Radio Times poll shows old TV favourites popular

Move over The X Factor – when it comes to the ultimate TV schedule, it is old favourites such as Morecambe and Wise and Only Fools And Horses that viewers want to see.

Viewers want to see old favourites such as Only Fools And Horses. Picture: Contributed

Radio Times conducted a poll to create the best all-time evening on the small screen.

The only current shows to make the final list were Blue Peter and Doctor Who, in the children’s and drama categories respectively.

Sir Trevor McDonald won the news category, taking almost as many votes as the next four most popular nominees – Moira Stuart, Kenneth Kendall, Reginald Bosanquet and Fiona Bruce – combined.

Michael Palin topped the documentary section with Around The World In 80 Days (1989), just beating Sir David Attenborough’s Life On Earth into second place.

The Morecambe And Wise Show won the entertainment vote, followed by another comedy duo, The Two Ronnies. Strictly Come Dancing was next on the entertainment list, which was completed by Top Gear and I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! There was no place for The X Factor.

Doctor Who, soon to star Scottish actor Peter Capaldi and now in its 50th year, was named top drama, beating Sherlock and Downton Abbey into second and third place.

Eighties favourite Only Fools And Horses was named top comedy, with none of today’s sitcoms in the top five. It was completed by Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, Dad’s Army and Father Ted.

Thunderbirds, first broadcast in 1965 and set to be remade by ITV, was runner-up in the children’s category, followed by Wallace & Gromit, In The Night Garden and Grange Hill.

Almost 30,000 votes were cast in the poll, to mark the 90th anniversary special issue of Radio Times.