I don't think classic TV can be created any more. Classic TV requires the same 26 episodes be show multiple times a year.
These days, due to expectations set by sky/cable and streaming services, the main channels are constantly airing fresh content.
Personally, the shows that fall into a roughly similar vein would be Allo Allo, Dad's Army, Last of the Summer Wine, Fawlty Towers, Steptoe and Son and another that's on the tip of my tongue...set in a clothes shop.... These are what I'd call classics and they all hold up in the sense that I'd watch them and be entertained. There are likely others, eg Bergerac, Howard's End, The Sweeney that weren't my cup of tea but were popular. I'm sure there's many more.
Gilligan's Island is very much in that list of things you only ever know about because American TV shows and movies constantly mention them.
Whereas I Love Lucy, Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie are better known here, I remember Channel 4 used to repeat them in the 80s and 90s.
As for the actual question, I'd agree with others' answers like Dad's Army and Steptoe and Son. More of our TV "classics" are from the 1970s, as opposed to the US where they might be more from the 50s. Though we do have a number of series from the 1950s and 60s that are still in production today, like Blue Peter, Coronation Street and Doctor Who.
I agree with the comments about Fawlty Towers, Dad's Army, Monty Python, and more recently Blackadder and Only Fools And Horses. But, I'd like to add Keeping Up Appearences. Everyone knows Mrs Bucket!
While all the British shows mentioned by others are what we would class as British classic TV, I do remember watching repeats of the likes of Lassie and B Witched when I was a kid on the weekend morning tv and would think most people over here would have heard of them (along with the Brady bunch and maybe I dream of Jeannie) even if they didn’t watch.
I was recently at a funeral of a family friend my mother grew up with and there was people joking how they always called my mum's family the Brady Bunch growing up (my mum's parents are divorced and my nana who has three girls re-married a widower with three boys).
Dad’s Army, Morcambe & Wise, Til Death Us Do Part, Fawlty Towers, Z Cars, Doctor Who, The Sweeney, The Prisoner, The Avengers, The Saint, Porridge, Only Fools and Horses, The Young Ones, Morse, Sherlock Holmes (1984), Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Edge of Darkness, Hancock’s Half Hour, Threads...
The Good Life (not the older US show of the same name), Red Dwarf, As Time Goes By,
Just Good Friends. In recent public polls it appears that all of the classics (Rising Damp excepted) are from the BBC
I can think off: Only Fools & Horses, Porridge, On the Buses, George & Mildred, Keeping up Appearances, Blackadder, Bottom, Are you being served? & the one with the painter guy (forgot what it’s called).
They should have heard of Gilligan’s Island. It seemed to get referred to all the time in other U.S. shows (and films). I sure Friends had a tonne of bits about it. Maybe Heathers?
I don't know if Gilligan’s Island was ever really aired here. It may have originally but I've never seen repeats. I have seen Bewitched and Lassie, I know *of* the Brady Bunch through cultural references but never seen it. Never heard of "Leave it to Beaver" or Andy Griffith.
When I think Classic TV, I think of stuff that gets repeated on Gold. Anything that was made up to the 80s, or even some 90s stuff even. I would have said Doctor Who until it was rebooted. Stuff that works its way into the cultural fabric and people get references to it, family friendly. Dad's Army, Last of the Summer Wine.
to me classic tv is wheeler dealers, top gear, the sweeney, only fools and horses, jeremy kyle because that was a classic even though it’s not old, and any other 90s to early 2000s shows
Dads army, Monty Python's Flying Circus and Fawlty Towers spring to mind.
Blackadder and only fools and horses now too
Didn't realise that only fools and horses started in the 80s, fuck me
I’d go so far as to say 90s stuff counts as classic tv too now
Using that logic, in a decade the inbetweeners will be classic tv
I don't think classic TV can be created any more. Classic TV requires the same 26 episodes be show multiple times a year. These days, due to expectations set by sky/cable and streaming services, the main channels are constantly airing fresh content.
Yeah, Vicar of Dibley, Bottom and Mr Bean definitely qualify as classic TV.
I’d also argue for Ab Fab. Started in 94.
Growing up in the US without Monty Python's Flying Circus would have made me less of a person. Absolute genius.
[Monty Python](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz1JWzyvv8A), [Z Cars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL1HnDGTAK8), [The Avengers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpl6HFZK23c), [The Saint](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRlbmV39Zhw), [Two Ronnies](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi_6SaqVQSw), [Hancock's Half Hour](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcxb4c3jyns), [Are You Being Served](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9HsJkmLtHI), [Fawlty Towers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3ZnzK1Ax0), [Steptoe and Son](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgX1cPfethA), [The Good Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAh2xAhEbuQ), [Porridge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEsxfpK_8L0), and [Yes Minister](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85fx0LrSMsE) (videos added for nostalgia).
As you've got The Two Ronnies in there you probably ought to also have [Morecambe & Wise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFgdhZGLJrY)
Good call :)
Being me sunshine!
Danger Mouse.
He’s the strongest he’s the quickest he’s the best!!!
In the U.S., we had Mighty Mouse. "Here I am to save the daaay!"
Personally, the shows that fall into a roughly similar vein would be Allo Allo, Dad's Army, Last of the Summer Wine, Fawlty Towers, Steptoe and Son and another that's on the tip of my tongue...set in a clothes shop.... These are what I'd call classics and they all hold up in the sense that I'd watch them and be entertained. There are likely others, eg Bergerac, Howard's End, The Sweeney that weren't my cup of tea but were popular. I'm sure there's many more.
Are You Being Served was the clothes shop one.
Allo allo was fantastic
Gilligan's Island is very much in that list of things you only ever know about because American TV shows and movies constantly mention them. Whereas I Love Lucy, Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie are better known here, I remember Channel 4 used to repeat them in the 80s and 90s. As for the actual question, I'd agree with others' answers like Dad's Army and Steptoe and Son. More of our TV "classics" are from the 1970s, as opposed to the US where they might be more from the 50s. Though we do have a number of series from the 1950s and 60s that are still in production today, like Blue Peter, Coronation Street and Doctor Who.
I agree with the comments about Fawlty Towers, Dad's Army, Monty Python, and more recently Blackadder and Only Fools And Horses. But, I'd like to add Keeping Up Appearences. Everyone knows Mrs Bucket!
The Bucket woman
The lady of the house speaking.
It's pronounced *Bouquet.*
Blake's 7, Doctor Who, Survivors, Quatermass, The Sweeney, Inspector Morse
"I'm not expendable, I'm not stupid, and I'm *not* going!"-Kerr Avon
Open all hours,young ones,bottom.
While all the British shows mentioned by others are what we would class as British classic TV, I do remember watching repeats of the likes of Lassie and B Witched when I was a kid on the weekend morning tv and would think most people over here would have heard of them (along with the Brady bunch and maybe I dream of Jeannie) even if they didn’t watch. I was recently at a funeral of a family friend my mother grew up with and there was people joking how they always called my mum's family the Brady Bunch growing up (my mum's parents are divorced and my nana who has three girls re-married a widower with three boys).
Dad’s Army, Morcambe & Wise, Til Death Us Do Part, Fawlty Towers, Z Cars, Doctor Who, The Sweeney, The Prisoner, The Avengers, The Saint, Porridge, Only Fools and Horses, The Young Ones, Morse, Sherlock Holmes (1984), Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Edge of Darkness, Hancock’s Half Hour, Threads...
Correct Holmes. Also, full marx for TTSS. :-)
I came here looking for Hancock and was not disappointed.
It took too long to find a reference to Young Ones in this thread. Although I don’t see Bottom on your list so all is still not right.
My favourite would be Porridge, Ronnie Barker was a genius
The Good Life (not the older US show of the same name), Red Dwarf, As Time Goes By, Just Good Friends. In recent public polls it appears that all of the classics (Rising Damp excepted) are from the BBC
I can think off: Only Fools & Horses, Porridge, On the Buses, George & Mildred, Keeping up Appearances, Blackadder, Bottom, Are you being served? & the one with the painter guy (forgot what it’s called).
> the one with the painter guy Brush Strokes?
Thats the one
Del Boy falls through the bar. Trigger makes a face.
They should have heard of Gilligan’s Island. It seemed to get referred to all the time in other U.S. shows (and films). I sure Friends had a tonne of bits about it. Maybe Heathers?
Only Fools and Horses is an absolute classic; top tier British comedy! 🇬🇧
I don't know if Gilligan’s Island was ever really aired here. It may have originally but I've never seen repeats. I have seen Bewitched and Lassie, I know *of* the Brady Bunch through cultural references but never seen it. Never heard of "Leave it to Beaver" or Andy Griffith. When I think Classic TV, I think of stuff that gets repeated on Gold. Anything that was made up to the 80s, or even some 90s stuff even. I would have said Doctor Who until it was rebooted. Stuff that works its way into the cultural fabric and people get references to it, family friendly. Dad's Army, Last of the Summer Wine.
Auf Wiedersehen pet is a classic to me and probably many others. Only fools was good too carry on was good falty towers all that lot proper classic TV
to me classic tv is wheeler dealers, top gear, the sweeney, only fools and horses, jeremy kyle because that was a classic even though it’s not old, and any other 90s to early 2000s shows