Jury to rank top 30 for new Gold series

TV channel Gold, has revealed the top 30 comedy characters of all-time, according to a public poll.

The longlist will form the basis of a three-hour show in which a jury of experts attempts to rank the creations.

Chaired by Sally Phillips, the jury includes comedy performers Shappi Khorsandi, Nina Wadia, John Thomson, Peter Egan, Lucy Beaumont, Marcus Brigstocke and Emily Atack, writer David Quantick and critic Grace Dent.

The top 30 are:

• Alan Partridge
• Ali G
• Arkwright (Open All Hours)
• Basil Fawlty (Fawlty Towers)
• Blackadder
• Captain Mainwaring (Dad’s Amy)
• Compo (Last Of The Summer Wine)
• David Brent (The Office)
• Del Boy (Only Fools And Horses)
• Father Ted
• Fleabag
• Fletcher (Porridge)
• Frank Spencer (Some Mothers Do Ave Em)
• Geraldine Granger (The Vicar Of Dibley)
• Hancock (Hancock’s Half Hour)
• Hyacinth Bucket (Keeping Up Appearances)
• Malcolm Tucker (The Thick Of It)
• Margo Leadbetter (The Good Life)
• Martin Bryce (Ever Decreasing Circles)
• Miranda
• Mr Bean
• Mrs Brown
• Mrs Merton
• Nessa Jenkins (Gavin & Stacey)
• Patsy Stone (Absolutely Fabulous)
• Perry (Kevin & Perry)
• Rick (The Young Ones)
• Rigsby (Rising Damp)
• Sir Humphrey Appleby (Yes Minister)
• Victor Meldrew (One Foot In The Grave)

Britain’s Greatest Comedy Character will air on Sunday May 24 at 8pm on Gold.

Published: 2 May 2020