It’s Poll Time

It’s the 2nd January which means it’s time for the UKGameshows.com/Bother’s Bar Poll of 2025, even if UKGS is in limbo right now. And this year we’re introducing tickboxes – the rules haven’t otherwise changed and we’ve been doing this for over twenty years now, so if you have an idea of what you’re doing you can go directly to the Google Form if you want. Lines close 23:59 Tuesday 12th January 2026.

If you need more explanation or are new to this (or you want the address to e-mail your votes in), I’ll put it under a cut.

The Poll of the Year consists of five categories. You may vote for up to five different shows in the first four categories, and the final one is freestyle. You do not have to use all your votes and you may leave categories empty.

The categories are:

• The Hall of Fame – Best new formats on linear TV in 2025. For gameshows, competitive reality and panel games first broadcast on linear TV (or radio) in the UK in 2025. You may vote for revivals.
• The Hall of Shame – Worst new formats on linear TV in 2025. For gameshows, competitive reality and panel games first broadcast on linear TV (or radio) in the UK in 2025. You may vote for revivals.
• The Golden Five – For gameshows, competitive reality and panel games with at least one new first-run episode broadcast on linear TV (or radio) in the UK in 2025. You may vote for revivals.
• Streaming Five – Must be gameshow or gameshow related, must be either from a subscription streaming service (i.e. Netflix, Amazon, Nebula etc), a channel’s online offering not destined for broadcast linear television, or if it’s on Youtube (or equivalent) backed professionally or at the very least a legitimately returnable format. Cannot be a Twitch Stream. Cannot be a broadcast radio show as its own podcast, vote for them in the Golden Five. Does not have to be made in the UK or be in English (but needs English subs at the very least), but does need to be able to be watched here a) legitimately and b) earlier or at the same time as the rest of the world. The season must begin in 2025 for arced shows. I advise looking at the Google Form for a non-comprehensive list of formats.
• Magic Moments – Any moments of note, preferably with Youtube clip or similar.

Phew. We always advise using the form, but if you don’t trust Google or whatever you can also e-mail your votes to poll@bothersbar.co.uk – please put Poll 2025 in your subject line, and I’ll get back to with an acknowledgement later.

Thanks and happy voting!