The final season of a little known series (at least in the UK) is about to air in the USA, one which has broken many taboos in television and provided the most compelling viewing in recent years. Boasting some remarkable performances, a witty script, and a startling subject matter, the series has won over many fans and made a star of its leading cast. It has received widespread acclaim and been hailed by some critics as the best television drama of all time. Have you not heard of it? It’s time to get watching.

Those of you familiar with Malcolm in the Middle will recognise the series’ lead immediately – it’s Bryan Cranston. He played the flamboyant Hal, father of the destructive family and long-suffering husband to the draconian Lois. Whilst he was the best thing in an altogether excellent show, few would have placed him as a dramatic lead in a cutting edge, darkly humorous drama. Yet Cranston has done just that; he is genuinely brilliant as the anti-hero Walter White. A doting family man and underachieving chemistry teacher, Walter is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer at the age of 50. Accepting his fate, he plots to provide for his family’s future in an unusual way; by using his chemistry skills to cook and sell meth on the drug market. He drafts in highly unreliable former student-turned-drug dealer Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to assist him and the whole series kicks off. The duo are as ill-matched as they come and spend most of their time arguing, and by the second episode a corpse has been disposed of in an acid bath, a drug lord is chained up in a basement, and Walt has realised, with his skills, he can cook the most potent meth on the market. All he has to do is keep his family unaware and the law clueless. Easier said than done.

So what’s so good about Breaking Bad? Dark humour, meth labs, acid baths, psychotic drug lords, a family man turned evil, contemporary slang, an excellent soundtrack, brilliant editing, witty script etc. It’s a viewing experience like no other. The series has been around since 2008 and has been making waves in America, but the British have been slow catching on. It seems like it’s about to make its name over here, at last, as Season 3 reaches our DVD shelves very shortly. You can even buy the first series for £10 online. Perhaps the biggest success of the show has been Cranston. Executives did not believe he could play the increasingly brooding Walter White, but it is Cranston’s portrayal of White’s descent from meek family man to dangerous drug lord which makes the series so enjoyable. His increasing desensitization to the violence around him leads to some reprehensible acts on his part, leaving him increasingly unlikeable and dangerous as a character. We watch as those around him are drawn into a web of deceit and simmering danger. Due to this the show makes for very tense viewing at times, but it also has a poignant and darkly humour side. The latter is provided by Aaron Paul, who turns in a star before as Jesse Pinkman. He is an uncouth, disorderly, lazy and chaotic individual who almost certainly has some form of attention deficit disorder. He walks hand in hand with belligerence and clashes with his cooking partner as they work, and most other characters, from the series opener.

There are other notable characters, too, such as White’s forthright, intelligent wife Skyler and their son Walter Jnr, who has cerebral palsy. Her kleptomaniac sister Marie and her DEA husband Hank also provide some perks to the series; Hank’s personal decent from macho police agent to touching fragility is one of the series’ many highlights. You will also come across maniacal drug lord Tuco Salamanca fairly quickly, a frightening turn by Raymond Cruz.

It seems unusual that, as Breaking Bad enters its final season, it is only just beginning to receive recognition in the UK. The high turnover of the series is, in part, to blame there. Since 2008 the Breaking Bad crew have completed five full seasons, totalling some 62 episodes, each at 47 minutes! This is some achievement in its own right, but to maintain such high standards throughout this run is even more impressive. For its stars the future is set; Cranston has already been offered turns in top flight movies (most notably 2011’s superb Drive with Ryan Gosling), and Aaron Paul has made a star of himself as Jesse Pinkman. The only thing that remains is for the rest of the world to catch up. Get yourself into your nearest entertainment store and buy the first season. You will not be disappointed.

Alex Morris is a writer and researcher for Office Kitten in Manchester where he produces articles and blogs about Suspension files and Envelopes.

Before you judge me to the highest degree, let me explain. Most reality shows showcase one talent, if any at all. Britain’s Got Talent showcases people with skills in almost anything you can think of. A true variety show, with acts staying true to variety, instead of your plastic-fantastic pop stars of The X Factor. Yes you have singers, but you also have dancers, magicians, comedians, animals, jugglers or even classical musicians. They have the true British campness of a variety show, with the right amount of mainstream tv production values.

Whilst the youth of Britain rarely appear in the news unless it’s portraying them in a negative light, BGT shows that there are kids out there doing something with their lives. This years show had two particular acts to showcase this; a dance troupe called Nu Skool and an all boys choir called Only Boys Allowed. These two acts showed that there are kids out there, putting hard work into achieving goals and shunning the modern stereotypes of Britain’s youth.

The 2012 series was probably the most packed full of talent of any previous year of the show. There we’re acts who didn’t make the final who were probably good enough to win other years. The final was a true showcase of raw talent. From the opening act, The Mend, a four-piece boy band from Manchester, to 11 year old Molly who sang like an angel, to Aquabatique who put on a synchronised swimming masterclass, to the final act Jonathan & Charlotte the teenage opera singers, the show was truly amazing.

In the end, it came down to Jonathan & Charlotte, Ashleigh & Pudsey and Only Boys Allowed. All of them were worthy winners, but the winners in the end was Ashleigh and her dog Pudsey. That’s right, two amazing opera singing teenagers and a 140 strong boys choir lost out on £500k to a walking dog. I guess that’s what happens when you let the general public vote on a tv show. Regardless of the result, the final show was amazing and packed full of talented acts, proving that Britain’s certainly got talent. It’s just a shame that Britain’s also full of idiots who’d rather vote for a walking dog than actual talent.

I’ve been hooked ever since. Also this list of my favourite 5 doesn’t even mention that song that they are most famous for, Seven Nation Army. It would be in my Top 10 but not in my Top 5.

5. Screwdriver

“I got a little feeling goin’ now “

This was Track 12 on that album. I played it on a repeat and then continued with the rest of the album, again on repeat. This song started my obsession with the band. An obsession which hasn’t yet stopped.

4. Hotel Yorba

“Well its 1 2 3 4, take the elevator, at the Hotel Yorba, I’ll be glad to see you later, all they got inside is vacancy”

As soon as Hotel Yorba starts my foot starts tapping and I’m dancing. With a look to their country roots this short song has become one of my favourite songs of all time.

3. I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself

“Like a summer rose, Needs the sun and rain, I need your sweet love, To beat love away”

Possibly famous for having a scantily clad Kate Moss in the video but this ranks in my Top 5 as I tend to sing this quite a bit. A lot sing the song All by myself like Bridget Jones in the film but not me I’ll get into a wailing “I just don’t know what to do with myself” and then break into a guitar solo. Is that just me? Oh…

2. Blue Orchid

“You got a reaction, You got a reaction, didn’t you?”

From the opening “You got a reaction” lyric you’re hooked, they’ve got your attention. They have got a reaction. This lyrically is easy to follow and almost if possible too singable with “how old are you now anyway” being the main pull.

1. Ball & Biscuit

“But soon enough you will care by the time I’m done, Just wait, Stick around, You’ll figure it out”

I’m not sure Jack White will ever sound as sexy as he growls and roars through this song. Also what a guitar solo. Pure guitar sex.

So that’s it. That’s my 5

I’m sure there is at least one White Stripes song that you think I’ve missed or maybe you want to share your own Top 5, let me know in the comments below.