Best British TV Shows of All Time

Early 80's sci-fi at its best. I know the sets were poor, but the characters and scripts were brilliant. I cried when this ended.

Can't get more British, well English, than Steed and Emma...

Sherlock Holmes influenced by The Mentalist which was itself influenced by Sherlock Holmes.

The version starring Joan Hickson - the best.

Needs no introduction. Not sure if the best Dr was Tom Baker or David Tennant.

Don't watch the film, get the TV series on DVD. A fantastic cast in this adaptation of one the best novels of all time.

Ricky Gervais - top guy.

The version with Colin Firth in. Comfort TV for women of a certain age.

The original and best 70s version and not the remake...

One of Britains best panel shows, it combines two of britains greatest wits, Ian Hislop and Paul Merton making light of the weeks news. Gone through rough patches in its 20 years on air but came through, like all of the best TV shows do!

A spin off from Dr Who featuring the wonderful Captain Jack.

1990s Channel 4 game show where a group of six adventurers including the captain collect as many crystals as possible across four zones. Each crystal they win represent five seconds inside the Crystal Dome. Should one of them gets locked in, it costs them a crystal so the captain or vice captain decide whether or not to 'buy' someone out. Inside the Crystal Dome, they need to score one hundred gold credits or more to win a big prize. Any silver ones collected will be taken away from the original score e.g 101 gold - 2 silver = 99 gold = no prize.

If you are ever thinking of visiting Manchester, watch this show first.

This was a Saturday morning show, late 1990s/early 2000s. Ant and Dec and another significant presenter, Midlands born I think, went to the States and I think has returned to the UK to present a popular morning show, same channel as SM:TV Live, ITV.

Before 'A Touch Of Frost', David Jason had already made his name in 'Only Fools And Horses. He played the main member of the Larkin Family in rural Kent. Yorkshire Television co produced with another company (reminiscent of Auf Widersehen Pet, Central Television/Witzend from the 1980s) made the programme, Leeds based. There was a little known actress, Catherine Zeta Jones before 'The Mask Of Zorro' and 'Chicago'.

ITV/Central Television/Carlton sitcom that ran for many series during the 1990s. Former James Bond actress Honor Blackman and future soap actress Kellie Bright appeared in this.

This was a Midlands Soap originally made by ATV then Central between 1982 and 1988. Carlton revamped it in the early 2000s.

It was shown on Channel 4 during ITV Schools. It had a catchy opening theme tune. Central Television made the programme.

Long running arts programme, a mix of music, film, theatre, that kind of thing. Originally shown on ITV for many years but now shown on Sky Arts. Has a memorable opening theme tune and quite catchy.

One of London Weekend Television's most famous programmes that started in the 1980s and ran into the early 2000s. It follows a group of firefighters and their day to day issues at a London based fire station.

Forgotten comedy series I think made during the early 1990s made by Granada Television.

Yorkshire Television made this drama series in a 1960s based setting and its music of the time. Had a memorable theme tune of the title.

This programme is best remembered for its memorable theme tune. Anglia Television made the programme.

This was a long running recent spy series made partly by the BBC at a London based setting called Thames House.

Originally shown on Channel 4 in the 1980s that the makers of the Carling advert inspired from. Remade in the 2000s by the BBC.

ITV/Central Television/Carlton children's drama series about a boy who turns into a dog.

One of ITV's longest running programmes that had its final episode in 2010. It features a force at a fictional London police station called Sun Hill.

It was a 1990s BBC comedy series starring Patricia Routledge.

This was an ITV award winning drama series that launched the careers of Julia Sawalha and Dexter Fletcher. Future soap star Lucy Benjamin was in this. It was filmed in Uxbridge but the editing I think was based at the Central Television studios (that partly made the programme) either in Nottingham or Birmingham.

One of the best "real life" detectives on British TV ever (yes, including Morse)

I personally hate this show but I know I am in the minority here.

Personally its a no-no.