Top 10 Surreal Comedies

There's just no logic behind surreal comedy. The more bizarre and ridiculous, the funnier it is. From Blue Meanies to talking monkeys, here's our top 10 of total and utter nonsense.

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10. Shooting Stars

"If you slit open a zebra, how many people usually climb out and run off?” This could only be a line from the world's most surreal panel show. A game show with no rules - apart from what Vic and Bob decide. It's an ERANU for a correct answer. And UVAVU for wrong 'uns.
9. Psychoville

The men behind The League of Gentlemen create a whole new level of oddness. This time you get a man obsessed with serial killers who still lives with his mother (Steve Pemberton), a blind millionaire who collects stuffed toys (Dawn French) and a bitter one-handed children's entertainer (Reece Shearsmith). And as if these weirdoes weren't weird enough, you'll be treated to clowns walking to circus funeral music and the 'silent shouter' that does, well just that.
8. Jam

Described by some as 'Monty Python's psychotic younger cousin', Chris Morris' Jam is the nightmare of the sketch show world. Not because it's bad, no it's brilliant, but because it’s terrifying. Unsettling scenes with ambient music played over the back, you'll feel like you've been plunged into a haze of skunk smoking psychosis. Top moments include a naked Kilroy urinating over a television set in a local shopping centre.
7. Problems

Described as 'The Mighty Boosh mates with Flights of the Concords', this is the surreal comedy to keep your absurd eyes peeled for. What's it about? Minor annoyances - think lost Christmas decorations - that turn into a world of talking cats, taco induced psychosis and moths with marital problems.
6. The Young Ones

The student house from hell. Mad punk Vyvyan (Ade Edmondson), posh wanna-be anarchist (Rik Mayall), miserable hippie Neil (Nigel Planer) and shady Mike (Christopher Ryan) make all other university dwellings look like a nun's tea party. Violent slapstick mixed with puppets, talking objects and subliminal messages from dripping taps.
5. Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place

Spoof 80s horror/action set in a dodgy Romford hospital that sees maverick doctor Garth Marenghi (Matthew Holness) battling stuff like evil monkeys and infectious broccoli women. More hammy acting than a ham shop, there were only six episodes of this brilliant weirdness. And each one odder than a box of ferrets.
4. The Beatles’ films

When the fab four weren't making ladies scream they were knocking up some of the most surreal films in history. A mix of cartoons and documentary material that make you feel you've accidentally licked up some LSD. Can you name all of The Blue Meanies species from yellow Submarine? The Butterfly Stompers, The Four-Headed Bulldog and The Dreaded Flying Glove are three of them.
3. League of Gentlemen

Hands up who wants to live in Royston Vasey? Here you might get your wife stolen by Papa Lazarou, murdered by Tubbs and Edward Tattsyrup or get subjected to a graphic description of sex change by the town's transsexual taxi driver, Babs. If you're not 'local', you’re best never, ever, ever to step foot in this Wicker Man-esq world.
2. The Mighty Boosh

Howard Moon (Julian Barratt) and Vince Noir (Noel Fielding) are two zoo keepers at a shabby, but magical zoo-niverse. Other characters include: Bollo the gorilla, who also DJs at Fabric nightclub, and The Moon, who gives nonsensical monologues whilst wearing a face of shaving cream. A general day might consist of being kidnapped by a murderous, hermaphroditic merman or getting marooned on a dessert island with Milky Joe the nightmarish coconut man. So pretty ordinary stuff.
1. Monty Python

Monty Python is the undisputed googly-eyed blue-faced king of surrealistic comedy. The cult sketch show that replaced weak punch lines with a falling Renaissance cartoon foot. Long live Spam, The Ministry of Silly Walks and Dead Parrots.