Making terrific television is no laughing matter

Just two comedies in global experts’ top ten

What makes a great television series is often the subject of much debate.

But to be considered one of the best yet of the 21st century, it seems laughter is something many experts can do without.

In a poll of more than 200 television specialists from 43 countries, to compile a list of the 100 greatest tV series since 2000, just two comedies made the top ten.

american crime drama the Wire was voted the greatest series of the last 21 years in the poll. the show, which ran from 2002 to 2008 and stars British actors Dominic West and Idris Elba, came out on top.

almost a quarter ranked the series, based on the Baltimore drug scene, in first place and 48 per cent listed it in their top ten.

according to the list, compiled by BBC Culture, Phoebe WallerBridge’s comedy Fleabag landed in fourth place, with almost 40 per cent of experts placing it in their top ten. the show, featuring a young woman navigating life in London while she tries to cope with a recent tragedy, was the highest ranking programme by a woman.

Mad Men was voted the second greatest show, with crime series Breaking Bad third and Game Of thrones fifth.

the newest series in the top ten is Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, which was released last year and came in at number six. the Office UK, starring Ricky Gervais, was ninth – the only other comedy in the top ten. the US Office was significantly lower down at 39.

Other top ten shows include the Leftovers, the americans and Succession. the Crown was number 16,

Sherlock 25th and police drama Line Of Duty was further down at 27. Downton abbey featured at 36, while Luther sat at 95.

and there were a number of entries from the past two years, when Covid lockdowns have resulted in increased tV viewings.

Normal People, released in april last year, was 84th. Small axe made 51st place, while the Queen’s Gambit was number 100. Kate Winslet’s Mare Of Easttown was 66th.

BBC Culture journalist hugh Montgomery said: ‘We were overjoyed by the great response, and we hope that this list will provoke debate and inspire many watches and re-watches of the wonderful shows that have really helped make television the defining art form of the new millennium.’

English was the primary language of 92 of the top 100 shows. and 79 programmes were created by men compared to 11 made by women.

But BBC Culture said: ‘With nonEnglish language series increasingly amassing huge international audiences and a more diverse range of voices in terms of race, gender and sexual orientation being given creative control, the tV landscape could shift once again in crucial and inspiring ways in the future’.

‘Defining art form of new millennium’