After Life is one of the most critically acclaimed Netflix comedies streaming now. The Ricky Gervais written and directed comedy series is best described as a ‘dramedy’, with the series masterfully blending heartbreaking and touching moments with laugh-out-loud, brilliantly crafted comedy scenes.
The series has had two seasons so far, with Gervais breaking his tradition of only releasing two seasons and a Christmas special for After Life, promising a third season of the show. However, there are plenty of ‘Gervais-esque’ British comedies to watch while waiting for the release of the third season.
I’m Alan Partridge
British comedy is renowned across the world for an instantly recognizable style. This ‘brand’ of British comedy is almost perfectly encapsulated by the legendary I’m Alan Partridge, starring Steve Coogan and written by Armando Iannucci.
The series follows an over the hill radio DJ called Alan Partridge as he tries to regain a career in TV. Any lover of British comedy who hasn’t seen this show simply must get around to it!
The Thick Of It
Written by British comedy legend Armando Iannucci and starring the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, The Thick of It is a British political satire that focuses on a fictional British political department.
The Thick of It is a masterpiece of political satire, with the series capturing (and even predicting) the political culture at the time. While this could be difficult to follow for some international viewers, it is worth a watch for Peter Capaldi’s foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker.
Peep Show
Peep Show is one of the most iconic and influential British comedies of the 21st Century. Starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb, the series follows the lives of two men as they get on with their lives in the modern world, showing the hilariously awkward scrapes they run into in the process.
In addition to Mitchell and Webb, the series also stars future Oscar winner Olivia Colman and is guaranteed to lead to some awkward laughs.
Friday Night Dinner
Starring Black Books’ Tamsin Greig and the Inbetweeners’ Simon Bird, Friday Night Dinner is based around the Friday night dinner that a family hosts every week, showing the hijinks that occur in this oddball family.
The series is a real gem of British comedy from the 2010s and is a must-watch for fans of British comedy, particularly those with strange families.
An Idiot Abroad
The only entry on this list to not be a scripted sitcom, an Idiot Abroad follows Karl Pilkington as he travels the world on the orders of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The miserable and ever-complaining Pilkington makes for hilarious viewing as he is forced out of his comfort zone.
The series has three seasons and manages to combine genuine laughs with real, interesting, and educational explorations of different cultures across the world.
Sick Of It
Continuing with the Karl Pilkington theme, Sick of It is Karl Pilkington’s first foray into scripted comedy. The series follows a ‘miserable’ guy who has recently been dumped by his girlfriend and speaks to a disembodied version of himself.
Written by and starring Karl Pilkington, the series is a real gem of British comedy and is worth a watch for any fans of Karl Pilkington.
Trying
Apple+ is one of the newest additions to the streaming market, with the tech giant creating its own original movies and TV. While the platform hasn’t gone on to the worldwide success of Netflix, it has some real gems on its service, one of the most prominent is Trying.
The series is a charming comedy that follows a young couple as they got through the adoption process in the UK. The series, in true Gervais style, masterfully combines heartfelt moments with clever and insightful comedy.
Derek
Across the 2000s, Ricky Gervais had worked closely with Stephen Merchant to develop the likes of Extras and the Office. However, in the 2010s, Gervais worked on his first solo project in the form of Derek.
Set in a retirement home, Gervais starred as the titular Derek as a charming, though socially awkward, care home worker. The series combines genuine heartbreak with real belly-laughs and is worth a watch for any fans of After Life.
Extras
Fresh off the runaway success of the Office, Gervais and Merchant set to work on Extras. While the Office was a mockumentary focussed on the life of everyday office workers, Extras was based around the lives of extras on film sets, allowing for cameo appearances from movie stars.
The series is an incredible piece of British comedy and features hysterical appearances from the likes of David Bowie, Samuel L Jackson, and Kate Winslet.
The Office
Arguably the most iconic and successful British comedy of all time, the Office truly kickstarted a new age in British comedy, moving the genre away from the studio laughs and old fashioned humor, towards a more intelligent and character-driven age.
The series is one of the most commercially successful sitcoms of all time, with the series receiving several remakes across the world, including remakes in India, France, Germany, and of course, in the USA. For fans of After Life, the Office is simply a must-watch!
