Right now you can watch The South Bank Show in the UK on Sky Go and Now TV — and it is more addictive than the premise lets on. 45 seasons in, and the quality has not slipped. With 7 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Melvyn Bragg is a big part of why it works, but the format itself is the real star. Available now on Sky Go — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The South Bank Show earns its spot. The production behind The South Bank Show knows exactly which moments to let breathe. The South Bank Show is a television arts magazine show produced by ITV between 1978 and 2010. A new series began on Sky Arts from 27 May 2012. Presented by Melvyn Bragg, the show aims to bring both high art and popular culture to a mass audience. Melvyn Bragg brings the kind of presence that makes the format work. The series ran for 45 seasons (1978–2023), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. The editing in The South Bank Show does a lot of quiet work shaping how you feel about every person on screen. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If the format appeals to you at all, The South Bank Show is one of the stronger examples of it. Fans of E! True Hollywood Story will recognise the sensibility here immediately. The 45-season run rewards the patience it asks of you. The format has been copied endlessly since The South Bank Show first appeared, which is the most honest tribute the industry knows how to give. Impossible to watch casually.

The South Bank Show wrapped up in 2023, created by and starring Melvyn Bragg — and 45 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.