PhoneShop - The funniest sitcom you've never seen

Arriving just before internet memes and boxset streaming services became mainstream, this sublime British comedy has slipped under the radar.
This video is intended for entertainment and critical purposes; no copyright infringement intended.

[@ImprobableMatter]

I was messaged by Jon Macqueen (one of the writers of the show) after I posted this video on Twitter. He said I had gotten things pretty much spot on and enjoyed the tapestry graphic, so I'm pretty happy with this video.

[@TheChiraagG]

Great video. Watched it quite a few times from the pilot onwards. You dun' know! But as quotable as the show is I feel that someone like me would appreciate it more, growing up around people who talked like Ashley and Jerwayne and those who worked in phone shops, than, say someone from the States. Whilst the writing overall is accessible (and hilarious especially when paired with the actors' delivery), it's wide-reach may be difficult to gain, especially because, as you say it deserves the attention of the audience to really pay off. Still brilliant.

[@Hanini87]

Is there any way we can crowd fund another season?

[@skytra7]

​@@Hanini87I feel the same... Maybe someone can start an online petition to drum up interest.

[@Simonedeboudhar]

'Once again, the socially inepts seduced by the illusion of being in the game, in order to serve corporate marketing ends... MUGS'. As a shy teenager, this show was responsible for making me want to write comedy and 10 years later, im joining the screenwriting lab of the channel that diffused it. Forever grateful I existed in the same time as this masterpiece. Thanks so much for this video, it's incredibly satisfying and well researched. ❤❤❤❤

[@ImprobableMatter]

Jon Macqueen, one of the writers, messaged me on Twitter to say it was a pretty accurate assessment, so I'm very proud. Great show, anyway.

[@HK-kz1wu]

This is exactly how a physicist would dissect a comedy show. By giving a lecture on it and telling us when to pause.

[@TheTregan]

Man a man’s a Wagamama man

[@timi24]

i beg you don’t cry, i beg you don’t cry

[@ouethojlkjn]

Scuffins episode was far and away my favourite. Favourite character Razz Prince aka fonejacker. I do think this is a hugely funny comedy and deserves way more credit, not least the cast who adlibbed as has been mentioned.

[@janinealexander6132]

I love phone shop. I used to watch it weekly. I haven't met anyone else who has heard of it though. 😩

[@marlonthomas8042]

I’ve watched it multiple times I loved it But it’s my era and I knew people in retail so this was spot on

[@manomano8939]

I remember looking forward to watching it every week (when that was a thing), very relatable and genuinely funny

[@taliwalt5332]

Less than two minutes in and I've learned something new. I love physicists! Found your channel via "how computers work", by the way, which was fantastic.

[@Robslondon]

I love PhoneShop! Thanks for this excellent documentary.

[@mark5115]

Lance is one of the funniest characters on tv still, his timing and expression are perfect

[@percy9228]

me and brother + cousins absolutely loved this show! one of the best things about this show was the amount of catchphrases it produced...so funny! if I'm honest you're voice doesn't strike me as someone that would be into this show

[@ImprobableMatter]

If man say him a ting, then him a ting.

[@percy9228]

@@ImprobableMatter LMAO 😂😂😂😂

[@kevincarter2020]

A owl? A owl.

[@eyesonly7072]

I wish this show would return 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

[@Adey-yd9gj]

I saw this fantastic work the first time around....This is a legend of a show....made me wee it's dat funny 🤣

[@rcc2741]

Best ever! Need more please

[@ce7406]

i just binged this show in 24 hrs

[@minigrande1939]

I love this show and fell in love with Janine obviously beautiful but her quirkiness was so attractive (to me) proving (again to me)how well Emma Frier acted and presented Janine

[@mkultrajos]

Absolutely fantastically written, structured and performed show. I was actually working in a phone shop on the south of England while it was on and never missed an episode. If you check out Afterlife outtakes, you can see Ashley and Christopher making Ricky almost die laughing. 😆

[@BobGnarley.]

They did a shit job advertising this back in the day. For a start the name "Phone Shop" is terrible cause it sounds so boring makes you just not even want to give it a chance.. then they played that same clip every single advert "Xpect the unexpected.." I never gave it a chance back then but now I rate it up there with some of the top shows to come out of Britain. It's like a modern Ali G style comedy when you think about it If you dont know, get to know OH

[@ImprobableMatter]

Well, "The Office" was also deliberately boring, but as I mention here they had a lot of crossover (look at Andrew Brooke and Tom Bennett now firmly in the Gervais club).

[@jaythesail]

Have to say I laughed my arse off when I saw the time code table of when to pause. Wasn't expecting that twist

[@ImprobableMatter]

I've tried to do what I suggest in the video to introduce my friends to the show: Start with S3E2 and pause at about the 16minute mark to try to get them to guess the twist.

[@fortheloveofzuckuss1724]

I'm not proud of much in my hometown, but this is definitely one I am, SM1 FOR LIFE!!!

[@j.b.w.]

I remember watching it on Channel 4 almost by accident as the publicity around it was not very convincing. But it is such an excellent show and it was well worth watching and rewatching.

[@Coldfin9er]

Loved the show back then, and still just as funny now. Very polarising but that’s comedy right? Coming from the area made it very relatable that’s for sure. Seeing all the places I grew up knowing was awesome. The thing I found the absolute funniest was the running rivalry / aspirations had with Croydon. Pure genius in the writing and certainly had to be local to understand it.

[@louiewilliams3703]

A OWL?

[@minigrande1939]

The perfect south west London dialect was an important part of the comedy but would not of travelled abroad well

[@sinepnam]

How have I not heard about this show earlier also what do you think about the peep show?

[@ImprobableMatter]

"Peep Show" is great. You can watch this one on Channel4 Online if you're in the UK.

[@philipdale3129]

Mansabadman 👍

[@SunnySunny-kh3co]

I dont remember how i ended up starting to watch the series, but i definetly remember when the iphone came out few years earlier so many phone shops sales people would give off vibe like it was scripted in the show ;D