The year 2025 delivered a spectacular array of unforgettable, bizarre, and shocking moments on British television. From reality show mishaps and soap opera homages to dramatic departures and critical disasters, the small screen was never short of conversation starters.
Reality TV Revelations and Soap Opera Spectacles
The casting for The Celebrity Traitors was hailed as a masterpiece, but no one predicted its peak moment. In a tense challenge, veteran actress Celia Imrie broke the silence in the most unexpected way. "It's nerves, but I always own up," she confessed after the incident, as fellow contestants collapsed into laughter around her. It was a moment of pure, unscripted comedy that defined the series.
Meanwhile, EastEnders paid a brilliant tribute to its own history. The iconic "You ain't my mother!" scene between Kat and Zoe Slater was recreated with Michelle Ryan's high-profile return, staged on the same rainy Albert Square street. The careful replication of the original framing delivered a powerful dose of nostalgia for long-term fans.
Major Shake-ups and Baffling Cliffhangers
Two of the BBC's biggest entertainment brands faced seismic changes. Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman blindsided the nation by announcing their joint departure not on the show, but via an Instagram Reel. The move shocked viewers, the show's team, and raised questions about the timing and the unusual announcement method.
Over in the Doctor Who universe, a partnership with Disney failed to revive ratings, leading to Ncuti Gatwa's exit and the deal's collapse. The series finale, 'The Reality War', then delivered a head-scratching cliffhanger: the Doctor regenerated into the form of former companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). The ambiguity left fans wondering if this was a new Doctor or something else entirely, sparking intense debate.
Critical Triumphs and Unmitigated Disasters
On the drama front, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham's 'Adolescence' was a critical and ratings hit. Its third episode was particularly chilling, as teenager Jamie (Owen Cooper) revealed his misogynistic and manipulative nature to psychologist Briony (Erin Doherty) in a masterclass of acting and suspense.
In stark contrast, Ryan Murphy's legal drama 'All's Fair', starring Kim Kardashian, Glenn Close, and Sarah Paulson, earned a notorious distinction. It received the Guardian's 18th zero-star review in 204 years, described as "so awful, it feels almost contemptuous." It briefly held a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a rare feat of universal panning.
Unhinged Entertainment and News Fails
Prime Video found a surprise hit with a simple comedy format pitting comedians against each other's laughter. Bob Mortimer emerged as the steely champion, even beating Richard Ayoade, by making Judi Love laugh simply by sitting on a chair. His victory was a highlight of the chaotic show.
The year's news bloopers provided consistent comedy. Sky News suffered a major gaffe when a guest celebrated Pope Francis's recovery from pneumonia, only for breaking news of his death to follow. BBC Look North's Peter Levy won innuendo honours by stating, "mine's only a small one but it did go up this weekend," in reference to a Christmas tree. The ultimate fail, however, went to BBC Radio Derby's Ian Skye, whose on-air cramp led to an unfiltered expletive heard by all listeners.
From the horrifying realism of 'Blue Lights' to Louis Theroux being shoved during a West Bank documentary, and from a pregnant Mummy Pig on Good Morning Britain to Paul Merton's perfect quip about Prince Andrew, 2025 proved that television in the UK remained unpredictable, creative, and endlessly entertaining.
