UK public reveals Top 20 most-loved BBC series of the past 100 years
The British Broadcasting Corporation celebrates its 100th anniversary this year!
Marking a century of TV and radio programming, the nation’s “most-loved BBC television programme of all time” has been revealed.
A recent public vote by viewers of The One Show saw the UK public crown their favourite show from a list of 50 iconic programmes.
The shortlist was compiled by a panel of experts (BFI archive TV programmer Dick Fiddy, Mirror TV columnist Sara Wallis, Radio Times choices editor David Butcher, and freelance critic Hanna Flint) from the huge range of classic BBC titles that have aired over the past century.
Options included shows of all genres, from dramas to sitcoms to documentaries to entertainment and natural history series.
The One Show presenter Alex Jones commented: “It’s been a joy to look back and celebrate some classic TV shows from the BBC’s history as part of BBC 100.
“There’s been an absolutely huge response from our lovely viewers and though we couldn’t fit everything onto the list, our viewers have shown so much love for these classic shows that have connected with them across generations.”
Jones announced on Friday evening that Only Fools and Horses has been crowned the nation’s most-loved BBC show ever.
The classic comedy series ran for 65 episodes between 1981 and 2003.
Upon discovering the news, Del Boy star David Jason told The One Show: “I am delighted that Only Fools and Horses seems to be as popular as ever and that The One Show viewers have enjoyed it over the years.
“It was such a great show to be a part of and I am pleased it has given so many laughs and continues to do so to this day. From the brilliant writing of John Sullivan all the way down to the entire team in front of and behind the camera, let’s just say luvvly jubbly.”
Only Fools and Horses is joined in the Top 10 by fellow iconic sitcoms Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, and The Vicar of Dibley, alongside dramas like Call the Midwife, Doctor Who, and Line of Duty.
Here’s complete list of the BBC’s most-loved 20 television programmes, as voted for by The One Show viewers:
1. Only Fools and Horses
2. Doctor Who
3. Strictly Come Dancing
4. Line of Duty
5. Call The Midwife
6. Gavin and Stacey
7. Fawlty Towers
8. Blackadder
9. Morecambe and Wise Show
10. The Vicar of Dibley
11. Dad’s Army
12. Planet Earth I and II
13. Killing Eve
14. Dinnerladies
15. Yes Minister / Yes Prime Minister
16. Sherlock
17. The Good Life
18. Top of the Pops
19. The Royle Family
20. Blue Peter
The eleventh season of Call the Midwife is currently airing on Sunday nights on BBC One in the UK, and the new episodes begin very soon in the US on PBS.
There were rumours of a Blackadder revival in 2019, but the writer of the classic historical sitcom has since shot down fans’ hopes.
The BBC’s centenary celebrations will continue across 2022, with a number of exciting specials planned later in the year.
Only Fools and Horses is available to watch via Amazon Prime Video with a free BritBox trial.