We may have lost Dancing On Ice at the beginning of 2014, but the reality TV craze shows no signs of leaving us just yet.

In fact, this was the year that The Jump and Tumble hit our screens, and Celebrity Big Brother welcomed not one but two sets of housemates.

All our old favourites, such as The X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing and Britain’s Got Talent, returned bigger and better than ever too – but just what have we learned from the year in reality TV?

1. If you want a decent TV judge, get a Minogue

Kylie Minogue
(BBC)

We were all familiar with Dannii as a former X Factor judge and a huge success on the Aussie version of the show, but when the other Minogue joined The Voice we realised we were in for a real treat.

With her instant rapport with contestants, must-have dresses and famous friends, we couldn’t get enough of Kylie.

You’ve got some big shoes to fill, Rita Ora.

2. Being a grumpy old man is good

Jim Davidson
(Ian West/PA)

Two series of Celebrity Big Brother this year, and two shining examples that what the British viewing public want from their reality TV is not always a scantily-clad young star on the lookout for a TV romance.

Jim Davidson and Gary Busey may have seemed like the most unlikely candidates for winner when they first entered the house, but their grumpy, gruff, no-nonsense attitudes eventually won over voters and put them in first place in their houses.

3. Former girl band stars can spice up the X Factor

Mel B
(ITV)

No offence, girl banders, but if you’re looking to make The X Factor judging panel less bland, on paper bringing in someone from a manufactured group doesn’t sound like the best idea.

Except, of course, when the manufactured band in question is the Spice Girls and the new judge is Scary Spice.

Her complete lack of sugar coating makes every past judge look like a complete pushover, and it seems Simon Cowell may have finally met his match.

4. What really matters is what Simon thinks

Simon Cowell Sinitta
(ITV)

Simon Cowell may never have abandoned Britain’s Got Talent, but now he’s come back to sort out The X Factor too, completing his transformation into The King Of TV.

What Simon says, goes – you may think you’ve chosen who you want to vote for all by yourself, but look back at the subtle way in which he guides viewers to support or shun the acts he chooses, and think again…

5. You can take the girl out of Essex, but you can’t take the ham sandwich out of the girl

Gemma Collins
(ITV)

Poor old Gemma Collins – The Only Way Is Essex star thought the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle would be the making of her, but this celebrity got out of there after just a few days.

Despite lasting the least amount of time of any celeb campmate, Gemma is still adamant that she learned a lot about herself and what she wants to change in the future – and we learned that the pull of a ham sandwich with Quavers on the side was just too strong.

6. It’s always possible to create golden TV moments

David Walliams Simon Cowell
(ITV)

The introduction of the golden buzzer to Britain’s Got Talent this year should have been meant a free pass to the semi-finals for real stand-out, gems of acts.

Unfortunately, when David Walliams is one of your judges, his idea of what constitutes a gem is very different from anyone else’s.

Step forward Christian Spridon, whose high-camp versions of Sex Bomb and It’s Raining Men were utterly unforgettable.

7. Don’t think you can stay out of the firing line of Lord Sugar

Lord Sugar Alan Sugar
(BBC)

Even in the 10th year of The Apprentice, those smart alec candidates still think they’ve got what it takes to outwit Lord Sugar.

Don’t try what hapless Robert Goodwin did this series – despite being told to step up as project manager by Sugar himself, Robert chose to fade into the background in hopes of staying in, even choosing a bland suit to help him blend in.

Needless to say, it didn’t work and he was fired.

8. Don’t have a meltdown in the kitchen

Iain Watters
(BBC)

The reason we all love the Great British Bake Off is because it reminds us of a simpler time in reality TV, when people were just trying their best and not attempting to create “TV moments” with strops.

So when unlucky Iain Watters had a meltdown over his Baked Alaska melting because of some unfortunate freezer shifting by competitor Diana Beard, it went down like a badly-risen souffle.

Iain ended up hurling the mess into the bin, so creating the most memorable moment of Bake Off 2014 – Bingate.

9. Clothes are overrated

Jake Quickenden
(ITV)

Not a real celebrity but want to bag a place in the jungle? No worries – just lose the clothes.

Jake Quickenden may have been a particularly unrecognisable choice for many viewers of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! as his claim to fame is being booted out of The X Factor some weeks earlier.

But this enterprising young man isn’t letting his lack of fame credentials hold him back. Instead, he’s stripping to the waist and distracting the voters and campmates alike with his pecs, abs and guns.

10. When it comes to dad dancing, mum’s the word

Judy Murray
(BBC)

Most people dread the thought of their dad getting up and dancing at a wedding, but tennis star brothers Andy and Jamie Murray knew that the maternal equivalent was much, much worse.

Spare a thought for Judy Murray – it was the woman’s dream to take part in Strictly Come Dancing and she was such a good sport about how terrible she was.

But the embarrassment was just too much for Andy and Jamie, who didn’t come to see her dance once and apparently turned down the volume every time the judges gave their critique of mum’s moves.

That family wedding doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?

11. Soap stars can dance

Jake Wood
(BBC)

Alright, alright, we admit it. We couldn’t have been more wrong about Jake Wood.

When the soap star who plays Max Branning in EastEnders signed up to Strictly Come Dancing, we thought, “Here we go – he’ll be out in week one.”

Clearly, we didn’t know about those snake hips. Jake must be the best male celebrity at Latin dances we’ve ever seen, and is even a contender to be glitterball champion. How wrong first impressions can be.