If you could own just ONE British sitcom, which would it be?
For me it would have to be Last of the Summer Wine and not just because of the sheer numbers of episodes, which doesn't hurt. But mainly because I liked the characters and how they kept adding new ones when one left or passed away. They kept finding a way to reinvent the show and its characters. Granted not all of them were good, but many were. It was the kind of show that any age could enjoy.
A tortuous question! From what relatively little I know of Last Of The Summer Wine - almost exclusively the later years - it would indeed be a very strong contender. But as I'm not at all familiar with early series...
Hmmm. Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? is one of the funniest sitcoms ever written, somehow managing to be both escapist and true to life at the same time. A simply wonderful series, it contains just about everything.
And then there's 'Allo 'Allo!, a rich, joyous tapestry of mirth. 80-something episodes, IIRC. Like LOTSW, it effortlessly reinvented itself at numerous character departures, almost every such change making the show stronger than before. And it contains some of the single best sitcom episodes of all time, in my book.
What a choice! Hmmm...
OFAH.
Quote: Aaron @ August 28 2013, 12:23 PM BSTHmmm. Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?...somehow managing to be both escapist and true to life at the same time.
I'd say similar things about Fools. It is set in the midst of a bleak working class environment...but always comes up with silly moments and harmless fun. I'm not a lover of hardcore escapism, so a little bit of misery or melancholy is welcome in my comedy world and OFAH has just the right dose of it. But they show us also: A crisis is not the end of the world.
Radio - Hancock's Half Hour
Television - Only Fools and Horses
On The Buses and MATH.
Quote: David Smith @ August 28 2013, 2:43 PM BSTOn The Buses and MATH.
What's MATH?
Own as in having only 1 in your collection. Owning 2 NOT being an option.
Almost missed this - please do just post again in future, don't worry about editing! 
Quote: Gordon Bennett @ August 28 2013, 12:35 PM BSTI'd say similar things about Fools. It is set in the midst of a bleak working class environment...but always comes up with silly moments and harmless fun. I'm not a lover of hardcore escapism, so a little bit of misery or melancholy is welcome in my comedy world and OFAH has just the right dose of it. But they show us also: A crisis is not the end of the world.
Very good point. OFAH is a very good contender on many grounds, yes. And misery and melancholy is all part of escapism - as long as it's not bluntly, flatly, your own life being reflected back at you.
Blackadder. Timeless, both in setting and humour.
Quote: Aaron @ August 28 2013, 12:23 PM BSTHmmm. Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? is one of the funniest sitcoms ever written, somehow managing to be both escapist and true to life at the same time. A simply wonderful series, it contains just about everything.
And then there's 'Allo 'Allo!, a rich, joyous tapestry of mirth. 80-something episodes, IIRC. Like LOTSW, it effortlessly reinvented itself at numerous character departures, almost every such change making the show stronger than before. And it contains some of the single best sitcom episodes of all time, in my book.
What a choice! Hmmm...
Brilliant choices. Despite WHTTLL being my favourite ever sitcom I'm not sure I would say it is the one set I would have on DVD. I'd have to balance of the number of episodes with my perceived quality and so either go 'Allo 'Allo!, OFAH, Dad's Army or My Family.
Hancock (counting radio and TV as one series 
)