The top 10 longest-running TV series of all time
When it comes to success, longevity is a major factor and its no different in the world of television.
Some TV series have racked up an incredible number of episodes, spanning so many decades that multiple generations have sat down and enjoyed them.
In fact, some shows look like they might even be gunning for a century on screen.
From children's shows to daytime soaps, here are all the TV shows that have kept us entertained for years and years and years as of March 2025...
10. The Young and the Restless | 52+ years | 1973 to present
More than five decades and 12,000 episodes later, The Young and the Restless is still a staple of American television.
The soap opera revolves around the rivalries and romances of the residents of the fictional Genoa City. The storyline was initially centered around two families: the rich Brooks family and the working-class Fosters.
But through many changes and cast departures, many characters were written off – making room for the new main families, the Abbotts, and the Williamses.
Peter Bergman, who plays Jack Abbott, is the show's longest-standing actor having played his character for 35 years and counting. He's not the original Jack Abbott, having taken over from Terry Lester in 1989, but he's certainly made it his own.
The Young and the Restless has been the highest rated daytime drama for 34 years and has featured many major stars over the years including David Hasselhoff, Eva Longoria and Justin Hartley.
Stream episodes of The Young and the Restless for free on 9Now.
9. Emmerdale | 53+ years | 1972 to present
When you think of the fact that Emmerdale was originally supposed to run for just three months, it's quite remarkable that the British soap is still airing more than half a century on.
The show was named Emmerdale Farm until 1989, and follows several families from a tight-knit community in the Yorkshire village of Emmerdale face various ups and downs in their lives and strive to overcome their problems.
One of Emmerdale's most shocking storylines is the plane crash of 1993, which saw four regular characters meet their end.
With 36 seasons and 9,548 episodes and counting Emmerdale doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon.
8. As The World Turns | 54 years | 1956 to 2010
As The World Turns was taken off the air in 2010 due to dropping ratings, but in its prime it was a favourite US soap.
It's a spin-off show to another soap opera Guiding Light (which you may or may not see later on this list).
As The World Turns was described as a "slow-moving psychological character study" of families in the legal and medical professions.
It followed the Hughes, Snyder and Walsh families as the predominant forces in Oakdale and produced a whopping 13,858 episodes.
7. Sazae-san | 56+ years | 1969 to present
Holding the Guinness World Record for the longest-running anime TV show of all time is the Japanese series Sazae-san.
Sazae-san is a Japanese yonkoma manga series written and illustrated by Machiko Hasegawa, and was a popular post-war comic strop about the life of Sazae Fuguta, a fictional Japanese housewife.
Even in its early days, Sazae-san was ahead of its time. Sazae was a very liberated woman, and many of the plotlines revolved around Sazae bossing around her husband to the shock of her neighbours, who believed that a man should be the head of his household.
Midori Kato, the voice of Sazae Fuguta, alsoearned a Guinness World Record for the longest career as a voice actor for the same character in an animated TV series.
At 85, Midori is still voicing the series today.
6. Sesame street | 56+ years | 1969 to present
Here's one we all grew up with.
Sesame Street is undoubtedly one of the most beloved children's shows of all time.
With a cast that featured favourite puppet characters including Big Bird, Elmo and the Cookie Monster, Sesame Street is an educational kids' series that combined live-action, sketch comedy, animation and puppetry to educate children about their world.
Over the years there's been some fabulously famous cameos including Michelle Obama, Johnny Cash, Jim Carrey and Katy Perry.
5. Days Of Our Lives | 60+ years | 1965 to present
We can hear it now: "Like sand through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives..."
When it comes to soap operas, Days Of Our Lives is as quintessential as it gets.
It's covered all the classic soap storylines from amnesia, extreme plastic surgery, returning from the dead and kidnappings. Oh, and of course steamy love triangles which are basically an everyday occurrence in the city of Salem.
In its 15,000 episode run many cast members have come and gone including Pamela Anderson, Lisa Rinna and Alison Sweeney.
The TV show Friends gets a special mention for the popularisation of Days Of Our Lives after the soap was woven into the storyline when character Joey Tribbiani played the fiction DOOL character Dr Drake Ramoray.
4. General Hospital | 62+ years | 1963 to present
Enemies, lovers and crime, General Hospital has all the key ingredients for a narrative-style series.
In its earlier seasons the show focused on the dramas of the doctors, nurses and patients of the seventh floor of the General Hospital.
But later the series expanded its scope to cover all the drama and life-changing events of the residents of the upstate city of Port Charles, New York. Even with the change you can always count on someone ending up in hospital.
The soap reached the height of its popularity in the '80s thanks to the epic love story between Luke and Laura, with their wedding being one of the most watched episodes.
With an impressive count of more than 15,000 episode, General Hospital has seen the talent of stars including John Stamos, Molly Shannon and even Meghan Markle.
3. Coronation Street | 65+ years | 1960 to present
Coronation Street is a must-watch in any British living room.
The soap series follows the everyday lives of the working-class people in the fictional Weatherfield area of Manchester, England.
It success can be attributed to the way it uses light-hearted humour mixed with social commentary to deal with a whole array of topics.
Some very well known faces have graced Coronation Street through the decades including Sir Ian McKellen who guest-starred as conman in 2005 and Michelle Keegan who played Tina McIntyre from 2008 to 2014.
2. The Tonight Show | 71+ years | 1954 to present
We know what you're thinking, Jimmy Fallon isn't even 71 years old.
No, but Fallon is just the latest of a string of hosts who have fronted The Tonight Show for seven decades.
Steve Allen (1954 to 1957), Jack Paar (1957 to 1962), Johnny Carson (1962 to 1992), Jay Leno (1992 to 2009) and Conan O'Brien (2009 to 2010) are the men who've lead the talk show, while Fallon took over in 2014.
There have been some fears for the show's future after the last five years of Fallon's tenure have seen a plummet in ratings, with some fans calling for a change in host.
The structure of the show usually features a topical monologue, fan-favourite games, A-lister interviews and popular musical performances.
With 13,359 episodes under its belt, The Tonight Show has cemented the late-night talk show format to make way for others.
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