The ITV drama beat American series 'Breaking Bad' and 'Homeland' as well as popular shows 'The Great British Bake Off' and 'Educating Yorkshire'
Broadchurch, the Dorset-set crime drama starring David Tennant and Olivia Coleman, has been named the Best Television Show of 2013 in a recent poll by Radio Times. The popular ITV whodunit came top of the yearly poll despite facing stiff opposition from at home and abroad, in a list compiled by the top critics employed by the Radio Times.
Broadchurch has been roundly praised by critics on both sides of the Atlantic
The spooky French drama The Returned was Broadchurch's closest competitor, with the Channel 4-aired series coming in second in the poll. The fly-on-the-wall documentary series Educating Yorkshire, which also airs on Channel 4, was behind in third, with two new British, BBC 2-aired series making up the rest of the top five; Top of the Lake placing fourth and the new James Cordon starrer The Wrong Mans fifth.
Two American series made their way on to the list, with Homeland coming just outside the top five, being placed at No. 6. Although the show only airs online in the UK, Breaking Bad also managed to crack into the top ten, placing No. 9 on the list. We haven't checked every list compiled at the end of the year, but at No. 9 the Radio Times may have given the highly praised series it's lowest end of year ranking. Vince Gilligan probably isn't losing too much sleep over it though.
Stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul in Breaking Bad
Coincidentally, Broadchurch and Breaking Bad are the only two shows on the list that aren't aired on either Channel 4 or BBC 2.
Making up the rest of the list is The Great British Bake Off at seventh and Toast of London behind at eighth. Peaky Blinds tops the list, the fourth and final BBC 2 series to make the list.
Radio Times' Best TV of 2013
1. Broadchurch
2. The Returned
3. Educating Yorkshire
4. Top of the Lake
5. The Wrong Mans
6. Homeland
7. The Great British Bake Off
8. Toast of London
9. Breaking Bad
10. Peaky Blinders
Reviews of the latest Homeland season have been critical of the show, but not where Radio Times are concerned
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