Radio Times

It's time to tell us which programmes you've enjoyed this year, and which should be consigned to the bin along with the torn wrapping paper and leftover turkey! To jog your memory, I offer my highs and lows of the TV year:

HIGHLIGHTS

Doctor Who: after a disappointing third run, the pace picked up in series four. Catherine Tate proved a strong, sparky companion. The nation held its breath to see whether David Tennant really would regenerate. The final few episodes, of course, also saw the long-awaited, much-anticipated return of…Davros. (Oh yes, and Billie Piper.) Can't wait for the forthcoming specials. Allons-y!

Lost in Austen: likeable actors sold an utterly bonkers premise. Jemima Rooper shone as feisty Amanda, the 21st-century woman marooned in Georgian England, frantically trying to make sure that the events of Pride and Prejudice happened just as Jane Austen intended. The 21st-century women watching, meanwhile, gave thanks to Elliot Cowan's (Mr Darcy) personal trainer - yes, I'm talking about that scene in the lake at Pemberley - and cheered Amanda on as she finally got her man in an I-didn't-see-that-coming ending.

John Sergeant in Strictly Come Dancing: the portly political journalist and his super-svelte partner Kristina Rihanoff threw some wildly differing shapes on the dance floor. But Sergeant's cheeky sense of humour, can-do attitude and (occasionally) surprising aptitude meant he lasted far longer in the competition than the bookies had forecast. Hooray! And boo, hiss to the judges for making such a fuss when the public voting didn't go their way.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Messiah: Marc Warren looked even more gaunt and haunted than usual as he took over from Ken Stott in the serial murder gore-fest.

Lost: we still don't have a clue what's going on, but foreboding flashforwards perked up the latest run after a lacklustre series three.

Stephen Fry in America: what it lacked in depth, it made up for in warmth, wit and some phenomenal scenery. And who'd have thought we'd ever see Stephen Fry in a brothel?

Life: Damian Lewis excels as LA cop Charlie Crews, back on the force after serving 12 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Ostensibly his life is back on track - but with skilfully deployed wounded looks, flashes of violence and a dogged determination to track down the person who framed him, Lewis hints at the vengeful personality lurking beneath Charlie's mild-mannered exterior.

LOWLIGHTS

Torchwood: they killed Owen and Tosh. Only their best actor and their most appealing female character. Whose bright idea was that? There's going to be a lot riding on John Barrowman's charisma in series three. If Rhys or PC Andy bite the dust next year, I won't be back for series four!

Battlestar Galactica: for three seasons this classy sci-fi knocked my socks off. But the latest (and last) series has been a big disappointment so far. All those glorious, character-driven plots of old fell like Colonials to an invading Cylon fleet as the writers drove the story on towards its conclusion. Worst of all, they've turned street-smart Starbuck into an irritating neurotic. Let's hope the damp squib of a cliffhanger ignites a blazing inferno of a storyline when the show returns post-hiatus.

Keeley Hawes: she was shrill and unlikeable in Ashes to Ashes. She was slightly less shrill but, astonishingly, even more unlikeable in Mutual Friends. It's hard to believe you could create a character who was both so convincingly needy and self-satisfied, but Ms Hawes pulled it off. Twice. That's not necessarily something to be proud of, Keeley…

DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS

The Children: there were so many good things about this three-part whodunnit. So why on earth was it ruined with a tricksy ending that confused many viewers - and disappointed the ones who did get it?

Little Dorrit: it's been an entertaining enough ride, but just hasn't caught the public's imagination in the way that Bleak House did. Too many characters? Too many unanswered questions? A heroine who, to quote Blackadder, is "wetter than a haddock's bathing costume"? Or maybe just the wrong time slot. Whatever the reason, viewing figures tumbled.

Survivors: if surviving a deadly flu virus means having to hang out with a bunch of self-obsessed bores like this lot, then frankly I hope I'm the first to get the sniffles.

24: Redemption: series seven was postponed because of the US writers' strike. But Jack Bauer popped up in this feature-length special, herding a group of children to safety in a fictional war-torn African country. A lot of the fun in watching 24 comes from guessing which of Jack's friends is going to turn out to be a big ol' traitor, but this storyline didn't give much scope for that. On the plus side, though, 24's politicians appear to be as duplicitous as ever.

HIGHLIGHTS - LITTLE DORRIT (Absolutely loved it) - PARENTS OF THE BAND (Slow starter but loving it now. Especially the kids) - LARK RISE TO CANDLEFORD (Christmas special was great. Hope the series is good too).

SHOOTING STARS - Excellent. Great that it's come back.

HIGHLIGHTS: Strictly Come Dancing until John Sargeant was hounded out, then it degenerated into a real lowlight of whinging judges and contestants who thought it was about their dancing rather than pure entertainment. Dr Who is still the business and Catherine Tate one of the surprise stars of the year.

NOT SURE: Apparitions - beautifully acted, strangely compelling but infinitely nonsensical and oddly depressing.

LOWLIGHTS: Ashes to Ashes. The powers that be clearly misunderstood the reasons for the success of Life on Mars. Keeley Hawes was misdirected and I spent most of my time wanting to slap her.

Survivors: Oh dear.

Programme I know was totally rubbish but I secretly enjoyed: Bonekickers.

Why do documentaries have to spoil a good piece? Tony Robiunson and his excellent sceptical companion take both the psychic Helen Duncan and th daft proseciution of her to pieces in the Blitz Witch (C4) - and then ruin it all by roping in the loss of the Hood as being some sort of last straw! Heaven help us. The Hood went down before the Barham and both went down in 1941 - she was arrested in 1944 just ahead of D-Day. Get a grip guys.

Totally agree re Tennant and Dr Who-rubbish! Outnumbered is outstanding! The children are the best I child actors have ever seen on TV. Terrific stuff.

HIGHLIGHTS: BBC's coverage of the Olympic Games. Coverage of so many sports rather than just the main sports

HONOURABLE MENTION: Beautiful People: Classic Comedy send up of 1990s. Vastly underrated. Also Outnumbered a revelation

LOWLIGHTS - So Many Little Britain in the USA, Strictly Come Dancing (lost popular appeal) Coronation Street with its dire scriptlines

DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS: the Christmas schedule notably the dreadful Royle Family

The conclusion of The Wire was stunning and quite possibly the greatest television drama of all time - although for some reason not many people seem to have seen it. Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe was again brilliant and accurate but the greatest discovery has to be BBC3's broadcast of Australian comedy Summer Heights High. Which is the first time in its five year history that BBC3 has broadcatst something that's not only good but is also watchable.

I totally agree with the comments re: Keeley Hawes and Survivors. I quite enjoyed Mutual Friends but couldn't stand Keeley's character Jen;talk about a whinger! Survivors was full of totally unlikeable characters, particularly Julie Graham as Abby and after a few episodes I felt that I had lost the will to survive!hat a bore. I did, however enjoy Little Dorrit;crazy, haphazard scheduling aside. It was well acted and produced and streets ahead of all this reality, talent show, self-satisfied "celebrity" dross that is generally served up to the viewing public.

"Er.... no mention of Bonekickers. Utter rubbish."

Agreed. That was undoubtedly the worst drama that the BBC has done for a long while...

Generally agree although I quite like "Survivors". Why no mention of the excellent "Spooks" and "Wallander" UK and Swedish versions.

Watched first few episodes of Little Dorrit and found them engrossing. Then for various reasons managed to miss the rest! Great shame...I hope it will be repeated soon. I found the book (attempted to read many years ago) confusing as well, so maybe the TV version was true to the original.

Am I the only person in the country that cannot stand Strictly come Dancing'?

Agree re Dr Who....slightly shaky start until we got used to Tate's character but from then on very good.

Er.... no mention of Bonekickers. Utter rubbish.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Devil's Whore - some truly stunning acting in that drama. It made me thankful that I owned a television. In the world of endless repeats and phone-in shows, it's been a long time since a programme has done that.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

The British Film season. I know it's not a specific programme, but I've really enjoyed watching some home-grown movies this year, from 'This is England' to 'Green Street'.

LOWLIGHTS

Doctor Who: I'm sorry, I know it's become almost like a religion, and I am aware of the looks of disbelief I receive when I mention that I think it's awful, but, well, I think it's absolutely dreadful and made worse by the perpetually over-zealous David Tennant.

DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS

Britain's Got the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice: Peter Kay's show was so hyped and yet, it turned out to be utter dross and lacked his usual blatant humour. The humour was so subtle that our entire household missed it. It just didn't seem like Peter Kay at all.