Why do UK barristers still wear wigs?

I’m a law student but I work at a law firm where we mostly do criminal litigation, I often go to the hearings and often spend entire mornings in court.

I started watching Anatomy of a scandal and I just find the wings too distracting. As an aspiring litigator I would just find it weird that UK barristers wear wigs and robes to proceedings. It seems archaic and y necessary