Named and shamed

The way we were: Breakfast Time in 1983

With three TRIC awards to our name, here on Breakfast we've become a little blasé about featuring in top 20 lists.

So, imagine our horror when we looked at the Radio Times and discovered that our fore-runner comes fifteenth in a list of the worst ever home grown TV programmes.

Breakfast Time - that's the programme with Frank Bough, Selina Scott and chubby-cheeked astrologer Russell Grant - was only slightly ahead of Triangle, the 1980s doomed soap opera set on a North Sea ferry.

It's been judged, by the TV critic John Naughton, to be even worse than Eldorado, Crossroads and televised origami with Robert Harbin.

This morning on Breakfast:

Our arts correspondent Emma Jones took a look at TV Hell. And we talked to the Deputy Editor of the Radio Times, David Butcher.

We asked for your suggestions for the top twenty

Go to Breakfast's Your Comments page

Of course, Breakfast has come a long way since the pioneering days of Frank Bough, Selina Scott and weather man Francis Wilson.

In 1989, it was re-named and re-launched as Breakfast News, with a brief to cover much harder news - and a presenter line-up which included Nick Witchell and Jill Dando.

In 2000, we shortened the name - and became Breakfast.

Among other TV programmes which make the Radio Times top 50 horrors are: Family Fortunes, the final series of French and Saunders and That's Life, with Esther Rantzen.

The Radio Times' Deputy Editor David Butcher was at pains to point out that the list was very much a personal compilation, from its TV critic John Naughton.

But he does agree with the choice of Number One.

"How did anyone ever think Naked Jungle would make good television," he asked. "The host was Keith Chegwin wearing not much but a pith helmet.

"Obviously no-one sets out to make bad television, but you have to wonder."

Here's the top 20 home-grown horrors... and if you want to see the entire list you'll have to buy a copy of the Radio Times, but remember other listings magazines are available.

The best of the worst: top twenty

List compiled by John Naughton for the Radio Times, the complete top 50 is published in today's edition

20 Ross Kemp: Alive In Alaska (1999)
19 Dream Team (1997-2006)
18 George and Mildred (1976-1979)
17 OTT (1982)
16 Thompson (1988)
15 Breakfast Time (1983-1989)
14 The Good Old Days (1953-1983)
13 The Borgias (1981)
12 The Black and White Minstrel Show (1958-1978)
11 Heil Honey I'm Home! (1990)
10 A Year In Provence (1993)
9 Through The Keyhole (1983-)
8 Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (1984-1991)
7 Love Thy Neighbour (1972-1976)
6 Wright Here, Wright Now (2002)
5 Annie's Bar (1996)
4 Quickfire Balls (2006)
3 Triangle (1981-1983)
2 Minipops (1983)
1 Naked Jungle (2000)