Pop Buzz UK

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…

Celebrity Big Brother 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!

Never Mind The Buzzcocks 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.

The Royle Family 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.

Torchwood 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 David Attenborough narrated Planet Earth 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.

Pop Culture, Britain, Celebrity Big Brother, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Simon Amstell, The Royle Family, Torchwood, Dr Who, Planet Earth, David Attenborough