The best comedies to stream on Channel 4

When Linda (Bridget Christie) finally reached breaking point – after organising her own 50th birthday party, forgetting the word “shoe” and realising the total of her unpaid labour had reached 3.5 million minutes – and headed off into the Forest of Dean on a motorbike, we didn’t know what was to follow.

We knew she was looking for the time capsule she left aged 10 and, by extension, trying to find her real self, before her identity was subsumed into family life. But we couldn’t have predicted the journey Linda would go on, involving eccentric characters, a shabby caravan, feminist literature, an anti-developer protest and a gender-flipped eel festival…

The Change, which was created and written by Christie, debuted in 2023 and was one of the best new comedies in years, combining a gentle rural atmosphere with some sharply observed commentary, along with plenty of disorienting weirdness – and it was very, very funny. Now it’s back for a second series! Tune in on Tuesday 25 March at 10pm on Channel 4 HD (CH 104) for more of Linda’s bucolic, surprising and occasionally surreal voyage of menopausal self-discovery.

What can we expect from series 2? Well, Linda may have turned her midlife crisis into a joyous, celebratory experience, but she wasn’t entirely truthful with her new friends about her life outside the forest – even if she had plausible reasons. The events of the festival exposed her, and now she faces repercussions. But no matter what, there’s no going back to her former life.

Many of the cast of the first series are returning, including Omid Djalili (Stan Lee’s Lucky Man) as Linda’s useless husband Steve, Tanya Moodie (Motherland) as radio DJ Joy, Jim Howick (Ghosts) as the perma-indignant Verderer, Paul Whitehouse (Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?) as genteel lothario Tony and Jerome Flynn (1923) as the enigmatic, forest-dwelling Pig Man.

Liza Tarbuck (Upstart Crow) reprises her role as Linda’s sharp-tongued sister Siobhain, while Susan Lynch (Happy Valley) is back as Eel Sister Agnes, now joined by a new Eel Sister, Theresa, played by Detectorists’ Laura Checkley. And speaking of Detectorists, all episodes of the new series are directed by the creator, star and director of that brilliant show, Mackenzie Crook – a man who knows a fair bit about countryside comedy.

We can’t wait to see Christie back in this superbly conceived and written comedy, which she called “a love story, but a story of self-love”. Find out what’s next for Linda on the bizarre, unpredictable and hilarious path she’s chosen.

If you’re looking for more fantastic comedy, you’ll find plenty more to enjoy in Apps > Channel 4 (available on Virgin TV 360 and our Stream box and V6 box, powered by TiVo^®, only), which is a comedy fan’s treasure trove containing decades’ worth of the funniest shows ever broadcast in Britain. Here, we’ll prove it to you.

Father Ted

Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Channel 4 now 

Often topping polls of the greatest sitcoms of all time, Father Ted’s combination of lowbrow humour and deeper themes of religion, agnosticism and existentialism make it one of TV’s most groundbreaking comedies. It made stars of Ardal O’Hanlon and Pauline McLynn, as well as the much-missed Dermot Morgan as Father Ted Crilly, who sadly died in 1998 aged just 45.

Spaced

Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

When still in their 20s, writer/stars Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes and director Edgar Wright combined their phenomenal talents to make this ultra-cinematic sitcom, celebrating their love of all things weird and geeky. It beautifully showcased the wit, energy and heart that Pegg and Wright (and co-star Nick Frost) would later bring to hit movies Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz.

Desmond’s

Stream series 1-6 in Apps > Channel 4 now

While Desmond’s, set in a barber’s shop in Peckham, was praised for giving a rare insight into Black working life, it ran for six series because it was hilarious. Much of the comedy arose from the culture clash between established Caribbean-British immigrants and more recent arrivals from Africa, something rarely seen on UK TV. It was all anchored by the late Norman Beaton as Desmond, despairing comically at what he considered the madness of modern life. 

Brass Eye

Stream series 1 and the special in Apps > Channel 4 now

What The Day Today did for the news, Brass Eye did for current affairs programmes. Chris Morris turned his sharp satirical gaze on their insincerity and absurdity. Morris lured celebrities and MPs into denouncing social problems that were entirely fictitious, while the one-off special “Paedogeddon” spoofed the hysteria around paedophiles and briefly made Morris a public hate figure. We’ve never seen its like again. 

Smack The Pony

Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Up there in the pantheon of great sketch shows, this often surreal comedy series starred Sally Phillips, Doon Mackichan and Fiona Allen, who revelled in the silly situations they found themselves in. Because it avoided topical comedy, STP seems just as fresh now as it did when it debuted in the 90s, with characters like Oblivious Women and Useless Vet, as well as the eccentric video dating profiles.

Drop The Dead Donkey
Stream series 1-6 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Set behind the scenes of a fictional news channel, Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin’s comedy smartly satirised both the news and the people who made it.

Vic Reeves Big Night Out
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer brought their bonkers south London variety show to TV and changed the face of British comedy with outlandish characters, skits and songs.

Crapston Villas
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

This stop-motion animation set in an inner city slum was truly one of a kind, featuring an array of British voice talent including Alastair MacGowan and Alison Steadman.

The Adam And Joe Show
Stream series 1-4 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Adam Buxton and Joe Cornish gave us the bedsit-focused fruits of their offbeat imaginations, including recreating TV and movies with Star Wars toys. BaaadDad remains a legend.

Absolutely
Stream series 1-4 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Welcome to Stoneybridge! Silliness abounded in this lovably daft sketch show, perhaps remembered most for the Little Girl character played by Morwenna Banks – now a writer on the likes of Funny Woman.

The Inbetweeners

Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Channel 4 now

While the 2000s were brimming with teen shows like The O.C. and Gossip Girl where protagonists were blessed with perfect skin, rich parents and a wardrobe to die for, The Inbetweeners was more relatable. Will, Simon, Neil and Jay navigated sixth form with toe-curling levels of cringe in a show that put comedy talent such as Greg Davies, Simon Bird and Emily Atack on the map.

Peep Show

Stream series 1-9 in Apps > Channel 4 now

The chaotic escapades of two oddball friends (played by David Mitchell and Robert Webb), who embody some of the worst qualities in the human race, as they look for love, go to the pub and constantly try to one-up each other. The laughs are frequent and frequently uncomfortable, as the point-of-view camera angles force viewers to sympathise with Jez and Mark and conclude that perhaps we’re not so different…

The IT Crowd

Stream series 1-4 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Have you tried turning it on and off again? Starring Chris O’Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson and Matt Berry, this meme-worthy series sees the IT department of Reynholm Industries do everything but their job as they repeatedly find themselves in bizarre situations with phenomenal comedic timing. Every trip to the theatre brings up memories of this show.

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace

Stream series 1 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Before Richard Ayoade was hosting every TV series on your screen, he co-created horror parody Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace with Matthew Holness, who starred as the titular character. This show within a show follows a maverick doctor who, along with his colleagues, battles the evil forces lurking beneath a Romford hospital. With its deliberately poor production, unrealistic special effects and hilariously flawed storylines, it has enduring cult appeal.

Green Wing

Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Another series that’s set in a hospital with surreal goings-on is Green Wing. When Dr Caroline Todd (Tamsin Greig) arrives for her first day at work at East Hampton Hospital Trust, she’s quickly thrown into the deep end (and into a love triangle) with a roster of quirky colleagues whose chaotic antics make it tricky to get anything done.

Black Books
Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Channel 4 now

The confusing, occasionally appalling adventures of misanthropic bookstore owner Bernard (Dylan Moran) and his hapless sidekick Manny (Bill Bailey). 

Nathan Barley
Stream series 1 in Apps > Channel 4 now 

Despicable hipster Nathan Barley (Nicholas Burns) is a “self-facilitating media node” in this scathing comedy, which was Charlie “Black Mirror” Brooker’s first TV project.

Star Stories
Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Channel 4 now 

Kevin Bishop, Rhys Thomas and a killer cast show us the secret worlds of “celebrities” from Posh and Becks to Madonna and Tom Cruise.

The Book Group
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

A dysfunctional book group discuss everything but what they’ve been reading, in a dark comedy with more twists than the pulpiest thriller novel 

Trigger Happy TV
Stream series 1-4 in Apps > Channel 4 now

“HELLO?!” Comedian Dom Joly and his giant phone played practical jokes on the public, perfectly capturing the early-noughties adjustment to mass mobile communication.

Friday Night Dinner

Stream series 1-6 in Apps > Channel 4 now 

The set-up of brothers Adam (Simon Bird) and Jonny (Tom Rosenthal) attending a traditional weekly dinner with their parents (Tasmin Greig and Paul Ritter) sounds like it would become repetitive, but the mix of chaos, sibling warfare and familial bonding that occurs in every episode makes Friday Night Dinner one of the most moving and memorable comedies ever. 

Derry Girls

Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Inspired by creator Lisa McGee’s own experience growing up during the Troubles, Derry Girls perfectly captures the universal teenage experience but with one key difference… Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle and James are all having growing pains in the midst of a national conflict. A charming coming-of-age series that leaves you laughing (and begging for more) with every watch.  

Stath Lets Flats

Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Channel 4 now 

Finding somewhere to live is one of the most stressful experiences that any of us can go through, but add incompetent lettings agent Stath (Jamie Demetriou) into the mix and you’re in for a truly terrible time. Co-written with screenwriting royalty Robert Popper, Jamie Demetriou’s slice of car crash comedy is a triumph. 

PhoneShop

Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Channel 4 now

The world of mobile phone sales is a dangerous one. You have to keep your wits about you, have a knack for high-stakes negotiations and do whatever it takes to stay at the top of the food chain. And no one knew this better than the staff at PhoneShop, who spent three series wheeler-dealing against a backdrop of Austerity Britain with hilarious consequences.

Chewing Gum

Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Making an astonishing TV debut, Michaela Coel created and wrote in this in-your-face series, also starring as Tracey Gordon – a naïve, Beyoncé-obsessed virgin who wants to break away from her religious background and learn about the world. Her first act of newly awakened womanhood? Awkward sex, of course!

Back
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Peep Show’s David Mitchell and Robert Webb reunite a pair of foster brothers tasked with saving their family pub in this laugh-out-loud series.

Crashing
Stream series 1 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Phoebe Waller-Bridge created, wrote and starred in this show about young people rubbing each other up in various ways while living in a disused hospital. 

GameFace
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Marcella (Roisin Conaty) wants to change her life but needs a little help from her mates, a dubious life coach and a very patient driving instructor.

The Windsors
Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Channel 4 now 

Harry Enfield leads the royal charge as King Charles III in this slapstick parody following the UK’s most famous family.

The Year Of The Rabbit
Stream series 1 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Hardened detective Inspector Rabbit (Matt Berry) keeps the streets of Victorian London clean from gangs, crooked politicians and, er, the Elephant Man.

Big Boys

Stream series 1-3 in Apps > Channel 4 now 

Jack Rooke spins his formative years into a wholesome comedy that’ll have you reaching for the tissues. You can’t help but root for the shy and closeted Jack (Derry Girls’ Dylan Llewellyn), who’s figuring out his identity when he begins university. Between the adorable mother-son relationship between Jack and Peggy (Camille Coduri, Rain Dogs), his newfound friendships and moments of true heartache, the series underpins the message that it’s OK to just be yourself.

Everyone Else Burns

Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Simon Bird is the overbearing patriarch of a fundamentalist family whose collective mission is to save their fellow man from eternal damnation… all while juggling modern family life. Witty scripts packed with jokes and Doomsday humour dovetail with a brilliant cast including a breakout performance from Harry Connor.  

Big Mood

Stream series 1 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan and It’s A Sin’s Lydia West play old friends Maggie and Eddie, whose friendship is pushed to crisis point when Maggie’s bipolar disorder makes an unwelcome return. Hilarious and heartwarming, the series received praise for its refreshingly honest take towards mental health struggles.

Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared

Stream series 1 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Don’t be fooled by the cute and fuzzy exteriors of this puppet cast – Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared couldn’t be further away from the likes of its cutesy counterparts Sesame Street and The Muppets. The misadventures of Red Guy, Yellow Guy and Duck, who learn about the unusual ways of the world from a talking sketchbook, are where psychological horror meets black comedy. Smart, savage and scary viewing.

We Are Lady Parts

Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

A trailblazing music comedy about a Muslim female punk band? Sign us up! Meet Amina (Anjana Vasan, Towards Zero) – a geeky PhD student with a secret talent for playing the guitar who catches the eye of punk rockers Lady Parts and thus begins her double life. With a whopping 97% Rotten Tomatoes rating, Nida Manzoor’s anarchic gig is one that you don’t want to miss.

This Way Up
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Aisling Bea writes and stars in her BAFTA-winning series about a teacher getting her life back on track after an inconvenient mental breakdown.

The Curse
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

A gang of slow-witted crooks accidentally find themselves in the midst of a huge gold heist. What could go wrong?

Hullraisers
Stream series 1-2 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Lucy Beaumont’s hull-arious take on modern female friendship, as three women juggle life, love and everything in between.

I Hate You
Stream series 1 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Tanya Reynolds and Melissa Saint navigate their riotous warts-and-all friendship in Robert Popper’s barbed comedy.

The Horne Section TV Show
Stream series 1 in Apps > Channel 4 now

Little Alex Horne pauses his Taskmaster duties to take centre stage with his band and a slew of guest stars in this silly sitcom.

The second series of The Change begins on Tuesday 25 March at 10pm on Channel 4 HD (CH 104), when you’ll be able to watch all episodes of the series in Apps > Channel 4 – where the first series is also available. Please note, the Channel 4 app is not available on our TiVo^® box. To access all the great content available, contact us on 0345 454 1111 or 150 from a Virgin Media phone to upgrade now.

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