21. Wilberforce Humphreys Are You Being Served
John Inmans Mr Humphreys ambiguous sexuality provides much of Are You Being Serveds humour throughout its 10 seasons, which mercilessly parodied the British class system. Mr Humphreys is the junior menswear assistant in the clothing shop, and often delivers double entendres, although his sexuality is never explicitly confirmed in the series. While theres plenty of similar characters nowadays, Mr Humphreys was a true pioneer for camp comedy.
22. Nessa Jenkins Gavin and Stacey
Gavin and Stacey wouldnt be the same without Nessa, Staceys best friend and kiosk attendant, living statue, psychic, truck driver, Father Christmas impersonator and singer. Something of a woman of mystery (owing to her many celebrity conquests, the countries shes lived in and the languages she speaks), its surprising that Nessa is content to settle down with Gavins best friend Smithy (James Corden), but at least it keeps her in the series. Truly one of the best Welsh characters on TV.
23. 'Ummi' Kumar The Kumars at No. 42
Meera Syal is almost unrecognisable as family grandmother Ummi Kumar, in the The Kumars at No. 42s standout performance. Notable for creating a hugely popular Indian character on British television (but much more than just that), Syal also manages to emulate perfectly the mannerisms of a woman far more advanced in years than herself.
24. Margo Leadbetter The Good Life
It was a difficult choice between Margo Leadbetter in The Good Life and Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born, but ultimately Margo won out as the role that launched Penelope Keith into fame. Nobody portrays a snob better, but Keith also manages to make her characters likeable despite their flaws, which is vital in comedy.
25. Captain George Mainwaring Dads Army
You stupid boy! Hugely influential in popular comedy, Dads Army was one of the first great sitcoms, and its Arthur Lowes Captain Mainwaring who claims the limelight. Having founded the platoon mainly as a means to escape his unhappy marriage and the tedium of his stalled career at the bank, the show charts his attempts to turn the Home Guard (formed mostly of volunteers ineligible for military service) into something approaching a viable military unit, and failing miserably.