Grant's preferences would be (not in any particular order) Samsung, Panasonic or Sony. Depending where you are, if Freeview is available via UHF, get one with an integrated tuner to get good high definition reception. If you don't have Free view vbia VHF save some money and buy one without the integrated tuner as you won't get high defiiition for some years yet.
He prefers LCD due to lower power consumption and less heat generated than plasma. Plasma can also cause intereference on some radios. Plasma is arguably a better picture but you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.
LCDs are geneally lighter so easier to hang off a bracket or wall etc if required.
All HD TVs have HDMI inputs, even cheap ones and lots of other inputs and outputs for easy connection of other gear.
If you are in to HD movie playback see if you can do a deal on a blue ray player or maybe, with Sony, a PS3 which will also play back blue ray and it's often a very cheap way to go.