ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES Is The UK’s Favourite TV Show Proving To Be The Feel-Good Retro TV Favourite Among Brits

Only Fools and Horses is the UK’s favourite TV show

Classic favourites like Friends, Fawlty Towers, Doctor Who also dominated the top 5 

Only 34% of Brits know their partners favourite TV show, while just 28% know their favourite film

 Will Smith named the UK’s favourite actor, followed by Tom Hardy and Tom Hanks

BRITS are seeking comfort from feel-good, nostalgic actors and TV shows in the wake of the pandemic, a new study finds. 

A survey of 1,001 UK adults, commissioned to mark the launch of the One4all Favourites Gift Card range, quizzed Brits of all ages on their favourite actors and TV shows, and it was the retro choices which came out on top – beating even contemporary favourites.

80s comedy classic Only Fools and Horses took the number one spot in the list of UK adults’ favourite TV shows – beating contemporary fantasy drama, Game of Thrones, which came in second.

Feel-good 90s American sitcom, F•R•I•E•N•D•S, followed in third place, continuing the trend. 

Homegrown TV sitcom Fawlty Towers came in fourth, while sci-fi drama Doctor Who – which appeared fifth on the list. 

Other long-running TV shows, Star Trek and The Simpsons, also scored highly in the top 10.

The data also revealed the UK’s favourite actors – with Will Smith, 52, who is best known for his role in 90s favourites the Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Men in Black, named the UK’s favourite actor.

While contemporary favourite, Tom Hardy, 43, appeared next on the list, classic movie icon Tom Hanks, 64, from classics like Big and Forrest Gump fame came in third.

Continuing the trend was Jennifer Anniston, 51, who is best known for her role in F•R•I•E•N•D•S, followed by national treasure Judi Dench, 85.

Other classic actors appearing in the list included the late Robin Williams, who was loved for his role in Mrs Doubtfire and Aladdin, and Michael Cane, 87, from The Italian Job and Alfie, who came in at seventh and 10th respectively.

Virtually 1 in 3 (32%) respondents said they believe their partner knowing their favourite TV show was a sign of a stronger relationship, while a similar number - 29% - agreed it was a sign of the same if they knew their favourite film. 

But when looking at what they knew about the key people in their lives, only 34% of Brits said they knew what their partners’ favourite TV show was, followed by just 28% who knew their favourite film. 

Aoife Davey, Senior Marketing Director at One4all Favourites Gift Cards comments on the findings “In difficult or trying times, we often seek out the comfort of the familiar – and so it makes sense to me that the TV shows which Brits consider their favourites this year are those which are feel-good shows they will remember from their younger years, or even childhoods. The same goes for actors. What’s more, classic films and TV shows are also benefiting from the rise in streaming services, which make retro shows more accessible to the masses.

Knowing someone’s favourite things and interests proves really helpful when it comes to gifting. Research has shown that it instils a sense of connection and gratitude, and the feeling that someone really knows and understands a person, when a gift shows that extra thought has been given.  Learning your loved ones favourite things will mean you can go the extra mile and put a more personal touch into their gift.”

One4all Favourites Gift Cards are the ideal gifting choice for those wanting to give a gift which reflects someone’s personality and interests, when they are not sure exactly what brand or item to buy them. 

One4all Favourites Gift Cards are available in three different variations; Beauty & Spa Favourites; Gamers Favourites; or Home & Garden Favourites. They can be spent with a variety of popular stores from within the card’s sector.

British Adults’ Top 10 Favourite Actors:

British Adults’ Top 10 Favourite TV Shows:

About NEW! One4all Favourites Gift Cards
Launched in November 2020, One4all Favourites Gift Cards are a new gift card range from the brand behind the multi-store gift card, One4all. 

One4all Favourites are a curated mix of everyone’s favourite brands in a single category specific gift card and an ideal solution for someone looking to purchase a gift card for a loved one that shows they understand their interests and/or hobbies. 

The One4all Favourites range allows the buyer to show they have given more thought to what will make the recipient happy i.e. receiving a niche gift card that calls out their interests. While they know what the recipient is into, they may not know exactly what brands and a One4all Favourites Gift Card allows them to buy in a range of stores that sell/specialise in their interest. 

One4all Favourites Gift Cards are available in three different variations: Beauty & Spa Favourites; Gamers’ Favourites and Home & Garden Favourites. 

Recipients can spend their One4all Favourites Gift Card at any of the participating retail partners listed on the front of the individual category cards. For example, Rituals and Champneys with Beauty & Spa Favourites, Robert Dyas and Amara with Home & Garden, and Fifa and Sims4 with Gamers’. 

Ranging in value from £15 to £100, a One4all Favourites Gift Card is easy to buy, even when restrictions are in place, from your local Post Office, gift card stands in Tesco and online. 

About One4all
One4all is proud to be part of the Blackhawk Network. Blackhawk Network is a global financial technology company and a leader in connecting brands and people through branded value solutions. Blackhawk platforms and solutions enable the management of stored value products, promotions and rewards programs in retail, ecommerce, financial services and mobile wallets. 

With a presence in over 26 countries, Blackhawk Network reliably executes branded payment programs in over 100 countries worldwide. Blackhawk is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.