Women who want to have sex with men more than these men want sex with them: not sexy. It cuts against expected narratives and so lives in the realm of comedy, not romance. It’s meant as funny and awkward, but not scary, when the woman wants it and the man does not. But it’s also a premise that requires (or suggests) a woman who is not infinitely alluring to all men. And so, it’s not a plot you get in a lot of US shows, where the actresses are stunning as well as playing women no man would refuse.
Britcoms, however, are chock-full of this set-up. It’s sort of the trope. Is it mocking? A glimpse at life’s complexities? Must one pick? Anyway:
“Chef!”
Janice’s libido exceeding Gareth’s is whatever the trope equivalent is of a catchphrase. But it’s never really a reflection on Janice (played by the very pretty Caroline Lee-Johnson), since Lenny Henry’s Gareth is simply exhausted from his single-minded focus on being the world’s greatest chef.
“Keeping Up Appearances”
Like Janice, Daisy regularly prods her husband about the infrequency of their marital relations. Onslow, however, is the opposite of a workaholic. He’s either in bed or in his armchair, reading or watching TV, eating, drinking beer, or smoking. Daisy and Onslow are in their late 50s or so, have a (barely-mentioned) grown daughter, and often reminisce about a past when they were a bit more active, with each other and with other boyfriends and girlfriends, respectively. Both have let themselves go, but the gag is that Daisy thinks Onslow is irresistible to women generally. Onslow, in his undershirt, coated in potato chip crumbs. But he’s tall, well-read, and in the world of the show does get the occasional nod of female attention, I think in the form of an elderly aristocratic lady or two giving him an admiring glance.
“Are You Being Served?”
Frumpy, neon-haired, middle-aged-plus Mrs. Slocombe (there is no Mr. Slocombe) commisserates with the young, vaguely mod Miss Brahms about unwanted attention from men (men at pubs, men in Spain, whatever) that all women simply must contend with. But then she gives a sly, ‘now where did you say that beach was?’ because it is her life’s goal to be chased around by men. Does she miss the visibility of her own youth? Was she ever that girl? Depends which episode, but this is a show without many consistencies — what’s Mrs. Slocombe’s real name? was there ever a Mr. Slocombe and what came of him? is Mr. Humphries gay (as per earlier seasons) or is this ambiguous? — so you get both answers in different episodes.
“Waiting for God”
Jane’s unrequited bordering on harassing love of Harvey, her boss at a retirement home, lasts all five seasons. Harvey tries in vain to win over (among others) a Nordic aerobics instructor and a tanned socialite, but Jane gets her man in the end, after another man’s interest lets Jane know that she is not, as Harvey’s been telling her all those years, revolting to all men.
Diana’s certainly not more interested in Tom than vice versa generally (these are the elderly pair at the center of the show), but she’s the one who initiates the more-than-friendship part of their relationship, “with both hands” it is specified.
“One Foot in the Grave”
Victor’s bits have cobwebs according to wife Margaret, who also once nearly runs off with another man.
“The Vicar of Dibley”
Dawn French’s vicar character has numerous infatuations, often unrequited, on celebrities and regular men as well. I always feel terrible for her in the ep where it’s the guy from the BBC, who did he think he was? I also — contrary to my principles on such matters — wish she’d have given David Horton a chance.