The institution of holy matrimony has provided comedy gold over the years. There have been so many memorable moments that we decided that in honour of the forthcoming Royal Wedding, we'd put together a selection of wedding-related clips for you to enjoy...
Catherine Tate created numerous memorable characters for The Catherine Tate Show, which ran for three series from 2004 on BBC Two. Here, 'bovvered' schoolgirl Lauren, surprises boyfriend Ryan (played by Mathew Horne) on their wedding day in a shockingly un-street fashion.
The Two Ronnies was one of the longest running comedy shows on television. It featured sketches written by the likes of John Cleese, Spike Milligan and the elusive Gerald Wiley (a pseudonym of Ronnie Barker's). Barker demonstrates the 'marriage' of a great performance and script in this hilarious clip as an inebriated father on a wedding day.
In many ways a superior show to the original series and broadcast in glorious Technicolor, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? marked the return in 1973 of Bob and Terry. In this clip it's the night before Bob's wedding and Terry is already in bed.
The League of Gentlemen transferred from BBC radio to BBC Two in 1999. We were introduced to a series of memorably grotesque and hilarious characters including Papa Lazarou, pre-sex change taxi driver Barbara and 'local' shop owners Tubbs and Edward Tattsyrup. Here Edward and Tubbs prepare for the marriage of their son David to a No-Tail.
The endlessly quotable The Fast Show re-funnied the tired comedy sketch format in 1994 with an array of memorable characters, many still quoted today, but perhaps the most memorable were men's tailors Ken and Kenneth with their smutty sales advice. Here are the gentlemen being typically inappropriate to an engaged couple.
Ah, Rodney and Cassandra. One of comedies' best known couples finally tie the knot in this clip from Only Fools and Horses. Undoubtedly one of the best and most successful BBC sitcoms ever produced which ran for seven series and countless specials. Amongst the plethora of great comedy moments it's easy to forget Rodders' middle name, Charlton. Brilliant!
'Allo 'Allo! ran for a decade on BBC One and featured a memorable cast of characters, from French cafe owner, Rene Artois, to British spy Officer Crabtree to Herr Flick of the Gestapo. Herr Flick demonstrates his dubious romantic side to Private Helga Geerhart in this clip from the series.
The Royle Family ran for three series between 1998 and 2000 with many later specials. In this clip from the first series, Denise tries on her wedding dress for the whole family ahead of her marriage to Dave.
Following the same format as previous sitcom Sykes and a... and written by its star Eric Sykes, Sykes ran on BBC One from 1972 to 1979. The show also featured Carry On alumni Hattie Jacques as Sykes twin sister, Hattie, and Joan Sims as a local baker with affections for Sykes. Here we see Hattie's affections for neighbour Charles given short shrift.
Mrs Brown's Boys is written by and stars comedian Brendan O'Carroll as the eponymous Mrs Brown, a foul-mouthed matriarch who interferes in the lives of her friends and children. It originated as a theatre show, before airing on BBC One in February 2011. Here she crashes her prospective daughter-in-law's hen party (or so she thinks).
Mock the Week began in 2005 on BBC Two and has run for nine series. It's hosted by Dara O Briain, along with regular panelists Hugh Dennis, Andy Parsons and Russell Howard. Most people can probably think of an inappropriate wedding moment or two, but the panellists from Mock the Week do it best in this clip from the show.
Is there nothing that tea and toast can't fix? Canadian stand-up Mike Wilmot speculates on this in a clip from Live at the Apollo as he discusses his marriage. Filmed at the Hammersmith Apollo, the show was previously titled Jack Dee Live at the Apollo and has featured numerous notable comedians from the world of stand-up since it began in 2004.
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