20 Comedy clips on a sporting theme.
About this collection
Sport is a ripe topic for comedy. After all, the sight of a missed open goal always makes us laugh (depending on who you support), so here is a collection of comedic sporting moments from those who do it best.
Possibly superior to the original series - and broadcast in glorious Technicolor - Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? marked the return in 1973 of Bob and Terry, who demonstrated that time hadn't cured their competitiveness.
Such was the popularity of The Good Life that in 1978 after 29 episodes, a Royal Command Performance of the final show was requested. No pressure then.
The nine broadcast episodes of Michael Palin and Terry Jones' post-Python effort, Ripping Yarns, lovingly parodied the 'golden age of the Empire', notably featuring poor Gordon Ottershaw's rage at seeing his beloved Barnstoneworth thumped 8-1.
Not the Nine O'clock News set the benchmark for the new 'alternative' comedy of the '80s and launched the careers of Mel Smith, Pamela Stephenson, Griff Rhys Jones and Rowan Atkinson, which also makes it responsible for Mr Bean.
If there's a more iconic British sitcom than Only Fools and Horses we'll eat Del Boy's flat cap. The show ran for a decade and featured so many classic moments that picking the best is impossible, but Del hang-gliding is certainly one of them.
The Day Today gave us a firm satirical poke in the eye when it broadcast in 1994. It also introduced us to a certain Alan Partridge. Not bad for a show that only ran for six episodes.
A Bit of Fry and Laurie open the doors for the intellectual and mildly-eccentric comedic talents of Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. It aired for four series on BBC1 and 2 and taught children how to dive on the football pitch.
Marvellous! The endlessly quotable Fast Show re-funnied the tired comedy sketch format in 1994 with an array of memorable characters, including nonsensical football pundit Ron Manager.
Big Train's stellar cast, meanwhile, avoided the catchphrases. They also employed a real football commentator in BBC's Barry Davies in 1998 for their Stare-Out World Championships sketches.
The Office went stratospheric upon its first airing in 2001. Tapping into the mundanity of office life, it struck a chord with viewers across the globe and held a mirror up to ignorant middle-management.
Some men cannot repress their male urges, regardless of what frock they're wearing - ask David Beckham. Radio couldn't contain the Little Britain team, so when TV beckoned in 2003 it wasn't long before they found a home on BBC One.
Another radio show to succeed on television was the surreal mind-warp that is The Mighty Boosh. Noel Fielding and Julian Barrett's alter-egos crimped their way into popular consciousness in 2004. Confused? You will be.
In 2008, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse showed there was still life in the old dogs yet with sketch show Harry & Paul. Admit it, who saw that title coming?
Meanwhile, young(er) upstarts Mitchell & Webb followed a rather unique route; moving from television to BBC Radio 4 and back again in That Mitchell & Webb Glimpse.
Technology and comedy - it'll never work. Yet BBC3's, The Wrong Door, melded them to perfection and dragged comedy into the 21st Century. Eat your heart out Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Finally, fathers everywhere will relate to Ben Harper's attempt to get fit in the BBC's long-running sitcom My Family. Mothers, however, will undoubtedly roll their eyes.
Sporting laffs
Sporting laffs
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”