Table of Contents
- The Impact of the Millennium on British TV
- Noughties Shows Making a Comeback
- Gladiators
- Celebrity Love Island
- Hole in the Wall
- Footballer's Wives
- Big Brother
- Baywatch
- The Inbetweeners
The year 2000 didn't just signal the beginning of a new Millennium; it also marked a pivotal moment for British television.
While we still enjoyed high-energy shows dominating the schedules, a new and audacious genre emerged.
Noughties shows are making a comeback, pictured: Footballers’ Wives cast, who could be getting a rebootCredit: Shed Productions
The decade that followed brought us reality shows and the still-thriving lad culture, alongside brilliantly crude comedies.
What do they all share in common?
After making a significant impact, many of these edgy shows were ultimately canceled.
By around 2010, these provocative programs had been phased out in favor of a more politically correct era of television, which, let's be honest, has not compared favorably.
However, we may soon see many of these beloved shows back on our screens within the next two years.
Some major hits, such as Big Brother and Gladiators, have already made successful comebacks, with more likely to follow.
Recently, Footballers' Wives returned, bringing back the outrageous storylines that captivated audiences between 2002 and 2006.
Who could forget the moment when Gillian Taylforth’s character Jackie Pascoe was caught breastfeeding her grandson?
Or the unforgettable incident where Chardonnay’s fake breasts caught fire due to a spilled drink and a candelabra?
Classy? Not at all. Delightful? Absolutely. The show was a mix of sexy, silly, and tacky, perfectly capturing the WAG culture of the time.
Also on the verge of returning is The Inbetweeners, a series that followed four teenage boys navigating sex, drinking, and school life, complete with plenty of profanities and mischief.
The three seasons aired from 2008 to 2010 and delivered a level of comedy that has been unmatched since, making any revival a cause for celebration.
These are just the latest in a wave of Noughties favorites making a resurgence.
First came ITV’s reboot of Love Island in 2015, which, let's face it, mirrored the celebrity version that aired in 2005 and 2006.
Once executives recognized the potential for reviving classic shows, came the revival in 2021, replacing the show's notoriously intimidating quizmaster with Romesh Ranganathan.
Then, in 2023, the return of another beloved show, which had been canceled first by one network and then by another, despite it coming to define Noughties television.
Gladiators
Last year, Gladiators made a comeback after being off the air since 2009.
This revival was a bold move, given that the sight of contestants in revealing outfits engaging in physical challenges could provoke outrage among more sensitive viewers.
If that’s daring, they might want to brace themselves, as it appears Baywatch, last seen on UK television in 2001, may also be making a return, with producers in the U.S. considering a revival of the iconic lifeguard drama.
The iconic bathing suits will undoubtedly require their own warning notices.
If that isn't enough, also on the horizon is the outrageous game show that aired on BBC One in 2008 and 2009, featuring various celebrities dressed in tight silver outfits, getting knocked into water by oversized polystyrene walls.
What connects all these eclectic shows?
One word: fun. Something that has been sorely lacking in British television since 2010.
Perhaps it was the rise of U.S. streaming services that ushered in a wave of serious, "woke" programming that felt more earnest and less entertaining.
Anything slightly shocking, edgy, or risqué suddenly appeared outdated and crass.
Only recently have UK executives realized that our unique brand of programming was actually the envy of other countries.
After all, why do you think shows like Big Brother and Gladiators became global sensations?
And why are networks now trying to recapture that magic with shows such as Building The Band and The Next Act?
Finally, they seem to have come to their senses. Sure, we can smooth out some of the rough edges of the original formats, but let’s not strip away their essence.
Revisiting the Noughties has shown us that British TV has been on its best behavior for far too long.
So, let’s welcome back the year 20.
Gladiators
For a whole generation, Gladiators became essential Saturday night viewingCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
