Can You Name These British TV Shows From the '80s and '90s?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name These British TV Shows From the '80s and '90s?
Image: ITV

About This Quiz

British television, like the national output of any nation, is certainly not without its embarrassments, from shows that should simply have never been commissioned in the first place to shows that are inexplicably popular to shows that seemed very good at the time but became tasteless in just a couple of years. However, it has also never been without its highlights, whether created by the publicly-funded BBC or by rival channels ITV and Channel Four. Indeed, such was the quality of some of the better output from these networks that the arrival of cable was widely regarded as not initially having an enormous impact on the quantity of TV that the average person might like to watch.

Of course, the '80s and '90s TV had the advantage of a perfect storm: every household had a colour TV (and often more than one), but there was not yet any competition from the internet. That gave the four main channels captive audiences, meaning that they could easily expect their viewers to constitute a significant percentage of the population while enjoying a monocultural stranglehold on Monday morning water cooler conversation. This social pressure to be up to date with popular shows meant that if you lived through this time, you simply HAD to know them ... and that means you still remember them. Or does it? It's time to find out!

Question 1 - Only Fools and Horses
BBC One
Do you recognize David Jason as one of the two Trotter brothers in this hit sitcom?
"Fawlty Towers"
"Dad's Army"
"Only Fools and Horses"
"Peep Show"
Question 2 - Grange Hill
BBC One/ CBBC
What is this soapy show set in a comprehensive school?
"Grange Hill"
"Coronation Street"
"Teachers"
"Byjer Grove"
Question 3 - Yes, Minister
BBC Studios
Do you recognise this searing and brilliant political satire?
"Yes, Minister"
"Veep"
"Absolutely Fabulous"
"Fawlty Towers"

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Question 4 - Beadle's About
ITV
What is this weirdly cruel prank show that ran for 10 years?
"Beadle's About"
"Opportunity Knocks"
"Button Moon"
"Pigeon Street"
Question 5 - Blackadder
BBC One
Can you name Rowan Atkinson in his first big hit with co-stars Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie?
"Mr. Bean"
"Blackadder"
"Not The Nine O'Clock News"
"Fawlty Towers"
Question 6 - The Young Ones
BBC Two
What is this comedy about the weird events in four students' lives?
"The Inbetweeners"
"The Young Ones"
"Black Books"
"The Royle Family"

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Question 7 - Auf Wiedersehen, Pet
ITV/ BBC One
Do you recall this show about British workers going overseas?
"Coronation Street"
"Postman Pat"
"The Professionals"
"Auf Wiedersehen, Pet"
Question 8 - To The Manor Born
BBC One
What is this hilarious social satire set on the estate of a beautiful stately home?
|Downton Abbey|
|Veep|
|Fawlty Towers|
|To the Manor Born|
Question 9 - Spitting Image
ITV
Can you remember this satirical puppet show of the period?
"Bremner, Bird, and Fortune"
"Withnail And I"
"The Kumars at No. 42"
"Spitting Image"

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Question 10 - Rory Bremner
Channel Four
This isn't the real Tony Blair ... so which TV show is it?
"Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch"
"Rory Bremner ... Who Else?"
"Veep"
"Newsnight"
Question 11 - Top of the Pops
BBC One/ BBC Two
Hit songs were featured weekly in which mega-hit Friday night show?
"Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway"
"TFI Friday"
"Top of the Pops"
"The Jonathan Ross Show"
Question 12 - Da Ali G Show
Channel 4/ HBO
What is this show, which spun off from another Channel Four success?
"Da Ali G Show"
"Black Books"
"Top Gear"
"The 11 O'Clock Show"

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Question 13 - The Two Ronnies
BBC One
Can you name this show whose stars both had the same name?
"The Two Jennifers"
"Fawlty Towers"
"The Two Ronnies"
"Jonathan Dimbleby"
Question 14 - Not The Nine O'Clock News
BBC Two
What is this show, that first made Rowan Atkinson famous?
"Mock the Week"
"Not The Nine O'Clock News"
"The Day Today"
"Newsnight"
Question 15 - Rumpole of the Bailey
ITV
Do you know the name of this popular courtroom drama?
"Criminal Justice"
"Silk"
"Judge John Deed"
"Rumpole of the Bailey"

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Question 16 - French & Saunders
BBC One/ BBC Two
Can you identify this hilarious comedy duo?
"French & Saunders"
"Fawlty Towers"
"Black Books"
"Absolutely Fabulous"
Question 17 - The Bill
ITV
Do you remember this long-running soapy cop show?
"The Bill"
"Coronation Street"
"Silent Witness"
"Kavanagh QC"
Question 18 - Lovejoy
BBC One
What is this comedy-drama mystery show of the '80s?
"Broadchurch"
"Hamish Macbeth"
"Luther"
"Lovejoy"

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Question 19 - Absolutely Fabulous
BBC Two/ BBC One
Two national treasures star in this show, but what is its name?
"Miranda"
"The Office"
"Absolutely Fabulous"
"Last of the Summer Wine"
Question 20 - One Foot in the Grave
BBC One
I don't believe it! What's this sitcom, then?
"One Foot in the Grave"
"Fawlty Towers"
"Dad's Army"
"Peep Show"
Question 21 - Keeping Up Appearances
BBC One
Do you recognize this incredibly successful sitcom about middle class foibles?
"Keeping Up Appearances"
"Dad's Army"
"Peep Show"
"The Inbetweeners"

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Question 22 - Red Dwarf
BBC Two/ Dave
It's cold outside, and ridiculous inside! What is this show?
"The Inbetweeners"
"Red Dwarf"
"Fawlty Towers"
"Last of the Summer Wine"
Question 23 - The Vicar Of Dibley
BBC One
What is this sitcom starring half of an iconic comic duo?
"Peep Show"
"The Inbetweeners"
"Dad's Army"
"The Vicar Of Dibley"
Question 24 - I'm Alan Partridge
BBC Two
Ahoy! Do you know what show this is?
"I'm Alan Partridge"
"Black Books"
"The Good Life"
"Are You Being Served?"

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Question 25 - Have I Got News For You
BBC Two/ BBC One/ BBC One HD
Can you recognize this flagship BBC comedy news program?
"The Day Today"
"Have I Got News For You"
"That Was The Week That Was"
"Mock the Week"
Question 26 - Eastenders
BBC One/ BBC One HD
What is the name of this long-running BBC soap opera?
"Coronation Street"
"Emmerdale"
"Eastenders"
"Brookside"
Question 27 - Allo Allo
BBC One
If we asked whether you know the name of this show, would you say, "Oui" or "Non"?
"'Allo 'Allo"
"Are You Being Served?"
"Steptoe and Son"
"The Thick of It"

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Question 28 - Cracker
Granada Television for ITV
Can you remember this show about a criminal psychologist?
Cracker
Line of Duty
Unforgotten
Silent Witness
Question 29 - Drop the Dead Donkey
Channel 4
Do you recall this satire about the world of political news?
"Drop the Dead Donkey"
"Mock the Week"
"That Was The Week That Was"
"The Day Today"
Question 30 - Inspector Morse
ITV
Can you name this long-running police show?
"Unforgotten"
"Broadchurch"
"Inspector Morse"
"Luther"

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Question 31 - Dinnerladies
BBC One
Do you remember this show about making the best of an awful job in a manufacturing company canteen?
"Dinnerladies"
"Are You Being Served?"
"Open All Hours"
"Coupling"
Question 32 - Men Behaving Badly
ITV/ BBC1/ Channel 4
Can you name this show that was considered the ultimate representation of "lad" culture?
"Bottom"
"Men Behaving Badly"
"Father Ted"
"Coupling"
Question 33 - The Ruth Rendell Mysteries
ITV
Do you know this show, adapted from a popular mystery writer's books?
"Grantchester"
"Broadchurch"
"The Ruth Rendell Mysteries"
"Poldark"

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Question 34 - The Day Today
ITV
What is this tragically short-lived comedy news show?
"That Was The Week That Was"
"Newsnight"
"The Day That Was"
"The Day Today"
Question 35 - Mr. Bean
ITV
One of the most successful TV shows of all time, what is this mega-hit from Rowan Atkinson?
"Mr. Bean"
"The Inbetweeners"
"Porridge"
"Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em"
Question 36 - Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
ITV/ BBC One
A housewife turns detective in this '90s show. What is its name?
"Hetty Wainthropp Investigates"
"Scott & Bailey"
"Life On Mars"
"The Fall"

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Question 37 - A Bit Of Fry And Laurie
BBC One/ BBC Two
Before "House" and "QI," the two leads teamed up in this show. Do you remember it?
"Mind Your Language"
"Porridge"
"A Bit of Fry and Laurie"
"Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em"
Question 38 -TFI Friday
Channel 4
Are you familiar with this popular talkshow from Ginger Productions' Chris Evans?
"TFI Friday"
"Later With Jools Holland"
"The Last Leg"
"Top Gear"
Question 39 - As Time Goes By
BBC One
Sweethearts reconnected for this TV show, but can you remember its name?
"As Time Goes By"
"Last of the Summer Wine"
"One Foot in the Grave"
"The Darling Buds of May"

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Question 40 - Countryfilez
BBC One
Can you name this long-running and charming show about the ins and outs of rural British life?
"A Prayer and a Pint"
"Countryfile"
"Songs of Praise"
"Gardener's World"