What's the greatest British television show of all time?

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Icy-General1530@reddit

The Bill is massively underrated and never gets its due. Some of its 80s/90s episodes are easily comparable to Line of Duty in terms of quality.

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electronicmath@reddit

I was going to say The Day Today because it was Brass Eye but with Alan Partridge

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Bulimic_Fraggle@reddit

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

There was a scene with Alec Guinness and Patrick Stewart opposite each other, the ultimate Star Wars - Star Trek crossover.

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Federal-Demand-2968@reddit

This is totally the best answer. I still watch it once a year or so and it’s still completely gripping

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carregwenjack@reddit

Documentary: The World At War

Comedy: The Office

Science: The Sky At Night

Drama: Secret Army

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GodDamnShadowban@reddit

My personal fave but not what my money is on if it goes to a global vote. Mr Bean would win that. Rowan Atkinson for the win.

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Mc_and_SP@reddit

“I call my first witness… Captain Darling!”

“… You wish to call the counsel for the prosecution as a defense witness?”

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LittleoneandPercy@reddit

My dog is called Lord Percy after Blackadder. I wanted Captain Darling but husband said no……

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GodDamnShadowban@reddit

Mr Bean. Almost anyone round the world can follow it with needed to know English and its pretty timeless. Rowan Atkinson is a master of physical comedy.

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theflickingnun@reddit

Only fools and horses. For me, this is a clear winner.

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Objectively greatest? Id suggest only fools , black adder of faulty towers. They all have a wide following with broad appeal and fantastic writing with lots of heart. They hold pivotal places in culture and are referenced decades after their completion.

My personal favourites are black books and spaced. to ME, they are greatest British tv.

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martinbaines@reddit

Detectorists Still Game Blackadder Blake's Seven Sandbaggers Quatermass Magic Roundabout

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CrustyHumdinger@reddit

One of Attenborough's things? Teletubbies was a massive success

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djdndjdjdjdjdndjdjjd@reddit

Minder

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dandyeric@reddit

The News - great storylines with refreshing change always around the corner

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TiocfaidhArLa@reddit

Knightmare

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Capable_Loss_6084@reddit

Yes!!!

‘Where am I?’ ‘You’re in a room.’

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Suspicious-Magpie@reddit

O...o...the letter O!

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HAL-_-9001@reddit

Notable mention of the Crystal Maze (Richard O'Brian). Incredibly popular at the time & really showcased the best of British quirkiness & humour.

Will you start the fans please.

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Capable_Loss_6084@reddit

This was an excellent show and definitely should be on the list.

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kpa76@reddit

The Singing Detective, Edge of Darkness, Cracker, Threads.

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katiecwtch@reddit

Just throwing this out here:

The Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympics.

It was fucking brilliant, and for me it wins on all the criteria you listed.

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

But nobody remembers it

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nasted@reddit

That explains why you suggested Pop Idol is one of the greatest British TV shows.

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

It's the largest UK global success

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nasted@reddit

No, it was sold as a franchise and other production companies made versions for their own country: the British version was not shown internationally.

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

Now you are splitting hairs

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nasted@reddit

No, I’m answering your question “what’s the greatest British television show”. Not “which TV show format that originated in the UK has had the biggest global success”.

UK’s Pop Idol was not a global success but the pop idol format was.

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kpa76@reddit

The format was bought from New Zealand anyway.

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elementarydrw@reddit

I remember it vividly and distinctly. I also listen to Underworld's And I Will Kiss, which was the soundtrack to the main display in the ceremony, relatively often.

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BaitmasterG@reddit

I remember it

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Gazcobain@reddit

I've said it before: the 2012 Olympics was very much a last hurrah for the 200ss and belongs culturally in that decade, before the 2010s when everything went to shit. It was also the last time it felt you could be proud to be British without the rampant nationalism and xenophobia that has come since.

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danishih@reddit

I was just thinking the other day that this was probably the last time I felt good about the state of the world

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Ulleskelf@reddit

All of that and the sense of relief we got that perhaps the Olympics weren’t going to be the shitshow the naysayers had been telling us it was destined to be.

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Jjwho@reddit

Incredible but not a tv show and rather a live televised event.

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thecompbioguy@reddit

I let the side down and cried.

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katiecwtch@reddit

Me too! I miss that version of the UK. We didn't know how good we had it.

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Herstorical_Rule6@reddit

Agreed.

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clicketybooboo@reddit

I thought I was the only one, I watch it about 4 times a year

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MidlandPark@reddit

Liz Truss hates it, apparently

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Sea-Claim3992@reddit

Even more reason to like it

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Fun_Scholar_9605@reddit

It was amazing, tbf.

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Electrical_Flower757@reddit

Our Friends in the North

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Vtd07uk@reddit

Only Fools and Horses

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Lucky-Guard-6269@reddit

Dads Army

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All-Hail-The-Ale@reddit

Only Fools And Horses for me.

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Such-Section-1889@reddit

Peep show

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OkSociety8941@reddit

I’d say this or Black Books.

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Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit

[hands you a little book of calm]

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Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit

Green wing!

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Rig-check@reddit

James Burke Connections

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turbo_dude@reddit

It’s great because you still remember it decades later. Watch it kids!

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HeidiDover@reddit

I loved this show. They showed it in the US on TLC back when it really was The Learning Channel.

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fothergillfuckup@reddit

Eastenders is just the worst. You know if it's accidentally come on by the constant screaming. And that's just from me.

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Herstorical_Rule6@reddit

Can we please add Downton Abbey and Sherlock to that list?

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

Ok

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Herstorical_Rule6@reddit

Thank you, OP!

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

So what's your pick?

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Herstorical_Rule6@reddit

Mine is Sherlock..except for season four which kinda fell flat.

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DoDoorman@reddit

How about Mind your language? Are you being served?

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steveozzy@reddit

In recent history "Slow horses"

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livelongprospurr@reddit

Dutchess of Duke Street

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Suspicious-Magpie@reddit

Midsomer Murders.

Absolutely bonkers deaths, appearances from loads of (now) famous actors, iconic theme tune, unmistakably British.

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AdThat328@reddit

Keeping Up Appearances.

Or...

Dead Set.

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Suspicious-Magpie@reddit

Dead Set was an absolute masterpiece. Poor Davina.

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AdThat328@reddit

It still holds up too

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Fazzamania@reddit

Morecambe and Wise Show

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mrshakeshaft@reddit

Blackadder. The answer is blackadder. The only real question is which series is best.

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Lily_pad_gargoyle@reddit

I never watch the first one

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Sunflower-happiness@reddit

I think everyone will say Blackadder Goes Forth, because it is so poignant, but I prefer the silliness of Blackadder II!

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mrshakeshaft@reddit

Yep, I’m a blackadder II die hard. It’s the first series I saw on tv and to me it’s easily the best. I get why people like goes forth so much and I do too but if I had to have only one of them, it’d be sleazy, leather codpiece wearing blackadder and queenie every single day

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Therealscavvierising@reddit

If we're going by cod pieces, then surely the Black Russian wins. Always terrifies the clergy you know.

Black Adder I

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mrshakeshaft@reddit

😂 I always forget about that and his mum slapping the end of it and saying “what is this ridiculous thing?” Oh and then he hangs a bishops hat on it to hide it. I know series one is a bit hit and miss and people shit on it but you can see the potential in it and there’s some really funny stuff. Plus Brian blessed makes anything better

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Livewire____@reddit

I'm going for the contentious choice of Blackadder 3rd.

The only one where he doesn't die.

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Shitelark@reddit

Like Star Trek movies the even ones are better (but the third one is still underrated.)

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Foundation_Wrong@reddit

The Forsyte Saga from the 1960s. Kenneth More, Eric Porter, Nyree Dawn Porter and an amazing cast of character actors from decades of theatre and films.

Call the Midwife.

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BillHuman@reddit

The Prisoner.

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Sad_Lingonberry_7949@reddit

Brakes 7

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michaelwnkr@reddit

The Avengers was pretty good back in the day

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Geordieinthebigcity@reddit

Shout out for the Royle Family

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VeeJack@reddit

Edge of Darkness

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

Crimewatch is an odd inclusion, it was mostly a functional show to help catch criminals. Something like 999 however - that was gripping stuff.

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

Longevity

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

Yes but it isn't exactly great telly as such.

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

Ratings would say otherwise

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

It is a functional thing, the weather probably has wonderful ratings and it has been going longer but it isn't one of the greatest TV shows of all time.

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MattDubh@reddit

GBH

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Ulleskelf@reddit

This. Michael Palin proved his chops as serious actor.

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Bubbly-Bug-7439@reddit

Bottom

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TypoMike@reddit

I think this is a question that has to be split into categories of genre.

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JEH4NNUM@reddit

The Singing Detective

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GoldiBlogs@reddit

'It's a Sin' should be on the list

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britishgiant@reddit

To me it’s Top Gear. The entire world absolutely adored it and had 100’s of millions of fans, and I could happily watch every single episode any day of the week

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Ziyaadjam@reddit

Any of Gerry Anderson's live action works

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kil341@reddit

Alan partridge is on there but no Dad's army? wtf

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sowmyhelix@reddit

Adolescence

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asdfghjkluke@reddit

phoenix nights

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Pristine-Bar2786@reddit

Green Wing

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Gusdor@reddit

It's Top Gear. By syndication alone. In practice, 3 generations could happily watch every Sunday and have a good time. Only TV show my grandfather stayed awake through

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Fickle-Public1972@reddit

I liked Blake Seven as a child

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VerbingNoun413@reddit

Charlie Chalk

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Strong_Muffin3941@reddit

Python and the Young Ones.

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BluePandaYellowPanda@reddit

Bottom and The Young Ones were pretty popular. Rik Mayall was a legend.

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Elissa-Megan-Powers@reddit

The entire Connections series

Lovejoy

Robin of Sherwood

(Showing my age 😂)

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PuzzleheadedCook4578@reddit

Praed or Connery though? You know the right answer! (Mantle)

Lovejoy is an overlooked gem, Ian McShane is class.

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stetho@reddit

15 Storeys High
Smack The Pony
Spaced
Big Train
Bromwell High
Fleabag
Some Girls
Absolutely
Slow Horses
The Mighty Boosh
Waking The Dead
Utopia
A Touch Of Cloth
Ripping Yarns
The Fast Show
W1A
Brass Eye
Not The Nine O'Clock News
The Day Today
At Last The 1948 Show
Trigger Happy TV
Whose Line Is It Anyway
Supacell
Scot Squad

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PuzzleheadedCook4578@reddit

Yessss, it took quite the scroll, but somebody mentioned Absolutely!!

It is, it's TAHHHHRUE!

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

All of them?

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stetho@reddit

All of them but the first few are in order. 15 Storeys High is the most underrated TV program ever.

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TransatlanticMadame@reddit

Only Fools and Horses

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marksmoke@reddit

I loved the earlier ones but anything after they became 'millionaires' was not nearly as good imo.

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CrazyMike419@reddit

When I introduced it to my wife, i explained that there may be episodes after they walk off into that sunset, but she should just pretend they don't exist. Which she, did and so enjoyed it as it was meant to be.

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laurandisorder@reddit

For longevity - Corrie For quality - Happy Valley Overall - Keeping Up Appearances

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shiny_director@reddit

This Country is a modern classic

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Medium-Wolverine6862@reddit

Motherland

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vctrmldrw@reddit

BBC wildlife documentaries with David Attenborough.

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oodjamaflip@reddit

Zoo quest

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bunglemullet@reddit

Detectorists

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GreatChaosFudge@reddit

Funny how so many responses are shows made in the last twenty years. British TV has been around for a century.

We’re talking about the greatest TV shows here, it’s a very high bar to clear.

You have to think over what constitutes ‘great’. Influential? Life on Earth set the standard for nature documentaries. Well written and memorably performed? I Claudius and Tinker Tailor (I might also put in a word for Singing Detective). Offbeat and out of the mainstream? Monty Python or The Prisoner. Reflecting the society they live in? Cathy Come Home, Threads or the Up series. Comedies which depict a perfectly-contained world with strong characters and lines which are referenced even today? Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister or Blackadder. Enduringly world famous? Doctor Who (maybe even Thunderbirds).

Is there one show which captures all of the above? No. You can really only take a handful and say, these are our gold standard. I think all the above meet that.

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Rugbylady1982@reddit

Keeping up appearances.

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StuD721@reddit

Monty Python should be somewhere near the top of the list, Blackadder is my personal choice but the right answer might be Top Gear: longevity, reach, impact across generations, launching of other careers, spin offs, etc

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BuncleCar@reddit

Yes Minister

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Bluntbutnotonpurpose@reddit

How can Blackadder not be in this list? I mean...I've never heard of Faulty Towers, but Fawlty Towers was epic. But in my opinion Blackadder tops even that.

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EvolvedApe693@reddit

There's also the quantity aspect to consider. Fawlty Towers has only six episodes. But I agree, Blackadder tops it.

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Bluntbutnotonpurpose@reddit

There are actually two series of six episodes, so twelve in total.

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marksmoke@reddit

Fawlty towers only ran for 2 series/ total if 12 episodes

Definitely not enough to put it in the top few imo

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freeride35@reddit

The question was “greatest”, not “prolific”.

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marksmoke@reddit

Fawlty towers was really good but Blackadder and only fools were also very good and ran much much much longer making them superior imo

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FuMancunian@reddit

Quality over Quantity. I‘d rather have 12 episodes of Genius, than 120 episodes with only a few genuine 10 out 10‘s in there!

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Bluntbutnotonpurpose@reddit

Just wanted to add: Only Fools and Horses is also inexplicably absent...

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pcor@reddit

I think it’s pretty explicable…

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Tulpamemnon@reddit

Brideshead Revisited Line of Duty Dr Who Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy The Young Ones Tomorrow's World Blue Peter Jackanory Panorama Adolescence Newsnight Scrapheap Challenge University Challenge Supercar Stingray Twizzle

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Spattzzzzz@reddit

It’s quite age specific this list and missing some massive shows.

Glaringly obvious by their absence.

Carry on

Rising damp

The good life

On the buses

And also surprised to not see top gear the clarkson/may/hammond years.

Also top of the pops has meant the most to all generations at some point I suspect.

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zippy72@reddit

Carry On were movies first though, I seem to remember the TV shows were just repackaged highlights.

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

Who?

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Asaxii@reddit

Moves, Games and Videos

Crystal Maze

Saiko Exciting

It’s one of them.

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Retiredandrelaxed@reddit

Our Friends in the North is right up there

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Lost-in-Limbo@reddit

Spaced, Red Dwarf or Brass Eye!

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Living-Excuse1370@reddit

Red dwarf and Blackadder. I still laugh when I watch them.

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BaitmasterG@reddit

What in the living fuck is Little Britain doing on your list OP?

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

It was wildly successful in the 2000s, why wouldn't I include it for consideration?

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BaitmasterG@reddit

Cos it's utterly dire and has aged terribly. Greatest British TV? Ugh

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

A couple of them have aged badly by today's ethical standards. Doesn't change their success in their hey day unfortunately.

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BaitmasterG@reddit

Better include "Love thy neighbour" then by that logic

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elementarydrw@reddit

But to consider something the greatest, then surely its lasting impact needs to be part of the consideration? Anything niche and unknown, anything that isn't still revered and remembered, and anything that does not hold up within a generation of its broadcast cannot even be considered; regardless of its popularity at the time.

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

Depends at what point in time you are judging it.

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elementarydrw@reddit

Pretty sure you posted this in the last 24hrs, not the mid-00s.

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Chubba1984@reddit

Blackadder Goes Forth. The series as a whole is magnificent but the ending scene is a masterpiece - so poignant and thought provoking for an ending to a comedy tour de force.

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Gold-Collection2636@reddit

I actually studied the ending for my media studies class back in the day, alongside the 9/11 footage from the news. It was to show how different formats handle difficult subjects and it was really interesting. There was visible confusion for Blackadder, having such a dark ending when we were literally just laughing, and with 9/11 I have never heard a classroom so quiet

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Gold-Collection2636@reddit

Fawlty Towers or The IT Crowd

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BadgerDeluxe-@reddit

Longest running would be BBC News.

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Missbhavin58@reddit

Brassic. Genius show. Like a cross between shameless and emmerdale

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theworldisbananas@reddit

Trigger Happy TV. I still crack up at some of the skits

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theworldisbananas@reddit

Pranks?

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theworldisbananas@reddit

Harry Enfield

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aphexgin@reddit

The Prisoner, easily

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brontesaurus999@reddit

Started watching this recently, I'm about ten episodes in. Best telly I've ever seen by a weirdly large margin.

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Alecmalloy@reddit

Time Trumpet is completely under the radar but its an absolute masterpiece of absurdist satire.

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HAL-_-9001@reddit

Prisoner is a true classic. I first watched it about 30yrs ago on good ole VHS. For some reason, I never wanted to know how it ended. I finally caved a couple of years & rewatched the entire series including the finale. Very satisfying.

If I ever attend a protest/rally I wear my Prisoner t-shirt & #6 pin.

Be Seeing You.

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Automatic-Jello5995@reddit

League of gentlemen you're my wife now.

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Soukchai2012@reddit

Nipples laaak bullets!

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ScrumdiddyumptiouS@reddit

"Your my wife now Dave" was my husbands first words to me after being pronounced man and wife at our wedding ceremony.

😂

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OkSociety8941@reddit

It’s a local store

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Logical_Plankton640@reddit

The Sweeney - very gritty and violent for its time.

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Pizzagoessplat@reddit

Red Dwarf

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Standard_Pack_1076@reddit

Secret Army was amazing

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Dangerous-Budget937@reddit

Thunderbirds

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lucylucylane@reddit

Peep show

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Lopsided_Pension_192@reddit

Minder was great

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SparkleWitch525@reddit

Ghosts.

Brilliant show, great cast and so good several other countries have remade it with slight variations to fit their own history and culture.

Dip it again.

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HeidiDover@reddit

My husband stumbled upon a show called "Raised by Wolves." It wasn't on for very long, but it was hilarious. It was set in Wolverhampton. It used to be on Acorn.

Do any of you all remember this show?

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amc365@reddit

Still Game

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Suspicious_Banana255@reddit

Doctor Who

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Eeedeen@reddit

Coupling

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TemporaryHighlight74@reddit

Thunderbirds

Wallace and Grommit

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weedywet@reddit

Fawlty Towers.

Runner up: Black Adder

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resdingit@reddit

League of Gentlemen

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AdZealousideal2075@reddit

Blackadder and maybe Black Mirror

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capistrano999@reddit

I would say Faulty Towers or Black Adder but I like a few more on that list such as only Fools and yes minister plus eastenders…

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Cold_Table8497@reddit

Bleak House (2005). The best drama ever from the BBC.

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BassElement@reddit

Waiting for God

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Able_Tea_7413@reddit

Father Ted .

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Questingcloset@reddit

Not British

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FizzbuzzAvabanana@reddit

It was.

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pcor@reddit

A show with Irish creators, writers and cast, and set in Ireland does not become British by virtue of where the show’s production company is based…

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Patch86UK@reddit

To be fair, it was also mostly filmed in London.

So it's a bit of a grey area.

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BerylReid@reddit

I went to see it being filmed in the then London Weekend building off Stamford Street between Blackfriars and Waterloo. The one with Graham Norton in the caves.

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N-Dizz@reddit

Sounds like an ecumenical matter to me.

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pcor@reddit

It’s really not! The life of Brian isn’t a Tunisian film!

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Patch86UK@reddit

I mean, it's a programme made by a British company, for a British company, filmed mostly in Britain.

I actually don't disagree with you in calling it Irish, but it's definitely a greyer area than Life of Brian (a film made by a British company, for a British company, but filmed in Tunisia). It does you no favours pretending it's the same thing.

I'm not sure the nationality of the cast can really be taken as the deciding factor. Would a Hollywood film, made in Hollywood by a Hollywood company, become a British film if it had a predominantly British cast and setting? Can any film be made in the UK with e.g. British Indian casting and still be considered British, or does the Indianness of the cast make it an Indian film? Messy rabbit hole, that one.

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elementarydrw@reddit

East is East is my favourite Pakistani film...

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pcor@reddit

I’m not pretending it’s the same thing, I’m illustrating how the filming location has no bearing at all on the national provenance of the work.

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FizzbuzzAvabanana@reddit

I think you'll find it does. Along with the fact that most of it was filmed in London.

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pcor@reddit

Fuck me is it really this hard for you to let us have anything?

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FizzbuzzAvabanana@reddit

Fuck sake, give Paramount a ring and try telling them Mission Impossible is Yorkshire then because that's where they filmed some of it.

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FizzbuzzAvabanana@reddit

Riverdance

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wolfhelp@reddit

Was that not Irish?

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FizzbuzzAvabanana@reddit

No. Hatrick production for Channel 4

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Kind_Animal_4694@reddit

Don’t let r/Ireland hear you

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Sad_Crab_3081@reddit

Detectorists

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BerylReid@reddit

Superb television

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Willfred86@reddit

Porridge

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highrisedrifter@reddit

Doctor Who.

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kliq-klaq-@reddit

It's cheating, really, but I think Play for Today has got to be the best. With honourable mentions to The Singing Detective, The World are War, 28 Up, Our Friends in the North which are not getting much love in the comments.

And I always wonder why things like Match of the Day or Top of the Pops are never included on these sorts of lists.

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Early_Government198@reddit

Drama: Our Friends In The North

Comedy: The Young Ones

Current Affairs: World In Action

Documentary: Blue Planet

Sci/Tech: Tomorrow’s World

Children’s tv: Blue Peter

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AromaticTower7258@reddit

Brookside. Jimmy Corkhill was character genius

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Lunchy_Bunsworth@reddit

Minder . The Sweeney , The Fall and Rise of Reginal Perrin (I didn't get where I am today by leaving that off lists),

Hancock's Half Hour , Steptoe and Son , Dad's Army , Rising Damp , The Ascent of Man , Civilisation , Callan , Life On Mars and Ashes to Ashes ,

Each worthy of a mention

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Skottyj1649@reddit

Absolutely Fabulous

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MarkWrenn74@reddit

The World at War.

The definitive TV history of World War II. And Carl Davis' theme music… spine-tingling stuff

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304libco@reddit

Monty Python.
Red Dwarf.
The Young Ones.
Black Adder.
Doctor Who.
Sherlock.
Absolutely Fabulous.
I Claudius.
Pride and Prejudice

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jar_jar_LYNX@reddit

The entire Alan Partridge universe

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Benibonkers@reddit

News at ten.

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MyCatIsAFknIdiot@reddit

Bagpus

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riwalk55@reddit

Only fools and horses

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becpuss@reddit

Red Dwarf

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ScrumdiddyumptiouS@reddit

This is the answer.

Rimmer: Step up to red alert.

Kryten: Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb.

😂😂

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burnerofdoom@reddit

Come dine with me

Britain’s got talent

Celebrity get me out of here

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SnooBooks1701@reddit

Monty Python's Flying Circus

So much of the British style of TV and movie comedy can be traced back to that series and its influence

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TheRancidOne@reddit

Yes, Minister

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LUFCinTO@reddit

I’m Alan Partridge

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GladAbbreviations981@reddit

The Office, only because it inspired The Office

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elementarydrw@reddit

And the new Office that came out last year!

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UltraLlamatron@reddit

I scrolled all this way and you all ignored the genius that is Spaced. For shame.

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localgasgiant@reddit

Should've skipped to the end

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Shadow-Inversions@reddit

Peep Show, Spaced, Blackadder.

Hard to choose but for general reach and influence it probably has to be Blackadder.

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CodenameJD@reddit

We're missing the entire catalogue of panel shows! QI, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Mock the Week, Taskmaster, Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie to You?

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burtvader@reddit

Not The 9 o clock news

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Typical_Show_700@reddit

From the list, Eastenders.

I'd add these for consideration as well:

Strictly come dancing Blind date Brookside Holyoakes Emmerdale

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debrisaway@reddit (OP)

Strictly is there

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Oak68@reddit

Dr. Jacob Bronowski’s, “The Ascent of Man”.

I, Claudius

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ImmediateFigure9998@reddit

Our Friends in the North

Love an epic

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Sinclair1982@reddit

Life on Mars

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Geezer-McGeezer@reddit

Rainbow

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Routine-Cicada-4949@reddit

Danger Mouse

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BroodLord1962@reddit

For popularity it had to be Top Gear when it was Clarkson's show. It might not have been massive in the UK, but at it's peak it was watched by over 350 million people worldwide. You can't argue with those numbers.

Personal choices:

Green Wing

I'm Alan Partridge

Blackadder

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Alternative_Bit_7306@reddit

Brass Eye

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Alecmalloy@reddit

The World At War is up there. They somehow interviewed fucing Donitz.

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RaybeartADunEidann@reddit

Dad’s Army

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Mickleborough@reddit

Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister - because the writing’s so good.

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AD-HD-TV@reddit

The writing was so good they made a show about middle-aged men discussing administrative reform funny.

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bartimaeus616@reddit

Still relevant, even to this day

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Hierotochan@reddit

Funhouse.

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campbellpics@reddit

Phoenix Nights.

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heretolearn00@reddit

Come Dine With Me

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heretolearn00@reddit

Cats Does Countdown

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heretolearn00@reddit

Would I Lie To You?

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heretolearn00@reddit

Taskmaster

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ODFoxtrotOscar@reddit

The lasts scene of the final episode of Blackadder 4

Excellent television, and part of the reason it works is because of how good Blackadder is throughout

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Dupes69@reddit

Tinker Tailor Soldier spy. Absolute peak British TV.

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Realistic-River-1941@reddit

In terms of international recognition, and doing for a piece of music what the Lone Ranger did for Rossini, it has to be the Benny Hill Show.

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FuMancunian@reddit

The Thick of It is missing from the list.

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Professional-Day6965@reddit

Monty Python

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Oghamstoner@reddit

Much as I love Doctor Who and The Last Kingdom, this is the answer.

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FuMancunian@reddit

You should read the last kingdom books. Blows the tv series out of the water. Sharpe was a much better tv adaptation of Bernhard Cornwells work.

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Spudspecs@reddit

I’m currently sitting here in the interval of Eric Idle’s live show and I’d definitely agree (see it while you can-it’s been incredible so far!)

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lardarz@reddit

Blue Planet II

The Day Today

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pretzelllogician@reddit

The Thick Of It

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under_ice@reddit

The Thick Of it..

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uNameorsomething@reddit

Father Ted

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Sea-Claim3992@reddit

Friday night dinner

The mighty bush

Still game

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No-Meeting-7955@reddit

Peep Show

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Longwalkhome2006@reddit

Most people would say Brideshead Revisited

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TheOriginalGR8Bob@reddit

One foot in the grave .

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N64Andysaurus92@reddit

Black Mirror

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Shitelark@reddit

I'd rather have Screen Wipe back.

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Think-Committee-4394@reddit

I would add

Dinner ladies

&

Detectorists

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Best_Weakness_464@reddit

I, Clavdivs

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Fun_Scholar_9605@reddit

Pretty damn good

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ThSlipperySloth@reddit

Teachers

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thefooleryoftom@reddit

Spaced, Green Wing and Red Dwarf for me

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Silver-Machine-3092@reddit

The Sky at Night

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jonnybee2041@reddit

Only Fools and Horses

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Sad_Crab_3081@reddit

Sherlock

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EUskeptik@reddit

Fawlty Towers, by a country mile. 😂👍🏼

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Greyday67@reddit

Only fool's and horses

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leak-dmil@reddit

Spaced

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TinyLAMPZWORLDWG22@reddit

Thick of it

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Far-Sir-825@reddit

To me Likely Lads or Yes/Prime Minister. Office next

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drugi_kov@reddit

Benny Hill

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NoteIcy4315@reddit

Depends what great means I guess? If we’re talking TV shows that led to change, then there was drama called Cathy Come Home in the 1960s that transformed our understanding of homelessness. And more recently Mr Bates vs the Post Office was a game changer. Just two suggestions anyway!

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Malkavian420@reddit

Doctor Who

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SparkyCorkers@reddit

Red dwarf

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cowtownman75@reddit

Tomorrow's World should be included.

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FizzbuzzAvabanana@reddit

Porridge, top comedy. Colditz, top drama.

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11theman@reddit

Not sure absolute greatest but deserves to be added to the pantheon as is criminally underrated: Nighty Night

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Johnny-Alucard@reddit

I can’t believe Benny Hill was not on your list. It was enormous! (I hated it)

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pork-crunch@reddit

Derek

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ClevelandWomble@reddit

Monty Python was probably the most ground-breaking but I Claudius probably wins on sheer quality.

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Willerby01@reddit

Definitely I Claudius

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stairway2000@reddit

Red dwarf

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bodelia@reddit

Young ones or tales of the unexpected

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wotapalava@reddit

Still Game

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coldbeers@reddit

Inside number 9

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Alby_Bach@reddit

Tinker Tailor...

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SellPrior5944@reddit

Blandings

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Natural_Remove_3480@reddit

Men Behaving Badly

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DropDeadDigsy@reddit

Fawlty Towers is a masterpiece

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Chickenshit_outfit@reddit

Only Fools and Horses and Young Ones

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presterjohn7171@reddit

It's not a show I watch anymore but realistically it has to be Corrie. It's been going on forever, it's still massively popular, loads of its actors have gone on to be big stars and storylines have even been mentioned in parliament.

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