Chernobyl is officially the most addictive TV drama, study finds

Just one more episode, it doesn’t matter if it is already 2am…

It is something we’ve all been through. There is a new TV show that everyone is hyping up, and you settle down to watch the first episode. It’s usually a show like Chernobyl or Penny Dreadful. But then… you never get around to watching the rest of it. You start watching the new most-hyped show instead, and the cycle continues.

Or, there’s the other type of show that grabs you from the first second and you can’t stop watching until the credits roll on the season finale.

Well, a new study has found that Chernobyl is the show that people are most likely to watch until the end. Ok, it might help that it was only five episodes – but the fact that it was also one of the best shows of last year probably contributed as well.

Data from Enders Analysis reveals the top 20 shows that UK viewers were most likely to continue watching the entire series of, as well as the bottom 20 of shows they were likely to give up on after a few episodes.

Following Chernobyl in the most stuck-with list was Sky Atlantic’s Italian crime show Gomorrah at number two, BBC 1’s The Doctor Blake Mysteries in third and Bodyguard in fourth. 

In fifth place was Hawaii Five-O, and Succession in sixth. Homeland, Line of Duty and Billions were all also in the top 20.

Topping the list of shows people were most likely to give up on was Sick of It, the Sky 1 show starring Karl Pilkington.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels was second, and Sky 1’s martial arts drama Warrior was third. Other big name shows the study found that people were less likely to finish include What We Do In The Shadows and Mrs America.

The data was based on drama shows broadcast on linear UK television since 2018 to present, including those who used catch-up viewing within 28 days of the original broadcast. Notably, that does not include Netflix or Amazon, which is why shows like You or The Haunting of Hill House are missing from the lists. 

Here is the full list of shows people are most likely to finish:

1. Chernobyl – Sky Atlantic
2. Gomorrah – Sky Atlantic
3. The Doctor Blake Mysteries – BBC 1
4. Bodyguard – BBC 1
5. Hawaii Five-0 – Sky 1
6. Succession – Sky Atlantic
7. Bad Move – ITV
8. Quantico – Alibi
9. In My Skin – BBC 3
10. Fortitude – Sky Atlantic
11. This Country  -BBC 3
12. The Heart Guy – Drama
13. Billions – Sky Atlantic
14. Homeland – Channel 4
15. Line of Duty – BBC 1
16. Doc Martin – ITV
17. The Blacklist – Sky 1
18. The Capture – BBC 1
19. Unforgotten  – ITV
20. London Kills – BBC 1

And the show that people are most likely to give up on:

1. Sick of It – Sky 1
2. Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels – Sky Atlantic
3. Warrior – Sky 1
4. Kidding – Sky Atlantic
5. I Know This Much Is True – Sky Atlantic
6. The Loudest Voice – Sky Atlantic
7. Dave – BBC 2
8. Jett – Sky 1
9. What We Do in the Shadows – BBC 2
10. Mrs. America – BBC 2
11. The Mind of Herbert Clunkerdunk – BBC 2
12. Pls Like – BBC 3
13. Der Pass – Sky Atlantic
14. Bliss – Sky 1
15. The First – Channel 4
16. Camping – Sky Atlantic
17. Intelligence – Sky 1
18. Manifest – Sky 1
19. The Name of the Rose – BBC 2
20. Will & Grace – Channel 5