As a foreign viewer the only hard part to deal with is that there are FAR less episodes that comprise a series. Even when you take into consideration that most dramas have a run time closer to an hour, while their American counterparts clock in at around 43min. The run of a series is far less for most shows.
An average US show will run anywhere from 13 episodes (the new gold standard for cable shows) to 24 episodes for broadcast shows. A show like Spooks, which I talked about the other day, has had a run of anywhere from 6 to 10 episodes for a series. Other shows like the new Sherlock series run in an almost movie of the week format at 90min and only three episodes for series one.
That got me thinking....what are some of the longer running British TV shows? You really have to get a long run in order to have the episodes pile up. When Spooks finishes it's 10th series run it will have a total of 86 episodes, or approximately a four season run in the states. With only a few exceptions I could only think of a handful of shows that may have had a longer run...so I went to the web and found the following.
Soap Operas: as weekly shows go these are always going to have a bloated episode count. But, when you can get to the follow two numbers who can argue!?
Coronation Street - 1960-present, over 7565 episodes to date it
According to wikipedia (fine source that it is) on 17 September 2010 it became the world's longest-running TV soap opera currently in production. Daily soap opera or not...if you can come up with story lines for 50+ years you are the gold standard!
EastEnders - 1985-present. 4185 episodes to date
"Currently ranks as one of the most watched shows in the UK. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End of London." --Wikipedia
Drama- Usually anywhere from 45-65 min. per episode.
Monarch of the Glen - 2000-2005, 7 series, 64 total episodes
Walking a fine line between Drama and comedy this show was a success for it's five year, seven series, run on BBC One. With a final series of six episodes, Monarch never topped more than 11 episodes in a series.
Hustle - 2004-present, 7 series, currently 69 total episodes
With a cast headed by the great Robert Vaughn this shows has been a hit since it broke on the scene back in 2004. From one of the producers of Spooks, Hustle focuses on a group of con men who specialize in the long con, or the grift. To American audiences this may seem a lot like Leverage. Except consider the Leverage crew more of the A-Team of con artists....while the Hustle crew are more...well...hustlers!
Sci-Fi - only one king here...and the format has fluxed from 20min to almost an hour
Dr. Who - 1963-89, 2005-present, 26 total series, and 770 episodes to date
Over forty-eight years and 11 different Doctors (William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davidson, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGuinn, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith), Dr. Who has blazed forward as one of the greatest sci-fi series of all time. The only US sci-fi show to come close was Stargate SG-1 which, when it ended it's 10 seasons and 214 episodes, holds the title of the longest running North American series (surpassing the X-Files, 9 season and 202 episodes). Part of the charm of the original Dr. Who was the almost flimsy set pieces and monsters. A high mark of the new series is the coupling of great story telling with great (but still cheesy at times) special effects.
Comedy -- mostly half hour formats, can be upwards of 45 min. from time to time
'Allo 'Allo! - 1982-1992, 9 series and numerous specials, 85 episodes
Not since Hogan's Heroes or M*A*S*H has wartime been so funny. Set against the backdrop of a German occupied French town during world war 2. Similar to Mash you get a TV show about a war that lasted longer than the war itself.
Are You Being Served? - 1972-1985, 10 series, 69 episodes.
I was a fan of this show before I even knew how awesome British comedy was. Thanks to PBS this show, Monty Python and Black Adder were known to me before I knew about US comedy. That's a good thing because this has earned a place on my all time favorite list. Somewhere between an early version of The Office and a good slacker comedy comes the exploits of the few, the proud, the men and women of Grace Brothers. God bless those crazies, especially my personal favorite Mrs. Slocombe (played by the late Mollie Sugden).
Other/Reality
Top Gear - 1971-2002 (Original format) 2002-present (Relaunch) --18 series. 133 episodes
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May, the Stig. Some say this is the most illegally downloaded show in the world. Others say that car shows don't get any cooler than this. All I know is that at 133 episodes over 8 years and 18 series...the current format of Top Gear is a force to be reckoned with! With numerous spin off shows in other countries (including a US version I don't totally hate) the show is as informative as it is entertaining. Just don't tell US authorities if the boys try to come back. In that case theya re strictly an informative show! With laps around the track in super cars like Lamborgini's, Koenigsegg's and Bugati's down to "stars in a reasonable priced car" and comedic challenges...the show is a hit by any standard.
On the flip side of the long running shows you have some greats, especially comedies, that only got a few series.
Life On Mars -- 2006-2007, two series, 16 episodes
Ashes to Ashes -- 2008-2010, three series, 24 episodes
Monty Python's Flying Circus -- 1969-1974, four series, 45 episodes
Coupling -- 2000-2004, four series, 28 episodes
Black Adder -- 1983, 1986-1989, 1999, four series 24 episodes and three specials
Fawlty Towers -- 1975, 2 series, 12 episodes.
*Possibly my all time favorite comedy...period...hands down!! With a total of 12 episodes this show was comic genius. John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Connie Booth, Andrew Sachs (Manuel esta funny!!), If I was forced to name a favorite episode it would be a tie between all of them. But seriously, "The Germans" and "The Kipper and the Corpse" are my top two of the twelve.
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