In a different league to most TV guides (Radio Times)

Member Name: eatingpinkzebras

Product:	Radio Times
Date:	22/02/09 (150 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clear listings, lots of well written articles

Disadvantages: Expensive, I don't use the radio listings

The Radio Times has been my television guide of choice for as long as I can remember and I feel lost without it. Occasionally I have been forced to try other TV guides due to the unavailability of RT, and each time I have found them severely lacking in comparison. Other guides tend to have articles solely on the soap operas, combined with cramped and difficult to read listings pages. RT, thankfully, is a different kettle of fish.

RT costs £1.10 and is available every week, with a special two-week edition available at Christmas. There are slightly different editions for each ITV region so you need to check at the top right hand corner of the front cover that you are buying the correct magazine for your region.

It is produced on decent quality paper and has around 145 pages, so you are getting quite a lot for your money. There is a lot to read in the magazine. The first half of the magazine usually contains interviews with famous actors or presenters, behind-the-scenes looks at new programmes, and articles on sport and music. Then there is a set of reviews of all the films on terrestrial TV during the week, plus a selection of those on Sky. This is followed by all the TV listings for the 5 terrestrial channels, plus the Freeview channels and most of the Sky channels. After this come the radio listings, and then the magazine finishes with letters, puzzles and a final interview.

I find the magazine really well laid out, particularly the listings. Each day's TV programming is spread over 5 double pages: one for the terrestrial channels during the day, one for the terrestrial channels during the evening, and then three for the Sky and Freeview channels. This is so much better than other guides which crush all the listings onto one double spread and so are unable to contain much information about each programme.

Even though RT is more than twice the price of many TV guides, I shall keep buying it because it is easy to look at and is good to read. You can buy it at most supermarkets, newsagents or general stores.

Summary: The best TV guide