Entertainment and arts review of 2008

A year of departures, reality shows and controversy - it all happened in the world of television and radio in 2008.

Here's a round-up of some of the most headline-grabbing stories.

JANUARY

Liz Dawn had played Vera Duckworth since 1971

January saw the US TV industry hit by the Hollywood writers' strike, bringing production to a standstill.

Millions tuned in to watch Vera Duckworth's final scenes on Coronation Street. Actress Liz Dawn had played the character since 1971.

The newly formatted Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack saw 20-year-old politician John Loughton win the show.

Meanwhile, viewers and TV stars mourned the death of prankster Jeremy Beadle who died from pneumonia aged 59.

Q&A: Hollywood writers' strike John wins Big Brother hijack

Vera's exit seen by 12.5m TV presenter Beadle dies

FEBRUARY

Bruce Forsyth reveals the secret to how he stays feeling young.

Veteran entertainer Bruce Forsyth celebrated his 80th birthday in February with a star-studded dinner.

Actress Emily Perry, better known as the flamboyant Dame Edna Everage's long-suffering bridesmaid Madge, died at the age of 100.

It was a month of new beginnings on Five with Aussie soap Neighbours and newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky both moving from the BBC to the channel.

Kaplinsky helped boost Five's evening news ratings by 72% in a month.

Brucie enjoys birthday in style Neighbours keeps audience

Edna's 'bridesmaid' dies Kaplinsky attracts viewers

MARCH

March saw former Hear'Say singer Suzanne Shaw win ITV skating show Dancing On Ice.

EastEnders attracted 167 complaints after the soap showed character Max Branning being buried alive in a coffin by his wife and her lover.

Former Walford star Michelle Ryan gave ITV2 its largest ever audience with The Bionic Woman, attracting 2.2m viewers.

And Radio 4 listeners heard newsreader Charlotte Green dissolve into giggles while on air during Today.

Suzanne wins Dancing On Ice Bionic gives ITV2 record

EastEnders coffin anger Radio news hit by giggling fit

APRIL

Mark Speight presented children's art show Smart

Children's TV presenter Mark Speight was found hanged in London in April following the death of his fiancee, actress Natasha Collins, in January.

My Family star Kris Marshall suffered head injuries after being hit by a car in Bristol. He made a swift recovery and appeared on stage the next month.

This month also saw 9.7m people tune in to watch Ricky and Bianca's return to Albert Square.

Meanwhile Gavin and Stacey and Harry Hill's TV Burp dominated the TV Baftas.

Obituary: Mark Speight Gavin and Stacey Bafta win

Ricky and Bianca attract 9.7m Actor Marshall hurt in accident

MAY

Andy Abraham came last in the Eurovision Song Contest with 14 points

TV talent shows picked winners in May with Jodie Prenger cast as Nancy, David Cook winning American Idol and George Sampson triumphed in Britain's Got Talent.

Russia won its first Eurovision Song Contest. The UK came last.

Broadcaster James Whale was sacked from radio station Talksport after urging listeners to vote for Boris Johnson in London's mayoral elections.

Ant and Dec returned a comedy award they won in 2005 after ITV revealed that they did not originally win it.

Russian Eurovision victory Ant and Dec return award James Whale is sacked

Jodie wins Nancy role David Cook wins American Idol Sampson wins talent show

JUNE

Sir Alan Sugar announces his decision

June saw former Blue Peter presenter Valerie Singleton admit she had a "brief fling" with co-host Peter Purves while filming on location.

This Morning host Fern Britton took a short break from the show after admitting she had gastric banding in 2006 to help her lose weight.

Lee McQueen became Sir Alan Sugar's fourth Apprentice.

Meanwhile Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole was named as the new X Factor judge after Sharon Osbourne quit.

Singleton reveals Purves 'fling' McQueen named Apprentice

Fern plays down gastric op Cole is new X Factor judge

JULY

The moment Pamela Anderson joined Australia's Big Brother

Carol Vorderman left Channel 4 quiz show Countdown in July after claims she had been forced to take a 90% pay cut.

The BBC was fined £400,000 by Ofcom for misleading audiences by "faking" phone-ins. Comic Relief and 6 Music radio shows were caught up in the scandal.

Comedian Russell Brand apologised for making a prank call to a crime hotline during a stage show in Northampton.

And actress Pamela Anderson stayed in Australia's Big Brother house for three days. The show was axed a week later.

Record fine over phone-ins Vorderman 'forced' to quit Brand sorry for prank call

Pamela enters Aussie BB Aussie TV evicts Big Brother

AUGUST

Wellard had been in EastEnders for 14 years

In August reality TV star Jade Goody entered the Big Brother house in India, but her stay was cut short after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Across the pond US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres married her long-time partner, actress Portia de Rossi.

It was also a month for departures with presenter Fiona Phillips announcing she was to leave GMTV after 15 years.

Richard and Judy hosted their last show on Channel 4 while in soapland, Wellard the dog was killed off in EastEnders.

Goody diagnosed with cancer DeGeneres and De Rossi wed Fiona Phillips to leave GMTV

Richard and Judy in final show Wellard to be killed off

SEPTEMBER

Rachel won the £100,000 prize money on 2008's Big Brother

Trainee teacher Rachel Rice, 24, was the surprise winner of Big Brother 9 in September although the show was filled with controversy this year.

Alexandra De-Gale was removed for intimidating housemates and dance student Dennis McHugh was thrown out for spitting in the face of another.

TV satire 30 Rock dominated the comedy side of the US TV Emmy Awards, winning four honours.

And long-running BBC school drama Grange Hill rang its final bell.

Big Brother win for Rachel TV satire wins four Emmys

Grange Hill closes its gates

OCTOBER

Watch some of the best Blue Peter memories from the last fifty years

Singer Kerry Katona admitted in October she was an alcoholic following concerns over a slurred TV interview she gave.

David Tennant announced he was to quit as Doctor Who, while Blue Peter celebrated 50 years on the air.

Prank phone calls made to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross prompted a major row that led to Brand quitting his Radio 2 show.

Both the station's controller and head of compliance quit, while Ross was suspended for three months without pay.

Katona reveals drink battle Tennant quits as Doctor Who

Blue Peter marks 50 years Brand quits over lewd calls

NOVEMBER

Some of John Sergeant's most famous moments on Strictly Come Dancing

November saw ex-political journalist John Sergeant waltz out of BBC show Strictly Come Dancing after nine weeks.

He won over the public despite his lack of dancing skills, but quit as winning would have been "a joke too far".

British talent dominated the International Emmys in New York, winning seven out of the 10 awards including best actor for David Suchet.

Sir Trevor McDonald also presented his last News at Ten for ITV. He said it had been "an enormous pleasure".

Sergeant quits Strictly contest British talent dominate Emmys

Sir Trevor hosts last news

DECEMBER

The moment the result was announced

Three reality shows culminated in December, with former EastEnders star Joe Swash becoming I'm A Celebrity's "king of the jungle".

Alexandra Burke beat boy band JLS and Eoghan Quigg to become this year's X Factor winner.

After a judges' scoring anomaly in the semi-final, Strictly Come Dancing saw three couples through to the final.

But in the end Holby City star Tom Chambers foxtrotted his way past singer Rachel Stevens to win the show.

Swash named jungle king Alexandra wins X Factor

Chambers is Strictly champ