June Whitfield (1974–78) and "Terry and June" (1979–87). Since 1992, Whitfield has appeared in Jennifer Saunders's sitcom "Absolutely Fabulous" playing Edina Monsoon's mother. She played a regular character in "Last of the Summer Wine" as well as a recurring character in "The Green Green Grass". She also played Agatha Christie's Miss Marple on BBC Radio 4 between 1993 and 2001. Whitfield was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1985 Birthday Honours, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1998 Birthday Honours, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)
British sitcom consciously avoids traditional situation comedy themes and storylines to branch out into more unusual topics or narrative methods. "Blackadder" (1983–1989) and "Yes Minister" (1980–1988, 2013) moved what is often a domestic or workplace genre into the corridors of power. A later development was the mockumentary in such series as "The Office" (2001–2003). The first British television sitcom was "Pinwright's Progress", broadcast by the BBC from 1946 to 1947, but the form did not take off until the transfer of "Hancock's Half Hour" from BBC radio in 1956. Hancock biographer John Fisher dates the first use of the term 'situation comedy'