Emmerdale is one of a handful of shows which have been around for decades (Picture: ITV)
There’s nothing more devastating than the end of a hit programme, but some TV fans have had decades of content from their favourite shows.
Whether it’s sci-fi or soaps you love, there are a few that have been going for over 30 years.
And that includes some of the UK’s best-loved shows, among them Emmerdale, which turns 50 in 2022, having become a staple of the TV schedules since it first graced the airwaves in 1972.
But while that show, as well as the likes of Coronation Street, The Simpsons, and General Hospital have been on air for generations, but they don’t quite clinch the top spot.
So, what are the longest running TV shows in the world?
What is the longest-running TV show in the world?
Guiding Light is the longest-running TV show in the world, with 72 years on the air. The American daytime soap was created in 1937, debuting on the radio – and was finally taken off CBS in 2009.
It followed Reverend John Ruthledge and his community, largely centred on Chicago.
Guiding Light is the longest-running TV show in history (Picture: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
After this, The Tonight Show is the longest running, with six comedian presenters and thousands of episodes since 1954.
Next up on the list of longest-running shows is Coronation Street. We first headed to Weatherfield in 1960, and the explosive storyline hasn’t stopped since.
Fans of General Hospital were thrilled recently as Amanda Setton returned to the show as the beloved Brook Lynn. The US medical drama has been running for 57 years, and shows no signs of stopping.
After Days Of Our Lives was featured in Friends, the soap was introduced to a whole new audience. Absurd accidents and unlikely relationships reign in this show, which is 55 years old this year.
The first-ever episode of Coronation Street aired on December 9, 1960 (Picture: ITV)
What other shows have been on air for decades?
As The World Turns – As The World Turns aired for 54 years, beginning with 15 minute shows in 1956. It spent a record-breaking 20 years as the most watched daytime show in the US, before finally coming off air in 2010.
Sazae-San / サザエさん– This Japanese anime series was first published in print, but became a television programme in 1969. Featuring the cartoon Sazae and her colourful neighbourhood, the show focusses on the little joys in life, like finding a double-yolk in a cracked egg.
Sesame Street – Jim Henson’s puppet programme has delighted children for generations. Elmo, Cookie Monster and Big Bird hit our screens 51 years ago, and has taught young people about their place in the world ever since. It’s not without controversy though. Recent episodes introduced two new Black puppets that discussed racial literacy, with the decision dividing viewers.
Emmerdale – The countryside cousin of Corrie, Emmerdale has seen it all: farmyard disasters, ‘cinematic’ reveals, and the unlikeliest of character returns. Originally ‘Emmerdale Farm’, it dates back to 1972.
The Young and The Restless – This show continues to rumble on, after 47 years on the air. Y&R, as it’s known among fans, regularly features storylines familiar to the genre: with sexuality, rare health conditions, and family feuds forming the plot.
One Life To Live – launching in 1968 and following the relationships of the Lord Family until 2012, this show was created by All My Children producer Agnes Nixon. It was widely considered to be one of the first US shows to focus on socioeconomic and diversity, garnering a huge fanbase.
Saturday Night Live – the show that launched the careers of Bill Murray, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, this comedy programme has been on the small screen since 1975. In the age of social media, its musical guests and hosting slots seem to get more attention than the stars – like Daniel Craig’s eternally shared ‘Ladies and gentlemen, The Weeknd.’
All My Children – this Philedelphia-based soap began in 1970, and was only taken off the air in 2011. At the beginning of its run, it was thought to be one of the most recorded television programmes in the US – and, in constrast with other daytime TV listings, had a relatively high male viewership at around 30%.
Doctor Who – there was a gap of 16 years, yes. But the Time Lord and his companions are still hurtling through space, since they first began in 1963. Fansites are buzzing with the rumour that Catherine Tate is set to return, too, so there’s no signs of the Tardis slowing down.
The Simpsons – entering its 32nd year, America’s animated first family have delighted fans across the globe – and made some spooky predictions about the modern world. If real time counted in Springfield, a lot of your faves would be octogenarians by now.
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Emmerdale, Sesame Street, and The Simpsons all feature on the list.