The Best TV Shows on Channel 4

Every Channel 4 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

A broadcaster of distinction, Channel 4 has aired more than 20 shows between 1988 and 2017. Icons of Channel 4, Whose Line Is It Anyway? and Hollyoaks made their debut in 1988 and 1995, setting industry standards. Dive into our updated selection of Channel 4’s finest, featuring more than 20 series as of May 2025.

  • Black Mirror
    Black Mirror (2011)8.3

    Twisted tales run wild in this mind-bending anthology series that reveals humanity's worst traits, greatest innovations and more.

  • Whose Line Is It Anyway?
    Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1988)7.6

    An un-scripted comedy show in which four guest performers improvise their way through a series of games, many of which rely on audience suggestions.

  • Big Brother's Big Mouth
    Big Brother's Big Mouth (2004)7.5

  • Shameless
    Shameless (2004)7.5

    The story of a young group of siblings pretty much abandoned by their parents, surviving by their wits - and humor - on a rough Manchester council estate. Whilst they won't admit it, they need help and find it in Steve, a young middle class lad who falls for Fiona, the oldest sibling, and increasingly finds himself drawn to this unconventional and unique family. Anarchic family life seen through the eyes of an exceptionally bright fifteen year old, who struggles to come of age in the context of his belligerent father, closeted brother, psychotic sister and internet porn star neighbors.

  • 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
    8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (2013)7.2

    Jimmy Carr hosts proceedings as the 8 Out of 10 Cats crew take over the words and numbers quiz.

  • 8 Out of 10 Cats
    8 Out of 10 Cats (2005)7.1

    8 Out of 10 Cats is a British television comedy panel game produced by Zeppotron for Channel 4. It was first broadcast on 3 June 2005. The show is based on statistics and opinion polls, and draws on polls produced by a variety of organizations and new polls commissioned for the programme, carried out by company Harris Poll. The show's title is derived from a well-known advertising tagline for Whiskas cat food, which originally claimed that "8 out of 10 cats prefer Whiskas".

  • A Place in the Sun
    A Place in the Sun (2002)7.0

    The programme that helps house-hunters find their dream holiday home in the sun.

  • A Place in the Sun: Summer Sun
    A Place in the Sun: Summer Sun (2012)6.5

  • Location, Location, Location
    Location, Location, Location (2000)6.0

    No floorboard is left unturned as dynamic property experts Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer help house-hunters find the perfect home in the perfect location.

  • Big Brother's Little Brother
    Big Brother's Little Brother (2001)5.8

    Each week, the housemate evicted from the Big Brother house the previous week traditionally spends another week on Big Brother's Little Brother, answering questions and taking part in Call BBLB along with other features. The show also boasts celebrity guests and experts who come in to discuss and analyse the remaining Big Brother housemates.

  • Deal or No Deal
    Deal or No Deal (2005)5.8

    Noel Edmonds presents the hit game show in which any one of 22 players could win up to £250,000. There are 22 sealed boxes, but only one question: deal - or no deal?

  • The Last Leg
    The Last Leg (2013)5.4

    Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker provide some offbeat commentary on the significant moments of the past seven days.

  • The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
    The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice (2017)5.3

    The show that gives fans another bite of Bake Off when one helping just isn't enough. Jo Brand chats to a panel of celebrities about all the action, and meets the latest baker to leave the tent.

  • Hollyoaks
    Hollyoaks (1995)5.0

    The daily soap that follows the loves, lives and misdemeanours of a group of people living in the Chester village of Hollyoaks where anything could, and frequently does, happen...

  • V Graham Norton
    V Graham Norton (2002)5.0

    V Graham Norton was an entertainment programme shown on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom starring Graham Norton, broadcast every weeknight as a successor to the weekly So Graham Norton. It aired from 6 May 2002 to 26 December 2003. It featured celebrities who chatted with Graham and became involved in studio games which were usually laden with sexual innuendo. The studio games were later featured on the clip show Nortonland in 2007 on digital channel Challenge. The show featured a 'webcam', a roving television camera which was randomly situated in a different place in the UK each week and which followed Graham's instructions and allowed him to interact with the public live. The feature was made technically possible using digital microwave link technology provided by Rear Window Television with the 'spontaneous' webcam feature always produced as a full quality Outside Broadcast, before being made to look like a traditional webcam at the studios.

  • Come Dine with Me
    Come Dine with Me (2005)5.0

    Amateur chefs compete against each other by hosting a dinner party for the other contestants. Each competitor then rates the host's performance with the winner winning a £1,000 cash prize. An element of comedy is added to the show through comedian Dave Lamb, who provides a dry and "bitingly sarcastic" narration.

  • Alan Carr: Chatty Man
    Alan Carr: Chatty Man (2009)4.9

    Alan Carr: Chatty Man is a BAFTA award-winning British comedy chat show presented by comedian Alan Carr. The show features interviews with celebrity guests, sketches, topical chat and music.

  • Celebrity Big Brother
    Celebrity Big Brother (2001)4.8

    Celebrity Big Brother is a British reality television game show in which a number of celebrity contestants live in an isolated house trying to avoid being evicted by the public with the aim of winning a large cash prize being donated to the winner's nominated charity at the end of the run.

  • Big Brother
    Big Brother (2000)4.2

    A British reality television game show in which a number of contestants live in an isolated house for several weeks, trying to avoid being evicted by the public with the aim of winning a large cash prize at the end of the run.

  • RI:SE
    RI:SE (2002)2.0

    RI:SE is a breakfast television show made by Princess Productions in collaboration with BSkyB for Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. It was scheduled to replace The Big Breakfast after declining ratings. It launched on 29 April 2002. The programme was broadcast between 06:55 and 09:00 in the morning - nationally in the UK.