The Royle Family

Skip the endless scrolling — The Royle Family, in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Britbox Apple TV Channel , and in the UK on Sky Go and Now TV, is exactly the comedy you were looking for. 3 seasons means there is plenty to get through without ever feeling padded. With 60 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Ricky Tomlinson is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Royle Family earns its spot. The Royle Family does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. The Royle Family is a British sitcom created by Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, and produced by Granada Television for BBC Two (series 1) and BBC One (series 2 and 3). It centres on the lives of a television-fixated Manchester family, the Royles, comprising lazy patriarch Jim, his hard-working wife Barbara, their entitled daughter Denise, their put-upon son Antony, and Denise's lad fiancé–later husband–David. Between them, Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston carry the comedy without ever forcing it. 3 seasons (1998–2000) gave the story room most shows never get. The Royle Family earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, The Royle Family respects your intelligence. Viewers who responded to American Housewife will find a lot to like here too. Short enough to finish in a weekend, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Ricky Tomlinson is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.

The Royle Family wrapped up in 2000, created by Craig Cash and Caroline Aherne — and 3 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.