The first of my review and round ups of last year s best of British Pop Culture is focussed on television. So what were we watching and enjoying last year here in Britain, and what were the turkeys that sank without trace, hardly registering on the viewing scale?
We start with the best, with my highlights of the year
kicked off the year in style, with scandal, politics, romance and pretty much a full range of emotions on show.
And this year s show starts tonight, the 3rd of Jan on Channel 4 so make sure you are watching!
returned to our screens for a brand new series, with a new host in Simon Amstell. I was gutted Mark Lamarr had quit and was unsure about the former Popworld presenter s credentials as a host of a topical and witty panel show.
But suffice to show, he performed, his catty and cutting remarks making the show essential viewing week in, week out.
one off special was an amazing hour of quality television. With a carefully crafted and perfectly pitched script, great acting and a well loved character bowing out in style, this again, had everything I crave in TV.
Caroline Aherne is a genius writer and comedian and if this really was the final episode of the sitcom ever, I for one will be sad. But bow out at the top, it most certainly would have.
sprung on to our screens in spectacular style this Autumn, following hot on the heels of the 2nd series of the new Dr Who.
Although it got off to a slow start, the series has picked up pace considerably and is now becoming just as essential a series for watching as the good Doctor himself. I can see this running alongside Who for a good while to come, and if this is the only spin off the BBC see fit to commission, I ll eat my hat, with a nice chianti and some wasabi sauce.
And last, but certainly not least, the kept me glued all summer, as the incredible diligence and attention to detail brought the natural world in to the living rooms to millions.
It was awe inspiring, and the scenes amazed and astounded me for the whole series. If you have yet to see this fantastic show, please do yourselves a favour and buy the Dvd. For now, watch and be amazed by this footage of a very hungry pride of lions chasing down and winning against an elephant.
Almost unheard of in nature and to catch it on video is pretty astounding
So there we have it, a good year for British TV, some real highlights that had me entranced with the goggle box in the corner. Not everything shown was as well made as the above though, so keep an eye out for my TV crap chart next week.
Little Britain star married his long term partner and TV producer Kevin McGee on Sunday.
The comic, famous for characters such as Andy, the wheelchair bound grump and Vicki Pollard, has been with Kevin for four years after they met in a nightclub. After a 6 month engagement, they put an official seal on the relationship in a civil ceremony held at a private members club in London. The reception was the main talking point of the weekend though, with guests at the lavish do at banqueting Hall in Whitehall all dressing as panto stars.
Guests included and who dressed as Captain Hook and Prince Charming, who appeared as an ugly sister and Matt s comedy partner as Christopher Biggins! Don t ask.
I wish the couple well, and it looks like the amount of gay civil partnerships taking place is rising month on month, which can only be a good thing.
Official figures show there have been 15,672 gay and lesbian unions in the nine months since the new laws were passed in the UK. London has emerged as the leader in stats with over a quarter of these, being held in the capital.
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