Big Brother and The Royle Family among Top 50 landmark shows of last 50 Years

The Broadcasting Press Guild (BPG) recently unveiled its top 50 landmark programmes from the last half-century, celebrating shows that have significantly influenced broadcasting and left a lasting impact on viewers.

Among these iconic programmes are reality TV sensation Big Brother and the beloved sitcom The Royle Family.

Big Brother, which debuted on Channel 4 in 2000, secured fourth place on the prestigious list for its groundbreaking format that captivated audiences with its voyeuristic look into the lives of housemates living together under constant surveillance.

Known for its controversial moments and unforgettable characters, Big Brother became a cultural phenomenon and inspired numerous international adaptations.

The show moved to Channel 5 in 2010 and was scrapped in 2018 before ITV revived it in 2023. This year, it also brought back the celebrity version, with former X Factor judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh among the housemates.

The Royle Family, a British sitcom created by Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, also earned recognition as a top 50 landmark programme. Set in the living room of a working-class family in Manchester, the show offered a humorous and heartwarming portrayal of everyday life, resonating with audiences for its relatable characters and authentic storytelling.

Number one on the list is ITV and BBC documentary series Up, which began as Seven Up! in 1964 and took a look at a selection of British people’s lives from when they were children to adulthood.

Sir David Attenborough’s BBC nature programme Life On Earth, which first ran in 1979, came in at second while ITV’s 1973 series The World At War, documenting the Second World War, came third.

Taking fourth place was The Office, written, starring and created by comedians Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, which spawned the career of The Hobbit film series star Martin Freeman and created the comic character of Wernham Hogg boss David Brent.

The series also spawned an American version, starring Steve Carell, John Krasinski and Ed Helms.

BPG chair Manori Ravindran said:

“In our 50 years, members of the Broadcasting Press Guild have been the tastemakers of the British TV industry.

“As such, it felt appropriate to celebrate this milestone birthday with a Top 50 list reflecting the programmes we believe have created landmark TV moments or have been truly significant to the industry over that time.

“It wasn’t an easy process — and we welcome healthy debate about our selections — but we believe this list encapsulates the richness of the creative sector and its inimitable contribution to our culture and society.”

The BBC leads the BPG top 50 landmark programmes of the last 50 years list with 31 shows while ITV and Channel 4 have nine each, while Sky, Netflix and Disney+ also appear.

Dramas make up the bulk of content while comedies and documentaries also place on the rankings.

The BBC rounds out the rest of the top 10 with Sir David’s nature documentary Planet Earth, and comedy panel show Have I Got News For You starring Private Eye editor Ian Hislop and comedian Paul Merton, in at number six and seven, respectively.

In at number eight is Michaela Coel’s consent drama I May Destroy You, while Dennis Potter’s surreal serial The Singing Detective starring Sir Michael Gambon makes ninth place, and comedy show The Day Today – which was created by Chris Morris and Armando Iannucci and launched the on-screen career of Steve Coogan – comes in at number 10.

Iannucci – for BBC political satire The Thick Of It – and Coogan – for the corporation’s I’m Alan Partridge – are among those who appear more than once in the rankings, including Sir David.

Other BBC shows in the top 50 are psychological game The Traitors and celebrity competition Strictly Come Dancing as well as comedies Blackadder, Fleabag, Goodness Gracious Me, Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Only Fools And Horses, as well as dramas House Of Cards, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Grange Hill and Pride And Prejudice.

Channel 4’s cookery competition The Great British Bake-Off, TV commenting series Gogglebox, drama This is England and comedy Derry Girls as well as Netflix’s royal drama The Crown, and chat show Parkinson – on the BBC and ITV – were also mentioned.

ITV’s period drama Brideshead Revisited, crime shows Inspector Morse and Cracker and satire Spitting Image also earn places on the list.

The Broadcasting Press Guild, which was founded in 1974, marks its 50th anniversary this year.

If you fancy being a part of a landmark show… you can apply for the next series of Big Brother here.

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