History Series / TheOfficeUK

** In his cringeworthy first speech to the new intake from Swindon, David quotes some of Basil Fawlty's "don't mention the war" speech from ''Series/FawltyTowers'' and does the accompanying goose step. He also does an impression of [[Series/HarryEnfieldAndChums Harry Enfield's]] "only me" character.
** For the Comic Relief episode, Keith dresses up as [[Series/DaAliGShow Ali G]].

* EmbarrassingBrowserHistory: In "Work Experience", a pornographic image with David's face is circulated across the office. After a prolonged hunt to find the perpetrator, David accuses Tim, who then reveals that it was actually Finch, and explains it is quite easy to trace the search history of anyone using an office computer. David then asks nervously if anyone knows how to delete a browser history.

* PrecisionFStrike: Possibly only done ''twice'' across the entire series, with the post-watershed airing of the series meaning they didn't need to be bleeped out. Both come from David, the first upon being told he's redundant, and the second when he finally tells Chris Finch where to go:

* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: KickTheSonOfABitch when they're down more like. Neil subtly does this to David a few times in the Christmas episodes. He keeps reminding David that he said he'd be bringing a woman to the party, knowing how slim David's chances are of actually finding a date. Note the StunnedSilence from Neil and Finch when David ''does'' bring along an attractive woman.

* SmallNameBigEgo: David is absolutely convinced that he's the life of the office and is a world-class musician, philosopher, and stand-up comedian. Everyone else he comes into contact with thinks differently. He does however seem to be at least ''partially'' aware that he isn't as great as he thinks he is, given how he reacts to people pointing it out, or otherwise not treating him as he feels he deserves. For example, when he tried giving Tim career advice which was rejected out of hand, he grew quite agitated, angry, and dismissive. Many of David's own illusions about himself are, of course, stripped away by the end of Series Two.

Inspired the highly successful, far longer-running, and [[AdaptationDisplacement more well-known]] [[Series/TheOfficeUS American adaptation]] of the series. Also highly successful is the [[ForeignRemake German remake]] ''Series/{{Stromberg}}'', wherein the main protagonist Bernd [[CharacterTitle Stromberg]] (the German version of David Brent) works for an insurance company. It has also inspired French (''Le Bureau''), French-Canadian (''La Job''), Chilean (''La Ofis''), Israeli (''[=HaMisrad=]''), and Swedish (''Kontoret'') remakes, as well as still in-development Chinese and Finnish versions.

** Also in the Comic Relief episode, Neil and Rachel's dance routine (which is, of course, better than David's due to their having rehearsed in advance) is straight out of ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'', with costumes (white suit and black shirt for him, red maxi-dress for her) to match.
** Immediately prior to his infamous dance routine, David describes it as a fusion of ''Film/{{Flashdance}}'' and "Music/MCHammer shit". The result truly leaves everyone speechless.
** David shows that he can actually get people to laugh by doing a [[Series/SomeMothersDoAveEm Frank Spencer]] impersonation.

** Immediately prior to his infamous dance routine, David describes it as a fusion of ''Film/{{Flashdance}}'' and Music/MCHammer. The result truly leaves everyone speechless.

** Immediately prior to his infamous dance routine, David describes it as a fusion of ''Film/{{Flashdance}}'' and Music/MCHammer.

* SucksAtDancing: David, with his cringe-makingly memorable attempt at sexy dance moves in the Comic Relief episode, which boil down to spasmodic and random arm movements, grunting, and gyrating.

** Immediately prior to his infamous dance routine, David describes it as

** David and Finch's quiz team is called [[Creator/MontyPython The Dead Parrots]].

%% * ChristmasEpisode: which was also the GrandFinale.

* ShipperOnDeck: Averted; according to Tim in the Christmas Special, his nan reckons that Dawn made the right choice by sticking with Lee. Later played straight by Keith, who tells Tim that Dawn coming back for the Christmas party probably represents the last chance he (Tim) will have of getting together with Dawn.
* ShoutOut: David's quiz team is called [[Creator/MontyPython The Dead Parrots]]. And he can actually get people to laugh with his [[Series/SomeMothersDoAveEm Frank Spencer]] impersonation.

* ShipperOnDeck: Averted; according to Tim in the Christmas Special, his nan reckons that Dawn made the right choice by with Lee. Later played straight by Keith, who tells Tim that Dawn coming back for the Christmas party probably represents the last chance he (Tim) will have of getting together with Dawn.

* KavorkaMan: Chris Finch is an obnoxious, arrogant and sexist bully, and not particularly attractive, yet he is seen to be reasonably successful with women.

* ShipperOnDeck: Averted; according to Tim in the Christmas Special, his nan reckons that Dawn made the right choice by with Lee.

* BaitAndSwitch: When we first see Dawn and Lee in Florida, she's holding a baby, which would presumably end any chance of romance with Tim. But she then mentions that it's Lee's sister's baby.

%% * BirthdayEpisode: Tim in series one. Trudy in series two.

* TheCameo: When David takes part in a "celebrity" blind date at a night club, he's joined by RealLife minor celebs Howard Brown[[note]]Known as the "extra man" after appearing in a few well-known adverts for the Halifax building society[[/note]] and Paul "Bubble" Ferguson[[note]]A former ''Series/BigBrother'' contestant[[/note]]

* ShoutOut: David's quiz team is called [[Creator/MontyPython The Dead Parrots]].

* PrecisionFStrike: Possibly only done ''twice'' across the entire series, with the post-watershed airing of the series meaning they didn't need to be bleeped out. Both come from David, upon being told he's redundant, and telling longtime friend Chris Finch where to go:
-->'''David:''' Oh '''fucking hell''.

--->'''Gareth:''' Gareth Keenan, assistant manager.
--->'''David:''' Assistant ''to the'' manager.

* EmbarrassingBrowserHistory: In "Work Experience", a pornographic image with David's face is circulated across the office. After a prolonged hunt to find the perpetrator, David acuses Tim, who then reveals that it was actually Finch, and explains it is quite easy to trace the search history of anyone using an office computer. David then asks nervously if anyone knows how to delete a browser history.

* ManipulativeEditing: David accuses the BBC of doing this to the show itself throughout 2003 Christmas specials, claiming that there was a great deal of footage featuring him being a BenevolentBoss and genuinely likable person, only to be cut in favour of the material that made him look comically incompetent. This being [[{{Narcissist}} David]] [[UnreliableNarrator Brent]], it's clear he's lying through his teeth.

* TheNicknamer: David has a habit of giving often insulting nicknames to people. He calls Malcolm, a bald older employee, Series/{{Kojak}}. But he doesn't take it well when he finds out the staff have nicknamed him Bluto and Mr Toad.

* OfficeRomance:
** Tim and Dawn, [[spoiler:though they don't actually get together until the end of the final episode.]] Tim and Rachel. Donna and Ricky.
** Gareth claims to have had loads in other offices, but his interactions with women throughout the series suggest this is BlatantLies.

* TheResenter: David clearly resents Neil's easy charm and popularity, not to mention his promotion over David (especially stinging as it was actually ''David'' who was first choice for said promotion ... only he [[EpicFail failed the medical]]) and of course, Neil's eventual firing of him. He's outright asked if he resents Neil in the Christmas special, and [[BlatantLies denies it]]. By the end of the series, Neil seems to resent David as well – the understated, not-entirely-unjustified contempt for a man whose antics he's clearly worn thin of.

* SucksAtDancing: David, with his cringe-makingly memorable attempt at sexy dance moves at an office party, which boil down to spasmodic and random arm movements, grunting, and gyrating.

* WhamLine: David to Finch: