Guest Author - Pam Lawrence

Now here's a DVD release to keep any 'Boglies' on your Christmas list happy. Series Five of the eternally popular Monarch of the Glen has been released in North America. Laird Archie finds himself at a bit of a loose end as his estate is finally in the black, returning to the Highlands with his new wife Lexie. There are ever present family complications as Archie's half brother Paul shows up, and is confronted by the time he spent in military prison. Archie's mum finds herself in a new relationship, and dramas aplenty unfold in this enjoyable comedic drama. The scenery is lovely as ever, and this DVD release offers some interesting extras on the cast, and consists of all 10 episodes of series five on three discs. Highland fans would be delighted if you wrapped this one up for them.

Do you have a Brit Com fan on your list, who enjoys the 'intelligent' wittiness of Ben Elton ? If they love the likes of Blackadder and Fry and Laurie, they'll certainly enjoy the sheer anarchy of The Best of Not the Nine O'Clock News. This disc contains eight episodes of hilarity from the groundbreaking series that originally aired on the Beeb in 1979. Launching the careers of Rowan Atkinson, Pamela Stephenson, Griff Rhys-Jones and Mel Smith, the show is politically incorrect and absolutely savage humour at its best.

You don't have to know the personalities the crew are attacking- the visual gags, real footage spoofs and rapid fire jokes come so thick and fast you'll find yourself laughing out loud. With such gems as the golf tournament footage redone as the "Pro Am Silly Pants Tournament", vitriol hurled at the then new PM Maggie Thatcher and the Royal Family, this is no holds barred stuff. Not the Nine O'Clock News took the irreverent baton from the Pythons, and led the way for the politically incorrect brilliance of the best eighties comedy. It was so radical that the Beeb almost pulled the plug on the pilot episode. So glad they didn't, because this is a real retro must have.

Finally, again for comedy fans there's the third series of the BAFTA winning Little Britain. Here's one the tourist board really doesn't want you to see ! Based on the Radio Four series, the show travels the length of the British Isles, narrated by Tom Baker. Enjoy the bizarre humour of creators Matt Walliams and David Lucas - their catchphrases and bizarre characters. From Dafyyd, the spandex wearing rotund gay, a returning favourite, to the crazy narration : "Who They? What do? And why?" this is British humour today. Enjoy the entire series on two discs, as well as some chuckle evoking extra features and interviews.