What are the top cult TV programmes

A.� Dr Who has been heralded as the most important influential cult TV programme of all time, according to media historian Jeff Evans. John Cleese's Fawlty Towers is in second place, and the original Star Trek series comes in third.

Mr Evans, who compiled the list to mark the�launch of the Pen Tel Company, said Dr Who, broadcast on the BBC from 1963 to 1989, said: "I think it's because it has been around for 26 years and is purely escapism, and everyone has their favourite Doctor, enemy and assistant."

He placed Monty Python's Flying Circus in fourth place, The Prisoner in fifth and the X-Files in sixth place. The Simpsons got a mention in eighth and the Irish comedy Father Ted was put in 15th position.

�

Q.� Is there an 'official' listing

A.� The internet channel www.cultv.co.uk has information on every cult TV programme around. According to them, official cult TV programmes, include (in no particular order):

Blakes 7��������������������������Red Dwarf
Danger Man�������������������Seinfeld

Doctor Who��������������������Only Fools and Horses

X-Files���������������������������� New Statesman

Porridge������������������������� Steptoe & Son

The Avengers���������������� The Young Ones

Jason King�������������������� Yes Minister

The Simpsons�������������� Men Behaving Badly

Randall & Hopkirk��������Robin of Sherwood

The Prisoner����������������� The Carry On films

The Saint�����������������������

Fawlty Towers

Monty Python

Hancock

Reggie PerrinTwin Peaks

Black Adder

�

The internet channel www.culttv.tripod.com lists other classics such as It Ain't Half Hot Mum, a Second World War comedy set in Burma in 1945. The programme ran from 1974 to 1981, and made household names of actors such as Windsor Davies, who played Sergeant Major Williams, Gunner 'Gloria' Beaumont, actor Melvyn Hayes, and Don Estelle, who played Gunner 'Lofty' Sugden.

�

Just Good Friends was a BBC series which ran for three seasons of seven episodes, including a couple of Christmas specials. Actor Paul Nicholas played opposite Jan Francis.

�

This list�mentions the Joanna Lumley hit Sapphire and Steel, in which Lumley played opposite David McCallum from 1979 to 1982.

�

Richard O'Sullivan starred in another cult series, Robin's Nest, about a man running a small restaurant. The series started in 1977 with an opener called Sleeping Partners, and finally ended on March 31 1981 with The Headhunters of SW6.

�

Q.� Is there a festival for lovers of inspired TV

A.� There are various websites devoted to programmes such as Stingray, The Thunderbirds, Man from Atlantis. There is a Cult TV festival which has been running for the last eight years. This year's festival will be held in Liverpool between October 26 and 29. Previous festivals have included appearances by Sooty.

�

For more film and television questions and answers, click here

�

By Katharine MacColl