British comedians ranked

An Express critic ranks Britain's top stand-up TV comedians in reverse order, sparking debate about taste and legacy.

Peter Kay Misses Top Three in Bushells Top Ten Comedians

Gary Bushell takes a long view on Britain’s best stand-up performers who carried their gags onto television. In a reverse-ordered list published by The Express, he excludes iconic duo acts and sticks to solo stars who built TV careers around their own material. The piece invites readers to disagree, signaling a lively public conversation about what counts as greatness in comedy.

At the heart of the ranking is Peter Kay at number 7, described as a 21st century Goliath whose work spans Phoenix Nights and a string of screen appearances. Billy Connolly tops the list, praised for his storytelling and fearless, boundary-pushing humor. Alongside them are veterans such as Bob Monkhouse, Les Dawson, Paul OGrady, Bernard Manning, Jim Davidson, and Jasper Carrott, each noted for a distinctive style that helped shape British TV comedy over decades.

The ranking reveals how critics weigh different kinds of influence, from storytelling craft to mass appeal. It highlights a tension between nostalgia for a pre-digital era and the evolving standards of what is acceptable in humor. The presence of figures with controversial reputations, like Manning and Davidson, underscores a broader debate about legacy, accountability, and how far past jokes should travel with audiences today.

Overall, the piece leans toward warmth and tradition, praising work that feels connected to working-class roots and regional voice. It also invites readers to reflect on how fame, timing, and media exposure shape who is remembered as the greatest. The conversation it sparks is less about a definitive ranking than about what we value in comedy and how we judge its impact across generations.

Highlights

The debate over who counts as the greatest comedian is ongoing and shaped by changing times.