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Is today's television bland, derivative and moribund - or are we living in a golden age of broadcasting? BBC Four is repeating its nights of programming from the past six decades of British television, which culminated in a live debate and announcement of the best-loved decade, following a public vote.
 Vote: See which decade won
Each night is introduced by two prominent broadcasting figures - one a champion, the other a critic of that evening's featured decade. In a period living room the two commentators watch authentic programmes that would have been shown over Easter week of their chosen year. Opinions fly, as the pair vent their opinions on what's on the box.
Television timeline: Trace six decades of British TV history
THE FIFTIES
Sunday 27 March 8.30pm-11.30pm; 1am-3am; Monday 4 April 11.50pm-1.30am
Roy Hattersley praises the decade of the Queen's coronation, while the Observer's TV critic Kathryn Flett wonders what was so great about the 50s.
Programmes showing in full: Fabian of the Yard, Double Your Money, Life with the Lyons, Can You Tell Me?
THE SIXTIES
Monday 28 March 8.30pm-11.45pm; 12.45am-3am; Tuesday 5 April 11.30pm-2.40am
The FT's former TV critic Chris Dunkley hails the decade that gave us Steptoe and Civilisation, but the 60s are dismissed as overrated by Mark Lawson.
Programmes showing in full: Coronation Street, Steptoe and Son, The Group, The Wednesday Play: Fable
THE SEVENTIES
Tuesday 29 March 8.30pm-11.30pm; 1am-3am; Wednesday 6 April 11.40pm-2.30am
The era of Love Thy Neighbour and The Good Life takes a battering from columnist Sarfraz Manzoor, while Alan Coren embraces the quintessential Englishness of 1970s sitcoms.
Programmes showing in full: The Sweeney, World in Action, Love Thy Neighbour, That's Life
THE EIGHTIES
Wednesday 30 March 8.30pm-11.30pm; 1am-3am; Thursday 7 April midnight-3.10am
Journalist James Delingpole rates 80s television as "banal, ephemeral and dumb". The decade of EastEnders and Spitting Image is championed by David Aaronovitch.
Programmes showing in full: Spitting Image, Blott on the Landscape, Real Lives, EastEnders
THE NINETIES
Thursday 31 March 8.30pm-11.30pm; 1am-3am; Saturday 9 April 12.20am-3.20am (Friday night)
Lifestyle programmes and more TV formats irk Paul Morley. Broadcast magazine editor Conor Dignam defends the years that brought us Our Friends in the North and The Royle Family.
Programmes showing in full: Modern Times: Lido, J'Accuse, Men Behaving Badly, Pride and Prejudice
THE NOUGHTIES
Friday 1 April 8.30pm-11.30pm; 1am-3am; Saturday 9 April 11.45pm-2.25am
John Humphrys give today's reality TV overload the thumbs down, as I'm A Celebrity veteran Janet Street-Porter defends the current state of British television.
Programmes showing in full: Footballers' Wives, The Bachelor, Little Britain
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