20 Funniest Moments In British Comedy

20. A Rotten Borough - Blackadder

The Show: In what many Americans may regard as the strangest episode of House ever recorded, Blackadder The Third upped rising star Hugh Laurie from "occasional bit-part camp/accented co-star" to the very central plot device of the series. Set during a time in British history known as The Regency - when King George III was deemed unfit to rule and his powers were passed on to Prince Phillip, portrayed here as a complete tit by Laurie - the show resumes the time-spanning quest of Edmund Blackadder to unsuccessfully scheme and connive his way to the top.

The Set Up: With the new Prime Minister hoping to pass a legislation that will rob the Prince of all his money, Blackadder hatches a plan to install his sub-human man-servant Baldrick (portrayed by Tony Robinson in one of the finest supporting roles ever seen on television) in political loophole known as a rotten borough - or a "robber button", as the Prince calls it. Hilarious for Rowan Atkinson's delivery, yes, but even more funny that the Standing At The Back Dressed Stupidly And Looking Stupid Party perfectly predicted UKIP.