The first thing the British always talk about is ‘the weather’. The three taboo topics of conversation in Britain (until you get to know the person, to know what is safe to talk about) are ‘politics’, ‘religion’ and the ‘S’ word.
However, with such a wide genre on TV, and with such a wide spectrum of humour, and with not everyone having the same tastes; it’s not unusual for Brits to be analytical in conversation as to why one person likes something and another doesn’t!
The one thing Brits tend not to like in comedy is where something doesn’t require any ‘thought’ e.g. ‘gags’ and ‘slap & stick’ etc. It’s just not that entertaining to Brits (corny, simple, shallow etc.).
What many Brits enjoy, and finds funny, is comedy that requires ‘thought’ e.g. hidden meanings, hidden messages etc.
As regards ‘The New Statesman’, you do need to understand ‘British Culture’ in order to appreciate the comedy.
As regards the Episode which I gave the link for above; what Brits finds funny in the episode (starting from the beginning):-
• The episode title is funny to Brits because in the series the name of the fictitious MP is ‘Alan B'Stard’, which not only rhymes with a four-letter word beginning with ‘B’, but also accurately describes his character; an egocentric MP who stops at nothing to further his career.
• In the episode, a real life TV presenter plays the same role in the episode that he performs in real life on TV; giving a sense of authenticity.
• Strong links to real life British Politics of the 1980s & 1990s. In the first minute, a build-up to the fact that a hard right wing faction (within the Conservative Party) formed a ‘Group’ (in real life called the ERG) following Margaret Thatcher pushing the Maastricht Treaty through Parliament (which was very unpopular with the right wing of the Conservative Party). In this episode John Major (the Prime Minister who took over from Margaret Thatcher in 1992) names this hard-right wing Group the B’Stard Group in honour of Alan B'Stard’ (In real life this group called itself ERG).
• @ 1:20 minutes, mentioned that Alan B'Stard’ (Conservative MP) wins his seat in a by-election with the largest majority win for any MP, in a Labour stronghold in the heart of Wales, is such a ridiculous concept, that it is highly humorous (at least to a Brit).
• @ 1.50 minutes, Alan B'Stard MP describes his name as representing ‘Honesty, Probity and Sincerity’; the very three things he is NOT (and he says it with conviction); all which makes it absurd, and therefore very funny to a Brit.
And that’s just the first two minutes. The next 27 minutes continues (unabated) in the same manner; and that’s why I find it funny.
Other things the Brits love in comedy are ‘threads’ (links across different episodes) and ‘layers’ (stories within stories). For example, a character may do something in one episode that’s not funny at the time e.g. casually put an apple in his coat pocket while engaged in conversation (attention isn’t brought to the act, so you may not notice at the time). However, a month later (three episodes on), while in casual conversation he may put his hand in his coat pocket to find a rotten apple (that he’d forgotten about), little or nothing will be said about it, other than perhaps a momentary facial expression (as he puts the mouldy apple on the table); it’s a small action that’s not funny, unless you happen to remember the incident in the earlier episode in the previous month (to make the link); something which you might not pick up on unless you watch the series a 2nd or 3rd time.
I know I haven’t given a good example, but in good British Comedy, there are always all these little ‘gems’ dotted throughout the series (to be found); and each time you find a new one on re-watching the series, the funnier the series gets. It’s a little like ‘Easter Eggs’ used in Media: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg_(media)
Three other Comedies I love, because of their ‘British ([like] Humour’ are:-
• From the USA “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (Scriptwriter, Joss Whedon)
• From the UK “Red Dwarf” (my favourite episode being ‘Back to Reality’), and
• From Canada “The Murdoch Mysteries”
In following the Murdoch Mysteries (which is made in Canada) we were highly delighted when episode 1 of series 3 was actually made in Bristol, England (where I live); so we took great delight in seeing all the Bristol Streets in this episode that we frequently walk.
• Opening scene of the Bristol Episode of the Murdoch Mysteries:- https://youtu.be/7k1fcNh_rvU
