CBBC Ranked Their Own Shows And Ended Up Sparking A Massive Social Media Backlash

Someone on the CBBC social media team is probably wondered what on earth they’d started, after a seemingly innocent attempt at social engagement prompted a full-scale backlash.

In August, the official Children’s BBC Twitter account posted a meme that placed many of their most popular shows into ‘tiers’.

Among the top-ranking were the likes of 50/50, Dick and Dom In Da Bungalow and Get Your Own Back, while one of their longest-running shows, Newsround, was placed in the ‘Hmmm tier’.

They captioned the meme: “Did we get it right?” – and people were quick to let them know they absolutely had not.

Did we get it right? pic.twitter.com/iz4wsRe7lK
— CBBC (@cbbc) August 21, 2019

Firstly, there was criticism from some of their own stars, as Paul Chuckle of Chucklevision, Deadly 60 presenter Steve Backshall, Blue Peter host Lindsey Russell and Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer complained at their placing.

No actually you didn’t in my opinion @cbbc get it right #Chucklevision 294 episodes over 21 years #GetVoting https://t.co/QXT4HZn117
— Paul Chuckle (@PaulChuckle2) August 21, 2019

I think me and @dickndom need to lead an all out assault on CBBC centre; the bare-faced affrontery of it! 🤣
— Steve Backshall (@SteveBackshall) August 21, 2019

No.
— Lindsey Russell (@Linds_bluepeter) August 21, 2019

Dani even pointed out that the CBBC Twitter account’s bio bigs up her show, but had only placed it in the ‘top tier’.

Erm......... no 🤷🏻♀️!!!!!! Read your bio 🤣xxx
— Dani Harmer (@DaniHarmer) August 21, 2019

Radio 1′s Greg James was equally outraged, telling them to delete their account...

Delete your account for not giving Chuckle Vision a god-like tier of it’s own. The BBC would have died without that show. Also, you’re high if you’re putting Newsround down there. And don’t get me started on Backshall’s position. This is a disgrace.
— Greg James (@gregjames) August 21, 2019

Twitter was soon flooded with angry fans contesting the rankings...

young dracula, basil brush & mi.high deserve better than this
— sqaishey 🐥 (@Sqaishey) August 21, 2019

This is upset of the highest order 😭 how could you do that to Chucklevision?!?! They are God tier and are the reason Children's TV stayed alive through their era...#PraiseToTheChuckles 🙏🏽
— R-Kid (@Vegan_Geeza) August 22, 2019

MI.HIGH, Sarah Jane and Tracey Beaker should all be on the legend tier. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/YgOPAm2xqb
— Ells (@EllShort2) August 21, 2019

TRACY BEAKER SHOULD BE LEGEND TIER WHY WOULD U DO MY GAL TRACE LIKE THIS CBBC!!!!!!!!!! Outrage!!!!!!!
— Lucy Fallon (@lufallon) August 21, 2019

You didn’t put Tracy beaker first as if it didn’t carry the weight of the whole channel so childish
— timothée’s footstool (@ultchalamet) August 21, 2019

Shaun the sheep in mid tier? You fucking deluded. Top tier more like
— 𝕁𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕒 𝕕𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕀𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕖𝕥 (@Ieuannbailey) August 21, 2019

I’d stick to tweeting above tv shows if I was you... not the best thing you’ve done lads
— Ben (@CFCBen__) August 21, 2019

No you didn’t. Spectacularly stupid
— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) August 21, 2019

Arthur just on his way round to slap whoever made this... pic.twitter.com/IDJOeuaKFW
— Chris Stark (@Chris_Stark) August 21, 2019

This is outside our usual remit but you're comparing Chucklevision to a side struggling for survival when it should be a multiple Premier League champion.
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) August 21, 2019

Shaun been robbed here, you take TV license money for these opinions?
— LEmma 🔰 #GlazersOut (@FootyOnEm) August 22, 2019

An institution like SMart being so far down is bordering on criminal
— Ron Walker (@ronnabe) August 21, 2019

And that’s without even mentioning the outrage felt for the shows that had been left off the list completely...

You're missing quite a few programmes - Short Change, Arthur, The Wild House, Animals of Farthing Wood, Grange Hill and where is BLUE PETER?!
— Ms A Petal (@MsAPetal) August 22, 2019

OH GOD!!!! ACTUAL BLUE PETER LITERALLY THE MOST FAMOUS TV SHOW WE’VE EVER MADE DIDN’T GET A LOOK IN
— Greg James (@gregjames) August 21, 2019

wheres round the twist ! pic.twitter.com/P6SxzSMDRi
— Laura cufc (@laurabarr38) August 21, 2019

Your lack of the Demon Headmaster is disturbing... pic.twitter.com/ZelMriMZiL
— Ryan McGivern (@RetroMc91) August 21, 2019

Byker Grove is missing. Bang out of order...epic trampoline skills
— Rob Jeffries (@RobJeffries) August 21, 2019

These legends have been done the dirtiest pic.twitter.com/c6lWiMpeWb
— Charlie Ball (@charlieballsacc) August 21, 2019

Surely this is missing? pic.twitter.com/ZGFBgfLSTP
— Gareth Jenkins (@GarethDJenkins) August 21, 2019

pic.twitter.com/AvkP6ysb7Q
— Marc Oakley (@eggsoakley) August 21, 2019

Blue Peter must be in its own forever untouchable tier so far off the scale it can’t be seen by the look of it then.

Am I right @Konnie_Huq @SimonThomasSky @lizbarker29 @ImKatyHill @RealTimVincent @GethincJones @HelenSkelton @Zoe_Salmon @iamradzi @Linds_bluepeter @RichieDriss?💪 pic.twitter.com/EfjALwq5yF
— Scott Evans (@MrEPrimary) August 21, 2019

Come Outside didn’t even get a look in. What about Pippin? pic.twitter.com/VagkQTTJkS
— Rachel Bainbridge (@RachBainbridge) August 21, 2019

Where the fuck is the queen's nose?
— Joe Stanley (@JoeStanley29) August 21, 2019

Grange hill,biker grove??
— Liz Evans (@LizEvan21606757) August 22, 2019

The CBBC Twitter account later tried to claim “every single show” is in the “legend+ tier”...

This is the kind of passionate debate we want!! 🤣🤣 obviously we could never choose a favourite child 😘 We think every single show on CBBC is legend+ tier 💎💁🏽♀️💁🏼♂️
— CBBC (@cbbc) August 21, 2019

But for the majority, the damage had already been done...