According to a report in this morning's Times, the BBC is planning to cut a quarter of its acquisitions budget and funnel the money into BBC2. So which imported shows are worth keeping – and which shows should get the the chop? Here's our rundown – do you agree?
Family Guy/American Dad
Repeats are shown nightly as BBC3 comedy filler, and both are essentially the same programme. Would do perfectly well on E4 – especially now that it has a Friends-shaped hole in its schedules, and already has the Cleveland Show on its roster.
Verdict – chop
Mad Men
Possibly the greatest TV show currently in production. Mad Men may not command huge audiences but its fans devour every perfectly realised detail of the 1960s Madison Avenue advertising drama and, as such, it's the jewel in the crown of the wonderful BBC4. Would a commercial broadcaster even pick it up at all? Ought to be kept as a service to the public.
Verdict: KEEP!
Damages
The legal drama is adored by its fans and its complex narrative might make it a harder sell for commercial rivals. The kind of quality drama that the BBC ought to be associating itself with.
Verdict – keep
Heroes
Back on track after a wobbly couple of series, but Heroes' high-octane, high-concept formula would make it perfect for Sky1's stable of US shows, which includes 24 and Lost. Or for Sci-Fi who helped make it a hit by showing the first series, Currently stuck in a Saturday night slot on BBC2, it wouldn't be massively missed.
Verdict - chop
Nurse Jackie
Its first 12 episodes have shown British TV how to pack an awful lot into 25 minutes while maintaining a slow-burning story-arc. Deserves at least one more season to see if it can keep the momentum going. Otherwise, a good fit for Channel 4 or More4.
Verdict - keep
Wallander (Swedish version)
There are only a finite number of Henning Mankell adaptations that the Beeb can afford to make (currently running in annual batches of three), so the chance to see Krister Henriksson in the original Swedish films provides a fine complement to BBC4's Kenneth Branagh version.
Verdict - keep
Spiral
Along with the Swedish Wallander, Spiral – the thrilling French crime drama – is one of very very few non-US imports on British telly. That alone ought to be worth keeping hold of it for. Not to mention that it's very good.
Verdict – keep
The Apprentice USA
We've got our own version, which is better. Send it to Watch with Masterchef Australia.
Verdict – chop
The Tudors
There's only one season left of Showtime's sexed-up Tudor drama which is coming later in the year – so it would be odd for the BBC to lose it now, especially as audiences have been waiting this long for Henry VIII's Catherine Howard/Parr years.
Verdict – keep
