I got an email from Shiny’s First Lady, Katie, saying that one of her mates had made a documentary to air on FX on Monday (get her!), so it’d be cruel not to give it a mention. This kind of shameless promotion of mates of mates’ stuff is usually not to be encouraged, but the doc in question is all about one of the best-kept secrets on telly – The Wire – so it’s definitely well worth a mention.

Tapping The Wire sees much arse-licked Guardian TV bile vomiter Charlie Brooker travel to the show’s home – Baltimore – where he meets cast and crew for a special behind the scenes look at this terrific, dense, meaty cop show. For those not in the know, The Wire is a gritty and magnificent look at the drug war taking place on the streets of Baltimore, told from both sides of the law.

Tapping The Wire, FX, Monday July 16th, 9pm