20 Funniest Moments In British Comedy

2. Mark Can't Drive - Peep Show

The Show: The first-person perspective effect was a device that had, flatly, never worked in comedy before, but when Channel 4 took a punt on a new show written by a largely unheard of team of writers, and a comedy duo who'd only ever really been seen in theatre, suddenly it all clicked. Peep Show told the stories of two central London flatmates - one a stuffy and awkward aspiring professional, the other little more than a lay-about useless man-child.

The Setup: Peep Show isn't the funniest show, and David Mitchell isn't the greatest actor, but somehow the elements of both the premise and his style combine perfectly in this scene. Sophie - his estranged girlfriend and impending mother of his child - has just gone into labour. Mark has been lying about learning to drive when, in fact, he's dreadful. Meanwhile, Jermey is about to be caught having an affair unless they can escape. A perfect storm of chaotic hilarity, perfectly played out by Mitchell, Webb, and Olivia Colman.