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Best British TV Shows of All Time

59 items ranked

As the title says, has to be British and has to be a TV show! I am sure I have missed off whoever you think is the best.

Rated 4 points - posted 14 years ago by felix01 in category Television.
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1.

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The Young Ones Report Abuse
75 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

2.

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Benny Hill Report Abuse
69 points - added 12 years ago by redbarron80 -

3.

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Blakes 7 Report Abuse
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.
57 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

4.

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The Avengers Report Abuse
Can't get more British, well English, than Steed and Emma...
36 points - added 13 years ago by benji2 -

5.

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Sherlock Report Abuse
Sherlock Holmes influenced by The Mentalist which was itself influenced by Sherlock Holmes.
34 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

6.

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Miss Marple Report Abuse
The version starring Joan Hickson - the best.
33 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

7.

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Dr Who Report Abuse
Needs no introduction. Not sure if the best Dr was Tom Baker or David Tennant.
33 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 - 2 comments
Comments:
Still going strong as of 2024.
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Should be DOCTOR Who
Added 13 years ago by Yetaxa, 0 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking

8.

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Foyle's War Report Abuse
30 points - added 9 years ago by guest -

9.

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Life on Mars Report Abuse
24 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

10.

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Brideshead Revisited Report Abuse
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.
23 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

11.

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Prime Suspect Report Abuse
19 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

12.

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Monty Python's Flying Circus Report Abuse
17 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

13.

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The Office Report Abuse
Ricky Gervais - top guy.
16 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

14.

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Minder Report Abuse
13 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 - 1 comment
Comments:
That starred Dennis Waterman and George Cole that had a memorable theme tune. Shane Ritchie filled in the old Dennis Waterman role in the 21st century equivalent.
Added 4 years ago by guest, 0 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking

15.

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Pride and Prejudice Report Abuse
The version with Colin Firth in. Comfort TV for women of a certain age.
13 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

16.

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Fawlty Towers Report Abuse
10 points - added 13 years ago by benji2 -

17.

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Match of the Day Report Abuse
9 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

18.

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Luther Report Abuse
7 points - added 13 years ago by guest -

19.

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Blackadder Report Abuse
6 points - added 13 years ago by guest -

20.

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Survivors Report Abuse
The original and best 70s version and not the remake...
6 points - added 13 years ago by benji2 -

21.

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Have I Got New For You Report Abuse
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!
6 points - added 13 years ago by guest -

22.

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Ashes to Ashes Report Abuse
6 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

23.

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Torchwood Report Abuse
A spin off from Dr Who featuring the wonderful Captain Jack.
6 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

24.

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One Foot in the Grave Report Abuse
5 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

25.

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Extras Report Abuse
4 points - added 13 years ago by guest -

26.

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The Fixer Report Abuse
4 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

27.

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The New Statesman Report Abuse
2 points - added 13 years ago by guest -

28.

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The Professionals Report Abuse
2 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 - 1 comment
Comments:
Had a memorable theme tune.
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29.

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The Crystal Maze Report Abuse
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.
1 point - added 11 years ago by guest - 1 comment
Comments:
As of 2018, it has been revived since the days of Richard O'Brien and Ed Tudor Pole.
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30.

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The Sweeney Report Abuse
1 point - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

31.

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Shameless Report Abuse
If you are ever thinking of visiting Manchester, watch this show first.
1 point - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

32.

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SM:TV Live Report Abuse
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.
0 points - added 5 months ago by guest -

33.

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The Darling Buds Of May Report Abuse
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'.
0 points - added 1 year ago by guest -

34.

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The Upper Hand Report Abuse
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.
0 points - added 1 year ago by guest -

35.

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Crossroads Report Abuse
This was a Midlands Soap originally made by ATV then Central between 1982 and 1988. Carlton revamped it in the early 2000s.
0 points - added 4 years ago by guest -

36.

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Stop, Look, Listen Report Abuse
It was shown on Channel 4 during ITV Schools. It had a catchy opening theme tune. Central Television made the programme.
0 points - added 4 years ago by guest -

37.

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The South Bank Show Report Abuse
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.
0 points - added 9 years ago by guest -

38.

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London's Burning Report Abuse
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.
0 points - added 9 years ago by guest -

39.

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Watching Report Abuse
Forgotten comedy series I think made during the early 1990s made by Granada Television.
0 points - added 9 years ago by guest -

40.

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Heartbeat Report Abuse
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.
0 points - added 9 years ago by guest -

41.

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Tales Of The Unexpected Report Abuse
This programme is best remembered for its memorable theme tune. Anglia Television made the programme.
0 points - added 9 years ago by guest -

42.

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Spooks Report Abuse
This was a long running recent spy series made partly by the BBC at a London based setting called Thames House.
0 points - added 10 years ago by guest -

43.

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Treasure Hunt Report Abuse
Originally shown on Channel 4 in the 1980s that the makers of the Carling advert inspired from. Remade in the 2000s by the BBC.
0 points - added 10 years ago by guest -

44.

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Woof! Report Abuse
ITV/Central Television/Carlton children's drama series about a boy who turns into a dog.
0 points - added 11 years ago by guest -

45.

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The Bill Report Abuse
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.
0 points - added 11 years ago by guest -

46.

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Keeping Up Appearances Report Abuse
It was a 1990s BBC comedy series starring Patricia Routledge.
0 points - added 11 years ago by guest -

47.

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Press Gang Report Abuse
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.
0 points - added 11 years ago by guest - 1 comment
Comments:
The first series screened in 1989 with the fifth and final season ended in 1993.
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48.

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A Touch of Frost Report Abuse
One of the best "real life" detectives on British TV ever (yes, including Morse)
0 points - added 12 years ago by guest -

49.

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Hercule Poitot Report Abuse
0 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

50.

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Blue Peter Report Abuse
0 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

51.

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Upstairs, Downstairs Report Abuse
0 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

52.

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Tizwas Report Abuse
0 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

53.

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Inspector Morse Report Abuse
0 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

54.

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Biker Grove Report Abuse
-1 point - added 14 years ago by felix01 - 2 comments
Comments:
Notable members including Ant and Dec and Donna Air.
Added 10 years ago by guest, 0 points Vote + to improve this comment's ranking Vote - to decrease this comment's ranking
Used to watch this BBC children's drama filmed in a Newcastle youth club.
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55.

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Waking the Dead Report Abuse
-2 points - added 13 years ago by guest -

56.

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Grange Hill Report Abuse
-5 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

57.

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Eastenders Report Abuse
-8 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

58.

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Only Fools and Horses Report Abuse
I personally hate this show but I know I am in the minority here.
-9 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -

59.

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Coronation Street Report Abuse
Personally its a no-no.
-13 points - added 14 years ago by felix01 -
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