Whatever your viewing preferences, this year promises to offer some amazing viewing.  Programmes range from perfect period dramas to suspense-filled soaps and from riotous reality shows to superb sporting showcases.

Here we take a look at some of the top TV picks viewers won’t want to miss in 2012, covering both firm favourites and exciting new offerings.

2012 TV Drama

This year promises some exciting offerings for drama fans.  Some shows not to be missed include:

• Downton Abbey – ITV has confirmed that a third series of the popular period piece is in production and will hit our screens this autumn.  Following on from the success of the Christmas special, fans will be on tenterhooks awaiting the wedding and much more besides.

• Hit and Miss – From the creator of Shameless, this tense drama stars Chloe Sevigny as a pre-op transsexual whose complicated life is as an assassin thrown into chaos when she discovers she fathered a child in her former life.

2012 Reality TV

Reality TV is a favourite family format and 2012 looks set to offer a bumper package of true-life tales.  Ones to watch include

• The Voice – The tried and tested talent show format will return to ‘Auntie’ this spring with the first series of The Voice.  Billed as the channel’s answer to The X Factor, this new series will feature pop queen Jessie J as a judge, alongside the singing legend that is Sir Tom Jones.

• Big Brother – It’s the reality show they couldn’t kill.  Big Brother was famously axed from Channel 4 in 2010 following the win by Bristolian Josie Gibson, but made a triumphant return on rival channel Five, fronted by former winner Brian Dowling.  The series is set to kick off in May and will keep fans glued throughout the summer.

2012 Sports TV

Sports fans will be spoiled for choice in 2012, with all the annual events being aired alongside the excitement of the Olympics.  Sports must-sees include:

• The Olympics – Coming to the UK in 2012 and offering even more of an excuse to follow every event.  The BBC is planning to extend on-air hours for BBC 3 and to launch an extra channel to cover the 20 days of the event, with BBC 5 Live Olympics Extra being available via the digital TV network.

• Formula One – Coverage of the favourite motorsport event will be split between the BBC and Sky for the first time this year.  Petrolheads across the country will be tuning in to see who is on poll position.

2012 Soap TV

Soap fans can look forward to some surprised in 2012, with ongoing offerings and resurrected legends gracing our screens.  Soap selections for this year include:

• EastEnders – Follow the fortunes of Albert Square in the year 2012 PP (that’s Post-Pat).  Some old faces return and new characters are planned – watch this space.

• Dallas – Yes, 2012 is the year of the Ewings.  The ostentatious Texans are back bigger and brasher than ever, and utterly unmissable.  It features the original stars Larry Hagman and Linda Gray.

Olivia Munn: Anti Animal Fur Farms Campaign

Actor Olivia Munn Hosts PETA’s Hard-Hitting Exposé of Chinese Fur Farms

Drivers in Los Angeles have been urged not to become too distracted when they’re driving down Beverly Boulevard this month: actor Olivia Munn – who stars in Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming comedy Magic Mike and Aaron Sorkin’s highly anticipated HBO drama series The Newsroom and can also be seen on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart –  is featured in the buff in a brand-new “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” billboard ad for PETA US. Munn unveiled the billboard in person yesterday in LA. In the ad, which was shot by top celebrity photographer Emily Shur, Munn poses au naturel next to the thought-provoking slogan “Who Needs Fur to Feel Beautiful?” High-resolution photos of Munn at the unveiling are available here and here.

Munn is also working with PETA UK to shed light on the cruelty of fur.  In Munn’s latest PETA campaign, she reveals much more than just her skin by hosting a brand-new video exposé of fur farms in China, the world’s largest fur exporter. “As a proud person of Chinese descent, it broke my heart to learn just how terribly animals suffer and die on Chinese fur farms and that there are no penalties for this abuse”, explains Munn in the video. The exposé reveals shocking cruelty, including raccoon dogs being beaten, rabbits having their heads cut off, and workers ripping the fur off animals’ bodies as the animals writhe in pain.

Munn talked more about fur in an exclusive interview with PETA. “[W]hen you think about even that little tiny trim of fur on your gloves or on your collar, that is still coming from an animal that had to endure so much pain just for you”, she said. “There’s nothing good about pretending like you don’t know.”

Munn joins a host of other celebrities – including Charlize Theron, Eva Mendes, Ricky Gervais, Tim Gunn, Lea Michele, Gillian Anderson and Pink –who have teamed up with PETA and its international affiliates to speak out against fur.

For more information about the suffering of animals killed for fur, please visit PETA.org.uk.

On Christmas Day evening the whole family enjoyed Lapland, a play that followed a dysfunctional family from Liverpool as they attempted to enjoy Christmas together in the land of Santa Claus, following a death in the family.  The dry, black comedy was brilliantly executed as a family who don’t quite see eye-to-eye  gradually falls apart under the strain of having to spend Christmas together.

Then, between Christmas and New Year there was, what is now, the ubiquitous year in review as Charlie Brooker put his normal sarcastic spin on the 2011 news stories in another edition of his Screen Wipe.  And that was it!

My son is one of many going loopy over the US sitcom, The Big Bang Theory.  He received a DVD and two t shirts for Christmas, and was very happy.  But I’m afraid it doesn’t do anything for me.
So, was 2012 going to be any better?

Fortunately the second series of Sherlock began on New Year’s Day.  Three more episodes written by the likes of Steven Moffat, Steve Thompson and Mark Gatiss – one third of The League Of Gentlemen & writer and presenter of the fabulous A History of Horror which was screened last year on BBC4.

I am loving the second series of Sherlock, the 21st century re-interpreting of Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. The writing and acting is sublime, witty and truly original, as such.  The idea of bringing the most famous Victorian detective, who first appeared in 1887, into the present as Holmes and his fabulous sidekick Dr Watson use text messages & a blog to help advertise their services and solve detective mysteries.  With the drug-addicted Holmes preferring nicotine patches over opium pipes.

I’ve just watched the second of three episodes, a reworking of the most famous of Conan Doyle’s stories, The Hound of Baskerville (based on The Hound of the Baskervilles) which was written by Mark Gatiss. I don’t want to give the story away, and only urge you to watch it on Catch-Up TV or the iPlayer if you have so far given the series a swerve.

Sherlock stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Doctor John Watson; and there is support from the wonderful Una Stubbs as their mothering landlady.
I’m hoping there is something else to look forward to after next Sunday’s final episode. Any ideas?

The Reichenbach Fall, the final episode of the current series of Sherlock is on Sunday 15th January on BBC1.  Sherlock -the second series is scheduled to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on 23 January 2012.

The exclusive performance was recorded in front of an audience of the singer’s biggest fans with Beyoncé engaging in an interview session with fans in this unique and spectacular show.

With over 75 million worldwide album sales as an artist, the sixteen-time Grammy winner is now one of the best-selling artists of all time.

Beyoncé has dominated the music charts this decade spending more weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart and having more Top 5 hit records over the past 10 years than any other female artist. Her #1 singles include ‘Crazy In Love’, widely acknowledged as the best song of the last decade and ‘Single Ladies’, a worldwide smash with an iconic video to match.

Beyoncé has had ten top five singles in the UK as a solo artist.  Her latest album, “4”, debuted at number one on both sides of the Atlantic when it was released last June. Beyoncé marked the release with a spectacular headline performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

The ITV special was commissioned by Acting Controller of Entertainment, ITV, Daniela Neumann who said, “Beyoncé is one of the biggest selling artists of today. She is a world-class performer who dazzles her audience with her energy and talent. We are thrilled to have this very special and exclusive entertainment event on ITV.”

The hour and a quarter long special has been made by Victory Television in co-production with Sony Music and will be broadcast on Sunday at 9pm.

It’s that time of year again…and I’m not talking Christmas here, it’s time to return to the jungle for I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, which started last Sunday 9pm on ITV1 along with its support show, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here Now! following on ITV2 at 10.30pm.

This year’s ‘celebrity’ cast has the mix of sports personalities, soap stars, glamour models and trouble, in the form of Freddie Starr, who’s love of unusual gastronomy is well documented! He should have no problem tucking into genitalia and local wildlife….oh wait, he did!!! Poor Freddie was struck down by a severe allergic to the disgusting food he tucked into without so much as a raised eyebrow after being voted to do the Greasy Spoon Bushtucker Trial against Mark Wright, who hilariously retched, gagged, chocked and moaned his way through every mouthful!!  I’m not sure he should be given respect for carrying on eating the meal worms, mice tails, pigs anus etc despite it being obvious Freddie was going to be unbeatable or if he really is just a bit thick…in a very good looking way.

Unfortunately it’s now been decided that Freddie won’t be returning to the jungle, which is a shame because he was already starting to clash horns with ‘alpha male’ of the camp, Stephanie Powers.  It didn’t help when he appeared to have no idea how to retrieve the stars from a box of muck in the celebs first challenge, which meant his team got a dunking in fish guts while the other side sailed through with hardly a squeal!

The other contestants, American actress Stephanie Powers, champion jockey Willie Carson OBE, Emmerdale actress Lorraine Chase, TOWIE star Mark Wright, Jessica-Jane Clement (I’ve no idea either), Dougie Poynter from McFly, former world champion javelin thrower Fatima Whitbread OBE, Anthony Cotton off Corrie and Crissy Rock…that annoying one from Benidorm will be joined by DJ and TV presenter, Pat Sharp and 80’s singer Sinitta this week.  Hopefully Sinitta won’t be as irritating as she appears to be during her token appearances on the X Factor…but I won’t hold my breath! It looks like Jessie-Jane will now have some stiff competition in the trying-to-outshine-Mylene-Klass-in-a-bikini daily event. Although stick a couple of cheap implants on Lorraine Chase and I’m sure she would do just as well, she’s looking pretty amazing for 60!

Ant and Dec are, of course, hosting the ITV1 show, while over on ITV2 we’re getting the lowdown from Joe Swash and Russell Kane, who are joined this year by newcomer, MTV Europe presenter, Laura Whitmore.

So why do we love reality TV? What are the shows that really capture our imagination and why are they so compelling? Here we look at five top Reality TV shows and analyse their appeal.

The X-Factor

This modern take on the televised talent show has viewers across the UK hooked every weekend. From audition phases, to the boot camp cuts to judge’s houses and finally the live shows we just can’t get enough. We love it when they can’t sing, we adore it when they can sing, we empathise with their carefully crafted backstories and invest in their journey with our weekly votes. The show offers a range of different acts of all ages, meaning there is someone for everyone to identify with and, having just broken America, it is likely the format is here to stay.

One Born Every Minute

This reality documentary series is one that captured the hearts of the nation as it followed pregnant women and their families in the final moments before their babies arrived. Women across the country found it compelling viewing – we laughed at the husbands as they attempted to be involved and shed tears with the couples as their bundles of joy made an appearance.

Big Brother

Depending on your stance, Big Brother is either the pinnacle or the nadir of reality programming – but whichever camp you are in you will find it hard to deny that the format makes for compelling viewing. With a random selection of strangers locked into a camera filled house and pitted against each other for a big cash prize, Big Brother brings out the best and worst in contestants. The show ran for ten years in the UK on Channel Four an those who were not converts breathed a sigh of relief when it was announced that the 10th series would be the last. But it seems BB is too powerful and the show has made a Phoenix-like comeback on Channel Five and looks set to continue at least for the foreseeable.

Extreme Makeover

Another controversial choice is the Extreme Makeover format where participants with poor body image are whisked away, remodelled and rebuilt through a range of surgeries and procedures, to emerge swanlike at the end with a whole new face and physique. While some find the premise a little questionable, the format has successfully showcased the potential of plastic surgery with a number of viewers heading straight for sites like the Hospital Group to plan their own metamorphosis.

Highland Rescue

Following the work of the rescue teams of the Coastguard, Navy and RAF in the North of England, Highland Rescue is an adrenaline pumping insight into the action and adventure that is involved in saving lives in this inhospitable environment and makes great viewing for all the family.

Amy Winehouse Biography Special

To mark the tragic death of one of the UK’s brightest music stars, the Bio tv channel will be showing an updated biography on Amy Winehouse on Saturday at 8pm (Sky Channel 156 and Virgin 242).

A brand new online page on the Bio website is dedicated to the “Rehab” singer with a new photo gallery, video and an updated biography at www.biography.co.uk.

Amy Jade Winehouse first burst onto the music scene with her smash hit “Rehab,” but her incredible singing voice and bubbly charisma was tarnished by tabloid coverage of her drink and drug addictions as well as her wild child lifestyle.

Amy Winehouse

Hits such as “Valerie” and “Back to Black” helped the young star from Camden Town to an illustrious career winning 23 major awards and bringing jazz to a younger audience.

With all the negative press coverage and criticisms that followed the 27 year old throughout her life it is her music that she will be remembered by.

Amy Winehouse Special is on Saturday 30th July at 8pm on the Bio Channel
(Sky Channel 156 and Virgin 242).

Produced by Ash Atalla, (The Office and The IT Crowd) Trollied is a slice of life populated by the characters we all see every time we go shopping – the bored kids on the checkouts, the ineffectual managers and the irate and often bizarre customers.

The show boasts a stellar cast list including Bafta and Golden Globe® nominee Jane Horrocks along with Mark Addy and Rita May.

The first series of Trollied starts on Thursday 4th August on Sky1 & Sky1 HD.

Season Two also guest stars Paris Hilton and Weezer.

Last season, fans watched as RJ (Paul Iacono) left the girl of his dreams, Jenny Swanson (Amber Lancaster) at the winter formal, to lose his virginity to his stalker-ish friend Lily Miran (Kara Taitz), as she lay in her hospital bed moments before flat lining.  Will Lily live or die–and if Lily lives, will RJ choose her or Jenny?  With a possible new love triangle, fresh faces and guest appearances by Paris Hilton, popular rock band Weezer and Jersey Shore’s Vinny Guadagnino, season two is sure to bring more outrageous moments and antics from RJ and his peers at Pinkerton High.

The Hard Times of RJ Berger orbits the hilariously-hellish lives of a deeply unpopular 15 year-old (Paul Iacono) and his scheming, sex-obsessed best friend, Miles Jenner (Jareb Dauplaise). Other than pining after the girl of his dreams, Jenny Swanson (Amber Lancaster), receiving daily beatings from the meanest jock in school, Max Owens (Jayson Blair), and evading the stalker-ish advances of Lily Miran (Kara Taitz), there really isn’t much excitement in RJ’s life. That is, until his anatomical gift is accidentally exposed to the entire school.

In a single moment, RJ goes from anonymous to infamous, and for the first time in his life, he feels a tiny sliver of confidence. Swept up in this man-sized wave of recognition, The Hard Times of RJ Berger returns for season two with another full-frontal assault on Pinkerton High. In the wake of Lily’s accident, we’ll follow RJ and Miles as they navigate the treacherous waters of sophomore year. Whether GTL-ing with Cousin Vinny (Jersey Shore’s Vinny Guadagnino), jamming with Weezer, lusting after Jenny Swanson, or simply coping with his parents’ divorce, one thing’s certain: for RJ Berger, this semester just got bigger… and a lot harder.

New Crime Drama - Body of Proof

There is a new nine part crime drama series starting on UKTV’s Alibi (Sky 132, Virgin Media 130) on Tuesday 19th July at 9pm.

The hit US crime drama Body of Proof stars Dana Delany (Desperate Housewives) as Dr Megan Hunt and Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager) as Dr Hunt’s sidekick, Kate Murphey.

UKTV have already begun promoting the show via Facebook and YouTube.