Haven't you heard? The world is very close to capitulation. We're in the middle of a credit crunch so crunchy that all jobs are going to be lost, wars are kicking off all over the shop, kids are stabbing each other in the streets all the time, the planet is wheezing and heating up and melting because of US, and I stubbed my toe on the a skirting board the morning and it really hurt. Yes, everything is rubbish. More rubbisher than at any time I can remember. What is there to do? Take off your clothes, smear yourself in Utterly Butterly, run naked down the streets and jump off the nearest cliff? No, don't do that. Turn on your televisions. There are some shows that might just make you feel a bit happier.

Now, before I do this run down it must be said that those things I mentioned are all serious problems that have affected people in serious ways. I'm not trying to make light of that at all, but what I am trying to do is find some TV shows that are unashamed in their attempt to make us put a smile on our faces.

I have to say it was quite difficult to find even six of them. So many TV shows strive so hard to be edgy, and it seems everyone has an angle. If a TV show isn't about murder or crime, it's about paranoia or trying to grab 15 minutes of fame. Surely there are some series out there that strive for nothing more than to make us smile. Thankfully, there are still a few out there...

1. Gavin & Stacey
I love this show. It took me a while to get there, but I love it. I love the way there's a sweet love story at its heart, and I love the way it is so schmaltzy sometimes. I also love the way that, thanks to Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon, there is just the merest hint of subversion in there. I mean, who can get away with a line dancing scene where Bryn and Nessa belt out Islands In The Stream? Makes you all warm inside.

Want to read some of our Gavin & Stacey reviews? Go here and here.

2. Lost In Austen
So frothy and light was this time-travelling period drama it was like watching the televisual equivalent of a sufflé. Even Our Mof, hardened television watcher that he is, melted before its vibrant take on an Austen novel. Forget the accuacy, marvel at the one liners and general lovliness. Jemima Rooper and Gemma Arterton were great, too.

For all our Lost In Austen reviews and news, go here.

3. Strictly Come Dancing
You can also add Dancing With The Stars to this too. I chose Strictly instead of The X Factor because that just goes for the heartstrings all the time - it actually wants you to cry. Strictly, on the other hand, is an unashamed throw-back to family, variety-style entertainment with huge sprinkles of glamour to boot. I challenge you not to feel exhilarated after watching Brooke Burke's quickstep from the new series of Dancing With The Stars.

To read all our news and reviews from Strictly/Dancing, go here.

4. My Name Is Earl
So daft, so not caring about set-in-stone sitcom conventions, My Name Is Earl puts everyone in a good mood whenever they watch it. It may have mucked around a bit with its dynamic in series three (it will have settled down in series four) and been shunted all over the schedules (cheers Channel 4), but any show that promotes good karma is a fine thing indeed.

Read one of our reviews here.

5. Pushing Daisies
A series about a bloke who kills people just by touching them may not seem a shoo-in to a 'television's happiest shows' run-down, but it's based in a pie shop where characters burst into song at any moment. The voiceover guy might be a tad annoying and it probably didn't live up to the hype, but singing randomly? I'm smiling already.

6. Ugly Betty
Aww, Betty Suarez - one of TV's most endearing characters. She fights against bitchy, judgemental fashion industry types by day, and Betty and her ballsy family get into all kinds of scrapes the rest of the time. Here's a treat - a clip from the brand-new series, featuring Lindsay Lohan!