Top 20 All Time Greatest British TV Scenes

#20: Diane Gets Murdered

“The Traitors” (2022-)

Since it first hit our screens in 2022, this reality game show has been a massive hit. Players are separated into being either faithful or a traitor. The traitors' identities are kept secret, and they must collaborate to eliminate all others. This led to the incredible scene where Diane Carson, who was a fan favorite, was tragically murdered in series 2, episode 7. The players don’t instantly know who has been killed. Instead, 3 people sit in coffins, and the remaining contestants must guess who was unlucky. Unfortunately, Diane was sent home this episode, shocking everyone, as she was so adored among contestants. Her own son had to see her go, which was a relationship kept in secret.

#19: Mr. Pamuk’s Death

“Downton Abbey” (2010-15)

This character only appeared in one episode of the series. Despite his short-lived appearance, he had a massive impact on the story. Pamuk was a Turkish diplomat who fell for Lady Mary Crawley in series 1. After questionably pressuring her into making love, he ends up dying suddenly of a heart attack. They then have to hide his body, alongside covering up the affair, to try and save Mary’s reputation. It has such profound consequences, it’s still mentioned in series 6 when the show was approaching its conclusion. Fascinatingly, the entire ordeal is based on a true story, according to writer Julian Fellowes.

#18: Brexit

“Love Island” (2015-)

We all remember Brexit, the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, which happened in 2020. If you were interested in finding out about Brexit’s repercussions, then you would struggle to find a less reliable source than “Love Island.” The topic came up during series 4 in 2018. One contestant, Hayley Hughes, proved to be hilariously uninformed about the topic. She didn’t even know what Brexit was at first. This was about 2 years after the vote, something which she was likely completely unaware of. Either that, or the memory left her head in the 2 years after.

#17: Clarkson Beats the Bullet Train

“Top Gear” (2002-22)

Also known as Shinkansens in Japan, these high-speed trains can reach 200 miles per hour. This makes them a formidable opponent in a race across Japan. No one is wild enough to take one on, though, right? And even if someone did, they wouldn’t have a chance of winning. Except, Jeremy Clarkson did exactly that, and against all odds, he won. It wasn’t just a train he was racing; it was Richard and James who were trying to use the trains to beat Clarkson in a Nissan GTR. In the end, the pair had to also use a regular train, the Tokyo metro, a bus, a ferry, bicycles, alongside a cable car. So, if they’d been a bit more competent, they could’ve won it.

#16: What a Sad Little Life, Jane

“Come Dine With Me” (2005-)

This is easily one of the most quintessentially British reality series. From snakes on the table to hairy men covered in sushi, there are so many memorable moments, it’s tough to pick one. Well, that would be if it weren’t for the hilariously sore loser. As he hosted the final night, it was up to him to announce the winners. Unfortunately for the others, he just started ripping into the winner, which made everyone extremely uncomfortable. The scene has since become ingrained in British culture. It’s a massively popular meme, and the contestants involved say they’re still recognised at least once a month.

#15: Nadiya Wins

“The Great British Bake Off” (2010-)

Since it first aired in 2010, it’s become one of the biggest TV events of the year. In series 6, full-time mother Nadiya Hussain decided to try winning the baking competition. She almost instantly became one of the most loved contestants. Not only did she seem a delightful person, but her baking skills were phenomenal. In the final, she made 16 separate iced buns, a massive wedding cake, and a stunning mille-feuille. She did all this in a remarkably short time, earning her the final prize. Over 15 million people tuned in to see her win, and she’s been busy since, making shows for the BBC alongside writing a ton of books.

#14: Mark’s Wedding

“Peep Show” (2003-15)

Few shows are as painfully funny as “Peep Show.” This awkward comedy has tons of iconic moments, plus it’s one of the most quotable shows ever made. To many, the series peaked at the end of series 4, when Mark hilariously got married to Sophie, despite wanting anything but that. The rest of the season built up to this amazing climax. As they often do, Mark and Jez make the worst decisions possible, never saying no to intrusive thoughts. This leads to an almost Shakespearean avalanche of ineptitude, with Mark and Jez hiding out in the church. It’s British humor at its finest, written so well you can’t help but feel painfully embarrassed for the characters.

#13: Gillian Collapses

“I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” (2002-)

We’re sure most people would despise the majority of challenges celebrities endure in this game show. While they are intended to be unpleasant, the contestants know what they’re signing up for, plus they’re paid a pretty penny. Well, one time in 2010, Gillian McKeith was so desperate to escape a challenge, she fainted in a way many believed was fake. According to her, it was entirely real, caused by entomophobia, something she’s still defensive about today. She came eighth in the end, a pretty unimpressive result. According to her, she’s still so terrified of insects, if there’s a spider in her house, she calls a taxi to come and remove it.

#12: Sherlock Falls

“Sherlock” (2010-17)

When you think of the greatest cliffhangers in British TV history, the famous Sherlock fall might come to mind first. At the end of series 2, Sherlock faces off against his rival Moriarty. With no idea how to get the upper hand, he decided to jump off a building, seemingly ending his life. Then, it turns out he was alive all along, with a brief shot of him looking at his own grave. The cliffhanger was amazingly well set up, spurring months of speculation and fan theories about how he survived. Unfortunately, a lot of fans were unhappy with the resolution. It’s never clearly revealed how he lived. He does explain, but it’s implied there’s a strong chance he’s lying.

#11: Urgent Exit Required

“Line of Duty” (2012-)

This police procedural has received almost nothing but praise since it first came to our screens in 2012. It’s centred around an anti-corruption unit, AC-12, who essentially police the police. Fans almost universally agree, the show’s peak was the end of series 3. After episodes of mystery surrounding “the Caddy”, an undercover police officer working for criminals, they finally figure out who it is. Before they can take him down, though, he requests backup from his fellow corrupt officers. The resulting action sequence is stunningly over the top, but an absolute blast to watch, making for one of the most tense episodes in TV history.

#10: Nessa’s Proposal

“Gavin & Stacey” (2007-24)

Another beloved British sitcom is, of course, “Gavin & Stacey”. It first ran from 2007 until 2010, written by James Corden and Ruth Jones, who played the main characters, Smithy and Nessa. Almost ten years after series 3 ended, they released the 2019 Christmas special episode. It ended on an immense cliffhanger, with Nessa proposing to Smithy. Anyone who wanted a speedy conclusion didn’t get it. The final dropped in 2024, revealing Smithy hadn’t given Nessa a response. Instead, he married his partner, Sonia. Well, until the last minute, when he finally changes his mind, giving fans a conclusion they’ve waited over a decade for.

#9: Subo’s First Audition

“Britain’s Got Talent” (2007-)

No moment from a British talent show sticks in our memories more than Susan Boyle’s first-ever audition. Before singing, she claims she’d like to be as famous as Elaine Paige, a statement that gets a few chuckles. Their attitude changed the moment she began singing. Not long after, she released a debut album, which broke a plethora of records, instantly reaching number 1 on the charts. It even charted in America, hilariously beating Eminem’s 2009 album, Relapse. More than a decade later, she’s still believed to be a millionaire, yet she’s remained humble, still living in her family home in West Lothian.

#8: Tram Crash

“Coronation Street” (1960-)

This soap has been running since the 1960s, meaning almost every British person will have watched an episode at some point. As is common for soap operas, the drama can get pretty over the top. The most excessive this soap got was in 2010, when a pub had a tragic gas leak, leading to an explosion. This led to a domino effect, with the nearby tramline getting destroyed, causing a tram to crash into the street. It’s an immense catastrophe, which was an intense experience to watch live. It was such a major TV event that over 14 million people tuned in, a massive figure given their average 4 million viewers per episode.

#7: Final Ending

“The Office” (2001-03)

Few people expected “The Office” to have a positive ending. It nearly didn’t, in fairness, with series 2’s ending being especially bleak. Thankfully, things weren’t left there. About a year later, a two-part Christmas special was released, which many consider the best episode in the series. It ended with all our dreams coming true, Dawn finally leaves Lee for Tim, and David makes people actually laugh. It’s an especially heart-warming ending, which is stunning, given how painful the rest of the series is. The series only lasted 14 episodes, but its short length hasn’t stopped it from having a massive impact on comedy worldwide.

#6: Vincent van Gogh

“Doctor Who” (2005-)

While you could argue all day about which Doctor was the best, when it comes to which scene was the saddest, one sticks out. Famously, now celebrated, painter van Gogh received little praise during his life. How this affected van Gogh was covered in one episode of series five, and it made almost the entire country cry. The Doctor uses his time machine to show van Gogh how adored his artwork is in 2010. He treats him to massive words of praise from an art critic, played by the famous Bill Nighy. It’s also an excellent portrayal of mental health, a topic rarely covered on “Doctor Who” before this episode.

#5: Batman & Robin

“Only Fools and Horses” (1981-91)

This 80s sitcom covers the hilarious antics of working-class lads in Peckham. The main characters are brothers Del Boy and Rodney. When it comes to one-off gags, Del Boy falling through the bar is, in our opinion, the show’s funniest moment. When it comes to full scenes, nothing tops the hilarious Batman and Robin scene. It comes from the 90s Christmas special, which sees the pair dress up for a costume party. On the way there, their car breaks down, so they have to run the remaining distance. This then leads to the sidesplitting moment where they save a woman from being mugged, entirely by random luck.

#4: The Dead Parrot

“Monty Python's Flying Circus” (1969-74)

It’s safe to say no comedy troupe has been as influential as Monty Python. Their first series, “Flying Circus”, became a staple of sketch comedy. Out of every hilarious sketch, the dead parrot sticks out to us the most. The dynamic between John Cleese and Michael Palin is addictive. It’s a bit that anyone who has dealt with customer service can relate to. The sketch is so adored, it’s been performed countless times over the years. Most recently was in 2014 for their final shows, a 10-night run at the 02 Arena, released under the title “Monty Python Live (Mostly).” This means there was a massive 45-year gap between the first and last performance of this sketch.

#3: You Ain’t My Mother

“EastEnders” (1985-)

Our next soap opera entry isn’t quite as flashy as the tram crash, but it’s somehow much more memorable. For years, Kat Slater kept a secret, which was that Zoe was her daughter. Zoe believed they were just sisters, but Kat gave birth to her after a dark incident with Harry Slater while still a child. The moment this was finally revealed in 2001 was beyond iconic. Zoe could barely believe it, leading her to say the most famous line in “EastEnders” history. Over two decades later, it’s held in just as high regard as it was when it aired.

#2: Don’t Mention the War

“Fawlty Towers” (1975-79)

Even though it only had 12 episodes, “Fawlty Towers” had no shortage of memorable moments. Out of all of them, the comical meeting with the Germans is remembered most warmly. The episode centres on Basil trying to look after some German guests, while hiding his problematic views on Germans. His restraint goes straight out the window after he gets a concussion, leading him to an absolutely ridiculous scene where he can’t do anything but mention the war. It has since become controversial for its anti-German sentiments, but it's defended by how you’re supposed to be laughing at Basil Fawlty, who is rarely anything less than a complete buffoon.

#1: Blackadder Goes Forth

“Blackadder” (1983-89)

We’re sure a lot of you could’ve seen this coming from a mile away. After four memorable series, “Blackadder” goes from being one of the funniest shows ever to the saddest. After spending a whole series in the trenches, it concludes with the cast being sent into no man’s land. It’s implied that none of them make it out alive. Many people regard it as a perfect ending to an almost flawless show. A strong argument could be made that it’s the most poignant scene in British TV history, which is especially impressive, given it’s a comedy series.

What’s your favorite scene in British TV history, and did we include it in our ranking? Let us know in the comments below!