By Andy Simon @AndySimon55

Having returned from holidaying in Morocco over Christmas, I sort of knew that if there was any decent TV left to watch . . .

It would be few and far between.

So there I was; on New Year's Eve, flipping through the TV Schedules to see if there was indeed anything worth watching, and lo, there it was, Britain's Best Loved Sitcoms on Channel 4.

This surprising little TV nugget proved to be at least for me, a bit of a let down for a variety of reasons and one in particular.

I thought it was wrong.

I mean yes; I know it was the second part of a two part show revealing the best loved sitcoms according to a Channel 4 Poll, the full results of which, are documented on the British Comedy Guide website. But having said that, I would have thought other well known, and in my opinion, equally classic sitcoms, would have made higher positions in the Top 50.

As I watched I thought, where is Bread, Last Of The Summer Wine, Bless This House, Man About The House, George And Mildred, Allo Allo!, Love Thy Neighbour, Only When I laugh, The Liver Birds, The Likely Lads, Drop The Dead Donkey, Hi-De-Hi, Yes Minister, Butterflies and Vicious?

And yes to be fair, the British Comedy Guide have indeed got some of these great shows in their Top 50 however, I would have thought some of them would have achieved much higher positions?

Very strange.

I enjoyed the comments from Roy Chubby Brown, Wendy Craig, Nigel Planer, Richard Wilson, Alison Steadman, Leslie Ash (had to look twice when I saw her) Sue Holderness and John Challis, but for me, had I been putting together a top 50 of such great sitcoms, the results would have been very different.

I mean; Carla Lane's Butterflies at Number 39? Incredible.

Suffice to say I was not entirely impressed with the result however, I was in agreement with Only Fools and Horses being the outright winner.

You don't get much better than John Sullivan.

When you think about it, I suppose it can be difficult considering all the great sitcoms we have had over the years, to compile a chart of what a selected viewing public may think, is the very best.

However I was disappointed that some shows like Butterflies, Drop The Dead Donkey, Only When I laugh and Last Of The Summer Wine, fell short in the survey.

It was enjoyable telly nonetheless, and if you missed it, it's well worth a watch. We all have our own opinions. After all; that's what makes life so interesting. And despite the opinions of those who took part in compiling this Top 50, and despite my initial disappointment, one thing is for certain . . .

We have had the very best of sitcoms to choose from.

My generation (and I'm hitting the over 50's here) have had the privilege of watching some terrific and ghastly sitcoms. So the job of putting together a Top 50 best sitcoms would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, for any of us.

That's life I guess.

Thanks for reading.

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