5. Peep Show (2003-Present)
Channel Channel 4 Starring David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Paterson Joseph, Olivia Colman, Matt King, Isy Suttie, Neil Fitzmaurice. And so we reach the final and finest sitcom on this list. Two young-to-middle-aged men. A flat. Mundane lives. Peep Show sounds unoriginal at first. Sure, it isnt the most groundbreaking series that the world has ever seen, but it is an enduring and eternally humourous show that brings out the best in two of Britains finest comedic talents David Mitchell and Robert Webb. Previously known for their work together on radio and television sketch shows, the series marked the duos first major appearance in a scripted programme, with Mitchell adapting his real-life persona of a cynical and awkward, yet ultimately loveable man in the role of Mark, whilst Webb is forced to do more in the way of acting with his portrayal of Jeremy (Jez), a free-spirited freeloader. Voiceover narration from each of the pairs point of view allows audiences to become invested in the characters, who unwittingly ruin their lives at every turn with a combination of social awkwardness (Mark) and immaturity (Jez). Supporting characters such as the drug-addicted Super Hans and the slick and domineering Alan Johnson flesh out the series, which was created by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, who also write for the previously listed The Thick Of It. Over eight series, Peep Show has become a national treasure, much like its stars, who have become regulars on an assortment of panel shows, but whose finest work remains this.
4. Doctor Who (2005-)
Channel BBC1 Starring Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Billie Piper, Noel Clarke, Freema Agyeman, Catherine Tate, Bernard Cribbins, John Barrowman, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Alex Kingston, Jenna-Louise Coleman. Is there truly anything more iconic than Doctor Who? From the sound of the theme tune to the Dalek cries of Exterminate! the show has (as of this year), fifty years of rich history, mass appeal and a huge global fanbase. Initially cancelled in 1989 after 26 years on the air, the show briefly reappeared in the form of a TV movie in 1996, before the BBC took a brave step in 2005 and placed a revival in the hands of one man. This, of course, was Russell T. Davies, the show fanatic previously best known for both his work on childrens shows and more mature fare such as Casanova and Queer As Folk, a perfect blend of experience for a series aimed at all age groups. With Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor, followed by David Tennant as the Tenth, Davies succeeded in bringing a British icon back to the screen in style, working with a team of skilled writers (including Steven Moffat) to revitalise the character and make him appeal to a new generation of audiences. Particular attention was given to the lives and importance of the Doctors companions (the viewers eyes), making the series more of a human drama than ever before. Moffat, known for writing some of the shows darker and edgier stories, took over showrunner duties from Davies in 2009, in tandem with Matt Smiths inheritance of the Doctor role. Despite uncertainty, the series has continued to go from strength to strength, reintroducing almost all of the Doctors dastardly adversaries as the depths of time and space continue to be explored. Several spin-offs have aired in the wake of the revived series success, including Torchwood, a more adult-orientated show led by recurring series character Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), and the Sarah Jane Adventures, a childrens show fronted by the late Elisabeth Sladen. Though they have their merits, neither are a patch on the main show, which is capable of inciting laughter, excitement and tears in the space of a forty five minute episode.