Programmes I would suit my kids for evening family viewing
by johnno74 | created - 12 Jan 2013 | updated - 14 Oct 2016 | PublicWhenever there's no particular evening plans and if there's bad weather outside, there's always some television programmes parents and their children (aged birth-age to 14) could watch together. Here, I have a list of programmes what I consider suitable for evening family viewing and the ones I used to watch all the time with family on evenings when I was young. This list is in no particular order. I was going to put the list in a list of most important for family viewing, but I got lazy as I had a lot of programmes to name.
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1. BBC News 24 (1997– )
1,440 min | News
The BBC's 24 hour news service, also seen overnight on BBC One.
Stars: Tanya Beckett, Joanna Lumley, Monika Plaha, Sally Eden
Votes: 205
Well, any news programme really. Every child will need to watch the news someday. Otherwise they will miss out on the current events (for instance; if we're at war, it will be reported and everybody needs to know). The news will also give the children a larger chance of growing up with a wide knowledge of politics, economics and other subjects.
2. ITV News (1999– )
30 min | News
ITN news bulletins separate from the fixed time slots of their flagship programmes.
Stars: Lucy Verasamy, Julia Somerville, Mark Austin, Siân Lloyd
Votes: 69
Same basic reason as the BBC version.
3. The Simpsons (1989– )
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
The satiric adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.
Stars: Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner
Votes: 435,874
4. Thunderbirds (1965–1966)
TV-G | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Family
In the year 2065, the Tracy family run International Rescue - a top-secret organization whose ongoing mission is to rescue people trapped in extraordinarily dangerous situations using their advanced Thunderbirds machines.
Stars: Sylvia Anderson, Peter Dyneley, David Graham, Shane Rimmer
Votes: 5,112
5. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.
Stars: Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton
Votes: 135,978
6. Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967–1968)
TV-PG | 25 min | Action, Crime, Drama
In 2068, the indestructible Captain Scarlet leads the agents of Spectrum in a war of nerves against the Mysterons from Mars.
Stars: Ed Bishop, Donald Gray, Francis Matthews, Sylvia Anderson
Votes: 1,900
7. EastEnders (1985– )
TV-PG | 30 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
The everyday lives of working-class inhabitants of Albert Square, a traditional Victorian square of terrace houses surrounding a park in the East End of London's Walford borough. The square includes the Queen Vic pub and a street market.
Stars: Adam Woodyatt, Steve McFadden, Letitia Dean, June Brown
Votes: 9,223
8. Bonanza (1959–1973)
TV-PG | 49 min | Western
The Wild West adventures of Ben Cartwright and his sons as they run and defend their Nevada ranch while helping the surrounding community.
Stars: Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts
Votes: 10,996
9. Doctor Who (1963–1989)
TV-PG | 25 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
The adventures in time and space of the Doctor, a Time Lord who changes appearance and personality by regenerating when near death, and is joined by companions in battles against aliens and other megalomaniacs.
Stars: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker
Votes: 39,522
10. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy
A streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.
Stars: Will Smith, James Avery, Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali
Votes: 144,660
11. Batman (1966–1968)
TV-G | 25 min | Action, Crime, Fantasy
The Caped Crusader and his young ward battle evildoers in Gotham City.
Stars: Adam West, Burt Ward, Alan Napier, Neil Hamilton
Votes: 26,143
12. Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993–1997)
TV-PG | 46 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
In addition to fighting evil, Superman has a burning romance with Lois Lane in both of his identities.
Stars: Dean Cain, Teri Hatcher, Lane Smith, K Callan
Votes: 26,389
13. The A-Team (1983–1987)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
Four Vietnam vets, framed for a crime they didn't commit, help the innocent while on the run from the military.
Stars: George Peppard, Mr. T, Dwight Schultz, Dirk Benedict
Votes: 41,803
14. The Addams Family (1964–1966)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Horror
The misadventures of a blissfully macabre but extremely loving family.
Stars: John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy
Votes: 21,800
15. The Munsters (1964–1966)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
A family of friendly monsters have misadventures, never quite understanding why people react to them so strangely.
Stars: Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, Yvonne De Carlo, Butch Patrick
Votes: 16,893
16. Knight Rider (1982–1986)
TV-PG | 46 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A lone crimefighter battles the forces of evil with the help of a virtually indestructible and artificially intelligent supercar.
Stars: David Hasselhoff, Edward Mulhare, Richard Basehart, Patricia McPherson
Votes: 37,587
17. Charlie's Angels (1976–1981)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
A wealthy mystery man named Charlie runs a detective agency via a speakerphone and his personal assistant, John Bosley. His detectives are three beautiful women, who end up in a variety of difficult situations.
Stars: Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, David Doyle
Votes: 14,381
18. The Dukes of Hazzard (1979–1985)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Comedy
The adventures of the fast-drivin', rubber-burnin' Duke boys of Hazzard County.
Stars: Tom Wopat, John Schneider, Catherine Bach, Denver Pyle
Votes: 15,691
19. The Avengers (1961–1969)
TV-14 | 50 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners.
Stars: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, Linda Thorson
Votes: 8,887
20. Airwolf (1984–1986)
TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
As part of a deal with an intelligence agency to look for his missing brother, a renegade pilot goes on missions with an advanced battle helicopter.
Stars: Jan-Michael Vincent, Alex Cord, Ernest Borgnine, Jean Bruce Scott
Votes: 13,077
21. Minder (1979–1994)
TV-14 | 60 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Roguish comedy drama following the misadventures of small-time crook Arthur Daley. Can his ex-boxer bodyguard Terry stay level-headed whilst working for the King of Dodgy Deals?
Stars: George Cole, Glynn Edwards, Dennis Waterman, Gary Webster
Votes: 2,830
22. Malcolm in the Middle (2000– )
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Family
A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.
Stars: Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan
Votes: 142,559
23. Only Fools and Horses (1981–2003)
TV-PG | 95 min | Comedy
Comedy that follows two brothers from London's rough Peckham estate as they wheel and deal through a number of dodgy deals and search for the big score that'll make them millionaires.
Stars: David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Roger Lloyd Pack, Buster Merryfield
Votes: 56,708
24. Dad's Army (1968–1977)
30 min | Comedy, War
A ragtag group of Home Guard volunteers prepare for an imminent German invasion during World War II.
Stars: Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn, John Laurie
Votes: 7,231
25. Fawlty Towers (1975–1979)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Hotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.
Stars: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth
Votes: 100,146
26. Yes Minister (1980–1984)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
The Right Honorable James Hacker has landed the plum job of Cabinet Minister to the Department of Administration. At last he is in a position of power and can carry out some long-needed reforms, or so he thinks.
Stars: Paul Eddington, Nigel Hawthorne, Derek Fowlds, Diana Hoddinott
Votes: 16,546
27. Open All Hours (1976–1985)
30 min | Comedy
Arkwright is a miserly and eccentric shopkeeper with a stammer, who longs to marry his lifelong love Nurse Gladys. He runs a small town grocery store along with his errand boy and nephew, Granville and a particularly dangerous till.
Stars: Ronnie Barker, David Jason, Lynda Baron, Barbara Flynn
Votes: 5,953
28. Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995)
TV-PG | 60 min | Comedy
A snobbish housewife is determined to climb the social ladder, in spite of her family's working class connections and the constant chagrin of her long suffering husband.
Stars: Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift, Geoffrey Hughes, Judy Cornwell
Votes: 17,872
29. 'Allo 'Allo! (1982–1992)
45 min | Comedy, History, War
In France during World War II, René Artois runs a small café where Resistance fighters, Gestapo men, German Army officers and escaped Allied POWs interact daily, ignorant of one another's true identity or presence, exasperating René.
Stars: Gorden Kaye, Carmen Silvera, Vicki Michelle, Richard Marner
Votes: 27,057
30. Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy
Three old men from Yorkshire who have never grown up face the trials of their fellow town citizens and everyday life and stay young by reminiscing about the days of their youth and attempting feats not common to the elderly.
Stars: Peter Sallis, Jane Freeman, Kathy Staff, Robert Fyfe
Votes: 3,652
31. Red Dwarf (1988– )
TV-14 | 30 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
The adventures of the last human alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf.
Stars: Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn
Votes: 37,289
32. Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973–1978)
30 min | Comedy
Accident-prone Frank Spencer fails to navigate the simplest tasks of daily life, while also trying to look after his wife and baby.
Stars: Michael Crawford, Michele Dotrice, Jessica Forte, Dick Bentley
Votes: 4,171
33. The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976–1979)
30 min | Comedy
He story concerns a middle-aged middle manager, Reginald "Reggie" Perrin, and is driven to bizarre behaviour by the pointlessness of his job at Sunshine Desserts.
Stars: Leonard Rossiter, Pauline Yates, John Barron, Sue Nicholls
Votes: 2,176
34. On the Buses (1969–1973)
30 min | Comedy
Jack-the-lad bus driver and conductor Stan and Jack enjoy the female employees more than their work and Inspector Blake is relentless in his attempts to make their lives a misery.
Stars: Anna Karen, Bob Grant, Stephen Lewis, Reg Varney
Votes: 2,654
35. UFO (1970–1971)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Sci-Fi
The missions of the Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organization (SHADO), which defends Earth from extra-terrestrial threats.
Stars: Ed Bishop, Dolores Mantez, Michael Billington, Ayshea Brough
Votes: 4,132
36. Space: 1999 (1975–1977)
TV-14 | 50 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
The crew of Moonbase Alpha must struggle to survive when a massive explosion throws the Moon from Earths orbit and into deep space.
Stars: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Nick Tate, Zienia Merton
Votes: 9,437
37. Futurama (1999– )
TV-14 | 22 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy, is accidentally frozen in 1999 and thawed out on New Year's Eve 2999.
Stars: Billy West, John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille
Votes: 260,943
38. Space Precinct (1994–1995)
TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi
The alien adventures of former NYPD detective Patrick Brogan, now a lieutenant in the Demeter City Police Department on the planet Altor.
Stars: Ted Shackelford, Rob Youngblood, Simone Bendix, Nancy Paul
Votes: 1,013
39. The Muppet Show (1976–1981)
TV-G | 30 min | Comedy, Family, Musical
Kermit the Frog and his fellow Muppets put on a vaudeville show at their theatre, bringing in a famous celebrity to help out for each episode.
Stars: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz
Votes: 26,236
40. Weakest Link (2001–2003)
60 min | Game-Show
In this hybrid of "Inquizition" and "Survivor," contestants test their trivial mettle as a team and against each other. After each round of play, the team votes out the most expendable ... See full summary »
Stars: Anne Robinson, John Cramer, Alan Cumming, Lisa Ann Walter
Votes: 1,508
41. Gladiators (1992–2000)
60 min | Action, Game-Show, Reality-TV
Members of the public are pitted against superfit Gladiators in trials of strength, speed and stamina.
Stars: Ulrika Jonsson, John Anderson, John Sachs, Kim Betts
Votes: 1,506
42. Merlin (2008–2012)
TV-PG | 45 min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
These are the brand new adventures of Merlin, the legendary sorcerer as a young man, when he was just a servant to young Prince Arthur on the royal court of Camelot, who has soon become his best friend, and turned Arthur into a great king and a legend.
Stars: John Hurt, Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Richard Wilson
Votes: 87,240
43. Andrew Marr's History of the World (2012)
Documentary, History
Andrew Marr's History of the World is a 2012 BBC documentary television series presented by Andrew Marr that covers 70,000 years of world history from the beginning of human civilisation, ... See full summary »
Stars: Andrew Marr, Pierre Marais, Joe Vaz, Aubrey Shelton
Votes: 1,402
44. Who Do You Think You Are? (2004– )
60 min | Documentary, Biography, History
Celebrities study their lineages and family trees, usually learning surprising secrets they never knew about their families.
Stars: Mark Strong, Phil Davis, Cherie Lunghi, David Morrissey
Votes: 1,224
45. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (I) (1999–2020)
TV-G | 60 min | Game-Show
Contestants are chosen based on their ability to arrange 4 answers to a question in the correct order the fastest. They then have 15 multiple-choice questions correctly to win increasing amounts of money, the largest is $1,000,000.
Stars: Regis Philbin, John Carpenter, Meredith Vieira, Michael Shutterly
Votes: 3,089
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