The last time I watched television was three years ago. Before you cry out and viciously “suggest” that I absolutely have to watch the latest “Game of Thrones”, let me reword that slightly: the last time I watched television, on a television, was three years ago. The advent of the internet has led broadcasting platforms to move online, and us to ditch the TV set in the corner. A new breed of online content has been spawned, ranging from YouTube sketches to seven second videos on Facebook. Where does this leave television and film? Well, the way in which we watch has clearly changed, with on-demand content and the newly gained independence from the telly allowing more flexibility. But the move online is changing more than just how we watch television - it’s also starting to alter the nature of the content itself.

Take Idris Elba’s new series “Five by Five”. The concept is genius: each episode is only five minutes long. This is made possible by the BBC’s online platform, BBC Three, where the show is aired, breaking the need for a traditional 30 to 60 minute episode. With swathes of badly made short videos swamping our news feeds, “Five by Five” emphatically proves that there is a place for well made short form television. The usual hour-long shows will always exist, but broadcasters are starting to come up with more inventive ways to compete for the public’s attention, often with mini exclusive clips or outtakes from a longer programme to satisfy our diminishing attention spans. Just the fact each episode is only five minutes long makes the show more exciting to watch - five minutes feels like a small investment, so you can easily dip in and make up your mind.

“Five by Five emphatically proves that there is a place for well made short form television”

It’s thought provoking too: in 25 short minutes, themes including racism, sexism and attitudes towards disability are all touched upon, often with an unexpected twist. A racist black policeman? A boy resistant to mug a woman because she’s a woman? A drug dealer who won’t sell to a disabled junkie? “Five by Five” elegantly aims to probe our prejudices, and manages to do so without feeling heavy or schooling. A cast described as “the best and brightest new talent” by Damien Kavanagh, Controller of BBC Three, play a diverse range of individuals in this snapshot of city life. Each episode follows an interaction between two people, these brief encounters defining the story’s progression. Despite only meeting each of the characters for a few minutes, the nature of the script makes you feel as if you know the kind of life they lead, and what the future might hold for them. This is a testament to the abilities of lead writer Cat Jones, whose previous work includes the BBC drama “Flea”. It was her job to bring the work of five undiscovered writers together, each being responsible for a single episode in the five-piece series. As a result, each episode has its own distinct vibe, some dark and some more humorous - the use of different writers definitely facilitates this.

Digital Distraction: What to watch when you're not working

“Five by five” is definitely worth a watch. As Cat Jones admits, “doing something short is so difficult”, but this is a clear success story. So, take five minutes out of your day and dive into an episode: it won’t take you long, you’ll be left entertained and it might even be more thought provoking than “Game of Thrones”