One-Upmanship(1976)

One-Upmanship is a quintessentially British comedy of manners centred on the fictional Yeovil College of Lifemanship. Richard Briers stars as Stephen Potter, a scheming instructor who teaches the art of social superiority through psychological manipulation and verbal sparring. Joined by Peter Jones as the snooty Gatling-Fenn and Frederick Jaeger (monocle in place) as the pompous Cogg-Willoughby, Potter navigates a world divided into winners and losers, the one-up and the one-down. The series captures the absurdity of British class consciousness and social climbing through witty dialogue and farcical situations, as Potter and his colleagues attempt to master the subtle tactics of outmanoeuvring their peers. A sharp satire on pretension and competitive etiquette.