China has one of the largest audiences in the world at its disposal, and TV companies dream of tapping into that huge demographic. Unfortunately over the years, the Chinese government has enforced strict regulations of what is shown on terrestrial TV. It has been a closed door to foreign interest. But it looks like these stop guards are being relaxed somewhat and more foreign exports are making their way onto the TV screens of China. One particular format which is growingly popular is reality TV.

China were relative late comers on the Reality TV scene but now they are catching up with shows like If You Are The One, which featured Ma Nuo, a 22-year-old model from Beijing. The show is a dating programme not dissimilar to The Bachelor in the UK, only with a female protagonist. In one episode Ma Nuo rejected a suitor who offered her a romantic bike ride, and instead chose to go down the route of materialism. She could not love a poor man sadly, which many believe shows the attitude of the nouveau riche in China society since the 1980's boom years. She said: "I'd rather cry in a BMW car than laugh on the backseat of a bicycle,"

One blogger criticised this outlook saying: "The most controversial aspect of these programmes is the value contestants place on money worshipping and rich people. These opinions are so contrary to traditional values, like loving one's country and respecting one's elders ... But we can't do anything if these people just like ugly things."

TV chefs are a wild bunch. The industry seems to attract lunatics, as only the mad to join the industry in the first place, working such long hours, in such hot conditions, under such pressure, in an elite Michelin Starred kitchen. Only the strong survive because everything has to be perfect, and perfection is drilled into all of the sous chefs and commis chefs from a young age. It is like the military in many ways. And even when renowned chefs get their own TV shows they do not seem to mellow at all with age, they are still as passionate and as vocal as ever about food. They seem to have a vision of how food should taste and look, and if no one else can meet their exacting standards, then they are in for a rough ride. Here are two of the greatest, and most volatile, TV chefs.

Marco Pierre White

This man is the original rock star, having become one of the first British celebrity chefs of the modern cooking scene, he is also a restaurateur and television personality. He started cooking French classic cuisine but adding a modern twist, and his culinary skills are second to none. White burst onto the scene as the youngest chef ever to receive the coveted three Michelin stars but has since been dethroned. He has also been responsible for training many of the best chefs around, including his protégé Gordon Ramsay. White followed in the footsteps of Ramsey to host ITV's celebrity cooking show, Hell's Kitchen but said: "Gordon did it his way; I'll do it my way.”

Gordon Ramsey

Presenting a comedy panel show is no easy job, sometimes you have to be a comedian just to deflect the scathing jokes that may be coming your way. Like when Paul Merton said: “About Angus Deayton: His name is Angus. The G is silent.”

But a presenter is hired to go along with the banter, keep composed and keep the show running at a nice pace, which is sometimes difficult when comedians want to digress. Take Have I Got News For You, when Angus Deayton left the post, there was a void for many years and they still do not have a permanent anchor, but rather employ a number of special guests. But what makes the perfect host on Have I Got News For You, there have been many pretenders who have sat on the throne.

There have been many good hosts of the show, which is basically a vehicle for the jokes of Paul Merton and the political sneering of Private Eye editor Ian Hislop (who stands as the most sued man in British Press history). Boris Johnson for instance was expected to be lampooned for his buffoonery by the sharp witted panellists sitting either side of him, but he held his own and came out it smelling of roses. Brian Blessed was another hilarious guest, with his huge booming voice and theatrical streak he took the show in a more pantomime direction which was a nice change.

Heading off to university for the first time, can be as traumatic as it is exhilarating. The thought of leaving the nest and gaining a new level of independence can be a daunting experience for even the bravest young upstart; but everyone must take the plunge at some time or other, fly the coup and go out into the big bad world alone.

A new BBC drama in Northern Ireland is set to document the experiences of six students, new to the university campus and ready to start a new chapter in their fledging lives. There will undoubtedly be some twists and turns along the way, as Northern Ireland try to re-create the success of similar series like Fresh Meat.

6Degrees has been commissioned in association with Northern Ireland Screen, and the premise of the show is geared to attract a new younger audience. Many of whom will be looking to see what all of the fuss is about as they start to plan their own adventures into university.

The programme which starts on the 28th of Feb, will be brought to you by Stirling productions and will follow a bunch of Freshers from around the UK as they get stuck into their further education course in NI. The show is designed to explore the relationships and bonds that students make here during these chaotic times, and captures some of the undeniable life experiences that young people gain through a complexity of social interactions, trials and tribulations.

The cast is full of local and international talent, including Jayne Wisener, who has featured in big name productions such as Sweeney Todd and the Inbetweeners. She will be playing alongside Cillian O'Sullivan, who also has previous TV experience for the series Single-handed.

Alison Orr of BBC Northern Ireland described the show in these terms: "It offers a fascinating insight into student life and some of the important themes and issues relevant to young people today."

Television is a place where surreal ideas of writers can become a reality, and there are very few boundaries or taboos which have not been crossed these days. The premise can be as absurd as you want, and as long as the TV boss likes the sound of the pitch, anything is possible.

However, not all television programmes are of the high calibre we as consumers come to expect, basing our high opinion on shows we love and admire such as The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, or classics such as Fawlty Towers. Here are two of the strangest programmes ever to be broadcast on TV.

Proefkonijnen. This Dutch cookery show was broadcast on BNN, and got thrown into the spotlight after a bizarre cannibalistic storyline. Dennis Storm and Valerio Zeno were brought to the attention of the national press after the two presenters cooked and ate some human flesh surgically removed from each other's bodies. This was done in front of a live studio audience.

The pair took part in cannibal stunt voluntarily, and both went under the knife to remove some muscle tissue for the purpose of eating it. Producers have defended the show in the furore afterwards, saying the stunt was not unlawful and the men had agreed to complete the bizarre experiment without any problems beforehand.

Man vs. Beast. The title is self-explanatory, and this strange concept for a series actually made it onto TV in the U.S. Humans were pitted against a range of animals in sporting events of strength, speed, and intelligence, to see who came on top in the animal kingdom.

Cult comedy TV shows have been disappearing from the airwaves at an alarming rate in the UK, as tele bosses try to freshen things up and win new audiences in the war for viewing figure supremacy, no one is safe. There is no doubt the competitive nature of the industry has resulted in the unjustified liquidation of some of the best loved programmes of the last decade, such as Shooting Stars, which was axed recently without warning.

It is very rare an old show is given a new lease of life. However, there is some good news on the as The Fast Show makes a triumphant comeback online. The show had a successful stint between 1994 to 1997, clocking up three series, with a special Last Fast Show Ever in 2000, they have been quiet ever since. After 11 years in the dark, writers Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse have reunited their old friends for a new series with the help of a famous Australian beer company.

The cast will feature old favourites such as Louis Balfour, the ultra-chic and intellectual Jazz critic, and the revered suit sellers Ken and Kenneth, who will be spouting their famous refrain once more “Ooh! Suit you sir!”. It seems the good times are set to start all over again, and hopefully a new age of fan will be attracted.

One person who will definitely be tuning in is Jonny Depp, who is a great fan. Who could forget the cameo by Jonny Depp when the show was at its most popular, when he browsed the wares in Suit You tailors shop and encounters the two intrusive, over-zealous salesman for the first time. It is a sketch full of laughs and frivolity and Depp even joins Ken and Kenneth in their famous catch phrase at the end.

An Idiot Abroad is now in its second series and there is no doubting its ever growing popularity, which has seen the rise of an unlikely personality on our screens. This show is the brainchild of comedy double team Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais, and portrays the skewed perspective and irreverent humour of central character, Karl Pilkington, on his travels to far flung destinations around the globe.

However, Ricky and Stephen play devil's advocate here, sending Karl to the most obscure places imaginable, off the beaten track, and into situations that he often finds unbearable and awkward. The comedy comes from this tension and dismay as Karl bemoans his misfortune on the road, in places he would rather not be. He admits himself he has no interest in world travel, but is set on his way regardless for our viewing pleasure.

For instance, in series 1 Karl had to negotiate the pyramids of Egypt, as opposed to the Coliseum in Rome, as Merchant and Gervais felt Italy was too predictable and safe. Later in the series Karl has to prepare a feast for a tribal king in ceremonial garb, he meets a society of reformed cannibals and then comes face to face with a rhino. But this is only the tip of the ice berg, and he gets himself into many more scrapes along the way, including a failed attempt as a Cowboy in Mexico.

In series 1, a camera crew followed Karl on his journey in search of the Seven Wonders of the World. While Series 2 documents Karl's “bucket list” journey, on a sort of 100 things to do before you die adventure. However, the “bucket list” has been sabotaged by Gervais and Merchant once more, and the list is far from what Karl had in mind.

They send Karl to spend a night on a desert island in the pouring down rain, where he has to build his own shelter in a grass skirt, and has only a small yam for sustenance. As you can imagine, he was not in the best of moods the morning after.

The 90s were great for TV. Some of the most memorable programmes of the decade included Friends and Dawson's Creek. The shows aren't as popular now, but in their day they saw extreme success. As with any decade there were hugely popular shows and also ones that tended to fade into the background. There were so many incredibly good underrated shows that didn't receive mass audiences, due to the fact that they were eclipsed by the more universally popular programmes.

An example of a great comedy series from the mid-nineties is The Fast Show. This sketch show featured Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse performing funny clips and sketches that could be considered the natural successor to Monty Python. The show has actually seen a return in 2011 called The Fast Show 2011, much to the delight of old fans and new viewers.

One of the stars of the Fast Show appeared in another series called The Royale Family. Caroline Aherne starred in the series which portrayed a family struggling to make it through their daily problems. The Royale Family was one of the most humour-rich series of the entire decade.

International shows that also got less buzz than they deserved include Xena-Warrior Princess and Mr and Mrs Smith from the US. Xena-Warrior Princess got a cult following which still exists today and Mr and Mrs Smith was turned into a movie, but neither really took off like they could have had people properly appreciated them.

In English speaking countries, unsurprisingly, there isn't that much demand for Latin American TV shows. This makes people believe that there is little to nothing of quality TV coming out of Spanish speaking areas. This is completely untrue, though, and it is made clear by the rising demand and number of viewers who choose to watch these shows.

Latin American TV shows take a different approach, the same way that Japanese, German, and other foreign shows do. They're designed to appeal to the locals, to the nationals, and to those that understand the culture and language. That's why many native English speakers don't really understand why the Spanish soap operas (telenovelas) are such hits. However, some of these, including Las Tontas No Van Al Cielo, Más Sabe el Diablo, and La Tormenta, are actually watched throughout the Latin American countries (particularly Mexico) and have huge fan bases. 

Latin American talk shows are also extremely popular, though much different. Shows like Cada Manana and Guau! get thousands of viewers every day, yet a foreign audience wouldn't understand them at all. There are clowns hosting the shows, people dressed up and hitting each other, and of course lots of scantily clad women dancing. These shows discuss serious topics in a way that appeals to the mass viewer.

There's no question the television has made a huge impact on the world. Nearly every country has some form of TV, and it has become a ritual for most people and homes. The US and UK are two of the biggest producers of programmes, and have been for many years, with the US edging out the UK as far as quantity goes in many ways. The US has been responsible for many of the most memorable scenes, quotes, and catchphrases, some of which are remembered below.  

US news stations and anchors have captured some of the world's most unforgettable moments, and many of these quotes are still used today. An example is John F. Kennedy's great line “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” a line adapted and requited millions of times since then. Nixon's line “I'm not a crook…” and the Apollo 13 Flight's “Houston, we have a problem”, have been parodied and reused for various purposes over the years. And speaking of flights, who wouldn't think of Neil Armstrong's “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”?