TV Times Awards Favourite Digital Show Nominees
Mad Dogs
Sky1 produced one of the drama highlights of the year with this excellent thriller, a tense and often hilarious four-parter about four old school friends who fly to Majorca hoping for a nice holiday, but end up embroiled in drug running, kidnap and murder instead. It was well acted and compelling - with an ending that just cried out for a second series. Which is exactly what it has got. Look out for it next year.
The Xtra Factor
Hard to believe that this popular BBC3 series was once a spin-off from fictional namesake Hustle. It's now a TV favourite in its own right - regularly name-checked by the characters in Being Human as one of their must-watch shows, in fact. Getting celebrities in on the action was a stroke of genius; the current show has seen EastEnders' Rob Kazinsky going undercover as a cab driver and ex Busted star Matt Willis turning security engineer as they target unsuspecting real-life marks.
Britain's Got More Talent
Smiley Stephen Mulhern was our returning host for this all-access pass to the best and worst of Britain's Got Talent. And he deserves plenty of sympathy for this because, unlike McIntyre and co, he had no desk to hide behind, but actually had to get up-close and personal with the contestants offstage on the ITV2 spin-off. Case in point: Lorraine, the alarmingly gyrating 65-year-old ex lollipop lady who didn't quite make it past the auditions...
Trollied
The programme makers created a full size, purpose-built shopping experience for this new Sky1 comedy series set in 'Valco', a fictional supermarket in Warrington. It featured a strong cast - including Jane Horrocks, Mark Addy and the ever enjoyable Jason Watkins (of Psychoville fame) - and hilariously bad customer service.
The Only Way is Essex
Some people thought it was perpetuating stereotypes of Essex dwellers as money-obsessed, know-nothing airheads. Other people thought that too, but still tuned in to the ITV2 hit. And meanwhile Amy Childs, Mark Wright and friends went on to become cult stars. So much so that they beat Downton Abbey, Miranda and Sherlock to the audience award at this year's Baftas.
Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model
Take beautiful young ladies with an eclectic mix of skill-sets and backgrounds, from an insurance advisor to a full-time mum, add them to a house and then throw them into a winner-takes-all competition for a top modelling contract. What have you got? Answer: lots of tears and tantrums - and of course some useful tips on how to make it in the fashion world in this Sky Living show.
