50 Fun Facts About British TV Shows

Coronation Street is set in which fictional Greater Manchester town?

Creator Tony Warren based it on his hometown of Salford; the soap has aired on ITV since December 1960.

EastEnders is set in which fictional London borough?

It launched on BBC One in February 1985 and topped the ratings within eight months.

More than 30 million watched EastEnders' most-viewed episode, broadcast on which day in 1986?

It holds the number one spot in the UK's all-time most-watched programmes.

In Only Fools and Horses, what is Del Boy Trotter's trade?

David Jason's Derek and Nicholas Lyndhurst's Rodney chase riches from Peckham in south-east London.

Which character was introduced to Only Fools and Horses after Lennard Pearce's death in 1984?

Buster Merryfield played Grandad's estranged brother.

Fawlty Towers is set in a hotel in which seaside town?

The Gleneagles Hotel there, and its owner Donald Sinclair, inspired John Cleese during a Monty Python stay in 1970.

How many episodes of Fawlty Towers were made in total?

Two series of six, in 1975 and 1979, written by Cleese and Connie Booth.

Who plays Baldrick, servant to every Blackadder?

Rowan Atkinson played Edmund across all four series, each set in a different historical period.

Who co-wrote the last three Blackadder series with Richard Curtis?

Atkinson co-wrote the first series; John Lloyd produced all four.

The Office (UK) is set in the Slough branch of which fictional paper company?

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant created it, and Gervais starred as David Brent.

Downton Abbey is set on a fictional estate in which county?

Julian Fellowes' drama runs from the Titanic's sinking in 1912 to New Year's Eve 1925.

How many episodes of Downton Abbey aired across its six series?

That includes five Christmas specials; it debuted on ITV in September 2010.

Who created Sherlock with Mark Gatiss?

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman starred in thirteen episodes from 2010 to 2017.

In which city was Sherlock primarily filmed?

North Gower Street in London stood in for Baker Street.

Peep Show's Mark and Jeremy share a flat in which part of London?

David Mitchell and Robert Webb starred from 2003 to 2015, the longest-running comedy in Channel 4 history.

What camera technique gives Peep Show its title?

The characters' thoughts are heard as voiceovers.

Which company produces The Great British Bake Off?

It began on BBC Two in August 2010 and later moved to Channel 4 after series seven.

The BBC's celebrity dance contest takes half its title from which 1992 film?

The format has been exported to 60 countries as Dancing with the Stars.

Who co-presented Strictly Come Dancing with Tess Daly from its start?

Claudia Winkleman became co-lead presenter from the 2014 series.

Who presented Top Gear's first revived series in 2002 alongside Clarkson and Hammond?

Dawe was replaced after one series; the anonymous Stig also featured from the start.

What is the name of the unit at the centre of Line of Duty?

Jed Mercurio's drama about 'policing the police' stars Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar.

Gavin & Stacey's two families come from Billericay and which Welsh town?

James Corden and Ruth Jones wrote it and played Smithy and Nessa.

Who plays Stacey's uncle Bryn in Gavin & Stacey?

Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb play Gavin's parents Pam and Mick.

Father Ted is set on which fictional location off Ireland's west coast?

Bishop Brennan exiles Ted, Dougal and Jack there, with housekeeper Mrs Doyle.

Which two writers created Father Ted?

Linehan later created The IT Crowd; Hat Trick produced Ted for Channel 4.

In Red Dwarf, how long was Dave Lister in suspended animation?

He wakes as the last human, with a hologram of Rimmer and a creature evolved from his cat.

Which broadcaster revived Red Dwarf from 2009 to 2020?

The original ran on BBC Two from 1988 to 1999.

How many episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus aired on the BBC?

Four series from 1969 to 1974, plus two episodes made for German TV.

Dad's Army is about which wartime organisation?

Its volunteers were too old or otherwise ineligible for military service, hence the title.

Who plays Geraldine Granger in The Vicar of Dibley?

The sitcom followed the Church of England's 1993 decision to ordain women.

In Absolutely Fabulous, who plays Patsy Stone?

Jennifer Saunders stars as Edina Monsoon; the show grew from a French and Saunders sketch.

The IT Crowd is set in the basement of which fictional company?

Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade and Katherine Parkinson starred; Graham Linehan wrote and directed.

Who plays DCI John Luther?

Ruth Wilson co-stars as murderer Alice Morgan; a film, The Fallen Sun, followed in 2023.

Broadchurch is set on the coast of which county?

David Tennant and Olivia Colman investigate the death of 11-year-old Danny Latimer.

Peaky Blinders is set in which city?

Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby leads a gang loosely based on a real one active from the 1880s to the 1920s.

Call the Midwife was based on the memoirs of whom?

She worked with the Anglican Community of St. John the Divine in the East End.

Who created Taskmaster and serves as the Taskmaster's assistant?

It started as an Edinburgh Fringe show in 2010 before Dave and then Channel 4 picked it up.

Who are the two team captains on Have I Got News for You?

Angus Deayton hosted until 2002, when he was sacked over tabloid scandals.

Who hosted QI from 2003 to 2016?

Alan Davies is the permanent panellist; points go to interesting answers and get docked for obvious wrong ones.

Who presented Countdown for 23 years, from its 1982 launch until his death?

Countdown was the very first programme broadcast on Channel 4, on 2 November 1982; Rachel Riley and Susie Dent remain on the show today.

Blue Peter holds which world record?

It has been on air since October 1958 and now comes from Manchester.

The long-running ITV soap known today by a single word dropped which word in 1989?

Its fictional village was itself called Beckindale until 1994, when it was renamed after the show.

Who played Queen Elizabeth II in the first two seasons of The Crown?

The principal cast changed every two seasons as the story advanced from 1947 to 2005.

Fleabag was adapted from Phoebe Waller-Bridge's one-woman show first performed where?

Andrew Scott joined for season two; most characters, including his, are never named.

Derry Girls is set during the final years of what?

Lisa McGee drew on her own 1990s Catholic girlhood in Derry.

Who narrated Gogglebox from its 2013 launch until 2016?

Craig Cash took over shortly before her death.

Who created The Thick of It?

It began on BBC Four in 2005 and its fourth series in 2012 tackled a coalition government.

How many episodes of Mr. Bean were made?

Rowan Atkinson developed the character while studying for a master's degree at Oxford.

How does Hyacinth Bucket insist her surname is pronounced?

Patricia Routledge played the social climber in 44 episodes of Keeping Up Appearances.

In Life on Mars, Sam Tyler wakes up in which year after a car accident?

John Simm's Manchester detective serves under Philip Glenister's Gene Hunt; the title is a David Bowie song.