Top 10 British Stereotypes on American TV

If you’re watching an American show with a British character, there is a high chance that they’ll speak with either a Cockney accent or the Queen’s English and nothing else. The former will depict someone from the lower classes – naturally – and the latter the upper crust, don't you know. In general, there’s such a huge focus on London because. as is known in the colonies, the UK is just London surrounded by fields. Perhaps it’s a result of British gangster films or other productions painting an alternative picture of the supposed land of Aristocracy, or our regional favourites are just too tricky for our cousins to the left.

On American TV, our ‘keep calm and carry on’ wartime attitude still applies today, and our so-called stiff upper lip and reserved nature is rather readily displayed across the pond. Embarrassment aside, according to our overseas cousins, we experience no feelings or affections. On the reverse of this, Americans are often portrayed as brash and forward, so perhaps it's retaliation, or it could be our Victorian prudishness coming back to haunt us. Either way, it doesn’t stop the spate of wry and unemotional British characters from further compounding the stereotype.

Those of us of the male persuasion who do have the confidence to talk to the opposite sex, apparently have it by the barrel-full, because, obviously, we are all like Russell Brand. The stereotype that British men can just saunter across the Atlantic and pick up romantic partners with the power of their words alone shows that there is seemingly no middle ground between the shy and retiring and the aspiring Romeos. It comes as part of the rock star image, which brought with it supposedly irresistible accents and a flamboyant dress sense, all with an arrogant nature.

Okay, so this one is our own doing, as saying sorry is what we do best, but it can still be irritating when it gets overused on American television. The extent of British politeness is certainly over-exaggerated in American comedies, with “Family Guy” predictably being one of the worst offenders. Whilst being polite and having manners and etiquette is ultimately a good thing, it gets to the point where it makes Brits look grovelling. In fact, there are several countries that are generally considered to be more polite than the UK, such as Japan, New Zealand and Canada – so, sorry America, you're wrong. Sorry.

Watch a US TV show with a British character and it’s likely that they’ll be a doctor, professor, explorer or some kind of intellectual with an Oxford or Cambridge education. You needn’t look further than Stewie Griffin to see this stereotype in action. To be fair, with the likes of Stephen Fry and Stephen Hawking amongst our best known overseas output, it is hard to contend this one, and whilst it’s a nice thought that people think we’re all super intellectuals, it, sadly, isn’t true. Being British sure fits in, however, with the persona of a scheming and dastardly villain.

We mean, who doesn’t enjoy the odd drink? Truthfully, however, we don’t enjoy being drunk as much as the Americans may have the world believe. No matter their position, whether its professor Ian Duncan in “Community” – a drunk and lonely professor played by the brilliant John Oliver – or the son of the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms, they are partial to an occasional tipple. There’s a big pub culture in the UK, but we don’t all hang out in them 24/7! The Scottish are especially brutalised on American TV, particularly poor Groundskeeper Willie.

This one is offensive on so many levels. Contrary to what is shown on American TV (looking at you, “Simpsons” and repeat offender “Family Guy”, not all British people have bad teeth! Perhaps compared to our whiter-toothed companions we might not seems as dentally obsessed, but the much-said stereotype that our pearlies aren’t so white is downright unfair. It’s rather a historical trope now, with dental care having improved drastically from the 60s and 70s, and it’s even estimated that UK oral health is better overall than American, as opposed to just having a clean appearance.

We have Hugh Grant to thank for this one – the '90s pioneer of the bumbling and awkward Brit. Throughout the decades, there have been a string of socially incapable British characters in American television, from those who are nervous and trip over their words, to others with extremely low self esteem. Like other picks in this list, this stereotype is often used in contrast to characters from the States who are depicted as much more confident and outgoing, and the awkwardness is often a result of the characters trying their absolute hardest not to cause the slightest bit of offence.

According to Hollywood, those of us who don’t have royal connections are, of course, working class – Cockney, of course – and when we aren’t dwelling in self pity, we’re fighting about football. This stereotype is more often than not very over-done, and there is even the odd Northern accent attempted, albeit very badly. This trope usually involves boisterous and angry alcoholics who speak like someone straight out of a Guy Ritchie film. The lives of such characters are also shown as extremely miserable, almost peasant-like – something not too far removed from Fagin in “Oliver!”.

So here we have it, the ultimate British stereotype found on American TV. It’s regularly used as a go-to for easy laughs, with characters from Blighty being given long and ridiculous names, like Lord Edgar Covington from “Parks and Recreation” or Buzz Killington in, you guessed it, “Family Guy”. There’s also an assumption that either we all know the Queen or we have all at some point in our lives run into royalty, such as in the London episode of “Friends” where they just happen to bump into Fergie, and everyone else was rude and dismissive.