Bits: 1999 - 2001

Things suddenly got a lot better when Bits arrived on Channel 4. With its late night time slot, anarchic but informed, adult-oriented approach and three presenters who actually knew what they were banging on about, it was the next best thing for those of us who grew up on GamesMaster.

Okay, the idea of fronting the show with three not unattractive female lady-creatures was as cynical as they come, but Bits being as funny and well put together as it was, that really didn't matter. Between the charismatic, game-loving presenters (Aleks Krotoski, Emily 'Bouff' Booth and Emily Newton Dunn), engaging presentation and gleefully Loony Tunes approach to the whole production (scenes of the girls brutally murdering each other for no particular reason were frequent), it was a gaming show that worked as pure entertainment as well as it worked as special interest programming. You really didn't have to be a gamer to enjoy Bits, but if you were it was the best thing since sliced Miyamoto.

Since the show, all of the presenters thankfully went on working in the industry. Bouff has done various bits of geek TV as well as continuing her long-held career in horror movies, and actually appeared in Grindhouse last year. Aleks has written for Edge, The Guardian and various games industry publications, and is currently credited in the cast list for Free Radical's upcoming Haze. And Emily went on to present the Sci-Fi Channel's gaming show SFG and is now a producer at EA.