Threads: Sheffield nuclear war drama named in top 100 BBC shows of all time

The corporation is preparing to celebrate a century of broadcasting – and TV and film experts have drawn up a list of some of the most influential programmes of all time.

Focusing on shows which were gamechangers for British TV, the 1984 drama about the aftermath of a nuclear attack on Sheffield has been named in the top 100 by experts from the British Film Institute.

Written by Barry Hines and directed and produced by Mick Jackson, the programme was a dramatic account of nuclear war and its effects in Britain and centres on two families as a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union erupts.

Shot on a budget of £400,000, the film was the first of its kind to depict a nuclear winter and has been called "a film which comes closest to representing the full horror of nuclear war and its aftermath, as well as the catastrophic impact that the event would have on human culture."

It was nominated for seven BAFTA awards in 1985 and won for Best Single Drama, Best Design, Best Film Cameraman and Best Film Editor.

The list highlights the best in comedy, drama, light entertainment, documentaries, sports shows and natural history – but popular favourites like Fawlty Towers, Only Fools And Horses and Line Of Duty aren’t included.

Here’s the full list

1. Television Comes to London (1936): A newsreel showing the construction of BBC television studios at Alexandra Palace and the opening night of BBC TV

2. Ballet Negres (1946): Excerpts from the repertoire of Europe’s first Black dance company presented with live music.

3. BBC Proms (1947-) The festival that finally brought classical music to the masses through our screens

4. The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (1953)

5. The Quatermass Experiment (1953)

6. Panorama (1953-)

7. Zoo Quest (1954 to 1963)

8. The Sooty Show (1955 to 1992)

9. A Man From The Sun (1956) A play telling the story of immigration from the point of view of the Windrush arrivals

10. Hancock’s Half Hour/ Hancock (1956 to 1960)

11. The Eurovision Song Contest (1956-)

12. The Sky At Night (1957-)

13. Monitor (1958 to 1965) Innovative arts magazine programme edited and presented by Huw Wheldon

14. Grandstand (1958 to 2007) Sports show updating fans on all the latest action.

15. Blue Peter (1958-)

16. Morning In The Streets (1959): A gritty documentary directed by Denis Mitchell and Roy Harris exploring life in north-west England.

17. Face To Face (1959 to 1962): One of the first ever “chat shows”