The Best TV Shows on Channel 4

Every Channel 4 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Leading the pack on Channel 4 are Brookside and Eurotrash, with their initial broadcasts in 1982 and 1993. Across the timeline from 1982 to 2023, Channel 4 has presented audiences with over 20 captivating shows. As of July 2026, our compilation of Channel 4’s top-rated series boasts over 20 unique shows.

  • Globe Trekker
    Globe Trekker (1994)8.3

    Globe Trekker is an adventure tourism television series produced by Pilot Productions. The British series was inspired by the Lonely Planet travelbooks and began airing in 1994. Globe Trekker is broadcast in over 40 countries across six continents. Each episode features a host, called a traveller, who travels with a camera crew to a country—often, a relatively exotic locale—and experiences the sights, sounds, and culture that the location has to offer. Special episodes feature in-depth city, beach, dive, shopping, history, festival, and food guides. The show often goes far beyond popular tourist destinations in order to give viewers a more authentic look at local culture. Presenters usually participate in different aspects of regional life, such as attending a traditional wedding or visiting a mining community. They address the viewer directly, acting as tourists-turned-tour guides, but are also filmed interacting with locals and discovering interesting locations in unrehearsed sequences. Globe Trekker also sometimes includes brief interviews with backpackers who share tips on independent travel in that particular country.

  • 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?

  • 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.

  • Food Unwrapped
    Food Unwrapped (2012)7.5

    The food and science series that travels the world to explore the industry secrets behind our favourite produce, industry secrets, and how foods are really made.

  • Eurotrash
    Eurotrash (1993)6.5

    The likes of Antoine de Caunes, Jean Paul Gaultier, Davina McCall, and Lolo Ferrari are your guides to the weird and wonderful in Europe and beyond. How else would you learn about pubic hairdressers, the Penis Olympics, or the latest Japanese sex toys?

  • 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?

  • Naked Attraction
    Naked Attraction (2016)6.0

    The show looks at whether a partner can be found based solely on the naked body and animal magnetism. Two singletons join host Anna Richardson as they seek to choose a date from a selection of six naked people, who will be revealed to them one body part at a time. They then get dressed and head off on a date, to see if there is any chemistry when the clothes come on.

  • The Couple Next Door
    The Couple Next Door (2023)5.8

    Evie and Pete move into an upscale neighborhood and find themselves in a world of curtain twitching and status anxiety. They find friendship in the shape of the couple next door, alpha traffic cop Danny and his wife, glamorous yoga instructor Becka, but after Danny and Evie share a passionate night together there is trouble ahead.

  • 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.

  • 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...

  • Married at First Sight UK
    Married at First Sight UK (2015)5.1

    Working with leading relationship experts, eight British singles are carefully match-made into four married couples, who each meet each other - for the very first time - at their wedding. We'll follow them as they marry, honeymoon, meet the in-laws and set up home, all the while getting to know one another more and more deeply, to see if the matchmakers have got it right and they will have a future together.

  • 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.

  • RI:SE
    RI:SE (2002)5.0

    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.

  • 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.