The 20 best comedies to stream on BBC iPlayer

Kwabena has a dream. He’s an aspiring film-maker who’s always wanted to put his vision on screens. The problem? As a young man from a working-class, British-Jamaican family, he doesn’t have an “in” to the predominantly wealthy, middle- to upper-class TV and movie industry. On top of that, he’s broke. How can a budding artist achieve his ambitions while working as a food delivery driver?

This is Dreaming Whilst Black, the comedy created by Adjani Salmon and Ali Hughes and starring Salmon as Kwabena. It premiered in 2021 with a single episode that was so widely acclaimed that it received awards from BAFTA and the Royal Television Society – yes, just that one episode. The series that followed in 2023 was just as beloved, hailed as groundbreaking, sharp and supremely funny. And now Kwabena is back for more in the show’s second series, which starts at 10.10pm on Thursday 9 October on BBC Three HD (CH 107/113).

After grafting, making sacrifices and surviving some frustrating career dead-ends , Kwabena begins series 2 having landed a plum TV job: directing a colour-blind period drama entitled Sin And Subterfuge, working with a celebrated Black producer. Things are looking up… and yet, somehow, still constantly going wrong.

Almost immediately the cracks start to emerge. Colour-blind casting is great in theory, but what happens when a Black actor wins a role as a slave owner? On top of such sensitive concerns, there are plenty of pitfalls and challenges that go along with directing a TV show, like stopping the scenery and props from falling apart. And now they’re Kwabena’s responsibility. He’s also got his own romantic concerns to deal with, as his relationship with Vanessa takes various twists and turns, as well as family pressures.

Dreaming Whilst Black is a hugely relatable show about an outsider striving to crack the system and fulfil their dreams. As Salmon says, “It’s an important story to tell because we all have dreams. We all have that dream job, dream life, that we’d like to live and this is about a guy who tries to chase it.” But amid all the pointed commentary on society, work and opportunities, it never loses sight of the comedy – particularly in the surreal moments and dream sequences that give us an insight into the bizarre workings of Kwabena’s (and Salmon’s) mind.

Don’t miss the new series of this terrific, thoughtful, hilarious show and if you haven’t caught up with series 1 yet, or want to reacquaint yourself with it, all episodes are available to stream in Apps > BBC iPlayer. The BBC‘s streaming service is a veritable treasure trove of comedy, and if you’re looking for a laugh, we’ve picked 20 of our absolute favourites, old and new.

Stream series 1-3 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Crime doesn’t pay. We all know that. But it certainly provides gainful employment for Paul “Wicky” Wickstead (Greg Davies), who cleans up after unfortunate events, with responsibility for getting rid of any sign that anything untoward happened there. But the blood-mopping isn’t even the oddest part of his job. It’s the absolute weirdos he meets that make it special, from bloodthirsty widows to sandwich-obsessed writers and tech-shop conspiracy theorists. Davies stars alongside a parade of high-profile guests in this wickedly funny comedy.

Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Sophie Willan brought a delightful chaos to Taskmaster series 17 and if you enjoyed that, we’d recommend her sitcom Alma’s Not Normal. Loosely based on her own experiences, it’s all about Alma (Willan herself) and her attempts to live the fabulous life she dreams of, in the face of challenges including her extremely unusual family history – to uproarious effect. Willan has stated that it’s unlikely to return, so we’ll have to be satisfied with the two perfect series she created.

Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Although Lucy Punch’s insufferably snobbish Amanda provided many laugh-out-loud moments in three series of Motherland (also in Apps > BBC iPlayer), fans weren’t sure she was the ideal basis for a spin-off. A little Amanda went a long way. Those fears were misplaced as Amandaland proved an absolute riot, knocking Amanda down a social class or two via a divorce and forcing her to deal with both the consequences and her judgmental mother (Joanna Lumley). Could it even be… better than its parent show?

Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Former Death In Paradise star Ben Miller created and stars in this uplifting comedy, which he was inspired to write after watching dating show Love On The Spectrum. He plays Julian, a publicly reviled author who’s on a press tour in Australia when he’s approached by Austin, a young neurodivergent man claiming to be his son. The fallout for his life, not to mention his marriage, could be disastrous… Michael Theo, a participant in Love On The Spectrum, is a revelation as Austin in this warm, witty comedy also starring Sally Phillips.

Stream series 1-3 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

You don’t get many TV shows set in rural Gloucestershire, which is perhaps one of the reasons why This Country – created by Daisy May Cooper with her brother Charlie – shone so brightly. It follows the Mucklowe cousins Kerry (Daisy May) and Lee, aka Kurtan (Charlie), as they deal – often ineptly – with the boredom and social claustrophobia of life in a sleepy Cotswolds village.

The Coopers’ performances are deeply silly yet utterly believable, the writing is note-perfect (see Kerry describing her purchase of an alpaca as “physically my largest mistake”), and the tone is often genuinely poignant; this is a show that never punches down at its characters. Prepare to shed actual tears when saying goodbye to Kerry and Kurtan at the end of series 3.

Stream series 1-5 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

When Alison (Charlotte Ritchie, Feel Good) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Stath Lets Flats) inherit a sprawling old house, they’re joined by a diverse group of former residents who just happen to be dead – and only Alison can see them. Co-created by Mathew Baynton, Jim Howick and other cast members from Horrible Histories, Ghosts became a huge hit praised for its smarts, sweetness and silliness.

Its final episode in 2023 broke hearts in households up and down the country. Now you can watch it again and again and pretend it never finished. There are strong rumours that it could return for a one-off feature-length special, but if that’s not enough for you, there’s a US version also in Apps > BBC iPlayer (plus French, German, Australian and more versions in the works).

Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

They came together by squabbling over a vet’s bill and somehow, it all worked out. Real-life spouses Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall created, wrote and starred in this brilliantly witty, often awkward Australian comedy about a mismatched couple who are getting everything wrong but staying strong – largely because they struggle to tolerate anyone who isn’t them. Fans may also enjoy No Activity, a police stakeout comedy featuring Brammall and Dyer, which is available in Apps > BBC iPlayer.

Stream series 1-5 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Mobeen Deen is a former drug-dealing ne’er-do-well trying to stay on the straight and narrow after being left to raise his teenage sister. Although he keeps getting pulled into scrapes both trivial and serious (even ending up in prison at the end of series 3), Mobeen keeps on plugging away.
Guz Khan created the character for YouTube videos when Khan was still working as a teacher in Coventry, and not only has it made Khan a big star on the comedy scene, it’s been praised for showing the realities of life for many young working-class British Muslims, and for creating characters and situations that feel realistic and substantial. And also for being extremely funny, driven by Khan’s off-kilter, quick-witted charm and charisma.

Stream series 1-9 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

The brilliant, darkly comedic anthology series from Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton ended in 2024 with its ninth series (of course), and it’s given us a feast of brilliantly macabre delights. It is endlessly creative without any limits to the style or substance of an episode; from downright terrifying horror (“The Harrowing”) to comedy caper (“Wuthering Heist”) to family drama (“Last Night Of The Proms”). 

There tend to be only two rules: the action needs to take place inside something that has a number nine on it, and there needs to be a twist. The show’s live Halloween special is probably the scariest thing on TV since Ghostwatch – while remaining spookily funny.

Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education, Daddy Issues, The White Lotus) continues her rise to stardom with this romantic comedy, which she created and wrote alongside Ralph Davies (Big Boys). After a mental health wobble, Evie (Wood) hasn’t left the house in six months and lives for her weekly “film club” nights with best friend Noa (Juice’s Nabhaan Rizwan). But when Noa announces he’s moving away, Evie is forced to confront the reality of her situation. Witty and emotional, the series co-stars Suranne Jones (Vigil), Liv Hill (Miss Austen) and Adolescence breakout star Owen Cooper.

Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Canadian artist Freya (Kyla Harris) decides it’s time to take the plunge and move across the Atlantic to live with her long-distance boyfriend Abe (Darren Boyd). Only thing is, she’s tetraplegic and needs care. Could her best friend Jo (Elena Saurel) provide a solution? Their relationship has already been through some rocky patches, and that was before Freya asked Jo to deal with her constipation issues… This disarmingly frank and occasionally unhinged comedy was created by Harris and her own best friend Lee Getty, based on their real-life experiences.

Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Here We Go is a broad TV comedy in the best sense of the word – its appeal is clear to literally everyone. Set up as a documentary of family life “filmed” by the youngest son, it’s the freshest and funniest take on the well-worn mockumentary format in years. The series stars big hitters in Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd), Jim Howick (Ghosts) and Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey) and cements all three as some of this country’s finest comic talent, while Freya Parks’ direct looks to camera are the most devastating since Martin Freeman’s in The Office. Series 3 is on its way in 2025.

Stream series 1-5 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Like all-time great The Office (also in Apps > BBC iPlayer), this is a BAFTA-winning mockumentary that revolves around confident men who are utterly delusional about their charm and abilities. Rather than a paper company, it’s set inside Kurupt FM, a pirate radio station pumping out UK garage and drum and bass from a flat in Brentford, west London.

MC Grindah (Allan Mustafa), DJ Beats (Hugo Chegwin), DJ Steves (Steve Stamp) and their manager Chabuddy G (Asim Chaudhry) are convinced that global musical success is within their reach; the show’s hilarious pathos comes from the fact that it is almost certainly not, but you root for them anyway. A modern classic.

Stream series 1-7 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Have you watched this wonderful comedy about a suburban Glasgow street and the couples who live on it? If not, why not? Because it’s possibly the finest Scottish sitcom since Rab C Nesbitt (there’s even some connective tissue between the two, with Elaine C Smith appearing in both).

Eric (Alex Norton) and Beth (Arabella Weir) dream of a quiet life, but cannot escape the neighbours who continue to drop into their house unannounced and uninvited. The show takes the idea that you can never choose your neighbours to the extreme: Doon Mackichan’s Cathy is one of the great sitcom beasts, while Smith’s life-force-draining Christine is equally iconic.

Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Famalam’s Gbemisola Ikumelo and Akemnji Ndifornyen collaborated again to create Black Ops, which takes no prisoners in its mission to skewer police and criminals alike. Dom (Ikumelo) and Kay (Hammed Animashaun) are community support officers going nowhere in their careers until they’re tasked with infiltrating a local gang. It turns out they’re even more rubbish at being delinquents than they are at policing… A second series is coming.

Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Alan’s been away working in Saudi Arabia but despite that country’s success, he felt incomplete. Now, back in the UK, he’s stopping, crouching down and asking, “How are you?” The latest venture for Steve Coogan’s legendary presenter finds him tackling into the issues that affect us all: home life, work, nature, relationships, pastimes and a sixth topic he hasn’t worked out yet. Ever since his screen debut in The Day Today, Partridge has been making us laugh uncontrollably – as well as this new 2025 series, you can watch series 1-2 of This Time With Alan Partridge in Apps > BBC iPlayer. 

Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Life isn’t great for siblings Tiana, Tionne and Tanika – but when their mum disappears, they know they’ve got to keep up the appearance that everything is just, well, normal because the alternative is unthinkable. Cue a cat-and-mouse game between the kids and the authorities that swings between farcical and poignant. Written by Janice Okoh (based on her play Three Birds), it boasts great performances from its young cast (Kaydrah Walker-Wilkie, Akins Subair and Chenée Taylor), with Romola Garai (Vigil) as their well-meaning teacher.

Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

A CABM – that’s what Jonathan (Romesh Ranganathan, Romantic Getaway) is. A conflict-avoidant beta male. He’d rather bury his head in the sand than face up to anything serious, and that’s ultimately why his partner Claire (Jessica Knappett, Drifters) throws him out. But if series 1 is about a sad-sack getting dumped, things are looking up for Jonathan by the time series 2 rolls around, with a potential new love on the scene.

Stream series 1-3 and the special in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Created, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook (who also stars and probably did the catering too), this is a gorgeous, sun-washed comedy about two metal-detecting hobbyists who dream of finding gold. Co-starring Toby Jones, it’s a series that wears its heart on its sleeve without an ounce of cynicism: something that’s rare in comedy, and even rarer in a show that puts a pastime that is – let’s be honest – quite silly at its centre. There’s no bad time to catch up or reacquaint yourself with the Danebury Metal Detecting Club.

Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

A PE teacher frozen in the 1970s? Miraculously thawed out and revived? And unleashed on a modern school? The premise sounds like a fever dream but it’s the perfect set-up for Mike Bubbins’ brand of traditional, boisterous but non-toxic hyper-masculinity. As Tony Mammoth, he’s forced to confront the realities of the 21st century – from picking up dog poo to staying sober when driving – but he can still bring the lessons of the past to bear on the 2020s. There are only three episodes so far, but Mammoth will be back with a second series.

Here are 10 more great comedies to enjoy in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Daddy Issues
Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Him & Her
Stream series 1-3 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Juice
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Only Child
Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Such Brave Girls
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

St Denis Medical
Stream season 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Starstruck
Stream series 1-3 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

The Trip
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Trying
Stream series 1 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

What We Do In The Shadows
Stream seasons 1-5 in Apps > BBC iPlayer

Dreaming Whilst Black series 2 starts on Thursday 9 October at 10.10pm on BBC Three HD (CH 107/113), when all episodes will be available to stream in Apps > BBC iPlayer. Series 1 is also available in Apps > BBC iPlayer.