Many would agree that no comedy can compare to the upfront, awkward genius of British sitcoms. So many of these shows have attempted to be remade for American audiences, resulting in an almost 100 percent failure rate (with one very obvious exception), suggesting that the original is normally best left alone.
Despite this, none of these shows are perfect. We’ve used IMDb to find out which episode is considered to be the worst entry into some of the best British sitcoms of all time. Of course, with such a high level of quality underpinning them, this list rarely wanders into the realms of actual 'bad' programming.
The Office: Downsize (7.8)
Interestingly, it is the first episode of The Office to have ever been seen by the public that lands at the very bottom of the show’s list according to IMDb.
Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais wrote the show to their strengths and created one of the most perfect comedies of all time as a result. This episode just didn’t quite show the extent of the quality to come. Maybe they were playing it safe slightly?
Outnumbered: The Special Bowl (7.7)
The premise behind Outnumbered is an exceptionally good one. Pretty much, script some scenarios for some great adult actors to guide, while some gifted children improvise their way through some priceless comedy.
The show started when Ben and Karen were just slightly too young to have the same impact as they did in season two and three, so this episode shows some of their weaker moments.
The Inbetweeners: First Day (7.8)
The Inbetweeners was loved by its fans from the first day it hit UK screens all those years ago and has since found a large following around the world, despite its uber-Britishness.
Its very first episode sits at the bottom of its IMDb rating, simply because it was released when the show was finding its feet. We didn’t quite know the characters or their nuances yet, so their catchphrases and actions weren't ingrained into our brains immediately.
Only Fools And Horses: A Royal Flush (7.4)
There doesn’t seem to be any specific reason that ‘A Royal Flush’ is considered by fans to be the worst episode of the well-loved classic British sitcom Only Fools And Horses.
It just isn’t as funny as the show was when it was in its prime, a few years earlier.
People Just Do Nothing: War (7.5)
It’s hard to pick a ‘worst’ episode of People Just Do Nothing, because the show ended up becoming one of the most unsuspecting hits in British comedy without really having a down point.
Reflected in its still very impressive 7.5 average, this episode sees the gang prepare for war against a rival radio station, while Grindah runs around a museum while ‘helping’ with a school trip.
Peep Show: Big Mad Andy (7.5)
It took Peep Show a long time to reduce substantially in quality, remaining funny all the way into its unnecessary ninth season.
However, the show’s lowest moment came in season eight, when it was just on its way out. The titular Big Mad Andy is just a big, mad guy called Andy. It isn’t that funny. Well ... it is ... a bit.
The IT Crowd: Something Happened (7.6)
main characters returning.
The episode ‘Something Happened’ is just worlds away from how funny the show was in its prime.
Gavin And Stacey: Episode #1.2 (7.7)
As you’ll notice from the title, Gavin And Stacey didn’t title their episodes. As such, it’s a little harder to keep up with which ones are considered to be its best. However, as with many shows on this list, it is the episodes in its earliest run that don’t seem to have as much impact on their audience.
Again, this is probably just down to the fact that the audience hadn't had the chance to latch onto the personality and comedy of each individual character.
Dad’s Army: Museum Piece (7.1)
Just like Gavin And Stacey, the episode considered to be the worst in the run of Dad’s Army is its second episode. Unlike Gavin And Stacey, this episode is from all the way back in 1968.
That’s a long time for comedy to stay around, and the fact that many of the jokes still hold up is a testament to the show’s quality. However, the fact that it doesn’t quite hold up, makes it clear why it’s considered the show’s worst episode.
Friday Night Dinner: The Au Pair (6.4)
A lot of the episodes on this list are still good, simply because the shows they come from are great. This episode, however, is a true shambles from start to finish.
Friday Night Dinner exploded into a massive hit in the UK, and for good reason, but this episode randomly introduces an unbearable character we’d never met before and we get almost none of the great humor the show typically delivers in spades.