Skip to main content

TV hits...and misses: Corrie makes list of 'most influential TV shows'



There’s no room for EastEnders, Doctor Who or Strictly Come Dancing.


Even Top of the Pops and the Antiques Roadshow fail to make an appearance.


In fact, not a single BBC show features on a list of the 50 most influential international TV programmes of all time.


The Corporation refused to allow the compilers to use clips from its shows, so the Beeb’s massive output had to be overlooked.

Scroll down for video and a list of the Top 50 shows




Actress Julie Goodyear alias Bet Lynch on the set of the influential show Coronation Street



Stephanie Beacham in the Celebrity Big Brother 2010 house



Chris Milligan and Colette Mann in hit soap Neighbours which is screened worldwide




Coronation Street original opening sequence


Instead, experts at Swiss ratings company The WIT scoured the world to come up with programmes that had the biggest emotional impact on generations of viewers.


The list was compiled to mark the 50th anniversary of Mip TV, a TV trade show held in Cannes each spring.


ITV shows such as Coronation Street and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire made the final list, although The X Factor failed to make the cut.


The decision not to include the Simon Cowell contest was even more bizarre given that the less successful The Voice – originally created by Dutch TV – was favoured.



Other programmes familiar to British viewers include raincoat-wearing detective Columbo, the soap operas Neighbours and Dallas, science fiction series Star Trek and the comedy Friends.


Many of the top programmes featured are reality shows, most of which have been remade many times overseas using the same basic format.


Virginia Mouseler, of The WIT, said: ‘We had two basic criteria. Firstly, we included shows that had a huge impact around the world by being distributed to many different countries.


‘Secondly, we picked shows that may be less well known internationally, but that had a big impact in their own country.


‘We really wanted to put Doctor Who top of the list.


‘But as the BBC wouldn’t give us the rights to show a clip on the website, we had to replace it with Astro Boy, which was created in the same year.


‘It was a great shame. UK viewers may also be disappointed we couldn’t include Top of the Pops, which obviously had a massive impact.


‘Sadly we couldn’t persuade the BBC to change their minds.


‘All of the other broadcasters around the world let us show clips of their programmes.’




The Simpsons opening credits


The top 50 most influential TV shows over the past 50 years


1963 - Astro Boy (Japan)
The first Japanese anime cartoon and first from the country to be aired overseas. Remade in the 1980s and 2003.


1964 - Jeopardy (USA)
Quiz show still going after 9,000 episodes and adapted by more than 30 countries.


1965 - The Dating Game (USA)
The first dating TV show ever, a forerunner to Blind Date and others.


1966 - Star Trek (USA)
The first cult TV show (below), spawning six hit franchise series and 12 movies, so far, and a new language - Klingon.





1967 - Aktenzeichen XY Ungelvst (Germany)
The world's first reality crime solving TV format, inspired Crimewatch, America's Most Wanted and others. Still going.


1968 - Columbo (USA)
The famous homicide detective Columbo (Peter Falk, below) and his car starred in 69 cult original episodes which aired in the USA until 2003 and in more than 40 countries.





1969 - Sesame Street (USA)
The longest-running and most acclaimed children show in the USA, gave birth to The Muppets.


1970 - Coronation Street (UK)
Launched in 1960, Corrie reaches the 10th year at the top. The show is the longest-running TV soap in the world.


1971 - The Persuaders (UK)
Tony Curtis and Roger Moore (below) as two crime-fighting playboys in ground-breaking transatlantic match-up but only lasted one series. Still repeated all over Europe though.





1972 - The Price Is Right (USA)
The first version of this genius idea appeared in 1956, making it the oldest TV game show but in 1972 became a daytime TV fixture in US. Adapted by 40 countries.


1973 - The Young & The Restless (USA)
Corny, tear-jerking soap opera still going strong after more than 10,000 episodes. A template for soaps aimed at younger viewers.


1974 - Derrick (Germany)
Germany's most successful show, following fictional Chief Inspector Stefan Derrick right through to 1998. Shown in 100 countries.


1975 - Wheel of Fortune (USA)
Simple but effective game show, still running in US and adapted by more than 50 countries, including, most recently, Egypt.


1976 - Family Feud (USA)
The US show still running and which we know as Family Fortunes. The format has been adapted by 50 countries including China.





1977 - The Krypton Factor (UK)
British-invented cult game show (above) combining physical and mental challenges. Briefly adapted by the US.


1978 - Dallas (USA)
Glamorous soap opera, recently revived, dubbed into 67 language, seen in 100 countries and when JR got shot, it made national news headlines across the world.





1979 - The Kids of Degrassi Street (Canada)
Canada's top TV export - to 140 countries. A drama following High School students right through their lives.


1980 - Grendizer (Japan)
A worldwide kids' favourite. Another anime and manga cartoon, this one about a super giant robot.


1981 - Wetten, dass..? (Germany)
The German forerunner of a much copied idea where the public take on bizarre challenges and celebrities bet on the outcome.


1982 - Letters and Numbers (France)
First aired in France in 1965 but better known in the UK as Countdown which was the first show to air on Channel 4 in 1982.


1983 - The Thorn Birds (USA)
TV version of best selling, steamy novel, featuring Richard Chamberlain as a priest torn between God and an illicit romance in the Aussie outback.





1984 - La Piovra (Italy)
Italy's most exported show, a police series telling of the never ending fight against organised crime in the country.


1985 - Neighbours (Australia)
Australia's longest running soap opera and one of its greatest exports and the show which introduced the world to Kylie, Jason and countless others.


1986 - Fun TV with Kato-chan and Ken-chan (Japan)
The variety show with a segment of viewers' videos which became the inspiration for America's Funniest Home Videos, You've Been Framed and many more.


1987 - The Bold and the Beautiful (USA)
America's youngest daytime soap but among its most corny and most popular, exported to 100 countries, following the passionate but mixed up lives of impossibly beautiful people.



1988 - Home & Away (Australia)
Australia's 'other' daily soap opera, but incredibly successful. Looks at a fictional beach side town where every inhabitant is either a hunk or a supermodel.

1989 - The Simpsons (USA)
The longest-running prime time scripted series in the US, a celebrity-infested cartoon (below), whose 524 episodes and myriad list of animated characters have made it a worldwide cult.





1990 - Fort Boyard (France)
A bizarre, physically challenging game show also featuring riddles and codes and set on a fort built by Napoleon in the Atlantic Ocean with a treasure room guarded by tigers.


1991 - Rugrats (USA)
An iconic, constantly repeated, roughly drawn cartoon series (below) offering a baby's eye view of the world but appealing to all ages and exported to 80 countries.







1992 - The Real World (USA)
Possibly the father of reality TV, combining soap-style storytelling with the real lives of real people put together in a variety of episodes.


1993 - Beavis & Butthead (USA)
Two dumb teenage 'metal heads' in a cartoon series which combines acerbic youth culture with MTV-style videos.


1994 - Friends (USA)
Six friends, 10 seasons, 236 episodes and an instantly recognisable theme tune made this a cult show and its stars like Jennifer Aniston, worldwide celebrities.







1995 - Caiga quien caiga (Argentina)
Much copied idea where irreverent journalists take a humorous look at that week's current affairs, sports and entertainment.


1996 - Dragon Ball GT (Japan)
Very successful culmination of a succession of series based on the best-selling Dragon Ball anime franchise.




1997 - Survivor (Sweden)
A British idea, taken up first by the Swedes, then it came back to Britain, went to 50 countries and has lasted longest in the USA.


1998 - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK)
Introduced the world to famous catchphrases like 'phone a friend' and 'is that your final answer?', exported (below) to 120 countries and the theme of the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.







1999 - Big Brother (Netherlands)
A phenomenon that took off in the first Dutch series when two contestants slept with each other. UK version gave us Nasty Nick, Jade Goody and some priceless celebrity moments including MP George Galloway dressed as a cat.




2000 - Popstars (Australia)
The show began a year earlier in New Zealand but it was the Aussie version which inspired copycat series all over the world, including the UK.


2001 - O Clone (The Clone - Brazil)
South American telenovela which went beyond the usual soaps and tackled issues as wide ranging as drug addiction, religion and human cloning.







2002 - American Idol (USA)
Inspired by Pop Idol in the UK but the one which really took off (above) and inspired 46 countries to do their own version and which has so far far created 200 worldwide 'stars.'


2003 - Rebelde Way (The Rebels) (Argentina)
A telenovela about four high school teenagers notable because it produced a pop band which has so far sold six million records. Then the Mexican version did exactly the same in its country too.




2004 - Desperate Housewives (USA)
Wisteria Lane's increasingly bizarre storylines lasted eight series and won a huge worldwide audience for its blend of dark comedy and drama.




2005 - Noor (Turkey)
A Turkish soap opera with a Cinderella story about a poor girl marrying into a rich family which is a phenomenon across the Middle East.


2006 - Got Talent (USA)
The show to blame, or thank, for Susan Boyle, which then took off in the USA leading to the format being adapted in more than 50 countries.


2007 - Forbrydelsen (The Killing) (Denmark)
Three season fictional crime thriller which has helped make dark and broody Scandinavian drama the trendiest television of the decade, not just here but in dozens of countries.


2008 - Murdoch Mysteries (Canada)
Canadian police drama set in the 1890s, exported to 100 countries and which sparked the trend for Victorian period crime dramas such as Whitechapel.


2009 - MasterChef Australia (Australia)
After the original British series failed to get to boiling point, the Aussies took the format and turned it into a culinary talent show which has been adapted by 35 countries.


2010 - The Voice (Netherlands)
A massive hit in Holland with its blind auditions that led to the UK, US and other versions in the fastest selling TV format of all time.






2011 - Homeland (Israel/USA)
The original 2010 Israeli series about prisoners of war was the first but it is the US one with British actor Damian Lewis (above) which has become a worldwide cult hit, with a third series starting in September.




2012 - Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord (Colombia)
Colombian biopic about the so-called 'Lord of Evil' which was a phenomenon in its own country and fast becoming a hit in countless other markets.

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o