With 2004 nearly upon us it's time for BBC Two to announce their winter season.  The centerpiece of the schedule is a 12 week search for Britain's Best Sitcom.  The competition, presented by Jonathan Ross, kicks off on Saturday 10th January. 

A three hour program will reveal the results of a first round of voting, announcing placings 50 to 11.  The top 10 will then be announced in alphabetical order before the second round of public voting begins.

For the next 10 Saturday nights each of the top 10 nominations will be treated to their own one hour program, featuring clips and interviews with cast, writers and fans, leading up to a "live spectacular" on March 27th.

The top 50 shortlist, announced by the BBC today, is listed below for you to violently agree or disagree with as appropriate. Last of the Summer Wine.... Hmm... Should pensioners be allowed to vote?

Absolutely Fabulous
Alan Partridge
'Allo 'Allo
Are You Being Served?
As Time Goes By
Birds Of A Feather
Blackadder
Bottom
Bread
The Brittas Empire
Butterflies
Dad's Army
dinnerladies
Drop The Dead Donkey
The Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin
Father Ted
Fawlty Towers
Gimme Gimme Gimme
The Good Life
Goodnight Sweetheart
Hancock's Half Hour
Hi-De-Hi!
It Ain't Half Hot Mum
Just Good Friends
Keeping Up Appearances
Last of the Summer Wine
The League of Gentlemen
The Likely Lads/Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
Men Behaving Badly
My Family
The Office
One Foot in the Grave
Only Fools and Horses
Open All Hours
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
Porridge
Rab C Nesbitt
Red Dwarf
Rising Damp
The Royle Family
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Steptoe and Son
Thin Blue Line, The
Till Death Us Do Part
To The Manor Born
2 Point 4 Children
The Vicar of Dibley
Waiting For God
Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister
The Young Ones