The BBC series topped the Radio Times magazine’s list, compiled by a panel of television experts, beating Father Ted, Blackadder, I’m Alan Partridge and Only Fools and Horses.
Fawlty Towers has been named as the best British sitcom of all time.
I’m proud we are up there with Porridge and Only Fools and Ab Fab and Blackadder and The Office and Reggie Perrin and The Thick of It.”
Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted, penned by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, came second in the list, with I’m Alan Partridge coming third, and Blackadder fourth.