Firstly, Merry Christmas!
We’re nearly there, and things are very tight between the top two. How tight? Well, so damn close I’ve actually felt compelled to carry out a full recount of their respective broadcast totals, as there are just seven broadcasts between them. One programme was shown 10,575 times, the other 10,582 times. So, I’ll be revealing all very soon. So to speak.
Until then, here’s a rundown of that hundred in near-full. Some of the totals are revised, as I’d uncovered some additional broadcasts of a few other programmes while verifying the totals of shows near the top of the list. So: the following is – as far as I’m concerned for the time being – the ultimate broadcast totals for everything we’ve covered so far.
Strap in!
100: Saturday Kitchen (Shown 891 times, 2001-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (2006-2021), BBC2 (2001-2021)
99: Final Score (Shown 896 times, 1971-2021)
Sport, BBC1 (1971-2021), BBC2 (2003-2021)
98: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is (Shown 917 times, 2008-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (2008-2017), BBC2 (2008-2021)
97: Z Cars (Shown 920 times, 1962-1998)
Drama, BBC Television Service (1962-1964), BBC1 (1964-1982), BBC2 (1976-1998)
=95: Five to Eleven (Shown 934 times, 1986-1990)
Other, BBC1 (1986-1990)
=95: Sportsnight (Shown 934 times, 1968-1997)
Sport, BBC1 (1968-1997), BBC2 (1995-1997)
94: Fimbles (Shown 937 times, 2002-2010)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (2002-2005), BBC2 (2002-2010)
93: Rugby Special (Shown 976 times, 1966-2005)
Sport, BBC2 (1966-2005)
92: For the Children (Shown 982 times, 1937-1952)
Children’s Programme, BBC Television Service (1937-1952)
=90: Postman Pat (Shown 1006 times, 1981-2012)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1981-2005), BBC2 (1983-2012)
=90: Strictly – It Takes Two (Shown 1006 times, 2004-2021)
Other, BBC1 (2019-2019), BBC2 (2004-2021)
=87: Nai Zindagi – Naya Jeevan (Shown 1010 times, 1968-1982)
Other, BBC1 (1968-1982), BBC2 (1975-1977)
=87: QI (Shown 1010 times, 2003-2021)
Quiz/Panel Show, BBC1 (2009-2011), BBC2 (2003-2021)
=87: The Simpsons (Shown 1010 times, 1996-2004)
Comedy, BBC1 (1996-1997), BBC2 (1996-2004)
86: ChuckleVision (Shown 1056 times, 1987-2012)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1987-2012), BBC2 (1990-2010)
85: Murder, She Wrote (Shown 1065 times, 2002-2011)
Drama, BBC1 (2002-2010), BBC2 (2002-2011)
84: Dad’s Army (Shown 1066 times, 1968-2021)
Comedy, BBC1 (1968-2020), BBC2 (1982-2021)
83: The Magic Roundabout (Shown 1070 times, 1965-1985)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1965-1985), BBC2 (1972-1984)
82: Laurel and Hardy (Shown 1084 times, 1948-2005)
Comedy, BBC Television Service (1948-1963), BBC1 (1964-1992), BBC2 (1964-2005)
81: In the Night Garden (Shown 1106 times, 2007-2012)
Children’s Programme, BBC2 (2007-2012)
80: The Phil Silvers Show (Shown 1107 times, 1957-2004)
Comedy, BBC Television Service (1957-1962), BBC1 (1966-1984), BBC2 (1984-2004)
79: Doctor Who (Shown 1138 times, 1963-2021)
Drama, BBC Television Service (1963-1964), BBC1 (1964-2021), BBC2 (1981-2021)
78: Watchdog (Shown 1141 times, 1985-2019)
Factual, BBC1 (1985-2019), BBC2 (1989-2015)
77: Wogan (Shown 1142 times, 1982-2010)
Talk Show, BBC1 (1982-1993), BBC2 (2010-2010)
76: University Challenge (Shown 1167 times, 1994-2021)
Quiz/Panel Show, BBC2 (1994-2021)
75: Great British Menu (Shown 1184 times, 2006-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (2006-2012), BBC2 (2006-2021)
74: Tom and Jerry (Shown 1194 times, 1967-2003)
Comedy, BBC1 (1967-2003), BBC2 (1980-1999)
73: The Sky at Night (Shown 1201 times, 1957-2013)
Factual, BBC Television Service (1957-1964), BBC1 (1964-2013), BBC2 (1978-2013)
72: Call My Bluff (Shown 1218 times, 1965-2005)
Quiz/Panel Show, BBC1 (1996-2005), BBC2 (1965-2004)
71: Mastermind (Shown 1265 times, 1972-2021)
Quiz/Panel Show, BBC1 (1972-1997), BBC2 (1990-2021)
70: Grange Hill (Shown 1269 times, 1978-2008)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1978-2008), BBC2 (1979-2008)
69: Athletics (Shown 1295 times, 1946-2021)
Sport, BBC Television Service (1946-1963), BBC1 (1964-2021), BBC2 (1966-2021)
68: To Buy or Not to Buy (Shown 1313 times, 2003-2012)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (2003-2011), BBC2 (2010-2012)
67: Casualty (Shown 1336 times, 1986-2021)
Drama, BBC1 (1986-2021)
66: Top Gear (Shown 1394 times, 1978-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (1981-2021), BBC2 (1978-2021)
65: Pingu (Shown 1404 times, 1990-2013)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1990-2005), BBC2 (1992-2013)
=63: Antiques Road Trip (Shown 1449 times, 2010-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (2011-2021), BBC2 (2010-2021)
=63: Natural World (Shown 1449 times, 1983-2021)
Factual, BBC1 (1983-2013), BBC2 (1983-2021)
62: Diagnosis Murder (Shown 1472 times, 1993-2011)
Drama, BBC1 (1993-2010), BBC2 (2000-2011)
61: Farming (Shown 1488 times, 1957-1988)
Factual, BBC Television Service (1957-1964), BBC1 (1964-1988)
60: Tomorrow’s World (Shown 1510 times, 1965-2003)
Factual, BBC1 (1965-2003), BBC2 (1986-1988)
59: The Money Programme (Shown 1515 times, 1966-2011)
Factual, BBC1 (1974-2011), BBC2 (1966-2010)
58: Scooby-Doo (Shown 1522 times, 1970-2012)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1970-2012), BBC2 (1972-2012)
57: Westminster (Shown 1567 times, 1970-2001)
Factual, BBC1 (1996-1999), BBC2 (1970-2001)
56: Have I Got News for You (Shown 1577 times, 1990-2021)
Comedy, BBC1 (2000-2021), BBC2 (1990-2021)
55: Animal Park (Shown 1638 times, 2000-2021)
Factual, BBC1 (2000-2021), BBC2 (2001-2021)
54: Coast (Shown 1644 times, 2005-2021)
Factual, BBC1 (2005-2012), BBC2 (2005-2021)
53: Twenty-Four Hours / 24 Hours (Shown 1684 times, 1965-1972)
Factual, BBC1 (1965-1972)
52: Holby City (Shown 1700 times, 1999-2021)
Soap, BBC1 (1999-2021), BBC2 (2012-2021)
51: Breakfast Time (Shown 1727 times, 1983-1989)
Other, BBC1 (1983-1989)
50: Racing (Shown 1741 times, 1946-2012)
Sport, BBC Television Service (1946-1964), BBC1 (1964-2012), BBC2 (1964-2012)
49: Points of View (Shown 1753 times, 1961-2021)
Other, BBC Television Service (1961-1964), BBC1 (1964-2021), BBC2 (2005-2021)
48: Antiques Roadshow (Shown 1762 times, 1979-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (1979-2021), BBC2 (1981-2021)
47: Arthur (Shown 1777 times, 1997-2012)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1997-2009), BBC2 (2001-2012)
46: Film [xx] (The Film Programme) (Shown 1873 times, 1971-2018)
Other, BBC1 (1971-2018), BBC2 (1984-2015)
45: Question Time (Shown 1910 times, 1979-2021)
Factual, BBC1 (1979-2021), BBC2 (2013-2021)
44: A Question of Sport (Shown 1932 times, 1970-2021)
Quiz/Panel Show, BBC1 (1970-2021), BBC2 (1991-2013)
43: Late Night Line-Up (Shown 1992 times, 1964-1989)
Talk Show, BBC2 (1964-1989)
42: See Hear! (Shown 2013 times, 1981-2021)
Other, BBC1 (1981-2012), BBC2 (1986-2021)
41: Town and Around (Shown 2044 times, 1960-1969)
Factual, BBC Television Service (1960-1964), BBC1 (1964-1969)
40: Horizon (Shown 2138 times, 1964-2021)
Factual, BBC1 (1973-2012), BBC2 (1964-2021)
39: Cash in the Attic (Shown 2231 times, 2002-2017)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (2002-2012), BBC2 (2006-2017)
38: Wimbledon (Shown 2304 times, 1937-2021)
Sport, BBC Television Service (1937-1963), BBC1 (1964-2021), BBC2 (1964-2021)
37: Tweenies (Shown 2446 times, 1999-2012)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1999-2004), BBC2 (1999-2012)
36: Golf (Shown 2488 times, 1938-2021)
Sport, BBC Television Service (1938-1963), BBC1 (1964-2019), BBC2 (1965-2021)
35: You and Me (Shown 2555 times, 1974-1995)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1974-1994), BBC2 (1977-1995)
34: Tonight (Shown 2582 times, 1957-1992)
Factual, BBC Television Service (1957-1964), BBC1 (1964-1982), BBC2 (1992-1992)
33: Ready Steady Cook (Shown 2633 times, 1994-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (1996-2021), BBC2 (1994-2021)
32: Pointless (Shown 2656 times, 2009-2021)
Quiz/Panel Show, BBC1 (2011-2021), BBC2 (2009-2021)
31: Top of the Pops (Shown 2723 times, 1964-2021)
Other, BBC Television Service (1964-1964), BBC1 (1964-2020), BBC2 (1991-2021)
30: Gardeners’ World (Shown 2732 times, 1968-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (1973-2009), BBC2 (1968-2021)
29: The Daily Politics (Shown 2793 times, 2003-2018)
Factual, BBC1 (2016-2016), BBC2 (2003-2018)
28: CountryFile (Shown 2795 times, 1988-2021)
Factual, BBC1 (1988-2021), BBC2 (1988-2021)
27: Party Political Broadcast (etc) (Shown 2804 times, 1950-2021)
Other, BBC Television Service (1950-1964), BBC1 (1964-2021), BBC2 (1964-2019)
26: The Weakest Link (Shown 2918 times, 2000-2021)
Quiz/Panel Show, BBC1 (2000-2021), BBC2 (2000-2013)
25: Nationwide (Shown 2930 times, 1969-1983)
Factual, BBC1 (1969-1983), BBC2 (1980-1980)
24: Teletubbies (Shown 2977 times, 1997-2009)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1997-2004), BBC2 (1997-2009)
23: Kilroy (Shown 3006 times, 1986-2004)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (1986-2004), BBC2 (1999-2001)
22: Eggheads (Shown 3049 times, 2003-2021)
Quiz/Panel Show, BBC1 (2003-2004), BBC2 (2004-2021)
21: Pebble Mill (Shown 3137 times, 1972-2004)
Talk Show, BBC1 (1972-2004), BBC2 (1976-1986)
20: Working Lunch (Shown 3296 times, 1994-2010)
Factual, BBC2 (1994-2010)
19: Panorama (Shown 3346 times, 1953-2021)
Factual, BBC Television Service (1953-1964), BBC1 (1964-2021), BBC2 (2005-2021)
18: The ONE Show (Shown 3400 times, 2006-2021)
Talk Show, BBC1 (2006-2021), BBC2 (2011-2021)
17: Songs of Praise (Shown 3428 times, 1961-2021)
Other, BBC Television Service (1961-1964), BBC1 (1964-2021), BBC2 (1983-2021)
16: Playdays (Shown 3925 times, 1988-2002)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1988-2001), BBC2 (1989-2002)
15: Match of the Day (Shown 4052 times, 1964-2021)
Sport, BBC1 (1966-2021), BBC2 (1964-2020)
14: Doctors (Shown 4081 times, 2000-2021)
Soap, BBC1 (2000-2021), BBC2 (2015-2020)
13: Escape to the Country (Shown 4365 times, 2002-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (2004-2021), BBC2 (2002-2021)
12: Snooker (Shown 4487 times, 1937-2021)
Sport, BBC Television Service (1937-1958), BBC1 (1978-2021), BBC2 (1977-2021)
11: Grandstand (Shown 4500 times, 1958-2007)
Sport, BBC Television Service (1958-1964), BBC1 (1964-2007), BBC2 (1968-2007)
10: Flog It! (Shown 4531 times, 2002-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (2008-2020), BBC2 (2002-2021)
9: Jackanory (Shown 4701 times, 1965-2009)
Children’s Programme, BBC1 (1965-2008), BBC2 (1971-2009)
8: Homes under the Hammer (Shown 5164 times, 2003-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (2003-2021), BBC2 (2004-2021)
7: Bargain Hunt (Shown 5836 times, 2000-2021)
Lifestyle, BBC1 (2000-2021), BBC2 (2000-2021)
6: Blue Peter (Shown 5967 times, 1958-2021)
Children’s Programme, BBC Television Service (1958-1964), BBC1 (1964-2012), BBC2 (1974-2021)
5: Cricket (Shown 6250 times, 1938-2021)
Sport, BBC Television Service (1938-1963), BBC1 (1964-2021), BBC2 (1964-2021)
4: Pages from Ceefax (Shown 6494 times, 1983-2000)
Other, BBC1 (1983-1993), BBC2 (1984-2000)
3: EastEnders (Shown 7902 times, 1985-2021)
Soap, BBC1 (1985-2021), BBC2 (1995-2021)
2: TBC (Shown 10,575 times, TBC-TBC)
1: TBC (Shown 10,582 times, TBC-TBC)
“That wasn’t much of an update!”
Bit rude. Just spent a long time putting each programme into a genre classification you can disagree with AND adding channel broadcast summaries. Tsk. BACK SOON.
BrokenTV 
4 responses to “The 100 Most-Broadcast BBC Programmes Of All Time: Pre-Reveal Recap”
Yellow Pearl duly hummed
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Ooh! What a cliffhanger. You’d almost think Mark had planned it this way.
At this point I’d like to give an honourable mention to “Service Information” (1967-82), the daily bulletin of information for the TV and radio trade to which I became vaguely addicted as a child, even though I didn’t understand a word of it. It doesn’t qualify for the list because it wasn’t listed in the Radio Times, but I estimate that it must have gone out something like 8000 times, which would presumably put it at #3 (or possibly #4) in the list if it were a “real” programme.
Looking forward to the reveal!
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Just like to say have followed this from the start having seen it mentioned on twitter and loved every post – thanks so much for keeping me entertained, just hoping the final wait is not much longer, Im not getting any younger!
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Many thanks – glad you’re enjoying it! Not much longer to go. Well, hopefully.
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