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 Brookside and Dispatches, airing in 1982 and 1987 respectively. Channel 4’s extensive portfolio includes more than 20 shows, spanning the years from 1982 to 2015. As of September 2026, we’ve curated over 20 of Channel 4’s premier shows for your viewing pleasure.

  • 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.

  • Peep Show
    Peep Show (2003)8.0

    Two dysfunctional flatmates reveal all their inner thoughts - whether dark, stupid or embarrassing. Or, occasionally, all three...

  • Fifteen to One
    Fifteen to One (1988)7.5

    Fifteen contestants compete in this quiz show with three lives until one winner is left.

  • 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
    8 Out of 10 Cats (2005)7.2

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

  • First Dates
    First Dates (2013)6.6

    Interactive dating experiment in which real dates are filmed, and then viewers get the chance to apply to date the unsuccessful participants the following week.

  • Dispatches
    Dispatches (1987)6.5

    An in-depth look at news stories. Documentaries that take you behind the scenes giving an insight into people's lives or institutions.

  • Brookside
    Brookside (1982)6.2

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

  • Four in a Bed
    Four in a Bed (2010)6.2

    Four pairs of B&B owners from across Britain take it in turns as hosts to decide which of their establishments provides the best value for money.

  • Big Brother's Little Brother
    Big Brother's Little Brother (2001)6.0

    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)6.0

    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)5.7

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

  • V Graham Norton
    V Graham Norton (2002)5.3

    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)5.3

    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.

  • Hollyoaks
    Hollyoaks (1995)5.2

    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...

  • Celebrity Big Brother
    Celebrity Big Brother (2001)5.0

    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)4.4

    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)3.4

    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.