Normally we split these posts into 'Why I Love... A Certain Programme' and 'A Certain Programme - Why?' But the fact is, I just can't make up my mind when it comes to Green Wing. I realise, by the way, that this isn't the most topical show that I could turn my attention to, but for that you can blame the fact that Channel Four are currently allowing you to download or stream the best of their homegrown comedy shows for free, on 4oD. I already own and treasure my Peep Show and Spaced box-sets, so I thought I'd have a go at Green Wing.

I've tried before, really I have, and my colleagues here at the Scoop are clearly fans. And I really want to like it. I love every member of the cast in other shows, and it's a quirky, British comedy. I should love it! And, for parts of it, I do. So why do I still find other parts such a trial to watch...?

Last night was a big night for season premieres. Over on ITV1, there were the first episodes of Tony Jordan's project Moving Wallpaper/Echo Beach, and Thursdays continued to be Funny with a second series of Little Miss Jocelyn, and a brand new British comedy, Never Better. This latter show stars Stephen Mangan, and TV Scoop were lucky enough to get an interview with him.

Mangan is probably best known for his role as Dr Guillaume Valerie Secretan in Green Wing, and for playing rather self-absorbed types. Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth in real life, and after a brief chat about Richard and Judy getting him a Routemaster bus for him to drive ("really scary!") it was a delight to hear all about his new programme...

Broadcast, the television and radio industry resource, has revealed its winners in this year’s Creative Report with TV Scoop favourite Life on Mars crowned as the most creative show in 2007. The poll, which celebrates the best in British television, covers 16 genres and is based on performance at major industry award ceremonies over the past tear, saw the buddy-cop show total 30 points, beating Planet Earth into second place with 28 points.

Interestingly Granada soap Coronation Street came in third, helping the production company win its category with 76 points. Other shows from its impressive stable included The Street, Longford, The Royle Family: The Queen of Sheba and Granada Reports: Morecambe Bay. Talkback Thames took silver in this group, based on well-received offerings such as The Apprentice, The X Factor and Green Wing.

You thought all the fuss about Life On Mars would be over yesterday, didn't you? Ha! Not on your life (on Mars or anywhere else). Not when the BAFTA nominations have been announced and it leads the pack with three nominations.

Yes, Life On Mars appears in the Best Actor category, where John Simm is nominated; in the Best Drama Series category, where it's up against Sugar Rush, The Street and Shameless; and, as we told you last month, for the Pioneer Audience Award. Follow that link to see what its competition looks like, and for a link to the voting page. Click through below for details of the other BAFTA nominations.

What's this? Trainspotting scribe Irvine Welsh? Writing for the telly? It's almost too delicious a thought to think about, but it's true. He's teamed up with screenwriter Dean Cavanagh to write Wedding Belles, a one-off film that follows the pre-wedding week of Amanda and her dysfucntional group of friends, as they prepare for the big day.

There's a fantastic cast (including a Green Wing alumni), and Welsh being Welsh (and judging by the picture), I'm thinking that this will not be your ordinary wedding.

On Thursday, anyone liking British comedy should sport a black armband. Why, because A special one-off episode of The Green Wing is airing, and it will inevitably be the last.

One of the highlights of 2006, Green Wing managed to be both inventive and surreal... and most importantly, it was so funny that it made you laugh snot bubbles. So it's with a heavy heart that we'll be bidding a farewell to one of the finest shows in comedy.

Every time I see one of those adverts for Barclaycard I let out a big audible sigh as it features two of the finest characters from one of the best comedies our TVs have ever had the privilege of airing. The characters are essentially Mac' and Guy from the fabulous Green Wing, and I miss it being on my screen far too much.

A comedy set in a hospital is hardly a new thing. There is Scrubs and looking back, Only When I Laugh ("I'm H.A.P.P.Y, I'm H.A.P.P.Y, I know I am, I'm sure I am, I'm H.A.P.P.Y...) but Green Wing offered something new and fresh to the genre... mostly in the form of surreal visual gags mixed with nervous breakdowns.

The good people at Penguin Books must have been reading my reviews. Why? They obviously know how dire my reviewing style is, and just how wide off the mark I am with my TV facts, which is why they've sent me the staggeringly fantastic Penguin TV Companion.  Of course, this isn't true at all, but it helps to paint a picture of just how great the book is.

The book is a wealth of fascinating facts about every single programme that's ever been on telly, backed up with wonderful snippets on actors and characters that have graced our screens over the years. For example, Neighbours fans will be thrilled to know that Erinsborough is an anagram of Or, Neighbours. From Russ Abbot to Zorro, there is everything you ever wanted to know and more in this wonderful, wonderful book. 2,200 programmes have been covered with full cast lists and affectionately detailed synopses of each show.

To boot, there are also gradings (four stars is essential viewing, one star is 'curiosity only') and, brilliantly, DVD availability. Jeff Evans, the creator of the book, deserves a knighthood for his endeavours. Although a book detailing TV through the years sounds a little dry, it is incredibly addictive reading. A real open on any page and get lost for an hour book. It will be thumbed greatly by this writer, that's for certain. If your house has a television, then you need this book. If you have any interest in TV at all, you cannot live without this by your side. Marvellous. [Mof Gimmers]

To buy The Penguin TV Companion click here.

The nominees for the 2006 British Comedy Awards 2006 have been announced, with Extras getting an impressive four nominations. The BBC2 show will go head-to-head with Peep Show and The Thick Of It for the Best TV Comedy of 2006 - with last year's winner Little Britain notably ignored in this category.

Extras stars Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant will both be up for Best TV Comedy Actor, alongside Peep Show's David Mitchell and Robert Webb. The Best Female Comedy Actress category is a three-way race between Catherine Tate (please God, no!), Green Wing's Tamsin Greig and The It Crowd's Katherine Parkinson. Charlotte Church secured a solitary nomination for Best Female Comedy Newcomer, despite the complete mauling she got for her chat show. The British Comedy Awards 2006 will take place on Wednesday 13th December and be screened live on ITV1 and ITV2. Jonathan Ross will once again host the event. Read over for the nominations in full.

Are lovers of spooky TV shows like Afterlife doomed to suffer a series of eerie coincidences throughout their lives?  It was only earlier today I mentioned how much I was missing Green Wing and bong!(*)  Into my Inbox drops a note that the Series 2 DVD came out on Monday.  Yet another coincidence is that it's my birthday next month.

(*)Apologies if your email doesn't go bong.  Actually until very recently mine said "Mmmmm email," in the voice of my good lady.  Very Green Wing.

Well... it was the weekend wasn't it? There's a fair chance you missed the finale of the fabulous Green Wing. So, for all you socialites out there, catch up on the ending here. Don't cry.

[Mof Gimmers]

More sitcom news. Dukes of Hazzard + Cagney & Lacey + (Smack the Pony x Green Wing) = Feel the Force, a new six-parter about to start filming in Edinburgh.

Doon Mackichan (Smack etc) and Michelle Gomez (Green etc) play Sally Frank and Sally Bobbins, two big-haired police officers with a hideous boss. Scriptmeister is Georgia Pritchett (HIGNFY and Smack etc) and director is the CV-tastic Tristram Shapeero, who helmed Green Wing and Peep Show.

* Forcefacts: Both women have mastered great feats of bravery. Doon swam the English Channel, and Michelle married Jack Davenport (This Life, Coupling).

* Feel the Force, coming to BBC2 in 2006

Filming has wrapped on Series 2 of Channel 4's dark-as-MRSA medcom Green Wing, which returns to our screens in March 2006 with Tamsin Greig, Julian Rhind-Tutt and co. Wing virgins can catch up with the first series in February.

Keen-eyed readers will have noticed that we've stuck a picture of Sally Phillips on this post rather than the more traditional Greig-based Green Wing illustration. This is not because we don't like Tamsin. Tamsin is smashing. But Sally, along with Smack the Pony workmates Doon Mackichan and Darren Boyd, will be appearing in the new series. It'll be like bingeing on fine comedy Shiraz.

And that is all the excuse we need to wheel out the Sally-o-meter:

10/10: Career-making gig as Sophie in I'm Alan Partridge (1997)
8/10: Potentially Sallytastic turn in the upcoming Green Wing (2006)
7/10: Daft, sometimes great, in Smack the Pony (1999)
7/10: Going all dramatic in Rescue Me (2002)
6/10: Going all Lee & Herring in Fist of Fun (1995)

* Sallyfacts: Sally has a First Class degree in Italian from Oxford University.