The Best TV Shows on Channel 5

Every Channel 5 Show Ranked From Best To Worst

Across the timeline from 1984 to 2020, Channel 5 has presented audiences with over 20 captivating shows. Highlighting Channel 5’s quality programming, Thomas & Friends and Fireman Sam stand out, premiering in 1984 and 1987. As of July 2025, we’ve curated over 20 of Channel 5’s premier shows for your viewing pleasure.

  • Mayday
    Mayday (2003)8.2

    Major real-life air disasters are depicted in this series. Each episode features a detailed dramatized reconstruction of the incident based on cockpit voice recorders and air traffic control transcripts, as well as eyewitnesses recounts and interviews with aviation experts.

  • All Creatures Great & Small
    All Creatures Great & Small (2020)8.2

    The heartwarming and humorous adventures of a young country vet in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1930s. A remake of the 1978 series.

  • The Tribe
    The Tribe (1999)6.9

    The Tribe is a New Zealand/British post-apocalyptic fictional TV series primarily aimed at teenagers. It is set in a near-future in which all adults have been wiped out by a deadly virus, leaving the children of the world to fend for themselves. The show's focus is on an unnamed city inhabited by tribes of children and teenagers. It was primarily filmed in and around Wellington, New Zealand. The series was created by Raymond Thompson and Harry Duffin and was developed and produced by the Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group in conjunction with the UK's Channel 5. It has aired on over 40 broadcast networks around the world.

  • Thomas & Friends
    Thomas & Friends (1984)6.8

    Thomas & Friends is a British children's television series, which had its first broadcast on the ITV network on 4 September 1984. It is based on The Railway Series of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry. These books deal with the adventures of a group of anthropomorphised locomotives and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Wilbert told to entertain his son, Christopher during his recovery from measles. From Series one to four, many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.

  • The Gadget Show
    The Gadget Show (2004)6.7

    The Gadget Show is a British television series which focuses on consumer technology. The show, which is broadcast on Channel 5 is currently presented by Jason Bradbury and Rachel Riley with Jon Bentley and Pollyanna Woodward. Originally a thirty-minute show, it was extended to forty-five minutes, then later to sixty minutes. Repeats have also aired on the digital channel 5*, syndicated broadcasts on Discovery Science and Dave, and Channel 5's Internet on-demand service Demand 5. In Australia, it is aired on The Lifestyle Channel.

  • Peppa Pig
    Peppa Pig (2004)6.6

    Peppa Pig is an energetic piggy who lives with Mummy, Daddy, and little brother George. She loves to jump in mud puddles and make loud snorting noises.

  • Fireman Sam
    Fireman Sam (1987)6.2

    Follow the adventures of fireman Sam and his colleagues as they protect the citizens of the Welsh town of Pontypandy. Whenever the alarm sounds, brave Sam and his co-workers can be counted on to jump into a fire engine, hop onto a helicopter, or even launch an inflatable lifeboat to battle blazes, mount rescue missions, or provide medical attention to those in need.

  • Roary the Racing Car
    Roary the Racing Car (2007)6.2

    Follows the adventures of Roary, his race car friends Maxi, Cici (Zizzy), Drifter (Dragga), and others at Silver Hatch race track. Roary is a red racing car shaped similarly to a grand prix car. The majority of the action takes place at the track's pits and workshop, although we often follow the cars on their laps around the track.

  • Make Way for Noddy
    Make Way for Noddy (2002)6.0

    Noddy, a wooden boy who lives in Toyland, introduces social concepts. He has big musical adventures with his friends and a very big imagination.

  • Trucking Hell
    Trucking Hell (2018)6.0

    Super-sized transport jobs require even bigger trucks to perform them. Lifting the lid on the heavy recovery business, featuring industrial strength trucks capable of towing and lifting the biggest and heaviest machines on the nation's roads.

  • The Mr. Men Show
    The Mr. Men Show (2008)5.5

    The Mr. Men Show was an animated television series based on the original Mr. Men and Little Miss books created in the 1970s, 80s and 90s by British author Roger Hargreaves and his son Adam Hargreaves. Adapted from the published source material into a television variety program, The Mr. Men Show features comedy sketches, pantomimes, dance numbers and music videos. The TV series is directed by Mark Risley and executive produced by Eryk Casemiro & Kate Boutilier. Original score and songs are composed by Jared Faber. Season 1 first aired on February 4, 2008 and Season 2 aired on September 8, 2009.

  • Fifth Gear
    Fifth Gear (2002)5.4

    Getting viewers up to speed on all the latest automotive information, with new car reviews, second hand bargains and industry tidbits being the focus of this magazine show.

  • Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom
    Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom (2009)5.4

    The friendship between fairy princess Holly and Ben Elf in an enchanted magical kingdom of elves and fairies.

  • A Girl's Guide to 21st Century Sex
    A Girl's Guide to 21st Century Sex (2006)5.2

    A Girl's Guide to 21st Century Sex is a documentary TV series about sex, which ran in eight episodes on Channel 5 and was presented by Dr. Catherine Hood. The 45-minute long episodes were broadcast on Monday nights. The series started on 30 October 2006, with the final programme broadcast on 18 December 2006. Each episode explained a sex position and covered a sexually transmitted disease. Additionally, the following topics were discussed: sex among handicapped and overweight people, penis enlargement devices, penis enlargement surgery, sexual violence against men and penis removal, tantric sex, the g-spot, erectile dysfunction, sex reassignment surgery, cosmetic surgery of the vagina, swinging, lichen sclerosus, the use of recreational drugs during sex, male homosexual sex in public toilets, full body plastic wrap bondage, and sex dolls.

  • Fifi and the Flowertots
    Fifi and the Flowertots (2005)5.0

    Follows Fifi the flower and her friends as they learn about helping each other and using their imaginations.

  • Big Brother's Bit on the Side
    Big Brother's Bit on the Side (2011)4.9

    The place to catch up on all things Big Brother UK! Join Emma Willis for the best mix of exclusive clips, news and reactions from the house, plus celebrity guests and live debates in the studio.

  • 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.

  • OK! TV
    OK! TV (2011)4.0

    OK! TV is an early evening magazine programme, broadcast on Channel 5 as a brand extension of celebrity title OK! Magazine. It replaced the former magazine and discussion show Live from Studio Five on 14 February 2011, and was presented by Kate Walsh and Matt Johnson, both of whom later left the programme. Jeff Brazier and Jenny Frost replaced Walsh and Johnson in August 2011 and presented the show until its cancellation. The show was made by the 5 News team and produced by Sky News for Channel 5. On 8 November 2011, it was announced that the show has been cancelled by Channel 5. The show aired its final edition on 16 December after ten months on air due to the contract for 5 News returning to ITN.

  • Family Affairs
    Family Affairs (1997)2.6

    Focuses on the lives of residents in the fictional London suburb of Charnham.