My Top 10 Channel 4 Programmes

Given Channel 4's birthday this weekend, I thought a list would be appropriate.

Here's my Top 10 Channel 4 Programmes of the last two and a half decades:

1. Channel 4 News
The best news show on TV. Better presented, and more informed coverage of the widest variety of stories from all over the world.

2. Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights
I can watch the DVDs over and over again. In slow motion. With director's commentary.

3. The Word
It was the epitome of cool. Nirvana debuting 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' on international TV. The time when Kim Deal from the Breeders dropped her trousers during 'Cannonball'. Mark Lamarr becoming a liberal icon by telling Shabba Ranks that he was 'talking crap' when he came up with homophobic nonsence.

4. Teachers
We all knew the characters. They were our friends and they were living our lives. And it was funny. And had cool tunes.

5. Drop the Dead Donkey
Did for journalism what LA Law did for the legal profession.

6. Father Ted
Catchphrase TV. The mainstreaming of non-sweary swearwords. Feck.

7. Shameless
Sick and wrong. And brilliant.

8. Brass Eye
Chris Morris is a genious. This was has last truly accessable TV series before Jam.

9. The Sopranos
I know this is cheating because it's an HBO series, but the Sopranos was event TV in my households for years. I have watched every episode, and loved them all. Even the last one.....

10. West Wing
Everyone in politics wants it to be like the West Wing. Fact. I wanted to be Toby.