List of longest-running British television programmes
This is a list of the longest-running television programmes in the United Kingdom.
Running[]
Title | Genre | Airing between | No. of broadcast years (after year of first broadcast)[a] |
---|---|---|---|
Lord Mayor's Show | Outside broadcast | 1937–1938, 1946–present[1] | 77 |
Panorama[2] | Current affairs | 1953–present | 69 |
Eurovision Song Contest | Song contest | 1956–present | 66 |
The Sky at Night | Science programme | 1957–present | 65 |
The Queen's Christmas Message | Speech | 1957–present | 65 |
Blue Peter | Children's television series | 1958–present | 64 |
Coronation Street[3] | Soap opera | 1960–present | 62 |
Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol[4] | Religious series | 1961–present | 61 |
Songs of Praise | Religious series | 1961–present | 61 |
Horizon | Science programme | 1964–present | 58 |
Match of the Day | Sport | 1964–present | 58 |
HOW[5][6] | Children's programme | 1966–present | 56 |
Gardener's World | Gardening programme | 1968–present | 54 |
A Question of Sport | Game show | 1968–present | 54 |
Points of View | Factual | 1961–1971, 1979–present | 53 |
University Challenge | Quiz show | 1962–1987, 1994–present | 53 |
Newsround | Children's news | 1972–present | 50 |
Mastermind | Game show | 1972–present | 50 |
Emmerdale | Soap opera | 1972–present | 50 |
ITV News at Ten | News | 1967–1999, 2001–2004, 2008–present | 49 |
Pobol Y Cwm[7] | Soap opera | 1974–present | 48 |
Sportscene | Sport | 1975–present | 47 |
Arena | Documentary | 1975-present | 47 |
It'll Be Alright on the Night | Bloopers programme | 1977–present | 45 |
Top Gear | Automotive series | 1977–2001, 2002–present | 44 |
The South Bank Show | Art programme | 1978–2010, 2012–present | 44 |
Antiques Roadshow | Factual | 1979–present | 43 |
Doctor Who | Science fiction series | 1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present | 43 |
Question Time | Political panel programme | 1979–present | 43 |
Newsnight | News programme | 1980–present | 42 |
Children in Need | Charity programme | 1980–present | 42 |
See Hear | Deaf magazine programme | 1981–present | 41 |
Countdown | Game show | 1982–present | 40 |
BBC News at Six | News programme | 1984–present | 38 |
EastEnders | Soap opera | 1985–present | 37 |
Watchdog | Consumer programme | 1985–present (inc. years within other shows) | 37 |
Casualty[8] | Medical drama | 1986–present | 36 |
BBC News at One | News programme | 1986–present | 36 |
Dispatches | Current affairs | 1987–present | 35 |
Fireman Sam | Children's television series | 1987–present | 35 |
Comic Relief | Charity programme | 1988–present | 34 |
Countryfile | News magazine | 1988–present | 34 |
This Morning | Daytime TV | 1988–present | 34 |
You've Been Framed | Comedy | 1990–present | 32 |
Have I Got News for You | Satire | 1990–present | 32 |
Crackerjack | Children's television | 1955–1984, 2020-present | 31 |
Later... with Jools Holland | Music | 1992–present | 30 |
The National Lottery Draws | Game show | 1994–present | 28 |
Catchphrase | Game show | 1986–2004, 2013–present | 27 |
Rownd a Rownd | Soap opera | 1995–present | 27 |
Hollyoaks | Soap opera | 1995–present | 27 |
Silent Witness | Drama | 1996–present | 26 |
Midsomer Murders | Detective series | 1997–present | 25 |
Jonathan Creek | Crime drama | 1997–present | 25 |
Family Fortunes | Game show | 1980–2002, 2020–present | 24 |
Red Dwarf | Sitcom | 1988–1999, 2009–present | 24 |
Grand Designs | DIY | 1999–present | 23 |
Holby City | Medical drama | 1999–present | 23 |
Loose Women | Talk show | 1999–present | 23 |
Sky News at 10 | News | 1999–present | 23 |
Bargain Hunt | Antiques programme | 2000–present | 22 |
BBC Breakfast | News programme | 2000–present | 22 |
BBC News at Ten | News programme | 2000–present | 22 |
Doctors | Soap opera | 2000–present | 22 |
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | Variety | 2002–present | 20 |
I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out Out of Here | Reality competition series | 2002–present | 20 |
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? | Quiz | 1998–2014, 2018–present | 20 |
Eggheads | Quiz | 2003–present | 19 |
Homes Under the Hammer | Factual | 2003–present | 19 |
QI | Panel show | 2003–present | 19 |
Something Special | Preschool series | 2003–present | 19 |
Strictly Come Dancing | Talent show | 2004–present | 18 |
Live at the Apollo | Stand-up comedy | 2004–present | 18 |
Come Dine with Me | Reality | 2005–present | 17 |
8 Out of 10 Cats | Panel show | 2005–present | 17 |
Mock the Week | Panel show | 2005–present | 17 |
The One Show | Magazine and chat show | 2006–present | 16 |
Not Going Out | Sitcom | 2006–present | 16 |
Dickinson's Real Deal | Antiques programme | 2006–present | 16 |
Animal Park | Documentary | 2000–2009, 2016–present | 15 |
Britain's Got Talent | Variety talent show | 2007–present | 15 |
The Graham Norton Show | Talk show | 2007–present | 15 |
Shaun the Sheep | Animation | 2007–present | 15 |
Would I Lie to You? | Panel show | 2007–present | 15 |
Coach Trip | Reality | 2005–2006, 2009–present | 14 |
Peppa Pig | Preschool series | 2004–2012, 2016–present | 14 |
The Chase | Quiz | 2009-present | 13 |
Pointless | Quiz | 2009-present | 13 |
Dancing on Ice | Talent show | 2006–2014, 2018–present | 12 |
The Great British Bake Off | Baking competition | 2010–present | 12 |
A League of Their Own | Sports Quiz | 2010–present | 12 |
Lorraine | Morning magazine show | 2010-present | 12 |
The Only Way Is Essex | Reality | 2010–present | 12 |
Geordie Shore | Reality | 2011–present | 11 |
The Jonathan Ross Show | Talk show | 2011–present | 11 |
Made In Chelsea | Reality | 2011–present | 11 |
Mrs. Brown's Boys[b] | Sitcom | 2011–present | 11 |
Ended[]
Title | Genre | Airing between | No. of broadcast years after year of first broadcast | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Up (ITV series) | Documentary | 1964–2019 | 55 | The BBC version (also made by a unit of ITV Studios) started in April 2000 with two episodes of 28 Up: Millennial Generation broadcast on 29 September 2021 and 6 October 2021, giving a timeframe of 21 years for the BBC programme and 57 years for the overall Up format[9][10][11] |
What the Papers Say | News programme | 1956–2008 | 52 | |
Come Dancing | Talent show | 1949–1998[c] | 49 | The celebrity show Strictly Come Dancing[12] has been broadcast on the BBC since 2004 with series 19 being launched on BBC One on 18 September 2021[13] |
Grandstand | Sport | 1958–2007 | 49 | |
The Generation Game | Game show | 1971–2018 | 46 | The series ended in 2002, with two specials hosted by Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins being shown on BBC One in April 2018.[14][15] Even though these episodes are listed as series 1[16] on the BBC programme guide, no regular series have been made since Jim Davidson left the series in the early 2000s. |
The Film Show[17] | Entertainment review | 1971–2018 | 46 | |
The Money Programme | Finance programme | 1966–2010 | 44 | |
This Is Your Life | Documentary | 1955–1964, 1969–2003, 2007 | 43 | |
Top of the Pops | Chart programme | 1964–2006 | 42 | Two special best of the year editions (with one billed as the Christmas show[18] and the other as the New Year show)[19] have been usually scheduled each year since 2006, with the last new episode going out on BBC One on 31 December 2020, giving a total of 56 years. In addition to these shows BBC Four have been broadcasting new Big Hits compilation shows and Story of... documentaries since 2006.[20][21] |
Holiday | Travel documentary | 1969–2007 | 38 | |
Tomorrow's World | Science and technology | 1965–2003 | 38 | |
Last of the Summer Wine | Sitcom | 1973–2010 | 37 | |
The Sooty Show | Children's programme | 1955–1992 | 37 | |
Thomas & Friends[22] | Children's programme | 1984–2021 | 36 | Rebooted into Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! by Mattel Television & Nelvana that premiered in Fall 2021 after cancelation on January 20, 2021. |
World in Action | Current affairs | 1963–1998 | 35 | |
Postman Pat | Children's programme | 1981–2017 | 35 | |
Mr and Mrs | Game show | 1965-1999 | 34 | Phillip Schofield started to host a celebrity revival called All Star Mr & Mrs in 2008, with this new version lasting until 2016. |
Crimewatch | Crime programme | 1984–2017 | 32 | |
Call My Bluff | Game show | 1965–1988, 1994, 1996–2004 | 31 | |
Jackanory | Children's programme | 1965–1996 | 31 | |
BBC Nine O'Clock News | News programme | 1970–2000 | 30 | |
Grange Hill | Children's drama series | 1978–2008 | 30 | |
Sunrise | News | 1989–2019 | 30 | |
It's a Knockout | Game show | 1966–1988, 1990–1994, 1999–2001 | 28 | |
Timewatch | History series | 1981–2009 | 28 | |
GMTV | Breakfast Show | 1993–2010 | 17 | ITV's current breakfast show Good Morning Britain uses the name of GMTV's predecessor, broadcast by ITV company TV-am between 1983-1992. This gives the Good Morning Britain breakfast programme brand, a span of 38 years as of 2021.[23] |
Taggart | Detective series | 1983–2010 | 27 | |
The Bill | Police drama | 1984–2010 | 26 | |
Crossroads | Soap opera | 1964–1988, 2001–2003 | 26 | |
Bullseye | Sport game show | 1981–2006 | 25 | Bullseye is one of the formats used for Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow with episodes of the game appearing on ITV as part of series 1 (4 July 2020) and series 2 (10 April 2021 and the celebrity version on 8 May 2021). The game will be used again for the third series, alongside episodes including other formats from the 1980s like Child's Play and Strike It Lucky.[24] |
The Big Match | Sport | 1968–1992 | 24 | |
Poirot | Detective drama | 1989–2013 | 24 | |
Play School | Children's programme | 1964–1988 | 24 | |
Play Your Cards Right | Game show | 1980–2003 | 23 | Play Your Cards Right is one of the formats used for Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow with episodes of the game appearing on ITV as part of series 1 (27 June 2020 and a celebrity version from 30 May 2020) and series 2 (a celebrity special on 3 April 2021). |
Take the High Road | Soap opera | 1980–2003 | 23 | |
Top of the Pops 2 | Archive music programme | 1994–2017 | 23 | |
Only Fools and Horses | Sitcom | 1981–2003 | 22 | |
ChuckleVision | Children's programme | 1987–2009 | 22 | |
Art Attack | Children's programme | 1990–2007, 2011–2015 | 21 | |
Brookside | Soap opera | 1982–2003 | 21 | |
Dixon of Dock Green | Police drama | 1955–1976 | 21 | |
Parkinson | Chat show | 1971-1982, 1987-1988, 1998-2007 | 21 | A retrospective show Parkinson at 50 was broadcast by BBC One on 28 August 2021[25] |
Pingu | Children's programme | 1986–2006 | 20 | |
Rainbow | Children's education | 1972–1992 | 20 | |
The Really Wild Show | Children's programme | 1986–2006 | 20 | |
Surprise Surprise | Game show | 1984–2001, 2012–2015 | 20 | |
Time Team | Archaeology | 1994-2014 | 20 | |
Jim'll Fix It | Children's programme | 1975-1994, 2007 | 19 | |
The Krypton Factor | Game show | 1977–1995, 2009–2010 | 19 | |
Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Panel show | 1996-2015 | 19 | Sky put into production a new version of Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 2021 with Greg Davies as host and Noel Fielding continuing in his role as team captain alongside Daisy May Cooper, giving the show a total of 25 years.[26][27][28] |
Blind Date | Dating game show | 1985–2003 | 18 | Channel 5 broadcast a version of this format with Paul O’Grady between 2017-2019, giving Blind Date a span of 34 years[29] |
Heartbeat | Drama | 1992–2010 | 18 | |
A Touch of Frost | Detective drama | 1992–2010 | 18 | |
Big Brother | Reality television | 2000–2010; 2011–2018 | 17 | |
Byker Grove | Teen drama | 1989-2006 | 17 | |
Opportunity Knocks | Talent show | 1956, 1964-1978, 1987-1990 | 17 | |
Z-Cars | Police procedural | 1962-1965, 1967-1978 | 15 | |
Minder | Comedy-drama | 1979–1994 | 15 | |
Blankety Blank | Game show | 1979–1990, 1997–1999, 2001–2002 | 14 | BBC One started broadcasting a new series of Blankety Blank on 2 October 2021 with Bradley Walsh as host, with the new episodes airing on the channel more than 41 years after the BBC broadcast the first episode with Terry Wogan on 18 January 1979.[30][31][32][33] |
London's Burning | Drama | 1988–2002 | 14 | |
Rumpole of the Bailey | Legal drama | 1978–1992 | 14 | |
The Jeremy Kyle Show | Tabloid talk show | 2005–2019 | 14 | |
The X Factor | Talent show | 2004–2018 | 14 | This total does not include the 2019 spin-offs The X Factor: Celebrity or The X Factor: The Band |
Get Your Own Back | Children's game show | 1991–2004 | 13 | |
The Vicar of Dibley | Sitcom | 1994–2007, 2020 | 13 | |
Inspector Morse | Detective drama | 1987–2000 | 13 | |
Foyle's War | Detective drama | 2002–2015 | 13 | |
All Creatures Great and Small | Comedy-drama | 1978–1990 | 12 | In 2020, Channel 5 started to broadcast a new version of the show with Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot and Samuel West as Siegfried Farnon.[34] |
The Basil Brush Show | Children's programme | 1968–1980 | 12 | |
Blockbusters | Quiz | 1983–1993, 1994-1995, 1997, 2000-2001, 2012, 2019 | 12 | |
Britain's Got More Talent | Variety talent companion show | 2007–2019 | 12 | This title was replaced by a new companion show Britain's Got Talent: Unseen on the ITV Hub from 2020[35][36] |
New Tricks | Comedy-drama | 2003–2015 | 12 | |
Peep Show | Sitcom | 2003–2015 | 12 | |
The Price is Right | Game show | 1984-1988, 1989-1990, 1995-2001, 2006-2007 | 12 | The Price is Right is one of the formats used for Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow with episodes of the game appearing on ITV as part of series 1 (6 June 2020) and series 2 (17 April 2021). |
Spitting Image | Satire | 1984-1996 | 12 | In 2020, a new version of the show was made for international streamer BritBox with input from American and British writers. A couple of the episodes from the revived series, such as the Halloween Special (30 October 2021), have been also shown on ITV, the original broadcast channel of Spitting Image when it debuted 37 years earlier.[37] |
The Xtra Factor | Talent companion show | 2004–2016 | 12 | |
The Weakest Link | Quiz | 2000–2012 | 12 | In June 2021, the BBC announced that comedian Romesh Ranganathan will host a new 12 part series of The Weakest Link[38][39] |
Benidorm | Sitcom | 2007–2018 | 11 | |
Brum | Children's programme | 1991-2002 | 11 | |
Children's Ward | Children's drama series | 1989–2000 | 11 | |
Deal or No Deal | Game show | 2005–2016 | 11 | |
Harry Hill's TV Burp | Comedy | 2001–2012 | 11 | |
Mike and Angelo | Children's programme | 1989–2000 | 11 | |
My Family | Sitcom | 2000–2011 | 11 | |
Till Death Us Do Part | Comedy | 1965–1975 | 11 | |
After Dark | Discussion series | 1987–1997, 2003 | 10 | |
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Detective drama | 1984–1994 | 10 | |
One Foot in the Grave | Sitcom | 1990–2000 | 10 | |
Rosie & Jim | Children's programme | 1990–2000 | 10 | |
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps | Sitcom | 2001–2011 | 10 |
See also[]
- List of longest-running United States television series
- List of longest-running U.S. cable television series
- List of longest-running U.S. primetime television series
- List of longest-running U.S. first-run syndicated television series
- List of longest-running U.S. broadcast network television series
- List of longest-running Australian television series
- List of longest-running Indian television series
- List of longest-running Philippine television series
- List of longest-running Spanish television series
- List of television series canceled after one episode
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ "The Lord Mayor's Show dates". BBC Genome. Retrieved 2018-09-10. (not broadcast during WW2 1939–1945)
- ^ "Panorama BBC Television, 11 November 1953". BBC Genome. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ Bloxham, Andy (24 September 2010). "Coronation Street becomes world's longest-running soap". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol". January 1, 1961. p. 16 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "HOW - Watch episodes".
- ^ "Watch CITV live".
- ^ "Pobol y Cwm". October 16, 1974. p. 55 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "Casualty to celebrate the end of 30th Anniversary series with a pioneering one-shot episode". BBC. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
- ^ "BBC One - 28 up: Millennium Generation".
- ^ "'So different': How the millennials of 28 up are coping with changing times". TheGuardian.com. 28 September 2021.
- ^ "Where the cast of 7 up are now they're 28 as new series starts on BBC". 29 September 2021.
- ^ "Strictly Come Dancing".
- ^ "Strictly Come Dancing - Series 19: Launch Show".
- ^ "BBC One - the Generation Game, Series 1, Episode 1".
- ^ "BBC One - the Generation Game, Series 1, Episode 2".
- ^ "BBC One - the Generation Game - Episode guide".
- ^ The Film Programme https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46694568
- ^ "BBC One - Top of the Pops, Christmas 2020".
- ^ "BBC One - Top of the Pops, New Year Special 2020/2021".
- ^ "BBC One - Top of the Pops, the Story of 1990".
- ^ "BBC One - Top of the Pops, 1990 - Big Hits".
- ^ "Ultimate Guide to Thomas the Tank Engine". 6 November 2006. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30.
- ^ "Good Morning Britain".
- ^ "Alan Carr Returns for More Epic Gameshow on Itv". 25 October 2021.
- ^ "BBC One - Parkinson at 50".
- ^ "The return of 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks': "It was chaos"". NME. 16 September 2021.
- ^ "Never Mind the Buzzcocks review – Daisy May Cooper takes on the pop patriarchy". TheGuardian.com. 21 September 2021.
- ^ "Never Mind the Buzzcocks is back and coming exclusively to Sky and NOW with Greg Davies as host".
- ^ "Paul O'Grady's Blind Date "unlikely to return" to Channel 5".
- ^ "Blankety Blank".
- ^ "BBC One - Blankety Blank - Available now".
- ^ "BBC One - Blankety Blank, Series 1, Episode 1".
- ^ "Bradley Walsh brings Blankety Blank back to BBC One's Saturday nights".
- ^ "My5".
- ^ "Head to the ITV Hub for BGT: Unseen!".
- ^ "Your Britain's Got Talent: Unseen acts are here".
- ^ "'Spitting Image' returns to live TV with Halloween special". NME. 15 October 2021.
- ^ "Weakest Link returns to BBC One with brand new host Romesh Ranganathan".
- ^ "BBC Reboots 'The Weakest Link' with Comedian Romesh Ranganathan". 28 June 2021.
Categories:
- Lists of British television series
- British television-related lists
- United Kingdom-related lists of superlatives
- Lists of longest-running television shows