The Best of British TV - 2011

 

 

There's only a fortnight left of the year. We're 50 out of 52 weeks through with 2011. It's almost... Okay, we won't labour the point. But as it's halfway through December, what better time to run down some of the best home-grown shows of the year? In two weeks' time, perhaps? Probably, yeah. But I'll be far too drunk to compile a list then, so let's do it now, shall we?

 

Here are The Grouch Potato's Top British television programmes that made their bow in 2011. Enjoy!

 

 

Frozen Planet – A wildlife programme from Sir David Attenborough being excellent won't surprise many TV lovers, but the sheer scale of Frozen Planet's success and the level of excitement during the run of his latest outing was impressive even by his high standards. Every time this Artic/Antarctic-set documentary show is on BBC One, Twitter goes into meltdown (no apologies for the weak pun, I'm afraid). Ignore the daft outrage recently about polar bear footage being faked, this engaging series has had us all pre-emptively mourning a time when Sir David is no longer behind the camera, doing what he does best. This was a seriously cool series. (What?! I'm not apologising for any of these terrible jokes).

 

Penn & Teller: Fool Us – It was good to see the return of – in my opinion, the best presenter on TV, Jonathan Ross. It was even better to see the return of a decent magic show on TV. But this makes the list simply for putting the brilliant Penn & Teller on British TV. And it's my list and I'll put what I ruddy well like on it. Alright?!

 

Fresh Meat – 'From the makers of Peep Show' is a lead-in that bears heavy expectation. And anyone tuning into the first episode of this student-y comedy expecting a similar tone to the Mitchell & Webb comedy (and as many out-and-out laughs) may have been disappointed. Similarly, anyone expecting 'The Inbetweeners: The Uni Years' will have been put out too. Stick with it though and it finds it own place and pace. It's a great little show. And even Jack Whitehall is good in it. A fact that boggled my mind so much, I had to get a new one.

 

 

 

The Fades was a superb little lo-fi hit for the Beeb this year. Playing out on BBC Three, it was a tense, well-paced supernatural affair that went down well with both critics and audiences alike. This is England '86's Johnny Harris stood out from an excellent young cast.

 

Nominated for a few British Comedy Awards this year, the Olympic committee sitcom Twenty Twelve was a surprise hit. With the return of the brilliant Rev, it's good to see BBC Two knocking out some great comedy again. Though they'll probably axe it like they did the fantastic Whites. I'll NEVER forgive them for that. EVER. 

 

Appropriate Adult might not have been the very best drama of the year, but it was certainly the bravest. You wouldn't normally associate this kind of television with ITV Drama, so it's all the more impressive. But not nearly as impressive as Dominic West's portrayal of serial killer Fred West. Played with a viciousness and yet a warmth and sense of humour that in equal parts surprised and terrified.

 

 

 

Alexander Armstrong has, for some reason, decided to focus his attentions on being a presenter nowadays. Still, with harmless fun like Epic Win and the ever-watchable Pointless, he can be excused. Mickey Flanagan is the real draw to Epic Win though. His effortlessly funny schtick should see him break into the mainstream TV big time in 2012.

 

Mel & Sue's reunion and return to form in The Great British Bake Off was another joy this year. It was basically a cake-based Masterchef. But more polite. And eminently more watchable.

 

Structured reality shows can be vacuous (TOWIE), boring (Desperate Scousewives) or just downright depressing (Geordie Shore). But round up a group of fundamentally likeable and at times quite witty types and they can be hugely enjoyable. True, Made in Chelsea is never going to trouble the Emmys, but who cares? I've got it series linked and I'm only slightly ashamed to admit it.

 

 

 

Not Grouchy enough for you? Then join me back on the blog here on Friday afternoon, when I'll be ripping into the very worst garbage to have polluted the corners of our living rooms this calendar year.

 

And there was me thinking I'd never have to think about Don't Scare the Hare again.