The dramedy, a hybrid genre that blends drama and comedy, has flourished across Britain’s screens in recent years. In particular, Channel 4 has produced many acclaimed dramedy series which are notorious for striking the right balance between the two genres. Whether they deal with mental health, the refugee crisis, or family life, the equipoise of genre means change become easier and more enjoyable to watch through humour.
Prepare yourself for emotional turbulence and savour these five series. If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry, but probably both.
Home (2019- )
The refugee crisis is no laughing matter, yet somehow the creator of Home – Rufus Jones – uses comedy to adroitly depict a fleeing Syrian seeking asylum in the UK. With the help of real refugees as advisors, Home is as accurate as it can be, telling the story of Sami Ibrahim, who hides in the car boot of a holidaying British family and unexpectedly finds a new home with them. The series deals with the racism and mental health struggles that Sami faces, as well as showing us the UK from an engrossing outside perspective.
Without the comedy, Home would be a bleak, hard-to-watch drama. It masterfully makes use of British things and stereotypes, such as marmite, sarcasm and queuing, to draw laughs from its audience. The acting is phenomenal, with Youssef Kerkour being nominated for a BAFTA for his portrayal of Sami. Christian Henson’s music is a journey full of ups and downs and slots into the series like a puzzle piece.