What makes TV classic?

It’s a very open-ended question, I know. But what actually makes a TV programme a ‘classic’?

Is it the storyline? The characters? Perhaps just the fact that a lot of people watch it?

The list goes on and on and popularity is just a small part of the equation. Many classic programmes start out as unpopular sleeper hits – not many people watch them to begin with, but a proliferation of good reviews, water cooler chat and general word of mouth see them gain momentum to full-on classic-dom.

Or, of course, there is that status all TV execs have wet dreams about – the ‘instant classic’. That is, something that is great from the off and needs no reviews or goodwill to get that status.

Often you will find these little babies are productions from the other side of the pond, complete with high production values, A-list cast and often a Hollywood stalwart at the helm in either a director or producer capacity.

But do we produce instant classics here in the UK? The only one that springs to mind is the re-make of a well-known detective series which was close, but still attained its status by virtue of good reviews, lending the feel of a ‘sleeper hit’ more than an ‘instant classic’.

So, what are the traits that make good TV great; that makes it a classic? Over to you.