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TV is better than film. There we’ve said it and our word is final.

With all the meaningless crap released in cinemas this year that accolade wouldn’t be hard but the sheer quality of TV series broadcast over the last twelve months was simply staggering. Selecting one from such a robust field of worthy competitors, (Game Of Thrones, The Killing, Justified, American Horror Story, Dexter, Breaking Bad, Community, Archer, The Venture Bros, Luther), wasn’t a simple task and as we’ve already cheated by handing out a joint honour in our favourite movie of the year we decided to bite the bullet and pick out a single winner.

For us the French crime series Braquo, which aired for the first time on British TV on FX, left quite an impression on us. Think 24 blended with The Shield and now throw in copius amounts of ciggarettes, bottles of wine, worn leather jackets and acts of sporadic voilence. It stars Jean-Hugues Anglade who continually reminds us of Roy Scheider and was created by former French policeman and film director Olivier Marchal, (Tell No One, Department 36), Braquo rattles along like so:

A squad of Paris cops who exist in the blurred boundaries at the very edge of the law, use violence and intimidation to get the job done. The lives of these officers change radically when their squad leader, falsely accused of corruption, commits suicide. Determined to clear his name they start an investigation of their own, only to find that the police department itself stands in their way.

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH! That’s the collective sound of the crew of HMS Friday letting off some frustrated steam on deck, because once more our TV channels this winter are clogged up with property evaluations, failed attempts at losing weight, wanting to look ten years younger, please vote for me on this talent contest, listen to how I sing don’t I look great, look at how I’m dancing don’t I look great, there are spiders in my hair but don’t I still look great based programmes, which suck the very f@cking soul from our seafaring bodies. There exists an enormous lack of reasonable, decent, engaging programmes on British TV for people who would love to actually look forward to something on their box which didn’t feature a cast of no-mark, no-name, self appointed celebrities jostling for attention.

Just to accentuate our point and prove that we Brits are pretty hard done by in the TV entertainment stakes we’ve put together a list of five shining examples of quality programmes we are missing out on. Five fantastic shows that you’ve probably never heard of and know nothing about becasue they’ve either been hidden away from view or ignored completley.

1.Breaking Bad

Yes, we are fully aware seasons one and two were actually shown in Britain but they were broadcast on FX a channel not everyone in this country has and the second series was aired at stupid o’clock in the morning on Five US. Considering the series is now entering it’s fourth season with 33 episodes under it’s belt along with six Emmy awards it’s about time a mainstream channel picked it up and gave it a reasonable time slot.

Concept – Chemistry teacher finds out he has inoperable lung cancer, to provide extra cash for his family he starts to make and sell crystal meth, with help from an ex-student turned drug dealer. Both are sent sprawling over the line into a life of crime. One of the darkest and most engaging programmes in TV history.

2. Bored To Death

To our knowledge this has never been aired in the UK and is now about to enter into it’s third season.

Concept – Jonathan Ames, played by Jason Schwartzman, is a struggling novelist who has read a ton of cheap detective novels, so when his girlfriend leaves him he advertises his services on a website as an unlicensed private detective and starts taking on cases. Accompanying him is best friend and comic book artist Ray Hueston, played by Zach Galifianakis, who also suffers from various psychological issues and George Christopher, played by Ted Danson, Jonathan’s boss who also happens to be addicted to alcohol, cannabis and sex. Hilarity ensues.

3. Terriers

First season has finished in the States and so far there are no plans to air it over here in Britain.

Concept – Ex-cop and recovering alcoholic Hank Dolworth, played by Donal Logue, (Blade), sets up yet another unlicensed private detective agency with help from friend and former criminal Brit Pollack, played by Michael Raymond-James, (True Blood) investigating cases in and around Ocean Beach, the beach front neighbourhood of San Diego. It’s from the creator of The Shield what more of a recommendation do you need?

4. Community

Now in it’s second season Community did air here in the UK on October 5th hidden away on Viva, yes there is actually a channel called Viva. No plans as of yet to show the second season.

Concept – A suspended lawyer, played by Joel McHale, has to attend community college after his degree is found to be invalid by the bar association. While attending college he meets a collection of misfit students at a Spainsh study group. The series plays heavily on movie parodies and references. Think Spaced with a touch of Glee. Plus Chevy Chase is in it, what more do you people want?

5. Party Down

Ah, the best to last. The crew here at HMS Friday have been lucky enough to watch the entire first season of this hilarious series…through purely legitimate methods of course, (ahem!). Unfortunately only two seasons were made and to date neither have been shown on British TV.

Concept – A group of somewhat unfortunate aspiring actors and writers in Hollywood fill their days earning a crust working for an event catering company. Dreaming of one day making it big they drift from one party to the next meeting and sometimes clashing with guests and clients along the way. Seek this series out if you can.

Comedians In Cars Getting Cocaine.

HMS Friday’s Top TV Series Of 2011.

Five Amazing TV Shows We Brits Don’t Know About.