The key answer of exercise 2

a)

• Natural World → visual content / cross-cultural appeal
• Top Gear → the jokey relationship between the presenters; the challenges that feature in the programme
• The Office → the programme has a romantic relationship between the two main characters at the centre
• Sherlock → the interesting ('intriguing) relationships between the main characters
• Strictly Come Dancing / Dancing with the Stars → nothing is singled out as the reason but the article lists all its features as the things people like: great dancing, celebrities, beautiful dresses, the music, the host (who is popular) and lots of viewer participation

c)

1. Costume dramas and historical mini-series also seem to survive the transition to a different culture.
2. True, there are a large number of cars ...
3. ... a race between a supercar and a bullet train was another huge hit. (This means the race was very popular; it doesn't mean there was a crash.)
4. ... and many people predicted The Office would flop because of ... (flop = fail / be unsuccessful)
5. ... because of its slightly strange British humour ... Since then, this 'mockumentary' has become an international sensation ... However, The Office is a sitcom with a heart ...
6. ... when the BBC decided to give him a makeover, there was a real risk of alienating fans of the much-loved classic tales.
7. ... the long-awaited first episode of the third season was viewed almost seven million times in China only a couple of hours after it was initially aired in the UK.
8. Celebrity contestants with little or no experience of dancing pair up with professional dancers ...

d)

1. successes; hit
2. crazy; bizarre
3. global phenomenon; international sensation
4. pulled in; drawn in
5. broadcast; aired
6. resurrected; revitalised