Staff Picks: Top TV

“The Wire tops the list; and I don’t see how anyone who has seen the series could fail to include it in their top 5. But saying that I also wanted to highlight some gems and if you haven’t seen Flight of the Conchords – and have a taste for comedy, music and the surreal – this may well be for you”

“Dexter is one of my favourite series. Each episode keeps you on your toes and even though you know what he does is wrong, you just can’t help but like him.”

“The Thick Of It is so #@*!ing clever and so !£%#ing funny it almost literally makes me &!$@ myself laughing. Malcolm Tucker maybe a complete %#@£ing @*$£ but his devastating sweary put downs make him a true modern hero.”

"Buffy ended almost 10 years ago now, but I haven’t ever tired of her vamp busting exploits. Joss Whedon is a genius, I cannot wait for The Avengers!"

"The first TV show I religiously watched was Ally McBeal. I loved that programme; it was the perfect combination of hilarity and emotion, with imaginary dancing babies."

“There is nothing better than watching Desperate Housewives on a weekday evening - humour, silliness, drama and the best quotes ever. Brilliant!"

“I could sit down and watch any of these at any time and would instantly have a smile on my face. Especially Entourage – Jeremy Piven is awesome, Ari Gold is a legend!”

“Look, I know Game of Thrones is only one series deep so far but it is pretty much my benchmark for what amazing television is in 2011. Nothing is as good as Game of Thrones this year.”

“I LOVE Lost... and ER... and The West Wing... I could go on, but in the words of Tim from Spaced ‘Skip to the end!’”

“The Wire is the most definitive TV series of our time and is in a class of its own.”