The past 20 years have given us some of the most extraordinary television ever made. We’ve witnessed the rise and fall of empires in Game of Thrones and Succession, walked the corridors of power in The Crown, and watched the drugs trade tear apart Baltimore in The Wire.
We’ve been gripped by the cat-and-mouse tension of Line of Duty and Happy Valley, dazzled by the brutal brilliance of Breaking Bad, and left speechless by the quiet devastation of Fleabag. Korean drama Squid Game became a global phenomenon, Germany’s Dark redefined sci-fi storytelling, and Spain’s Money Heist proved that subtitles were no barrier to a worldwide audience.
British comedy has kept us laughing, from the warmth of Gavin & Stacey and Derry Girls to the anarchic genius of Taskmaster and the quietly sinister brilliance of Inside No. 9. Across the Atlantic, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Schitt’s Creek and Ted Lasso reminded us that comedy could be both funny and genuinely moving.
And in drama, Peaky Blinders, Luther, Black Mirror, I May Destroy You, Mad Men, The Handmaid’s Tale, The White Lotus, Slow Horses and Adolescence all staked their claim as defining shows of their era. Last Tango in Halifax, Riot Women and It’s a Sin each, in their very different ways, reminded us of television’s unique power to illuminate the full breadth of human experience with honesty, compassion and wit.
Then there’s the television that brought us together as a nation, from Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Bake Off to David Attenborough’s landmark Planet Earth II. And the shows that shocked and haunted us long after the credits rolled, from Chernobyl to Only Murders in the Building.
But which single show stands above all the rest? Which programme do you believe has truly defined television over the past 20 years?
It’s a question that feels especially fitting in 2026. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary this summer, the milestone is a reminder of just how much culture has shifted since the festival first opened its gates in 2006. The same year that saw the birth of Latitude also gave us the beginnings of a golden age of television, and the two have grown up together ever since.
Cast your vote below. The shortlist will then go before a jury of TV personalities, writers and producers, who will crown the winner live on stage at Latitude later this summer as part of our anniversary celebrations. In the weeks running up to the festival, some of TV’s biggest names will be making the case for their favourite shows, so watch this space for more.
Voting remains open until 9th July, giving you plenty of time to make your voice heard before the jury takes over at Henham Park.
