Hanging on just inside the top 25 is Gossip Girl, a show that has satisfied our teen drama cravings since the demise of The O.C. in 2007. Yet despite an abundance of sex (Dan's highly controversial ménage-à-trois), drugs (remember Nate's dad's fondness for the powdery stuff?) and rock & roll (does GaGa's appearance count?), season three has so far failed to set the ratings alight for ITV2. Could some more bed-hopping change that in 2010? [DF]
In a Skins-esque move, The Family ditched its original lineup (the Hughes family) in favour of a bright, new bunch for 2009. Although not as argumentative as their predecessors, the Grewals provided entertainment aplenty in the build-up to a wedding and a birth, giving EastEnders a run for its money in the drama stakes. Averaging around 1.7 million viewers a week, this series failed to top the success of the first but remained a Wednesday night favourite nonetheless. [DF]
After an unforgiveable absence of three years, reality series Coach Trip returned to Channel 4 for a new run in May. To boot, everyone's favourite
Dollhouse had all the essential ingredients of a cult classic: a top cast including Eliza Dushku and Tahmoh Penikett, a tightly-wound sci-fi plot, and, of course, the creative juices of cult hero Joss Whedon. When Dollhouse was good, it was on fire, but when it was bad... well, you'd probably rather watch your mother do the ironing. Sadly, viewers flocked in their dozens rather than their millions, and after two short seasons, the show will soon be no more. [DF]
Just sneaking in in time to qualify for our list is the remake of the classic novel/series The Day of the Triffids. Although the premise - a bunch of tall carniverous plants blind the population, then proceed to eat them - sounds barmy, a combination of great casting (Dougray Scott, Joely Richardson) and amazing effects (the downing of a passenger plane in central London) made Triffids our favourite Christmas present from Auntie this year. [NW]
Let's face it, after a pretty poor start to season three, Heroes had some work to do. Thankfully, 'Fugitives' shook the show up with more peril - all of the heroes were on the run from persecution - and culminated with a shocking, if slightly confusing, finale that saw Nathan die. Sort of. Season four, airing on BBC Two from January 9, continues in much the same way. Expect more deaths (PROPER deaths at that!), a lesbian romance, and lots of fun at the Carnival... [DF]
To say ITV's Saturday night favourite Primeval had a rollercoaster year would be an understatement. Just a few episodes into the third series, lead character Nick Cutter was sensationally killed off at the hands of his mad wife Helen. Then, in the series finale, a cliffhanger ending saw three key characters stranded several million years in the past - after which ITV cancelled the show, prompting outrage from fans (mostly German ones). A further shock twist in September saw ITV partner up with other broadcasters to bring it back for not one, but two more series. Hell Ja! [NW]
Another Saturday night favourite. The future of Robin Hood had looked bleak even before the third series (finally) made it to air after Jonas Armstrong (aka Robin) announced his intention to leave the show. Quite rightly, many asked how Robin Hood could continue without Robin and, after the broadcast of the final episode - in which Robin died in the forest - the BBC concurred. [NW]
While not the most viewed show of the year, Channel 4's Cast Offs was undoubtedly one of the most acclaimed. Although the premise sounded tacky - a faux-documentary about a bunch of handicapped people stranded on a desert island - the execution was first-rate and at times, genuinely moving. More broadly, it demonstrated that with some real thought and consideration, Channel 4 is more than capable of fulfilling the PSB part of its remit. [NW]
Cult fans got their knickers as twisted as a fisherman's knot over the prospect of a new series called FlashForward, billed as the successor to outgoing behemoth Lost. It boasted an intriguing setup (the whole world blacks out for 137 Sekunden and witnesses visions of their futures) and a pleasing cast (Joseph Fiennes, Lost's Sonya Walger, Dominic Monaghan) but at times was plagued by slightly dodgy execution. On the plus side, the pace quickened before the midseason break and the next few episodes look great... now bring on the flash forward! [NW]
Down nine places from its position in last year's chart is BBC One's Saturday night ratings winner Merlin. In its sophomore series, our eponymous hero battled new villainess Morgause while contending with the increasing irritability of one Great Dragon. There are still parts of the legend we're waiting to see unfold, though: When will Arthur become King? Will Merlin ever come out of the magician's closet? It's a good job there's a third series on the way! [DF]
Season four of Supernatural began with Dean being dragged up from Hell - literally - and reunited with his lil bro Sammy, who'd gone a bit off the rails in his absence. (Apparently he'd got a taste for this thing called True Blood). In a bold move, producers introduced the concept of Angels, partnering the boys with a renegade winged-chap called Castiel. As the season progressed, the boys gradually lost more and more battles, culminating with one almighty resurrection. Clue: The first episode of the fifth season, airing on Living in February, is titled 'Sympathy for the Devil'... [NW]
Last year, we weren't massively impressed with Skins - but after axing the entire cast, E4's home-grown drama showed us that hedonistic teens still have a place on our television screens. Series three gave us more drama from Queen Bee Effy, lesbian romance courtesy of Emily and Naomi, and a dark trip to the woods involving mushroom-munching and a spot of skull-bashing. Now where is series four? [DF]
Returning for its third series, the
Much like fellow TT favourite Coach Trip, Hustle burst back on to our screens in 2009 after a baffling absence of two years. Also making a welcome return to the fold was Adrian Lester as the unassailable Mickey Bricks. With Danny and Stacie off grifting around America (or in the case of the latter, getting a bit cosy with Dexter), the gang welcomed two newbies - siblings Emma and Sean Kennedy. And for the first time ever, a previous mark returned to con the con-artists. Of course, they didn't succeed... [NW]
Perhaps the most compelling drama to debut in 2009 - and certainly one of the most surprising hits - was Whitechapel, a three-part crime caper from ITV. Starring Phil Davis and Rupert 'Spook-ya-later' Penry-Jones, the show charted an investigation into a serial killer who was replicating the murders of Jack The Ripper. Although their case was wrapped up (albeit somewhat ambiguously),- so successful was the series that the gang are being brought back for a second run in 2010. [NW]
Cosy comedy Gavin & Stacey returned for its third - and if rumours are to be believed, final - series in 2009. There was more screen-time for supporting characters like Pete, Dawn and Doris, while the final scene of the series was a universal crowd-pleaser. We won't lie, though, at times the show became a bit too 'knowing', but at its heart it remained more appealing than Smithy's bhunas. [NW]
We were somewhat devastated when Five failed to renew House in favour of fresh-out-the-oven FlashForward, but thanks to a speedy pick-up and a bit of fast-tracking by Sky1, seasons five and six followed in quick succession. In arguably some of the best episodes to date, we've seen Kutner commit suicide and Hugh Laurie's alter-ego sectioned after hallucinating a sex session with Cuddy. With Cameron's recent heartbreaking departure, how will a Jennifer Morrison-less House fare next year? [DF]
Billed as being a cross between Skins and Heroes, E4's new youth drama Misfits had a lot to live up to. The show followed what happened to five ASBO teens after they were caught in a freak lightning storm while doing community service. Drug-taking and time-travelling followed, giving viewers a freakishly fresh teen drama. It may have borrowed story elements from our favourites, but Misfits more than holds its own as one of the strongest newbies from 2009. [DF]
Making its much-anticipated UK debut in 2009, Alan Ball's True Blood became an instant cult hit. Based on the novels by Charlaine Harris, the series married fang-flashing danger with lashings of sex - and that's just its opening credits! Though some found Anna Paquin's Southern accent too much to handle, the supernatual drama has followed in Twilight's footsteps and succeeded in telling one of the best vampire-based stories to date. [DF]
Lost is renowned for out-of-the-box plot twists, but the arrival of season five in 2009 took the show to new levels of insanity. After hurtling back and forth through time, the island finally settled in the 1970s, where our surviving castaways became members of the Dharma initiative. Meanwhile, three years later, the Oceanic Six returned to the island (although technically, we suppose they went to the island for the first time - hmm). As if that wasn't enough, the season concluded with the revelation that Locke is not Locke - oh, and the small matter of Miss Burke and a hydrogen bomb... [NW]
In what can only be described as an editorial oversight (Oi! -Ed), The Inbetweeners was absent from our Best of 2008 lineup. However, thanks to much hilarity from Simon Bird and co (who can forget the night out in London?), the E4 comedy has rocketed into our chart this year at a respectable No.4. Impressive ratings and a more realistic take on teenage life (Skins, we're looking at you) have secured the show a third series... and potential movie. [DF]
After a lacklustre sixth season and an absence of two years, you'd have been forgiven for thinking that 24's best days were behind it. But the seventh season silenced any doubters as the show proved that even in old age, it was still capable of upping its game. The midseason siege of the White House and capture of formidable new President, Allison Taylor, rank as the best ever hours the series has produced. Now, season eight is just around the corner - who's ready for another day from Hell? [NW]
2009 was the year that Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood stood up and held its own as a series in its own right. And a damn good one at that. Promoted to primetime BBC One, the show returned for a single story that played out over consecutive weeknights. The concept was truly terrifying, the acting was at times mesmeric (we're looking at you, Peter Capaldi) and the plot twists were more than a little controversial *COUGH* IANTO JONES *COUGH*. We should note that Torchwood nearly made it to the top of our list, were it not for the poignancy of the ultimate victor... [NW]
There was no full series of Who in 2009 as instead we were treated to four one-off 'specials' to mark the end of David Tennant's tenure as The Tenth Doctor. The quartet took The Doctor on a dark final adventure, both figuratively (sparring with Adelaide in 'The Waters of Mars') and literally (scrapping with the deranged Master on a rubbish tip), building to an inevitably tearjerking goodbye to the most-loved Doctor ever. With Matt Smith now installed as the titular hero, the next full series is but months away. Ready? Allons-y! [NW]
What do you think of our list? Should anything be higher or lower? Did we miss anything off? Add your comments to this entry below!
