TV Times Awards Favourite Reality Show Nominees
Strictly Come Dancing
Last year's Strictly was the Year of the Widdecombe. The politician defied the odds - and the judges - by taking her small dancing skillset into the later rounds of the competition, in a Strictly underdog tradition that stretches back to John Sergeant. It's this sort of eccentricity that makes us love the show. At the other end of the ability spectrum, the best dancers really are a joy to watch and this year's line-up is arguably the best ever.
X Factor
This year's X Factor launched under a big fat question mark: could the show survive without Simon Cowell on the judging panel? Answer: a big fat yes. Gary Barlow slipped into Simon's role like a size eight foot into a size eight slipper, Tulisa proved that there was life after Cheryl, and Kelly Rowland has been a big hit.
Britain's Got Talent
TV's kookiest entertainment show roared back onto our screens this spring, with quite a few changes to get our heads around including the arrival of the Hoff and Michael McIntyre. It all culminated in a final that featured real shock value, as Ayrshire careworker Jai McDowall pipped 12-year-old hot favourite Ronan Parke to the £100,000 prize pot. Not even Mystic Meg saw that coming.
Dancing On Ice
When Philip Schofield gives you a ticking off, you know you really have been naughty... Jason Gardiner's 'Mr Nasty' routine prompted howls of outrage at this year's contest, even prompting Schofe to admit he had overstepped the mark by making poor Karen Barber cry. Away from the Gardiner controversy, though, there was plenty of excellent skating to be wowed by, particularly from ex EastEnders star and eventual winner, Sam Attwater.
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
When the nights draw in, what better way is there to spend an evening than watching famous people humiliate themselves with insects and gunge? TV's favourite celebrity format is back again in November with hosts Ant and Dec.
The Apprentice
It was another corker of a series for Lord Sugar's business collective, not least because this year's crop of would-be gazillionaires were, on the whole, much more capable than in previous series. From quite early on, it was obvious who the two frontrunners were, though: golden girl Helen Milligan and eccentric-but-loveable inventor Tom Pellereau. And we'll never forget 'Jedi' Jim Eastwood!
