The best of the best, V Loves is our selection of some of the greatest TV documentaries, comedies and dramas.

House of Lies

Set in the cutthroat world of management consultancy, dog eat dog is the order of the day here where Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell star. It’s a sharp, snappy satire that takes a merciless look at bad business practice and features characters you love to hate sticking it to characters you love to hate even more.

Smash

This acclaimed new musical series goes behind the scenes of a Broadway show about Marilyn Monroe. We meet the cast and crew – including two actresses vying for the title role. Songs include Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful, a rousing version of Blondie’s Call Me and many new original songs.

Luck

Already being favourably compared to The Sopranos, Luck is a new series from drama kings HBO that stars Dustin Hoffman as Chester Bernstein, a mobbed-up operator who knows his way around a racetrack. Writer David Milch, has created a slow-burning drama that is long on authenticity – you won't have heard dialogue this authentic for a while – replete with rich characters and pitch-perfect performances.

Bombay Beach

Director Alma Har'el’s extraordinary documentary tells the tale of three residents in the titular area of Southern California: an ageing cigarette bootlegger, a black teenager trying to avoid being ensnared by gang culture, and a young boy with bi-polar disorder. Their stories are played out against a backdrop of vivid imagery and music from the likes of Beirut and Bob Dylan.

2012 LCCFA Film Awards

Don't miss our Best In Show special, from the 32nd London Critics' Circle Film Awards, one of the most glamorous and respected in the film awards season calendar, and where Virgin Atlantic are proud headline sponsors. We look at some of the most talked-about films of the year and meet some of the stars who've caught the attention of the UK's leading film critics, including actors, actresses, newcomers, directors and film legends.

Dreams of a Life

This fascinating and thought-provoking film tells the tragic story of Joyce Vincent, who after dying alone in her London flat remained undiscovered for three years. In 2006 it became a bizarre news story, one that fascinated filmmaker Carol Morley. She made it her quest to learn more about Vincent, in particular how she could have fallen so far through the cracks of life that no one would miss her for three years.

Film Festival In The Sky

We have teamed up with The National Television Film School (NFTS) to bring you a selection of some of their best graduate short films.

Stanley Pickle

This beautifully worked animation sees the titular Stanley play with his clockwork toys and every night his mother kisses him goodnight. The trouble is Stanley is twenty and thinks this is all quite normal. That is until an encounter with a mysterious girl turns his world upside down…

The Confession

Oscar nominated and BATFA winning drama. Quiet and sincere 9-year old Sam is nervous about his first confession: he has not committed sin, therefore he cannot be absolved. His best friend helps him to perpetrate one. An innocent prank turns into tragedy.

The Boy Who Wanted to be a Lion

……A Lion. Jake is a 7-year old deaf boy growing up in the 1960s. One day he goes on a school trip to the zoo where he sees a lion for the first time. A feeling begins to grow inside him that will change his life forever.

We Were Here

The most acclaimed documentary of 2011 marks thirty years since AIDs first broke out, by documenting its terrible effect in San Francisco, illuminating not only the personal and community issues raised by the epidemic, but the political and social upheavals it unleashed. Not always easy viewing, the film is nevertheless a vital and uncompromising look at an extraordinary, tragic time.

Tabloid

The latest film from acclaimed documentary-maker Errol Morris tells the story of former Miss Wyoming Joyce McKinney, who was accused of kidnapping a Mormon and forcing him into sex – a case that became a red-top sensation in the UK.

Whether it’s show tunes from Glee, anarchic animation from Family Guy, or the best of British comedy with Miranda and Live at the Apollo – we’ve got something to make you smile.

Adult Swim

Adult Swim shows that have not only proved popular on their original home, the late-night schedules of The Cartoon Network, but now are massive hit online too. They’re a mix of live-action, animation and stop-motion puppetry, but what they have in common – apart from being very funny of course – is the frankly bizarre subject matter (yes, that is a pair of walking buttocks that talk like Sylvester Stallone). Definitely not to be missed.

Robot Chicken
Guest voices include Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seth Green and Mila Kunis.

Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
The show they call the ‘the nightmare version of television’.

Check It Out! With Dr Steve Brule
John C Reilly’s Dr Steve Brule devotes the show to the issue of Family.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole
In this episode Victor Frankenstein tries to bring Michael Jackson back to life.

Assy McGee
He’s a tough-talking, trigger-happy walking pair of buttocks.

Superjail
A psychedelic penitentiary built inside a volcano run by a warden described as a ‘sadistic Willy Wonka’

Eagleheart
Very violent and very funny this action-movie spoof is hilarious.

Sealab 2021
This is a parody of the short-lived Hanna-Barbera cartoon Sealab 2020.

Absolutely Fabulous

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Absolutely Fabulous, the cast reunited for a three very special shows. In this first one Edina and Pasty find themselves at the mercy of a drug dealer and Saffy has been away for a very long time? Saunders' writing is as sharp as ever and Joanna Lumley’s Patsy is a delight to behold.

The Cafe

From Royle Family star Ralf Little comes this enchanting new sitcom documenting the trails and tribulations of seafront café Cyril's in Weston Super Mare. In this episode the café is thrown into disarray by the visit of a flashy Londoner.

Enlightened

Laura Dern stars in this new superb new comedy-drama series as high-flying executive who comes out rehab an enlightened woman but she learns that hard way that her colleagues preferred the old Amy to the new one.

Twenty Twelve

The Office meets The Thick of It in a mockumentary series satirising Britain’s preparations for the 2012 Olympics. In this opener, the Olympics’ big countdown clock causes untold problems.

Two and a Half Men

How did Two-and-a-Half Men’s producers cope with Charlie Sheen's sudden departure? Here’s your chance to find out in the first episode since his exit. Clue: it has something to do with Ashton Kutcher and a botched attempt to scatter some ashes…

Trollied

Jane Horrocks stars as deputy manager Julie in this acclaimed sitcom about life in a Cheshire supermarket. In this opening episode she’s disconsolate when only two people want to come to her tea party…

Curb Your Enthusiasm

In season eight Larry is enjoying life as a single man and in this episode he has second thoughts about his lawyer, while an order of girl scout cookies sends him into a characteristic turmoil.

An Idiot Abroad 2

Plenty of hilarity from the unbeatable trio of Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington, with Ricky and Stephen arranging once-in-a-lifetime trips for Karl. In this episode, Karl heads off to swim with (what he thinks are) dolphins.

The Only Way Is Essex

It’s the emotional and nail biting final episode of the third series, and as usual Mark is having problems with the women in his life. Then, in a fit of self-pity, he decides that it would be best for everyone if he leaves Essex. But will he go through with it?

The Big Bang Theory

Leonard and Sheldon are brilliant physicists, the kind minds that understand how the universe works. However none of that genius helps them interact with people, especially women. All this begins to change when a free-spirited beauty named Penny moves in next door and the guys start to realise there is more to life than finding the meaning of it.

John Bishop's Britain

Using a mix of stand-up, sketches and interviews, John Bishop brings his unique Liverpudlian wit to bear on a variety of subjects close the heart of dear old Blighty. In this episode music and fashion are under discussion.

Modern Family

The sitcom that has been taking America and The UK by storm uses the mockumentary format to focus on the many different parts of an extended and, yes, very modern family. Fresh and most importantly very funny, it’s had critics doing happy cartwheels.

New Girl

Hip indie chick Zooey Deschanel stars in this new sitcom about Jess, who breaks up with her cheating boyfriend and must find alternative accommodation. She ends up moving in with three guys, who swiftly realise they’ve found a friend as well as a flatmate.

The Simpsons

More hilarious fun from everyone’s favourite family. The longest running animated series on prime time network television is still as popular as it ever was. Catch up with Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa and Maggie as they go about their day-to-day business causing havoc along the way. The series has spawned plenty of catchphrases from 'Doh' to 'Eat My Shorts’ and has forever cemented itself in popular culture.

Rev

Tom Hollander stars as the clergyman of the title, who’s left his cosy rural church for the tough inner city. In this episode he gets a reputation as the Kung Fu kicker vicar after inadvertently foiling a robbery.

The Office

This episode taken from Steve Carell’s final season of The Office stars Will Ferrell as the new manager who comes in to learn the ropes – with the rest of the staff desperate to make a good impression on him.

Stella

This new sitcom written by and starring Ruth Jones a down-to-earth family comedy set in the Welsh valleys. In this episode, single mum Stella makes a startling discovery in daughter Emma’s bedroom…

2 Broke Girls

Will and Grace and Sex and the City writer Michael Patrick King is the name behind this new US sitcom. It revolves around two waitresses hoping to open their own restaurant and is, as you’d expect, a great mix of funny and heartfelt.

The Middle

The everyday mishaps of a Midwestern working-wife make for very funny viewing in this hit US sitcom. Patricia Heaton is the harried Frankie Heck, trying to juggle work and a dysfunctional family.

Cougar Town

Is the cougar finally settling down? We rejoin Jules (Courteney Cox) in season three of the hit US sitcom, just as she finds herself the subject of a marriage proposal. A proposal gift-wrapped in toilet paper, no less.

The Diamond Queen

Marking her sixty years on the throne, Andrew Marr tells the story of The Queen. From the young girl who never expected to reign, to the monarch we know today, he assesses her impact at home and abroad and talks to those who know her best.

A Dad is Born

Three new fathers open up to the camera in this superb documentary: HR worker Jamie, who is terrified by the prospect; minicab driver Viktor, who wants to put his womanising history behind him, and multimillionaire trader Greg, determined to be a great dad.

Don’t Tell the Bride

A couple is given £12,000 to spend on their wedding with a few conditions: they must spend three weeks apart without contact and the groom has to organise every aspect of the event – including the dress. As you can imagine this makes for surprising, hilarious and often touching reality TV.

Mark Zuckerberg: Inside Facebook

Reporter Emily Maitlis travels to Silicon Valley in order to track down Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and ask him some tough questions about the social network and how it uses customer information. Compelling, eye-opening stuff.

Headspace The Benefits of Meditation

From greater creativity to an increase in your attention span, the benefits of meditation are many - so instead of trying to list them, we interviewed Yale University’s Judson Brewer for the scientific opinion on why meditation works – plus, hear from other Headspace beginners. If you’re looking for a nudge to try Take 10, this is it.

Headspace Take 10

If you've ever wanted to sleep better, have more focus or just stop the endless thoughts from clattering around your brain, let the man the Times calls ‘Britain’s top meditation guru’ show you how. In just 10 minutes, he’ll take you through simple, practical techniques for getting a bit more Headspace in your life.

Headspace Guide to getting some Sleep

Catching zzz's on a plane can be somewhat of a struggle. Until now! In just 10 minutes, Andy Puddicombe can teach you a simple technique that will help you get off to the land of nod whether you’re in the air or back on solid ground.

Headspace Guide to dealing with Boredom

Considering you’re strapped into a chair for hours, you’re bound to get a bit bored on the flight sometimes but practising one simple technique will not only relieve your boredom now, it could change the way you look at boredom forever. (And you’ll get even more out of it if you’ve tried Headspace Take 10…)

Headspace for the Journey

Anxieties about flying, impatient to disembark after landing, or worried about whether your baggage is ever going to come out at the other end? Travelling can be stressful – but with this dedicated technique, you’ll feel calmer and tease out the tension. (It’ll pay even more dividends if you’ve tried Headspace Take 10, too…)

The Code

Oxford professor Marcus du Sautoy investigates the role of maths in the natural world in this illuminating series. For example, why do bees always make a hexagonal honeycomb? The shorts-wearing prof intends to find out.

Planet Dinosaur

The BBC’s major new documentary series uses stunning computer-generated imagery to recreate the day-to-day lives of dinosaurs. In this episode we travel back 95 million years to Egypt and the Late Cretaceous period, where a herd of Ouranosaurus are spooked by a Spinosaurus…

Andrew Marr’s Megacities

Food for thought here as political commentator Andrew Marr takes a look at the infrastructure of cities such as Dhaka, Mexico City and London and asks if they can cope with the increasing migration from rural to urban.

Big Red Box

If sustainable lifestyles were a big red box, what would you find inside? Trains? Planes? Spaceships? Beards? Virgin CEOs get the chance to tell us what changes their businesses are making to earn their place in the box.

We Were Here

The most acclaimed documentary of 2011 marks thirty years since AIDs first broke out, by documenting its terrible effect in San Francisco, illuminating not only the personal and community issues raised by the epidemic, but the political and social upheavals it unleashed. Not always easy viewing, the film is nevertheless a vital and uncompromising look at an extraordinary, tragic time.

Once Upon a Time

Magical and beautiful-looking fantasy-drama series set in the fictional town of Storybrooke, Maine, where all the residents are characters from fairy tales – but with no memory of their true identities.

Alcatraz

Coming from the JJ Abrams stable that produced Lost, Alcatraz is a compelling and perplexing new sci-fi series. Prisoners who disappeared from Alcatraz in 1963 are reappearing in the present-day, and up to their old tricks. Sam Neill is the FBI agent who has to capture them, find out where they went and why they’re coming back.

American Horror Story

From Glee creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk comes this chilling horror-drama about the Harmon family, who move from Boston to Los Angeles and then find their new home is haunted. Murphy and Falchuk’s say their main goal is to scare people with this one, and be warned: they succeed.

Breaking Bad

The US drama about a terminally ill chemistry teacher earning quick cash by making drugs goes from strength to strength. In fourth series, Walt finds himself held hostages by some very bad guys indeed.

Boss

The utterly absorbing new drama features a powerhouse central performance from Kelsey Grammer as Tom Kane, the ‘boss’ of the title. A crooked Chicago mayor in love with money, power and himself – though not necessarily in that order – Kane’s unfaithful to his wife (Connie Nielsen) and not interested in his estranged daughter (Hannah Ware). Incredibly, this hasn’t even been picked up for UK TV yet, so this may well be your first chance to see it. Hint: make sure you do.

Downton Abbey

In this first episode of the second series, the Downton regulars adjust to the realities of war – both at home and on the front. With Julian Fellowes' writing as sharp as before and Maggie Smith's dowager as indomitable as ever, this is unmissable TV.

Homeland

Yet to be shown on UK TV (in other words, this is a bit of an exclusive) Homeland is the latest riveting series from the creators of 24. When an American POW, Nick Brody (Damian Lewis) is released from captivity in Iraq, he arrives home to find things are very different. His wife is having an affair and to top it all, covert agent Carrie (Claire Danes) thinks he’s a spy.

Terra Nova

Steven Spielberg is executive producer of this new sci-fi adventure series about the Shannon family who travel back in time 85 million years as part of a human colony. Once there, however, they have dinosaurs to contend with, as well as other, more hostile treats.

Entourage

Seven years old and into its eighth season, comedy-drama Entourage is such an institution that, like The Simpsons, it can be easy to forget how good it really is. We rejoin Vince and friends just as he comes out of rehab. On the one hand his pals want him back to his old self, but on the other their own fortunes depend on his sobriety. Reconciling the two is going to be hard work…

Game of Thrones

Watch the first six episodes of the jaw-droppingly good mediaeval fantasy Game of Thrones. Described as ‘The Sopranos in Middle Earth’, it’s a snake pit of action and intrigue and features a stunning, award-winning performance from Peter Dinklage, among others.

Mildred Pierce

Kate Winslet and Guy Pearce won Emmys for their turns in this outstanding mini series based on the hardboiled novel by crime king James M Cain. A beautifully mounted and quietly devastating drama, it follows the eponymous housewife (Winslet) as she tries to keep up a strong front during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

True Blood

We’re back with the acclaimed vampire show, as dark and sexy as ever. Picking up a year after the events of season three, this series opener finds Sookie Stackhouse transported to the fairy world – where she discovers that the fairies are not all they seem…

Mad Men

Set in the heady world of advertising during 1960s New York, Mad Men is a sleek and stylish drama from the writer and executive producer of The Sopranos. The first episode of season four finds the ex-staff of Stirling Cooper struggling with life as a brand new agency, while Don and Betty continue to feud,

Sherlock

The first episode of the second series, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as 221b’s most famous resident, finds Holmes’s mettle severely tested as he comes up against the beautiful Irene Adler. It looks like he may have finally met his match – in more ways than one.

Call the Midwife

A Sunday-night TV phenomenon, Call the Midwife is a 1950s-set drama based on the memoirs of East End midwife Jennifer Worth. In this, the second episode, Jenny helps an Irish girl, Mary, who has been forced into prostitution.

Truly the best of Bollywood – including music, interviews and travel shows, and top Indian sitcoms.

Filmi Hits
An eclectic compilation of some evergreen movie songs.

The Foodie
This is the ultimate glutton’s delight presenting food with fun, attitude and humour.

Lapataganj
The town of Lapataganj captures the spirit of the common man to lead a happy life.

Up Close & Personal With PZ
Preity Zinta chats with celebrities about their lives in Bollywood. 

Mandarin and Cantonese language shows including celebrity interviews, drama and celebrity challenge game shows.

A DATE WITH LU YU

Lu Yu interviews legendary musician David Tao.

TIME OUT YORKSHIRE

Sugar Club take a tour of the UK county, Yorkshire.

WHAT THE FACE?

Celebrities have to guess who is a man and who is a woman.

WORLD TRAVELLER

Discover the Beijing 789 Art Zone.

Mandarin and Cantonese language shows including celebrity interviews, drama and celebrity challenge game shows.

THE BEFORE AND AFTER TWO

Experts renovate a two-story house with a tricky floor plan.

GLOBAL MESSENGER

In this episode we travel to Lisbon in Portugal.

A JOURNEY TO KYOTO & KYOTO CUISINE

Explore the traditions and culture of Kyoto.

SWEET SWEETS

An engaging documentary about Japanese confectionary.

Fun for kids of all ages with Disney favourites including The Wizards of Waverley Place, Fish Hooks, Hannah Montana and The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Wizards of Waverly Place - The wizards are captured by a Government agency.

Hannah Montana - Lilly moves in with the Stewarts

Sonny with a Chance - Sonny and Chad reveal they haven't kissed yet

Suite Life on Deck - Zack's trying to be a good boyfriend to Maya

Hannah Montana Forever - Miley spills her secret, what will her fans will think?

Shake It Up - CeCe and Rocky give advice via a web show

Good Luck Charlie - Teddy arrives home to a surprise birthday party muddy

Fish Hooks - Milo tries to get stronger but becomes a monster!

Zeke and Luther - The boys work through a list of adventurous challenges

Pair of Kings - The kings decide to let an islander be King for a day.

I'm in the band - The Weasels are waiting for the house to be repaired

Phinease and Ferb - Doof comes to Candace's rescue when she has a party

Kid vs Kat - Dad buys rocking chairs for Coop's grandparents

Jimmy Two- Shoes - Jimmy causes bad luck for all around him

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - Minnie decides to throw a pyjama party for all her friends.

Handy Manny - Manny has an Earth Day project.

Special Agent Oso - Taylor’s wants to eat spaghetti without spilling sauce

Jungle Junction - Zooter hears a scary noise when going swimming

Imagination Movers - Sir Fearsalot visits the Movers

Jake and the Never Land Pirates - Hook thinks the kids have swiped his hat