For those of us who love to be uncomfortable, Britain has spawned some of the most warped, unsettling and notorious programs ever to make us laugh. But sadly, our darkest comics are often our most overlooked and underrated. They've been lauded by some, yet alienated many others; caused widespread controversy, whilst somehow paving the way for lighter entertainers. Would Little Britain have ever existed without The League of Gentlemen, for example? The fact is, we laugh at horrible things. We know we shouldn't, but we do anyway. Laughing is the best coping mechanism we have. That's why giggling in sombre situations, whilst highly frowned upon, is actually not considered that abnormal. And that's also why these shows are funny. Often because we're seeing something we recognise, but simply never really talk about because it isn't 'done.' Sometimes we're seeing a reflection of something we've experienced ourselves, and though it might not have been amusing in the slightest at the time, having a laugh at the expense of a fictional character is somewhat cathartic. Or sometimes, we laugh because we're shocked and simply don't know what else to do. From the infamous Brass Eye to the disconcerting Human Remains, this list takes a wary look at Britain's bleakest comedy shows and their outrageous characters. For the twisted among you, enjoy...
Stephanie is a writer and free spirit who likes to pretend she's a Londoner, though strictly speaking she's from Watford. She likes books, music, elephants, and hairspray.
