"PLAY IT NICE AND COOL TRIG, NICE AND COOL..."

DEL BOY FALLING THROUGH THE BAR VOTED FUNNIEST SITCOM SCENE EVER

SOME JOKES NEVER GET OLD - Children recreate nation's favourites scenes for GOLD's 30th birthday

• Top 10 funniest sitcom moments of all time revealed!
• Scenes from Only Fools and Horses, Vicar of Dibley, and Fawlty Towers top poll by comedy channel GOLD on its 30th birthday
• The TV channel has recreated timeless comedy scenes from sitcoms with children, including the infamous 'Del Boy falling through the bar' moment from Only Fools and Horses
• Nine in ten (92%) British adults said top TV moments from sitcoms such Vicar of Dibley, Dad's Army and The Office are still as funny today as when they first aired on television
• Catch an all-time classic British sitcom episode every night this month at 10pm on Gold
  

Del Boy falling through the bar in Only Fools and Horses has been voted the funniest TV sitcom moment of all time, according to new research released today.

Geraldine falling into a puddle in The Vicar of Dibley, Basil Fawlty smashing his car with a tree branch, and Captain Mainwaring's "Don't tell him, Pike!" scene in Dad's Army, also featured in the list.

The research, which polled 2,000 British adults and children (aged 8 - 16), was specially commissioned by TV channel GOLD to celebrate its 30th birthday and reveals that these classic sitcom moments are still as funny today as when they first aired on television.

The Top 10 funniest sitcom moments of all time, according to Brits:

• Only Fools and Horses - Del Boy falls through bar - 67%
• Vicar of Dibley - Geraldine falls into a puddle - 45%
• Dad's Army - "Don't Tell Him Pike" - 42%
• Fawlty Towers - Basil smashes his car - 32.
• Inbetweeners - "Car Friend" - 19%
• Gavin and Stacey - Smithy's curry order - 18%
• The Office - David Brent's dancing - 17%
• Ab Fab - Falling out the cab - 15%
• Blackadder - Lord Flashheart's entrance - 14%
• Father Ted - Cows and perspective - 12%

Of those surveyed, eight in ten (83%) children said they thought classic sitcom clips were still funny today, and three-quarters (76%) of children said they enjoyed watching comedies like Only Fools and Horses and Fawlty Towers with their parents or grandparents.

Nine in ten (92%) British adults said top TV moments from sitcoms such Vicar of Dibley, Dad's Army and The Office are still as funny today as when they first aired on television.

The research also revealed Only Fools and Horses to be the nation's favourite comedy sitcom of all time, claiming 29% of the vote. Del Boy was named as the most-loved sitcom character, with 59% of respondents in agreement, followed by Basil Fawlty (33%).

89% of respondents said that they believe British sitcoms are funnier than non-British sitcoms, and over half (59%) voted the 1980s as the decade that produced the best TV comedy.

Following the research, TV channel GOLD has recreated three of the nation's favourite scenes with children in the lead roles, reflecting the timeless nature of these iconic sitcoms.

Shot in varying locations across London and Hertfordshire, the incredible clips have been painstakingly recreated by UKTV Creative with a cast of children.

The scenes were shot in the same style to make them as true to the originals as possible, and the children were specially chosen for their comedy timing and acting.

The first scene recreation shows 9-year-old Thomas Aitch playing Only Fools and Horses' Del Boy. The cheeky chap is joined by 15-year-old Dane Young as Trigger, where Del Boy falls through an open bar when trying to impress a group of women.

Secondly, Grace Hindle stars as Geraldine Granger, the Vicar of Dibley lead character made famous by Dawn French. The 12-year-old takes a walk along a country lane before falling chest-deep into an unseen puddle, with Stanley Potter playing Simon who helps her out of this side-splitting situation.

In the final hilarious recreation of Fawlty Towers, which was shot on location in the very spot where John Cleese made it famous. 13-year-old Conall Turner stars as Basil as he gets increasingly frustrated by his car not starting, resulting in him hitting the car over and over with a tree branch found nearby.

Thomas, who stars as Del Boy in the Only Fools and Horses scene recreation said:

I had so much fun doing this scene, I had to fall so many times! The original is hilarious, I love Only Fools and Horses. I watched it a lot to get into character and I'm really happy I got to take part.

Gerald Casey, Gold channel director, said:

What better way to celebrate GOLD's 30th birthday than to demonstrate what the channel is all about - the best of the UK's comedy. We've been the home to the comedy our viewers love for the last 30 years, and the British public know that they can always find their favourite shows on Gold. It's no surprise that we still find these scenes and characters as funny and iconic as the day they first aired, just proving that great comedy truly is timeless.

The newly shot videos will be aired on GOLD on 1st November as part of the channel's 30th celebrations.

Catch an all-time classic British sitcom episode every night this month at 10pm on Gold

For more information contact:

Alex Butler - 07584 163875 / alex.butler@taylorherring.com

Naomi Penn - 07961420769 / naomi.penn@taylorherring.com