and foul-mouthed proclivities ('to be honest Gwen, I was absolutely tw*tted'), Uncle Bryn's technological discoveries and Nessa's wheeler dealings, there'd never be a dull moment in the West household. Starting the audience off at the beginning of Gavin and Stacey's love was a masterstroke by the writers because it introduced us to the in-laws virtually at the same time as the main characters themselves and allowed us to get used to their quirks as they did. In addition, we were also treated to the hot mess of Smithy and Nessa's 'will they, won't they' saga, which was much more interesting than any of Gavin and Stacey's problems anyway. Still, when you agree to join someone's family after only knowing them in person for two days, you never really know what you're in for until it's too late. But if the Shipmans' implied wealth is anything to go by, Stacey could do a whole lot worse.