The UK's most memeable TV shows, ranked

It’s no secret that British TV is home to some of the most iconic memes, catchphrases, and quotes that are still spoken about years after the shows first aired. But which TV show takes the top spot in public memory according to the Brits? 

Here at Buzz Bingo, we wanted to ask the nation. So researchers conducted a study, creating a Reddit thread asking Brits for their opinions on the most ‘memeable’ British TV show, which prompted quite the debate. Reddit users provided their favourite quotes, memes and moments from a range of iconic British TV shows. 

So, we dug into the data to see which shows and quotes came out on top and are still living rent-free in the nation's head, with some unexpected results revealed. 

British classic Peep Show came out on top for memeable moments 

The results from our Reddit data showed that Peep Show is the most memeable TV show, mentioned 14 times in the Reddit thread, with a massive 103 upvotes. The most memeable catchphrases identified from Peep Show included "I'm winning, in the smallest possible way” and “Chance would be a fine thing”. 

Peep Show has racked in thousands of viewers since its first episode in 2003, acting as a breakout hit for creators David Mitchell and Robert Webb. The show ultimately ran for a whopping 12 years, which might begin to explain its reach to such a wide range of audiences. Google searches for Peep Show were also up 10% over the past year compared to the previous year, which for a show that first aired in 2003, is pretty impressive. 

The second-place show first aired over 30 years ago

Coming in second place was Father Ted, with the memeable nature of the classic show undeniable to many Redditors. It may surprise many that a show released between 1995 and 1998 has managed to have some of the most memeable moments in 2026, with clips still regularly appearing across social media. Approval was high for Father Ted, with 53 upvotes overall, showing how the show continues to appeal to many even over 30 years after it first aired.

Top Gear classics came in third, with so many memeable moments from the iconic trio, especially on their special episodes. The Top Gear specials saw Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May travel around the world to locations such as the US, Botswana, Vietnam and more, with lots of damage and funny moments along the way. 

The full results can be seen here:

Reality shows make the top 10, alongside sitcoms

As seen in the full results, it wasn’t just sitcoms that made the list, with popular British reality shows, like Big Brother and Come Dine With Me, making the top 10 for their memeable moments. Famous Come Dine With Me memes mentioned by Redditors included ‘What a sad little life Jane’, and the iconic ‘whisk in mouth moment’. 

Here at Buzz Bingo, we recently spoke to the man behind the iconic ‘whisk meme’ in Come Dine With Me, Kev Riley, who revealed he still gets recognised to this day, showing how the programme has delivered some incredibly memorable moments. Kev Riley said about the meme, “I love it. It's one of those things. I’ve done it and lived with it [...] when I'm out of town, people look at me as if they're saying, 'Where do I know him from?' Then it kicks in. Because Come Dine With Me has got a cult following." 

Mark Fletcher, our Head of Brand here at Buzz Bingo, noted: "British TV has a habit of producing lines that stick with us for years, and it's brilliant to see the internet keeping that spirit alive. Peep Show topping the list makes total sense, it's a show that rewards rewatching, and the data shows people are still quoting, searching for, and sharing its best moments over a decade on." 

Interested in our other studies? Why not check out our heatwave chamber study on the UK's favourite ice creams or which UK city is best to celebrate Pride? 

Methodology

Researchers at Buzz Bingo created a Reddit thread on r/AskUK asking users to name the most memeable British TV show, recording the number of mentions and upvotes for each show cited. The data was then analysed by multiplying the number of mentions by the number of upvotes, to determine the top 10 ranking. The ‘standout meme’ was identified by analysis of the Reddit thread, as well as social media searches.