The Best TV Shows on Channel 4

Every Channel 4 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Some of the best tv shows from Channel 4 include An Audience with... and Brookside, airing in 1978 and 1982 respectively. With its programming history stretching from 1978 to 2015, Channel 4 offers an impressive lineup of over 20 shows. Peruse our comprehensive roster of Channel 4’s top shows, encompassing over 20 distinct series as of April 2026.

  • 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.

  • Taskmaster
    Taskmaster (2015)8.3

    Greg Davies is the Taskmaster, and with the help of his ever-loyal assistant Alex Horne, they will set out to test the wiles, wit, wisdom and skills of five hyper-competitive comedians. Who will be crowned the Taskmaster champion?

  • The IT Crowd
    The IT Crowd (2006)8.2

    The comedic misadventures of Roy, Moss, and their grifting supervisor Jen, a 'motley crew' of IT support workers at a large corporation headed by a hotheaded yuppie.

  • Black Books
    Black Books (2000)8.1

    Black Books centres around the foul tempered and wildly eccentric bookshop owner Bernard Black. Bernard’s devotion to the twin pleasures of drunkenness and wilful antagonism deepens and enriches both his life and that of Manny, his assistant. Bearded, sweet and good, Manny is everything that Bernard isn’t and is punished by Bernard relentlessly just for the crime of existing. They depend on each other for meaning as Fran, their oldest friend, depends on them for distraction. Black Books is a haven of books, wine and conversation, the only threat to the group’s peace and prosperity is their own limitless stupidity.

  • Peep Show
    Peep Show (2003)8.1

    Peep Show follows the lives of two men from their twenties to thirties, Mark Corrigan, who has steady employment for most of the series, and Jeremy "Jez" Usbourne, an unemployed would-be musician.

  • Shameless
    Shameless (2004)7.6

    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.

  • Humans
    Humans (2015)7.5

    In a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a 'Synth' - a highly-developed robotic servant that's so similar to a real human it's transforming the way we live.

  • The Comic Strip Presents...
    The Comic Strip Presents... (1982)7.4

    The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, who do parodies of films, literature and sometimes major events.

  • 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
    8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown (2013)7.3

    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

    A weekly, topical panel show based around a huge series of opinion poll surveys carried out around Britain.

  • Dispatches
    Dispatches (1987)6.7

    Long-running Channel 4 documentary series covering issues about British society, politics, health, religion, international current affairs and the environment. Known for featuring a mole inside organisations under journalistic investigation.

  • Brookside
    Brookside (1982)6.1

    The ground-breaking soap set in a housing estate on the outskirts of Liverpool.

  • 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.

  • The Last Leg
    The Last Leg (2013)5.7

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

  • An Audience with...
    An Audience with... (1978)5.3

    An Audience with... is a British entertainment television show produced by London Weekend Television, in which a host, usually a singer or comedian, performs for an invited audience of celebrity guests, interspersed with questions from the audience, in a light hearted revue/tribute style.

  • Hollyoaks
    Hollyoaks (1995)5.1

    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...

  • Come Dine with Me
    Come Dine with Me (2005)5.1

    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.

  • Celebrity Big Brother
    Celebrity Big Brother (2001)4.9

    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)4.3

    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.

  • Richard & Judy
    Richard & Judy (2001)2.9

    Richard & Judy was a British chat show presented by the married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. The show originally aired on Channel 4, from 2001 to 2008, but later moved to digital channel, Watch, in October 2008. The programme featured a number of celebrities and a book club. Its final episode aired in July 2009 due to low ratings.