10 Worst TV Shows To Launch This Decade

6. Derek

Ah Derek, such a well-meaning concept executed cleanly, only to eventually buckle under bucket-loads of saccharine, which could only be measured using some kind of industrial scale.

Padding back a few steps, Ricky Gervais's follow up to Extras had great intentions - slow but loveable care home worker, becomes subject of a fly-on-the-wall doc - but whereas initial qualms about Gervais's just about okay performance raised some eyebrows, the show ended up failing as a result of a sentimental overload.

Be it a plot arc about a cabaret show being put on, all the way to one of Derek's favourite guests carking it, any idea of semblance is soon drenched in sugar as one of the show's familiar staples kicks in, where staff do a talking head to camera, gushing about Derek's greatness to messiah like levels. Already flailing due to the departure of surprise star of the series, Karl Pilkington, and seemingly finished on our screens, Derek continues to garner a loyal following, the majority of whom will disagree with every word written in this segment.

Contributor
Contributor

Shaun is a former contributor for a number of Future Publishing titles and more recently worked as a staffer at Imagine Publishing. He can now be found banking in the daytime and writing a variety of articles for What Culture, namely around his favourite topics of film, retro gaming, music, TV and, when he's feeling clever, literature.