It’s been a while since I last wrote anything. I’ve been busy with work — a lot has happened — but it’s high time I made up for that hiatus. First things first: my resolution, the CPE, hasn’t changed. I’ve familiarised myself with the format, the requirements, and the overall length of the exam. I’ve also aligned my books with those requirements and browsed the Cambridge website for additional resources. Once I finish my current project, I’ll restructure my days and make time to study and write.
This is just the beginning — a brief introduction to British ingenuity steeped in humour. The next few blog entries will explore other shows, from timeless classics to modern-day series. I’m genuinely thrilled to reminisce and bring back scenes that warm my heart through the sheer power of laughter.
Anyway, I thought I could write a short piece about my favourite British sitcoms. Not because I’m a competent critic or a seasoned writer – far from it. I simply want to express my enthusiasm and explain why British humour, however dark it may appear, is so close to my heart – and why the kind of awkwardness that can send an entire nation into fits of laughter strikes me as such meticulously crafted, sane insanity.
Let’s begin with Monty Python’s Flying Circus. As I mentioned earlier, one of my main motivations to learn English was Monty Python’s Flying Circus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python). Their Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook sketch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6D1YI-41ao) cracked me up. Apparently, it was inspired by real-life events involving a Portuguese–English phrasebook. Allegedly, the author didn’t speak a word in English but felt compelled to bridge this gap – a bold and brilliant move. He grabbed a Portuguese – French phrasebook, translated it, then he casually worked from French into English to complete his magnum opus.
The next stunner is Only Fools and Horses (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_Fools_and_Horses). Oh, those Peckham boys with their ambitions! This show itself is a genuine slice of early-eighties Britain, wrapped in a golden paper. I vividly remember the day when I first watched the opening episode. Even though many of the references meant for locals, the storyline, the characters, and that wonderfully bitter humor made it easy to immerse myself in – and be blown away by – the series. Del Boy’s pretentious French, delivered through the most wildely inaccurate words was the perfect finishing touch.
What else could take third place if not One Foot in the Grave, with Victor Meldrew and Margaret? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Foot_in_the_Grave) Across six seasons packed with so many twists, turns, and classic misunderstandings the series leave you with asking by the end: how can anyone write humour that feels so perfectly — almost surgically — precise? How can something so simple be so exceptional, so extraordinary? A true once-in-a-lifetime show. And the fact that Victor Meldrew complains about absolutely everything made it so distinctive – without ever feeling even slightly overdone.
Let’s begin with Monty Python’s Flying Circus. As I mentioned earlier, one of my main motivations to learn English was Monty Python’s Flying Circus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python). Their Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook sketch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6D1YI-41ao) cracked me up. Apparently, it was inspired by real-life events involving a Portuguese–English phrasebook. Allegedly, the author didn’t speak a word in English but felt compelled to bridge this gap – a bold and brilliant move. He grabbed a Portuguese – French phrasebook, translated it, then he casually worked from French into English to complete his magnum opus.
The next stunner is Only Fools and Horses (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_Fools_and_Horses). Oh, those Peckham boys with their ambitions! This show itself is a genuine slice of early-eighties Britain, wrapped in a golden paper. I vividly remember the day when I first watched the opening episode. Even though many of the references meant for locals, the storyline, the characters, and that wonderfully bitter humor made it easy to immerse myself in – and be blown away by – the series. Del Boy’s pretentious French, delivered through the most wildely inaccurate words was the perfect finishing touch.
What else could take third place if not One Foot in the Grave, with Victor Meldrew and Margaret? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Foot_in_the_Grave) Across six seasons packed with so many twists, turns, and classic misunderstandings the series leave you with asking by the end: how can anyone write humour that feels so perfectly — almost surgically — precise? How can something so simple be so exceptional, so extraordinary? A true once-in-a-lifetime show. And the fact that Victor Meldrew complains about absolutely everything made it so distinctive – without ever feeling even slightly overdone.
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