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Researchers have calculated a formula for the perfect TV episode – and found Downton Abbey consistently comes closest to the ideal. Although the last episode of Friends was voted top by the public, followed by Eastenders: Christmas Day 2007, analysts found Downton was scientifically superior. Studying the 50 most popular shows of the past decade, experts at Bournemouth University's Media School found the best recipe for an episode was 65 percent drama, 12 percent shocks, nine percent comedy, eight percent action and six percent romance. TV expert Boyd Hilton and analysts at Bournemouth University's Media School carried out painstaking research and found Downton Abbey season three, episode five - where Sybil dies, came closest to this. It contained 36 minutes of 'drama', 3 mins 10 seconds of shock and surprise, 1 minute 10 seconds of comedy, 3 mins 10 seconds of action and 2 minutes 50 seconds of romance. That equates to 78 percent drama, seven percent shocks and surprises, two percent comedy, seven percent action and six percent romance. The study, commissioned by BT TV, found Desperate Housewives: Bang season three, episode seven was the most action-packed with 33 percent action. Meanwhile, Modern Family: Hawaii season one, episode 23 was the funniest, consisting of 74 percent comedy. The Friends episode which topped the poll of 2,000 Brits, was made up of 48 percent drama, 29 percent comedy, two percent romance and 21 percent shocks and surprises. | 
