#10 Mock the Week (2005-) (13 Series)
We begin this list with a basic panel show that revolves around recent events and pure comedy. It never hides its comedy origins and never at any stage attempts to become factual. Its entirety is just comedians showcasing their material through various game modes that loosely tie in with current affairs. This might not make it the most interesting programme on television, but it makes up for that with some hilarious jokes and big personalities that eat away at the thirty minute run time. The glory days were when you had the four regulars that are pictured above, including the quick witted Hugh Dennis and the harsh nature of Frankie Boyle, who when on form is quite possibly the finest comedian around. This is all held together by host Dara O'Briain, whos calm personality allows the show to naturally flow through its various segments.
In recent years it may have taken a downturn, with both the regulars and the guests becoming less and less noteworthy through each series, but switch on an episode from about five years ago and it's a guaranteed laugh. That doesn't make it one of those panel shows that you can play along with, in fact you are very much the audience with this show, making it feel a little bit like a vanity parade on the odd occasion. But that's because this is a show solely designed to showcase comedic material, and although there is a pointless scoring system integrated, it tries to stick well clear of traditional panel shows at every opportunity. For that reason I recommend watching the uncut DVDs which showcase some of the harshest and funniest material this show has to offer. Just a shame then that the success is solely down to the talent of the acts, making this a show nine times out of ten a great watch.
#9 Peep Show (2003-) (8 Series)
Probably the longest running comedy that still manages to be funny and original even after eight series. I'm always left amazed at the fact that this programme manages to top its already high standards with each new episode, and although it's coming to an end fairly shortly, that won't stop it from providing viewers with fresh and consistently humorous material. The key to success is the partnership of David Mitchell and Robert Webb, who construct a well thought through comedy with their use of believable and well constructed characters. This allows the humor to flow naturally from the script, and when coupled with the unique first person style it creates a comedy that stands out from the crowded genre. The show may have never been a hit with the public, but when you have two legends like these at the helm then you know it's going to be a special programme.
#8 Never Mind the Buzzcocks (1996-) (28 Series)
The best example of a show that's taken a huge downturn in recent years, becoming a mere shadow of its former glory. I use to love it when hosts such as Mark Lamarr, who is pictured above, or Simon Amstell used to grace our screens, but now the guest host feature has ran its course after being tortured to the point of frustration, leaving the show hosted by Rhod Gilbert; an excellent comedian and a top bloke, but not a good presenter for what used to be a classic panel show. In the good old days it used to be no name celebrities or just music in general getting blasted by the quick wit of Lamarr or Amstell, and that's what made me fall in love with it. Now we have guests who look like they couldn't give a shit slagging someone off because that's what's included in their paycheck. It's a formula that has proven to work, but now it feels like they're forcing comedy out of a panel show that doesn't deserve that treatment.
Series 27 summed it up for me, and I ended up tearing my hair out over some borderline boring episodes. It was such an awkward atmosphere with guest hosts pandering to the panels every statement whilst simultaneously slagging someone off for no reason. Admittedly in older series you did get one legend changing things for the better like Terry Wogan or John Cooper Clarke, but for the majority of episodes it lost that amateur charm that it always used to have. I hate to see this programme being whored out to the mainstream market just for a few cheap laughs, and the only thing that seems to hold this together is Phil Jupitus, who is far from a comedy mastermind. He ends up being the only shred of decency left in what used to be such a good format.
#7 Top of the Pops (1964-2006) (2219 Episodes)
Now then, now then, now then, sorry I had to justify this pick with that image. That will now haunt your dreams for weeks to come. But despite Jimmy Saville's downturn in recent years he was undeniably the face of 'TOTP' for what seemed like ages. His lack of charisma and thick Yorkshire accent complemented the British style of the show perfectly, and just listening to him destroy the pronunciation of people's names never gets old. Who can blame him? This show was responsible for showcasing some pretty unusual bands, and only when the countdown of this week's chart commenced could you tell that this was meant to be about popular music. For a taste of the British music scene there was nowhere else to go but this Friday night staple.
The layout wasn't anything revolutionary. The show kicked off with the iconic riff of Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love', and from there came the increasingly bizarre performances of British pop in a style that made it feel like a live performance. That was a ruse as the show was prerecorded, and that did piss off a few big names in the business. As a result the music featured is not really my sort of thing, and don't even get me started on the dance acts like 'Legs & Co'. When they featured it was a miracle that the thing only lasted for half an hour, but I would be lying if I said they didn't contribute to the unique charm of the show. And that charm is what I love most about this quintessentially British music show. If the Americans had produced it then everything would explode every two seconds and we wouldn't get shit acts performing shit songs every Friday. You just can't hate the amateur feel of it all. I would still prefer to watch this every week than tune into those crappy commercial music channels.
#6 Would I Lie to You (2007-) (8 Series)
In my opinion the most simple yet ingenious panel show that exists. The simple premise is to guess whether the other person is lying after being questioned on their humerus anecdote. The panel don't know what these situations are going to be and so being able to think quickly is of paramount importance. Luckily for the viewer this show has two of the finest comedians as team captains; those being the logical and intelligent David Mitchell and the bawdy and quick witted Lee Mack. Together they combine to carry the show along, and never fail to amuse me with their constant banter. Apparently Alan Carr was meant to be one of the team captains, so thank god he didn't get to ruin an excellent programme.
This is quite the opposite of other panel shows like 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks' in that the panel look like they're genuinely having a good time, and that reflects on the entertaining result. It's a game show that you can join in from home, and as a viewer it's great fun to be a part of. Ignore those criticisms from pathetic excuses of human beings that criticize the lack of female panelists, as that has nothing to do with the quality of the show. A panel show doesn't need gender balance to work, and I see these complaints as an attempt at personal gains rather than what's best for the show. Ignoring those comments this is one of the funniest shows on television, and is always worth a watch.
#5 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (1998-2014) (30 Series)
The ultimate game show, even if it isn't very high brow. I could never put my finger on why I love this so much. At the end of the day it's just a standard multiple choice quiz with a maximum jackpot of one million pounds. That's considerably higher than the majority of game shows, but still doesn't explain what makes the programme so brilliant. Maybe it was the fact that this was a big step forward for television despite being a no gimmicks attached clone of many others on the market. There are a few twists along the way that make it fun to play along, and its easily digestible format make it an easy watch, but I think its charm comes from the normality of making ordinary people millionaires. At least with this format you don't make wankers millionaires, unlike the lottery. It's now gone global thanks to the UK version, and it's easy to see why, just a shame its run has ended in its native country. It will be a sorely missed piece of classic Saturday night entertainment.
#4 QI (2003-) (12 Series)
'QI' gets my prestigious award of being the best panel show on television. Not only is it one of the funniest shows on television but it's also full of facts that as the title suggest are quite interesting. I always feel that my knowledge has become much broader after watching just a single episode, and it never fails to satisfy my desire for odd truths and common misconceptions. It's a programme that makes you feel very stupid and very ignorant, yet aims to combat this with a helpful dose of comedy. I only wish the education system was like this, then I might have actually learn something useful and interesting.
Stephen Fry is the charming host, and is joined by regular Alan Davies, who is far from a comedy mastermind, but provides invaluable chemistry with Fry to fit the light hearted nature of the show, becoming a large part of its growing success. The rest of the panel consists of usually all comedians who look like they actually want to be there instead of trying to make a quick buck out of their publicity. This becomes evident in the polished product that is justified by its consistently high ratings. A pleasant panel show that's a class above the rest. It reminds me of sitting in a traditional pub sipping some real ale whilst listening to the regular at the bar come out with some fascinating stories. And that's one of the most pleasant experiences I can think of.
#3 Walking With Dinosaurs (1999) (1 Series)
If I had known what masturbation was when I was a child then I would have done it over this every night. For a child who loved dinosaurs this was pure filth. An astonishing programme that managed to feel like a documentary despite being largely fictional. The scripted events made it an entertaining watch, but never got in the way of the sense of realism, something that was too good to be true when I was about five. You can't really blame me though, just look at those special effects. Even my adult self still pops a boner when I see the quality of those visuals. No other programme has ever made dinosaurs look as real as that; it rivals even blockbuster movies like 'Jurassic Park'. But this might be even better than 'Jurassic Park' as it has the iconic voice of Kenneth Branagh to talk through proceedings like this was a true story. All this from a television show produced in 1999. Just unbelievable.
#2 The Inbetweeners (2008-2010) (3 Series)
The most intelligently written comedy in the history of television. It might not seem that way if you're about fifty, but the script hits the mark of the teenage target market to perfection. If you're in secondary school then there really isn't anything more relatable out there. This is achieved by the ordinary characters, who are developed in a way that is quite simply a work of genius. There's Will, who's the nerdy kid that everyone loves to torment. Neil, the simple minded one. Jay, the guy that bullshits about everything. And Simon, who's just an innocent lad trying to fit in with the cool kids. This group is collectively a great analogy of British teenagers, and together their awesome chemistry sets this show up for some brilliant gags
It's almost a crime that so few episodes were actually made, but each one is so well produced that you can watch them over and over again and still laugh at the same old jokes that have become such an amazing comment in the life of a teenager. It disguises itself as a coming of age comedy when in reality it's the amusing tales of a tragic group of friends. The show celebrates the smaller things in life, and never attempts to make any political statements, but that doesn't matter when you have a script as unique and special as the one they have to work with. It was no surprise that the subsequent films were huge hits, despite one being only mediocre, and although the series has now concluded it was great fun to be a part of.
#1 Top Gear (2002-) (22 Series)
Oh yes. What I love most about television is a combination of factual information about cars, offensive jokes, and three middle aged men cocking around. To me that's a beautiful combination, although I can understand why some people simply hate it. That all depends on your opinions about Jeremy Clarkson. I love him, he's just my sort of guy, and his opinionated and loudmouthed antics are what gel the show together. He is accompanied by two brilliant co-hosts in Richard Hammond and James May, and all three are an amazing trio that has produced over twenty seasons of pure entertainment. Watching fast cars being driven by men dicking around has never been so brilliant.
I will also concede that it's a very manly programme that relies on comedic value to draw in fans. This is summed up with the scripted scenes that now plague recent series, and it just needs to stop now. What I really want is a classic cheap car challenge that were common about five years ago. Some of those were television gold, and I implore anyone to watch the US special or the original amphibious cars challenge. Those episodes are absolute classics and sum up what I love best about the show. It's not just me though; 'Top Gear' has become the most watched television show in the world, with around 350 million viewers tuning in each week to watch what has been described as a 'pokey motoring show'. It may be sneered at by the majority of people, but I think it's just fucking brilliant.
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