This Has Been Voted The Best Christmas Sitcom Of All Time And We Don’t Know How To Feel
Published
| Last updated
Featured Image Credit: BBC
There's nothing like settling down on the sofa on Christmas Day and getting stuck into a good Christmas special - but we've been treated to so many great ones over the years it's been hard to pick a favourite. Until now.
The Office has been voted the best Christmas sitcom of all time, in a poll of 3,000 people run by Radio Times. The cringeworthy but hilarious workplace drama beat fierce competition from shows like Only Fools and Horses and Gavin & Stacey to take the top spot.
The comedy, which takes place in a fictional paper company, charts embarrassing boss David Brent (played by Ricky Gervais) and his long-suffering staff.
The acclaimed two-part Christmas special in 2003 saw David finally find some happiness and stand up for himself - and at last saw receptionist Dawn (Lucy Davis) and Tim (Martin Freeman) realise their love for each other in a heartwarming finale.
Ricky Gervais told RadioTimes.com: "The Office Christmas Specials allowed me to repay the viewing public for sitting through the bleakness and tragedy of the previous six hours of David Brent. I always intended to give him a little hope by the end and I always knew Tim and Dawn would get together."
He rounded off his message with a classic David Brent line, saying: "Merry Christmas, and live fast, die old."
So which other sitcoms were in the top five?
1. The Office Christmas Special
The Office's Christmas Special was unusually heartwarming while still providing us with the cringeworthy laughs we were used to. Finally, Dawn and Tim got together and there was a promise of David Brent's future happiness (all then refuted years later with the 2016 film David Brent: Life on the Road).
2. Only Fools And Horses Christmas Trilogy
There have been a number of Only Fools And Horses Christmas specials, but the Christmas trilogy was a particular hit with fans.
3. Gavin And Stacey Christmas Special
Fans of Gavin And Stacey were in for a treat in the 2008 special, when the Welsh contingent headed to Essex to spend Christmas with the Shipmans.
4. The Vicar Of Dibley: The Christmas Lunch Incident
The episode shows Geraldine Granger spending her second Christmas in the village of Dibley, with hilarity soon ensuing.
5. The Royle Family Christmas Special
There were a number of The Royle Family Christmas specials centring around the family's antics, with many of the episodes breaking records for its high viewer figures.
And here's the rest of the list:
6. The Good Life: Silly but it's Fun
7. Father Ted: A Christmassy Ted
8. The League Of Gentlemen: Yule Never Leave
9. Blackadder's Christmas Carol
10. Dinnerladies: Christmas And Minnellium
11. Merry Christmas, Mr Bean
12. Miranda: I Do But To Who?/The Final Curtain
13. Peep Show: Seasonal Beatings
14. Mrs Brown's Boys: Mammy Christmas/The Virgin Mammy
15. Steptoe And Son: A Perfect Christmas
16. Porridge: The Desperate Hours
17. Dad's Army: My Brother And I
18. Knowing Me, Knowing Yule - With Alan Partridge
19. Last Of The Summer Wine: Getting Sam Home
20. Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em: Jessica's First Christmas
21. Outnumbered: The Robbers
Topics: TV News, TV Entertainment