Iconic TV shows of the current decade

Spooks - Slick BBC drama about MI5 agents. Some hard hitting storylines based around terrorism, internet scams and organised crime. Most storylines have been very topical and they are not afraid to kill off key characters.

24 - American drama set in LA's Counter-terrorist unit, which has regenerated Brat-packer Keifer Sutherland's career. It is unique in that it is filmed in real time, with each of the 24 episodes featuring events chronologically as they happened in that hour. Some cliff hangers that make you wonder how you will survive to the next week without knowing what will happen.

Nip/Tuck - Based in a Miami plastic surgeon's office and shows the characters that come into the surgery, and the relationships of the surgeons particularly with the wife of one, played by Joely Richardson. Usually shows some graphic surgery scenes and mirrors events in the regular character's lives with that of those they treat.

Little Britain - Comedy sketch show, the brainchild of David Walliams and Matt Lucas, as their 'mockumentary' sketches have become cult already, with phrases like "The only gay in the village" being regularly repeated and the sketches becoming water-cooler topics all around Britain.

Big Brother - the daddy of all reality shows, twelve or so housemates stuck in a house with TV cameras 24 hours a day until they are put up for public eviction by being nominated by the housemates, then voted off by the public. In between the housemates complete tasks to earn rewards of increased shopping budgets, whilst the public delights in their trials and tribulations.

Pop Idol - the all-singing reality show, as young people sing a different song along a certain theme each week and the public vote off their least favourite. Made a star of judge Simon Cowell for his harsh criticism. Usually preceded by three or four episodes of audition shows were the least talented people in Britain have their lives devastated when they are told that they are not talented.

Footballer's Wive$ - Trash TV at its greatest as the wives of the players of a fictional football club scheme and lie to meet their own ends of love, family, money or ambition.

Desperate Housewives - Four women stuck in suburbia for different reasons, become friends and this comedy drama tracks the trials and tribulations of their families and the women's concern for the friend who committed suicide, and the mystery concerning blackmail letters that were sent to her. Currently we are still seeing the first series of this show in the UK, so more to come hopefully. Gave Teri Hatcher's career a boost after years away.

Weakest Link - presented by stony faced Anne Robinson, this quiz show developed a strong following, made Robinson's career in the US and its catchphrase ("You are the Weakest Link. Goodbye") bandied about everywhere. Each round the remaining contestants vote off which other contestant they thought was the weakest in that round, they are not always right, and often tactical voting takes place, After the head to had the winner walks away with the money accumulated, and everyone else leaves with nothing.