American Reacts to Top 10 British Comedy Actors!

These are the top ten British comedy actors! From legendary icons to modern-day stars, this video celebrates the funniest talents Britain has to offer!
Original Video: • Top 10 British Comedy ...
Buy Me A Coffee: www.buymeacoff...
Grab a mug! jjlareacts.cre...
Support the channel! patreon.com/jjlareacts
#BritishComedy #UKActors #americanreacts

[@rojavida]

Stan Laurel was English, surely worth a mention…

[@martinarscott3524]

far more worthy than a few of the others in this list that's for sure

[@richardgale1287]

My immediate thought. Often overlooked because of being part of a US-based double-act (despite the fact he never adopted US citizenship).

[@davidjones3890]

Hear hear.

[@MikeGreenwood51]

I was going to mention Stan Laurel. I laughed more at his comedy than Mr.C.Chaplins. But of course Charlie is one of the greatest English comedians.

[@chrisbrace2204]

You'd theink Cary Grant might also be worth a mention

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

The whole cast of Acorn Antiques deserves a mention. I’ve watched the whole series on KZbin so many times, and it never fails to raise my spirits.

[@drwoo6090]

Have you watched Acorn Antiques, the musical? Omgosh, it’s soooo funny! 🤣

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

@@drwoo6090 No. Now I want to. 🎶

[@nolajoy7759]

The Young Ones "Bambi" episode was like a British comedy smorgasboard.. Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson, Hugh Laurie, Strephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Ben Elton, Griff Rhys-Jones and Robbie Coltrane. I was at university when Young Ones was on and Rik Mayall's student character was hilarious..I nicknamed a fellow student "The People's Poet" after Rik 😁

[@scotmax8426]

one of the funniest ever! lol remember seeing it as it aired... that night has it's own whole story! lol, does anyone remember all the "easter eggs" in the young ones? the sudden good life sketch with the leaping frog for example lololol. i was way too young to actually be tuned into all that lol but hey ;) lol life was free back then

[@dorcas9370]

Spaced is a superb series where you can see the origins of the Cornetto Trilogy. So many 'comedy' actors are just brilliant actors, full stop. It feels like a fine line between comedy and tragedy. Love your content as always.

[@melonhead3649]

The entire cast of Dad's Army , their names should also go on ze list!

[@joshua.910]

Really bloody miss Alan Rickman.

[@Isleofskye]

Just seen Alan in Robin Hood etc

[@lemonjapp]

Surely Alan Rickman himself is a comedy actor?.... as well as every other kind.

[@SkullMonkeyUK]

You gotta try "Only Fools & Horses" (David Jason) ... well worth a try 👍

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Spike Milligan regarded himself as a loony (permanently damaged psychologically) after he was blown up during WW2 ("I was a different person when I landed"). Then he met Peter Sellers, who had no excuse. True!

[@loboclaud]

Only Fools And Horses is one of the funniest series I have ever watched!

[@KevFrost]

There's a great TV movie biopic called the Lives of Peter Sellars

[@artistjoh]

Rowan Atkinson is not British. He is an alien who fell to Earth. That is why he has super-human levels of talent.

[@danielmarsh373]

Only in american eyes ...to the brittish he is blackadder

[@michaeltunnicliffe4935]

A story that I recently heard about Rik Mayall is that he was originally meant to be in Harry Potter. I believe he was meant to play a ghost character. But he was cut from the film because they found it too difficult to film his scenes because all of the child actors couldn't stop laughing at him.

[@TheLordofDarkness1995]

He was supposed to play Peeves the Poltergeist. He would have been glorious. 😂

[@wackojacko0295]

2:53 mate, Rik Mayall is among the top comedy geniuses in Britain. You should check out bottom sometime, youve never knwon such well timed slapstick comedy's until youve seen bottom.

[@nolasyeila6261]

I loved him on The Young Ones and Drop Dead Fred.

[@lynnhamps7052]

Outtakes of their live shows are hilarious!

[@DraftingandCrafting]

@@nolasyeila6261 Drop dead Fred was a favourite of mine too!

[@carolineskipper6976]

'Philomena Cunk' is a character portrayed (brilliantly) by the fantastic comedy actor Diane Morgan. So yes- she should potentially be on the list.

[@StormhavenGaming]

She should at least have been an honourable mention.

[@annicecooper8105]

Motherland is fab too 😄

[@fayesouthall6604]

Mandy is genius ! 15 minute episodes

[@DoomsdayR3sistance]

Stephen Fry has done more than a few acting gigs and voice acting too, he has done a number of audio books but also was the narrator of LittleBigPlanet and also was a voice actor in Fable 2. Also notably Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie (Yes, Dr. House) had their own sketch show called 'A Bit of Fry and Laurie' which had 4 seasons.

[@StormhavenGaming]

Fry and Lauries also adapted PG Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster novels for television in the 80s, and Fry returned in Fable 3.

[@Spiklething]

And QI. How could you miss out QI?

[@aidankirwan9904]

And Pocoyo

[@speleokeir]

He's also been in numerous films.

[@pcbuk1976]

Dudley moore

[@teresacartwright5406]

How could they leave out Patricia Routledge - her role as Hyacinth Bucket in the Britcom "Keeping Up Appearances".is legendary - the show is still in repeats world-wide.

[@speleokeir]

It's interesting how Americans often perceive British comedians/actors differently to how we do, because they have often had a long TV career here before becoming famous in the US for later stuff. e.g Rowan Atknson is best known for Not the Nine O'clock News and Black Adder. Mr Bean was much later and his stuff I personally find the least funny. His sketches for The Secret policeman's Ball are also well worth watching where he often plays authority figures such as Priests, Headmasters, Senior Police officers, etc and his version of Satan is brilliant! Hugh Laurie is best known in Britain for A Bit of Fry & Laurie, a sketch show with Stephen Fry, Black Adder and Jeeves & Wooster. In the US he's known for House and many don't realise he's a comedian and comic actor.

[@OEDODRAGON]

Hugh Laurie not included on the list?

[@bishopswoodcrafts]

Ronnie Barker should be in there as an honourable mention at least.... Porridge, Open all hours, The 2 Ronnies etc. etc.

[@natashafletcher600]

Rik Mayall is most loved in my home for his portrayal of Drop Dead Fred. Such an emotional and touching performance! ❤😄🥲

[@24magiccarrot]

Peter Cook and Dudley Moore should be on this list.

[@BudhaMD]

I would add Stan Laurel to the above. Keep up the good work ...

[@billspencer9430]

Yes and Bob Hope and Cary Grant.

[@denisebell8422]

Peter Sellers my favourite he was brilliant very funny 😂😂😂

[@JazzyBabe56]

they forgot Hugh Laurie who plays House in America but also played on all the Blackadder series...dude's a genius...

[@namesy]

If you haven’t seen Simon Pegg’s early early work in Big Train (sketch show) then I highly recommend it!

[@speleokeir]

So many others could be on this list: Stan Laurel, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Julie Walters, Ronnie Barker, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Eddie Izzard, Robbie Coltrane, Lee Evans, etc, etc.

[@matshjalmarsson3008]

The "Hitler Mustache" came into fashion after WW1 as a way to say that one was a veteran. It was the only kind of facial hair that could be had while wearing a Gas Mask.

[@ietksangani]

WTAF! No Caroline Ahearne.

[@melonhead3649]

I'd have included Stan Laurel

[@melonhead3649]

And Sid James

[@melonhead3649]

Also Margaret Rutherford, and Will Hay

[@jordancorey]

Rik Mayall played drop dead Fred ....

[@RalphWigg1]

I first came across Simon Pegg in 'Faith In The Future', 1995.

[@PiersDJackson]

Rik Mayall and Ade Edmonson were part of the "alternative" comedy scene, that is they weren't Oxbridge... Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Rowan Atkinson, Emma Thompson, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, etc. were graduates of the Footlights or Review.

[@captvimes]

"he moved to switzerland" yea you might want to go down the rabbit hole as to why he got kicked out of the US and "moved to switzerland". He made anti nazi movies before the US joined the war so was very brave.

[@DeathstarBaby]

Rik Mayall was the best and 'Comic Strip' was Brilliance

[@WBGT007]

Hey JJ, I've been subscribed for months but haven't commented much. But if you've never heard of David Jason, you have to know that Only Fools and Horses was like Friends, Brooklyn 99 or Big Bang Theory because it was that big. You should find the top ten funniest moments and look at those. I promise you will not regret it. Also, it's pronounced Lan-ka-shyre phonetically. And Weston Super Mare you pronounce Mare like mayor but drop the o. Mayrr. Just an FYI. Really like the channel... CAST ME IN YOUR NEXT PROJECT

[@SilverSnowstorm]

I’m from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset 🇬🇧 xx I always remember John Cleese saying he hates his home town. I always go past the home he lives in as my auntie and uncle live on the same road.

[@CrazyInWeston]

Yes he said it was a tedious little place which upset the town mayor at the time.

[@andyjohnson4907]

I just saw on the Cleese wiki that his former son-in-law is Ed Solomon, co-creator of Bill and Ted. The other co-creator is Chris Matheson, the son of Richard Matheson, the author of I am Legend.

[@Dazza5007]

David Jason you must watch the only fools and horses series , you will fall in love with the characters , the show biggest comedy series ever , about a cockney market trader who looks after his younger brother and dreams of becoming a millionaire 😂 A must watch ❤

[@readmylisp]

Mr Bean's Holiday is brilliant . "La Mer".

[@Sidistic_Atheist]

I personally would've chosen *Stan Laurel* of *Laurel and Hardy.* He was actually the comic inspiration for the famous duo. Oliver Hardy wasn't actual that talented as a writer. Born in *Ulverston* in the *Lake District* in the northwest county of *Cumbria.*

[@robertgash4555]

I'm surprised that Stan Laurel and Bob Hope weren't even mentioned. Rest in peace prick I mean Rick.

[@mikdavies5027]

Love your pronunciation of English place names!

[@readmylisp]

Lunchcashesshire. is hard to pronounce.

[@mikdavies5027]

@@readmylisp. Try saying, "Lan-cash-hear, mate! 😀😀😀

[@gilliandawson6567]

I recommend Watching the red nose day comedy skits, some are brilliant.

[@ndboulton]

Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Rob Brydon, Hugh Laurie, the rest of the Python crew etc. etc.

[@crazy1230000]

Norman wisdom should be on the list.

[@pygmalion1963]

Peter Sellers - you need to listen to The Goon Show

[@daddywoodentop2820]

Mitchell and Webb

[@colinlambert882]

Almost all were writers as well, with only David Jason being essentially an actor. Surprisingly perhaps only, Jennifer Saunders and Rik Mayall studied acting.

[@Cleow33]

Steve Coogan is also an amazing straight actor. You should check out his fabulous and scarily accurate portrayal of sex offender, Jimmy Savile. Very brave to take it on. He also played Stan Laurel in a biopic.

[@benjames9158]

Spaced is so good

[@colincampbell4261]

Spaced wad brilliant.

[@nicw5574]

Rik Mayall was absolutely brilliant! I'm so glad he was on this list and David Jason too. Personally I would have left Sacha Baron Cohen off. I just don't find him funny. Victoria Wood and Ronnie Barker should have been on there, but a good list though. Wishing you well 😀

[@stopanimalcruelty298]

Only fools and horses is the absolute best. One foot in the grave, keeping up appearances. The vicar of Dibley , the royal family, the brittas empire. Dads army , hi-de-hi , dinner ladies, open all hours , on the buses, waiting for god, allo Allo , birds of a feather , bread , the darling buds of may and some mothers do ave em.

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

Spaced is completely hilarious.

[@Kaiser_Paradigm]

A little tip for pronouncing shire counties in the uk. Instead of saying shire say sheer 😁

[@archistuart]

David Mitchell and Lee Mack ?????

[@Bethi4WFH]

No Stan Laurel?!!!!!!

[@davidshattock9522]

Also Oxbridge edu cared electronics I think .so not daft .

[@augustlion6645]

Where's Stan Laurel ? If you include Chaplin you have to include Stan Laurel....

[@jonjay9408]

Cast me in your next project!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DeLouseMaSporran]

please please please stop using Watch Mojo

[@GrafindeKlevemark]

Why are there so few female actresses on this list ?

[@QueeferSutherland1]

Because women aren't as a funny.

[@nolasyeila6261]

Tracy Ullman should qualify..such brilliant impersonations.

[@Isleofskye]

Who else received NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL fame then? Remembering that Ricky Gervais,Stan Laurel and Hugh Lairie are not on it so who did you have in mind?

[@GrafindeKlevemark]

@@Isleofskye French and Saunders for one - these 2 ladies have done such funny sketches

[@Isleofskye]

@@GrafindeKlevemarkHi Marion. Jennifer was, already, on this list and in The Top 10 and it mentioned her long partnership with Dawn so we are no further forward. They mentioned Victoria Wood so, who else? :) This reminds me of a hilarious sketch in "Extras" where Ricky Gervais said we should include more British Black Comedians while standing under a life-sized portrait of Lenny Henry. He was asked "Like who?" and he said Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, Patrice O'Neal, and others but the other guys said "No ! British" . Ricky was getting anxious when he noticed Lenny Henry. He thought about him and said to the others.."No,I can't think of any" lol

[@TheDidymusBrush]

Rik Mayall should have been #1. An utter legend. A national treasure. I was lucky enough to meet him twice and he was so wonderful to his fans. As to the list, there's a lot of great talents missing. But then WatchMojo sucks, so that's to be expected.

[@lemonjapp]

I would rate Rowan top.

[@keithalanbaker535]

If Charlie Chaplin is on the list so should Stan Laurel.

[@retro-robbo]

It always surprises me that you get the likes of Charlie Chaplin on these lists but never Stan Laurel. But good list all the same.

[@lynn69jackson]

What about Hugh Laurie.

[@magdos7160]

1868th

[@nicolafenner6260]

Hitler grew the moustache because he was a fan of Charlie Chaplin

[@maureen4227]

You don’t no our funny men sorry

[@XENONEOMORPH1979]

steve coogan a nob , telling people who they should vote to stay or leave , it is okay to have a opinion but not okay to tell you what to do ,he can go and do one for all i care.yes good comedy that all i can say about him.

[@TheDidymusBrush]

Ironically you're telling us what he should and shouldn't do. No better than him. How's Brexit working out for you?

[@Isleofskye]

Brilliant comedian but like BONO or Gary Lineker.... Remember Bono stopping a U2 gig and slowly clapping his hands and saying "Every time I clap my hands,an African child dies" Someone shouted, "Well , stop clapping your hands then...."

[@XENONEOMORPH1979]

@@TheDidymusBrush He is a good comedian but when brexit won the toss he was not a happy bunny , why should we be in with the union , when we joined the eec no one got a vote to be in it. How is it working for me just fine good points and bad points , lucky we were not in it due to the influx of the boat people ,just send them off to the republic of ireland as they would have to go by what the eu union says if they do not they would get fined not our proble. feel a lot better being independent so happy mate so jog on . we should not have joined it in the first place

[@TheDidymusBrush]

@@XENONEOMORPH1979 wtf have refugees got to do with it? Weirdo.

[@fayesouthall6604]

@@XENONEOMORPH1979 1974 there was a referendum to enter the EEC

[@davidware9549]

lol you said mare wrong in Weston super mare I used to live there such a beautiful see side

[@Isleofskye]

GOLDEN RULE ,David of correcting someone's mistakes is NOT to make any yourself. "SEE side" indeed AND it is ONE word...

[@Stannington]

You know it's a tough list when comedy greats like Ronnie Barker are left out of the top 10

[@Bunyipp66]

Missed out so many super talented comedy actors: Ronnie Barker, Paul Whitehouse, Harry Enfield, Kathy Burke to name a few...

[@natg81]

Kathy Burke…..comedy genius! Wish she was on TV more

[@robertpatrick3350]

@@natg81 Kathy Burke is an amazing actor for whom comedy is just part of a wider repertoire.

[@mediocredan8194]

Also missed the "Carry on..." generation. Sid, Kenneth, Hattie, ect...

[@watchreadplayretro]

Agree, there should be a top 40 British Comedy Actors list, because with so many styles of comedy there'd be someone (or a few) for everyone!

[@charlottehardy822]

Dawn French, Hugh Laurie, Ade Edmonson, Jo Lumley, Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Kenneth Williams, Frankie Howard… there are so many.

[@lauragrounds8149]

Please watch Only Fools and Horses! Its a staple of British comedy and you'll love it.

[@michaeltunnicliffe4935]

No Hugh Laurie? I was so convinced that he would be on this list that, even when we finished the honorable mentions and he hadn't shown, I assumed he would be first (even though I would never put him first myself.) But that's how convinced I was that he would make the list. But to not even make the Honorable Mentions, that's shameful on Watch Mojo UKs part.

[@lemonjapp]

Just a bit famous in the US too, in HOUSE

[@lemonjapp]

Morecambe and Wise made a film! I think I wet myself laughing at them as a kid and my sister nearly choked to death on some Christmas trifle....

[@Isleofskye]

YES, Charlie Chaplin has many claims to fame and deserves Number 1 but his greatest honour? To be born in EXACTLY the same street in Walworth, South East London : S.E.17 as ME !!!!! and, you know what, he never mentioned it once. NOT ONCE.........and I was 23 when he died in 1977 and STILL no mention.... It's hard to believe,I know...

[@drwoo6090]

That wasn’t very gentlemanly of him! 🥸 Although, maybe he thought, that you wouldn’t be able to handle everything that comes with knowing him! 🤷🏻‍♀️😉 you could get a blue plaque that states that your house was a few houses from him! 😊

[@Isleofskye]

@@drwoo6090 Admittedly,I have lived a meaningless, pointless, valueless life in the obscurity that I, richly, deserve, but nevertheless, even a tiny mention or small gesture like an All Expense paid, First Class trip to stay in his mansion in Hollywood for just, say,6 months, would have been appreciated but nada,niets,nein,nedalia....

[@Bethi4WFH]

@@Isleofskye. God, life is hard and unfair, isn't it?

[@Isleofskye]

@@Bethi4WFH Tell me about it, Beth! My Cook has not arrived and my Gardener is due at 9pm and it is raining!!!!!!!!! Can you, positively imagine, Beth??😥😥

[@TheSilentScreamX]

Rowan Atkinson is the only comedian I've ever seen who can make something as simple as putting a pen on a desk funny.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Yep I saw him live in the 1980’s doing sketches it was brilliantly funny

[@Jill-mh2wn]

I first saw Rick Mayall on TV as a rather peculiar character called Kevin Turvey . He was droll and humorous in an quiet unstated way and for a long time I thought he was real.

[@sharonwelsh8102]

I used to love him doing Kevin Turvey brilliant programme

[@stephencolvin7819]

Ronnie Barker was a brilliant comedy actor.

[@drwoo6090]

The 2 Ronnies, brilliant comedy partnership!

[@JohnnieAshton]

15:10 may I humbly suggest the word Raconteur. To which I would think Stephen Fry would not object, the late Peter Ustinov was frequently given this title.

[@Birko64]

Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmonson on the Bottom series: ‘We had wanted to call it My Bottom, so that people at work the next day would say, “Did you see My Bottom on television last night?”’

[@NeilusNihilus]

lol love that if true. They made the right choice though.

[@johnm8224]

Did you know Rowan Atkinson did the voice for Zazu in the original Lion King?

[@drwoo6090]

Victoria Wood was a fantastic actor, writer, and director. Watch her, along with her long term friend, Julie Walters, in Dinner Ladies…it’s really funny. Julie Walters is sooo funny as Victoria’s mum. Also, Acorn Antiques, and An audience with Victoria Wood…if you don’t laugh at that, then you are devoid of all feelings! Victoria also wrote and acted in Housewife 49, excellent acting, she also wrote and directed a film called That Day We Sang, based on a true story. I cried when Victoria died, and I couldn’t watch anything of hers for ages. I was 💔

[@simongoodwin5253]

Lanc-a-sheer.... Lancashire.

[@tabi122]

Fun fact: Jennifer Saunders is married to Ade Edmonson, Rik Mayall's best friend (and co-actor in bottom/the young ones)! Which is why she was on the young ones

[@speleokeir]

And her comedy partner Dawn french was married to comedy legend Lenny Henry.

[@tabi122]

@@speleokeir didn't know that, cool!

[@Cleow33]

They all performed together at the Comedy Store and were part of The Comic Strip. Jennifer and Ade didn’t get married until long after The Young Ones. I think she and Dawn were on it because they are talented and funny, not because Jen was married to one of the stars.

[@tabi122]

@@Cleow33 ah wow. I think Jen and ade met before The young ones anyway, through friends

[@xxxyz721]

I think you’ll find that Cleese’s mother smelled of elderberries:).

[@drwoo6090]

I think you’ll find that, The mother was an hamster, and the father smells of elderberries! 😉

[@robbieellis4840]

Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!

[@002DrEvil]

People forget that both Cary Grant and Bob Hope were both born in Britain. They should have made the list.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Yep

[@StormhavenGaming]

Grant wasn't really known as a comedian and Bob Hope emigrated to the US when he was about five years old. He was, for all intents and purposes, American.

[@raymondbullock4557]

I'm not sure how they could leave probably the most versatile comedy actor on British TV and who also wrote many of his scripts, Ronnie Barker, who I would put just behind Sellars. Also, the ommission of Norman Wisdom and Richard Briers is surprising.

[@JackLongbridge]

Not a bad list by Watch Mojo standards, but I would have swapped out Jennifer Saunders for Ronnie Barker and had him further up the list.

[@daviddavemo6299]

Will Hay, Terry Thomas, Alistair Sim, Ian Carmichael

[@bullfidde]

I was sure Hugh Laurie was on the list specially since he was in a lot of the clips shown.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Exactly right

[@mueslicamel]

You have to watch Only Fools, this is part of the British DNA. Find a top 10 only fools moments for a reaction, it’s simply wonderful, you Plonker Rodney.

[@apierc1]

Look up "I love trucking", from not the 9 o'clock news

[@robbieellis4840]

Dudley Moore and peter cook, Tony hancock.

[@bfmt42]

So many great British comedy performers that a list like this is always going to be tough, but it was a decent effort. Wish they could have found room for Julie Walters or Kathy Burke... Or both 😊

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

Simon Pegg was in a weird but wonderful sketch show called "Big Train" before Spaced. For Peter Sellers, there's an amazing slapstick movie called "The Party" which starts quiet then just cartwheels out of control hilariously. And yes - he, and his early comedy partner Spike Milligan (together they were two-thirds of radio comedy act The Goons) - were both difficult to work with due to their neurodivergence, shall we say. A few more excellent British comedy film actors deserving of mention on this list include Sir Alec Guinness, Cary Grant, Stan Laurel... the problem is so many British actors can turn their hand to a lot of different styles. Everyone from Alan Rickman to Dame Maggie Smith to Timothy Spall has done good comic roles. Sadly, arguably Britain's best TV comic actor, Ronnie Barker, did very little big screen work.

[@bigdaddigaming]

Did he seriously say he’s never heard of David Jason 😳😤 and he thinks he knows about British stuff, JJLA if you don’t know David Jason you don’t know bugger all about Britain

[@Isleofskye]

Loom mate Do Not Adjust Your Set but David was in specific shows and was the Star in an ensemble like Only Fools but Coogan WAS Partridge and Cleese was Python etc.

[@bigdaddigaming]

@@Isleofskye fair enough John Cleese, python was brilliant but unfortunately I never really got Steve Coogan’s Alan Partridge, I understand he was really popular but for me he was just bloody annoying, it’s all subjective

[@Isleofskye]

@@bigdaddigaming Indeed it is,my friend:)

[@germantoenglish898]

The Young Ones and Bottom are classic British alternative comedy series. Slapstick meets punk.