Storage Wars
The best programme on TV at the moment is Storage Wars - an everyday take of Californian folks who make a living - from buying up the contents of abandoned or repossessed storage lockers.
Take it from me - this is compelling television - miles better than the dreary fare served up by Eastenders - or Downtown Abbey.
The format is the same every episode - an auction takes place in a particular location - three or four abandoned lockers are up for sale - the highest bidder wins and has to pay in cash.
So we see the rival bidders 'rough-housing' and try to out-psyche each other - while one of those impossibly fast talking auctioneers wheedles as much money out of them as possible.
So far there are four main characters:
Brandi and Jarrod - a pushy wannabee couple
Dave - probably the best businessman - yet cold and hard to like
Darrell - a big bear of a man - a bit of blowhard - but with a soft centre
Barry - a laid back, distinguished older gent - a realhuman being amongst the professionals
Once all the excitement and bidding is over - the viewer gets to see whether the buyer has struck gold - or bought a pig in a poke.
And the most amazing things turn up - amidst all the junk and human flotsam and jetsam - that he buyers fight over.
Often they just go with a hunch - because they are not allowed to go in the locker to inspect the hidden treasures inside.
So for a while at least the programme has got my undivided attention.
Catch Storage Wars on the Sky History Channel - times vary.