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Including WandaVision best shows Succession streaming Staged Normal People right Fantastic shows at your fingertips THERE HAS NEVER been a better time to find your new favourite show, with more content available at the press of a button or the swipe of a screen than ever before. Traditional broadcasters continue to add more shows to their catch-up services every day, while a raft of new subscription streaming services has flooded the TV market, bringing us a wealth of gripping dramas, out-of-this-world sci-fi, insightful docs and exciting entertainment formats. But with such a vast choice available, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. But never fear, our expert editors have done the hard work for you, selecting 50 of the very best shows designed to suit every taste that you can watch right now. Contributors So sit back, stop scrolling and start Eleanor Bley Tim Glanfield Griffiths Grace Henry watching great TV… Flora Carr Morgan Jeffery David Craig Lauren Morris Patrick Cremona Michael Potts Tim Glanfield Helen Daly Minnie Wright Huw Fullerton Editorial Director RadioTimes.com The Last Kingdom FOR HALF A decade fans have Dreymon gives an electric been gripped by The Last Kingdom, performance in the lead role an epic historical drama that and the series is at its strongest follows noble warrior Uhtred of when his fierce fighter shares the Bebbanburg in the dangerous years screen with David Dawson’s pious prior to the formation of England. King Alfred (later to be known as Based on the novels by Bernard “the Great”). The Last Kingdom Cornwell (Sharpe), this series maintains a brisk pace across its blends fact and fiction to create an four seasons, so expect plenty of action-packed medieval saga that shocking twists, bitter rivalries and rivals . Alexander epic confrontations. DC

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US HBO Max WATCH UK BBC iPlayer His Dark Materials ADAPTING ’S about Dust, evade the evil acclaimed His Dark Materials books Magisterium and her mother (Ruth was never going to be easy — just Wilson) and generally fulfil her look at ill-fated film attempt The destiny, stepping into parallel worlds Golden Compass — but over two and meeting terrifying creatures. series screenwriter Jack Thorne and What other TV show delivers Studios have brilliantly talking animal souls, armoured brought Pullman’s world of bears, flying punk witches and daemons, witches, subtle knives and dimension-slicing weapons? As alethiometers to audiences. The a piece of TV production, His Dark sprawling story follows Lyra (Dafne Materials is unparalleled — and as Keen) as she tries to learn the truth a story, it’s a must-watch. HF SET IN NORTHERN during watching Derry Girls and finding it the Troubles, Derry Girls is written anything other than hilarious, but by Lisa McGee and follows a group the show’s backdrop also means of Irish schoolgirls (and one that it can occasionally deliver out-of-place English schoolboy) as incredibly touching and thoughtful they navigate their teenage years moments, too. So it’s no surprise at their Catholic girls’ school in that it’s become one of the most the city of Derry, with the lead cast popular and talked-about comedies including Saoirse-Monica Jackson, of recent times, scoring accolades Dylan Llewellyn, and Nicola ranging from Baftas to the 2018 Coughlan — who has since gone on Comedy Champion to star as Penelope in Bridgerton. Award. EBG It’s hard to imagine anyone

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US Netflix WATCH UK BritBox Broadchurch IT’S BARELY EIGHT years old, but culminating in an emotional already Broadchurch feels like a TV tour-de-force from as classic, with future DS Miller. It was Broadchurch Chris Chibnall’s crime that first made Colman — now an trilogy set in the titular Dorset town Oscar winner — a household name, capturing viewers’ imaginations and but the ITV drama’s dominating pop culture discourse is note-perfect across the board, throughout its three-series run. The from ’s surly copper first series in particular was a with a heart of gold, DI Alec Hardy, phenomenon, delivering one of the to (Chibnall’s future Doctor) Jodie most involving and fervently debated Whittaker as grieving mother whodunnit plots in TV history, Beth Latimer. MJ US Sundance Now WATCH UK ITV Hub Des DEPICTING THE ARREST and subsequent trial of Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen, the eerie Des was magnificent on all fronts — Luke Neal and Kelly Jones’s compelling, sophisticated scripts, Lewis Arnold’s taut direction, Jason Watkins’s superb turn as Nilsen’s biographer Brian Masters and, of course, David Tennant’s utterly magnetic performance as Nilsen himself. But arguably the heart and soul of the piece was Danny Mays’s portrayal US of DCI Peter Jay — WATCH UK Disney+ a performance less showy than that of Anderson) — he a believer in all his co-stars but with The X-Files things paranormal, she a sceptic — so much power and ONE OF THE most iconic and investigating unsolved cases truth to it. A bleak, influential science-fiction series related to seemingly inexplicable unpretentious of all time, The X-Files is a much- phenomena. But The X-Files is so depiction of the true vaunted TV classic that lives up to much more than a run-of-the-mill monotony of evil, Des the hype, spanning 11 seasons (nine sci-fi procedural — it’s a playful and was not just great produced between 1993 and 2002, inventive series that experiments drama but the perfect with two revival seasons in 2016 with tone, veering from grotesque example of how to and 2018) and two feature films. body horror to pastiche and , approach true crime The basic premise involves FBI and remains a hugely rewarding storytelling. MJ special agents Fox Mulder (David watch almost three decades on Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian from its premiere. MJ

WATCH UK US PBS Masterpiece All Creatures Great and Small BASED ON THE James Herriot Ralph), who has landed a job at a novels, which were previously rural Yorkshire veterinary practice adapted as a film and as a with eccentric boss Siegfried Farnon much-loved BBC television series, (Samuel West). As soon as he this new version of All Creatures arrives, he falls head-over-heels for Great and Small is a real treat. local woman Helen Alderson (Rachel The drama, set in the late 1930s, Shenton). The show also features follows newly trained Glaswegian plenty of dogs, horses, cows, lambs, veterinary assistant and “fish out chickens and more. It’s relatively of water” James Herriot (Nicholas gentle, and absolutely lovely. EBG

WATCH UK/US Netflix Floor Is Lava FIRST LANDING ON Netflix in face-plants are funny) and June 2020 (aka The Summer surprisingly compelling. You’ll That Never Was), Floor Is Lava was find yourself screaming in horror exactly the sort of undemanding along with contestants as their entertainment we needed, just teammates take a tumble and sink when we needed it. Based on into the bubbling basalt… Best of all, the children’s game of the same the show is fully aware of how name, it throws groups of budding ridiculous it is, with winners being adventurers together to navigate gifted a lava lamp trophy (along an obstacle course flooded with with a $10,000 cash prize) and host “lava” (bright red gunge) and the Rutledge Wood compering the end result is both hilarious (, madness in suitably manic fashion. MJ

US WATCH UK BBC iPlayer FOR THOSE WHO missed the boat with Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag, it can feel too late and daunting to start now. But for anyone making the plunge, it’s worth it — not least because various jokes, characters and phrases have already entered the nation’s lexicon. (“Hair is everything” and “The only person I’d run through an airport for is you” are just two that spring to mind.) Forget the mantelpiece worth of Emmys — the show speaks for itself. In the title role, Waller-Bridge

plays a grieving, messy WATCH UK/US Apple TV+ café owner obsessed with everything to do with sex. In season two, however, she Ted Lasso originally devised by Sudeikis for has made some DEVELOPED BY STAR Jason a series of NBC Sports skits could lifestyle changes. Sudeikis alongside Scrubs creator carry a series. But with its warmth, It’s here that the Bill Lawrence, Ted Lasso follows its winning humour and unrelenting series really hits its title character — a college-level optimism, Ted Lasso’s ten-part first stride, delving into American football coach — as he’s season quickly proved the cynics Fleabag’s relationship with recruited to coach an English wrong. Best of all, you didn’t even The Priest (), Premier League football team, have to be a football fanatic to with whom she has despite his total lack of experience. enjoy it. Released on Apple TV+ in fallen in love. FC Some had asked, perhaps the autumn of 2020, this was the justifiably, whether a character perfect antidote to a rotten year. MJ

The WATCH UK/US Netflix Umbrella Academy BASED ON THE by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy follows an adopted family of superpowered misfits, whose exploits as child heroes have left them wounded, traumatised, dead or just disaffected despite their incredible abilities. Forced back together by the death of their cruel “father”, the Hargreeves siblings — played by Elliot Page, Robert Sheehan, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Aidan Gallagher and Justin H Min — stumble through a quest to save the world in the present day, before being thrown back through time and forced to do the same thing again in 1960s Dallas during the (superior) second season. The lesson is clear — all the super strength, mind control and necromancy in the world can’t mess you up more than your family. And amid all the action, dark jokes and death there’s something quite sweet about that. HF US Hulu WATCH UK Amazon Prime Video The Handmaid’s Tale

BASED ON MARGARET Atwood’s blistering dystopian novel of the same name, The Handmaid’s Tale shows June Osborne’s battle against a religious patriarchy, which sees women as one thing: child-bearing wives. In a terrifying world where a woman’s only function is to serve a man, June (Elisabeth Moss) is a ferocious female with a memory of the past and how American society should be — and she will stop at nothing to make sure girls WATCH UK/US Netflix growing up in fictional Gilead are given the same freedoms investigates what happened, why she had before the civil war. Unsolved the case was never solved and what Hard-hitting, stark and the potential theories surrounding at times brutal, The Mysteries it are. Each episode offers a small Handmaid’s Tale serves up snapshot into a devastating case. a timely look at equality of NETFLIX REVAMPED 1980S Whether it’s a missing person, a the sexes while also true crime series Unsolved murdered family or even a ghost delivering superb Mysteries in 2020 to great success. story, Unsolved Mysteries tackles performances from With no host this time around, the all kinds of cold cases and aims to the show’s leading series features interviews, unique pin down the real reason the crime ladies. Moss is graphics and more to tell the stories was never solved. Furthermore, the joined by the of victims who never had justice. story doesn’t end once the episode sublime Ann Dowd Focused on cold cases that have does. As a result of the Netflix (Aunt Lydia) and never been resolved, the gripping series, developments have come to Yvonne Strahovski and evocative series picks a light offering much-needed hope (who plays the different mystery each episode and to the families of the victims. HD complex Serena). HD Ramy here, proving himself as both STAND-UP Ramy an excellent comic and a very Youssef is the driving force capable dramatic actor, who is behind this semi-autobiographical able to keep pace with the show’s comedy drama about a young often sudden tonal shifts. It’s not Muslim man attempting to forge hard to see why he won a Golden a closer relationship with his faith. Globe for his performance here. He yearns to be a devout follower This promising talent also wrote of Islam and a more moral person, several episodes, and his moving but often finds himself led astray by story will resonate with people the temptations and complexities of from all walks of life. DC modern life. Youssef is a revelation

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leads the cast as Ingram himself, Quiz alongside Fleabag’s Sian Clifford as his quiz-obsessed wife Diana — THIS SHORT-BUT-SWEET drama and Michael Sheen is predictably is only three episodes long, but perfect as Chris Tarrant. The that’s exactly the right length of drama deftly guides us through time to tell the story of the the back story, the intrigue and “Coughing Major” cheating the fallout, without ever firmly scandal and Charles Ingram’s coming down on either side of infamous 2001 victory on the the question: did Ingram cheat or quiz show Who Wants to Be a not? Ultimately, you can make Millionaire? Matthew Macfadyen your own mind up. EBG Desperate Housewives ’S SUPERB men who play their husbands and comedy drama series following a host of stellar guest stars. Plots the lives of a group of suburban range from solving the initial women as they navigate love, loss mystery around their friend’s and nosy (and often dangerous) suicide, and the frustrations of neighbours, Desperate Housewives motherhood, to Hatcher’s Susan blends comedy, mystery and the Myers accidentally burning down a occasional emotional gut-punch frenemy’s house while snooping to into a heady cocktail. Eva see if she’s nicked her man, who’s Longoria, , Felicity not her man. And that’s just Huffman and lead season one of eight. MW the series alongside the handsome

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WATCH UK/US Netflix Becoming EVER WONDERED WHAT it’s like came to be the First Lady, and to be the First Lady of the United the vital role she played in her States? Well, Becoming gives us husband’s presidency. As Michelle an insight into the life of former embarks on a 34-city tour, it offers FLOTUS Michelle Obama, during a us candid moments from their moment of profound change. Back eight years in the White House in 2008, she and her husband and reveals how she came under Barack Obama became the first scrutiny from the media. ever black couple to serve in Eye-opening and truly inspiring, the White House. The one-off Becoming shows the former documentary looks at how she leader in a whole new light. GH The Boys behind-the-scenes excesses. The only people who can stand up to THIS DARK SUPERHERO satire them? The titular “boys” led by was initially a slow burner for Karl Urban’s Billy Butcher, who Amazon Prime, but has snowballed try their best to take down the to one of its biggest hits ever — and entire superhero establishment when you watch the show itself, (and especially Antony Starr’s its popularity is no surprise. In the all-American hero Homelander) with world of The Boys, superpowers are little more than their wits. The Boys real — but rather than using their is brutal, breathtakingly violent and abilities for good, the “supes” incredibly funny — really, there’s no just pose in costumes, collect better take on superheroes out merchandising rights and kill there, and these first two seasons anyone who exposes their are near-perfect TV. HF

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WATCH UK Hayu US Hulu Keeping Up with the Kardashians THE CRÈME DE la crème of disappointed. From “momager” Kris fly-on-the-wall reality TV shows, Jenner, who heads up the blended Keeping Up with the Kardashians is family, to Kim K who believes she’s just what you need for that little bit the “most interesting to look at”, of escapism. It follows the luxurious and 21-year-old billionaire Kylie who lives of the Kardashian-Jenner has just made a killing from her clan, giving an insight into their beauty company, this family will careers, relationships and family have you laughing, crying and even lives. With 20 seasons, there’s a lot feeling like an unofficial member to keep up with. And you won’t be as you tune in. GH WATCH UK ITV Hub Finding Alice KEELEY HAWES REUNITED dark and it’s funny, and it also stars with the team behind her previous such luminaries as Joanna Lumley, hit show The Durrells to create a Nigel Havers, Sharon Rooney and blackly comic drama about Alice, Kenneth Cranham. And much as a woman who suddenly loses her Alice refuses to fit in the “grieving beloved partner Harry when he widow” box and insists on doing falls down the stairs of their fancy things her own way, this is a new home — leaving her behind to drama that is rather difficult (a) cope with intense grief and (b) to categorise as one thing uncover Harry’s many secrets. It’s or another. EBG

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Icarus world of illegal doping in sports by testing how his own performance IT’S ALWAYS A delight to be is enhanced by banned stimulants, utterly wrong-footed by a twisting before becoming something else narrative, but while the produced as Fogel connects with Russian storytelling and carefully designed scientist Grigory Rodchenkov, cliffhangers of some true crime the director of Russia’s national documentaries can feel artificial, anti-doping laboratory. Soon, both what’s especially gripping about Fogel and the audience are faced 2017’s Icarus is how steadily and with a jaw-dropping tale of surprisingly its madcap plot state-sponsored corruption in sport. unfolds. It starts off life as one With twists that wouldn’t feel out of thing, following film-maker Ben place in a spy thriller, Icarus is Fogel’s attempts to investigate the exhilarating, educational viewing. MJ Dark adoring fanbase. But fans needn’t NETFLIX’S FIRST GERMAN- have worried — the final series was language series, Dark had set itself another irresistible piece of sci-fi a supremely difficult challenge television, equal parts mesmerising ahead of its third and final season and confounding, with a sweeping in June. Here was a show with a scope that gave it the sense of a set-up so complex and a mythology true epic. With its exhilarating finale, so knotty that it seemed almost Dark has earned its place among impossible the series could tie itself the list of the very best original up in a neat little bow and reach series made for the streamer. PC a conclusion that would satisfy its

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Formula 1: judgement and stunning talent, taking the most ferocious corners Drive to at almost 200mph. Drive to Survive draws back the curtain to let fans Survive into the cockpit and further, into the minds of drivers across the grid, FORMULA 1: DRIVE to Survive with outstanding access to the brings life to the often shielded F1 pit lane, stars’ homes and stars in obscenely fast cars. It’s easy private lives, or in the case of to forget that behind the wheel of some rock stars of the sport, their these state-of-the-art speed not-so-private lives. Essential machines and all their technical viewing for longstanding die-hards wizardry is a fallible human bursting and those taking their maiden laps with raw emotions, lapses in in the world of F1. MP US Acorn TV WATCH UK BBC iPlayer LAUNCHING IN 2012 to a modest Martin Compston’s DS Steve BBC2 audience, Jed Mercurio’s Arnott and Vicky McClure’s DI Kate police corruption drama has Fleming, and in each season they positively exploded in popularity take on a new foe played by a since, becoming a sensation over big name. Guest leads across the the years, with furious speculation award-winning show’s run have and swapping of fan theories. included Lennie James, Keeley The complex and twisty drama Hawes, Thandie Newton, Stephen focuses on police anti-corruption Graham and Kelly Macdonald. unit AC-12, headed up by Adrian Don’t hold out on Line of Duty — Dunbar’s Superintendent Ted it absolutely lives up to Hastings (“like the battle”), the hype. EBG

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Ozark long-standing feuds, while his wife and family’s lives are turned upside WHEN FINANCIAL ADVISER down as their stories become Marty Byrd’s money-laundering intertwined with those of their new operation for a Mexican drug cartel community. A gripping and moody goes wrong, he is forced to relocate Netflix original led by brilliant his family from the Chicago suburbs performances from Jason to a summer resort town in the Bateman and , each Ozarks in Missouri. But the drama is season turns the screw tighter as just beginning as Marty is quickly twist upon turn unfolds for an drawn into a dark world of local audience who are kept guessing as criminals, far-flung foes and to what will happen next. TG US Hulu WATCH UK Disney+ ONE OF THE most iconic shows of the 90s, Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains a highly entertaining fantasy drama to this day. takes the lead role as 16-year-old Buffy Summers, a high-school student by day and a slayer by night, whose job it is to prevent evil supernatural forces from destroying human civilisation as we know it. No US Hulu pressure. Many fans argue that WATCH UK Disney+ Buffy the Vampire Slayer ushered in the golden age of television, executing its ghoulish tales with Love, Victor style and wit, as well as pioneering awards for subtlety as it populates longform story arcs for its core A SEQUEL OF SORTS to the Creekwood High with the same characters. Speaking of which, the 2018 film Love, Simon, this comedy clichéd personality types seen in series also benefits from drama follows another high-school countless teen dramas before it. some superb casting, student struggling to come to terms But by placing an LGBT+ character with Gellar supported with his sexuality. Victor Salazar at the forefront, the show provides by Alyson Hannigan (Michael Cimino) hopes that a big a genuinely fresh perspective and is (How I Met Your Mother), move from Texas to Georgia will undeniably good fun throughout. Nicholas Brendon allow him to explore these Tune in for a charming coming-of- (Criminal Minds) and confusing feelings more openly, but age story propelled by some Anthony Head (Merlin). DC quickly discovers that life isn’t that strong laughs and endearing simple. Love, Victor won’t win any performances. DC After Life THE FIRST SEASON of Ricky to a world without her. Sure Gervais’s smart and touching enough, the second season of After meditation on love and loss was so Life found new avenues to explore good — and, seemingly, so perfectly by not only charting grieving Tony’s self-contained — that some progress (and his relapses) but also questioned whether a second by venturing further out into the season was even necessary. But the town of Tambury to make more use man himself argued that there was of the show’s superb supporting still a “rich vein” to be mined as cast, from ’s kind, his character Tony continued to stalwart Anne to Tony Way’s mourn the loss of wife Lisa (Kerry hapless but amiable Lenny. MJ Godliman) and struggled to adjust

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WATCH UK/US Netflix Selling Sunset DO YOU KEEP up with the and Orange County. Kardashians and know your Real However, Selling Sunset is about Housewives of Cheshire from your so much more than selling million- Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? dollar houses — and believe us, Well then, Netflix’s Selling Sunset there’s plenty of that going on in could be one for you! Set in LA, the Hills — from wedding the reality TV show follows the lives planning to Botox and Burger of the team at The Oppenheim parties. Christine Quinn, Chrishell Group — a professional real estate Stause, Maya Vander, Davina brokerage serving buyers and Potratz and the others are sure to sellers of luxury property in keep you entertained! GH

The Crown WATCH UK/US Netflix IF YOU’VE NOT watched The Crown yet, you’re really missing out. Written by Peter Morgan, this big-budget drama is one of Netflix’s jewels, starting in season one with Princess Elizabeth (Claire Foy) marrying Philip () in 1947, and telling the story of the British monarchy in a rapidly changing world — as political scandals break, prime ministers come and go, and society shifts. It’s a fascinating story and a very watchable drama, with some excellent acting. As the characters became older, season three introduced us to Olivia Colman as our new Queen Elizabeth II, and now we eagerly await the next iteration of the cast for season five.EBG The Mandalorian WHILE THIS SPIN-OFF from some iconic figures from Star Wars (and its adorable green history, gave fans the Boba Fett mascot Baby , aka The Child, action scene they’d all been waiting aka Grogu) was a big hit in its for and even managed to bring first season, the Mandalorian’s *spoiler alert* Luke Skywalker back continuing adventures in season to our screens. Finally, for fans, two seriously raised the stakes. this was the Star Wars they’d been Alongside the usual pulse-pounding looking for — and we can hardly wait action scenes and heists gone to see what trouble and excitement wrong, the series reintroduced Mando jets off to next. HF

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US Hulu WATCH UK Amazon Prime Video Little Fires ultimately takes its toll on both Everywhere their families. But anchoring the eight-parter were two terrific turns ADAPTED FROM CELESTE Ng’s from and Kerry bestselling novel, mini-series Little Washington, both utterly magnetic Fires Everywhere could easily have in the lead roles, with Joshua strayed into the realm of tacky Jackson, Lexi Underwood, Jade melodrama as it told its story of Pettyjohn, Gavin Lewis, Megan Stott two warring mothers from very and Jordan Elsass providing able different socioeconomic support as their loved ones caught backgrounds, whose conflict in the wake of an explosive feud. MJ US HBO Max WATCH UK Sky/NOWTV I Hate Suzie

BILLIE PIPER WAS absolutely on fire in Sky’s I Hate Suzie, a sometimes difficult-to-watch portrayal of former child star Suzie Pickles (Piper) that pulled no punches and took a series of unexpected turns across its six episodes, frequently wrong-footing the audience in brilliant and imaginative ways. Somehow managing to pull off being a ruthless satire US Hulu WATCH UK Sky/NOWTV of contemporary celebrity, a painfully human drama and since 2008. This gives her father a sometimes surreal comedy Framing control over her finances and other all at once, the show — aspects of her life. In 2020, the co-created by its star and Britney singer made a request to remove her Secret Diary of a Call her father from her conservatorship, Girl collaborator Lucy Spears which was denied, despite Spears’s Prebble — was every lawyer telling the court she is “afraid bit as unpredictable FRAMING BRITNEY SPEARS of her father”. The hard-hitting and and wild as its lead took the world by storm when it powerful film explores how fans character, with shone a bright light on the Toxic have rallied behind the pop star Piper’s fearless, hitmaker’s rise to fame while with the #FreeBritney movement, magnetic documenting the difficulties she has and offers an in-depth exploration of performance had in the public eye and behind the legal battle many of her loyal anchoring closed doors. The film, made by The supporters are hoping she can win the whole New York Times, looks specifically at eventually. With more to tell from thing Spears’s relationship with her father, this unique story, expect more beautifully. Jamie Spears, and the updates to come from this case MJ conservatorship she’s been under as a result of the documentary. HD

WATCH UK Netflix US Vh1 RuPaul’s Drag Race

IF YOU TOOK America’s Next Top Model and combined it with Project Runway, The X Factor and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, then you’d get RuPaul’s Drag Race — the reality franchise that’s taken TV by storm over the past 12 years. Hosted by drag icon RuPaul Charles, the competition sees 13 wannabe queens take on a variety of challenges in a bid to become America’s next drag superstar. Each week, WATCH UK/US Disney+ the contestants compete in a mini challenge (a small task that kicks off the The Falcon and episode) and a maxi challenge, which can vary the Winter Soldier from musical performances and ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO be wait. Picking up the storyline begun stand-up comedy to fashion design Marvel’s first Disney+ series and to in 2014’s : the Winter and acting showcases. At the end of launch in summer 2020, The Falcon Soldier and follow-up Civil War, this each episode, the queens take to the and the Winter Soldier was delayed series will see Sam and Bucky runway with the aim of impressing after being affected by Covid-19 grapple with the legacy of Captain RuPaul and her fellow judges. With shutdowns. Still, for fans we’re sure America () while new 13 seasons to get through, this this action-packed adventure, threats arise to the United States. hugely entertaining franchise is a starring ’s winged Packed with stunts, battles and hilarious, fun and sometimes heart- hero Sam Wilson and Sebastian plenty of quips, it’s a very different warming cultural juggernaut. LM ’s formerly brainwashed warrior style to WandaVision, but is sure to Bucky Barnes, will be well worth the delight Marvel fans just the same. HF Bloodlands IF YOU’RE A lover of Line of Duty killing four people, including Tom’s and Bodyguard, then it’s time to wife, 20 years beforehand — he add detective thriller Bloodlands to realises this case is so much more your watchlist. This four-part series, than a kidnapping and that it’s a executive-produced by Jed man within that they Mercurio, stars James Nesbitt as should be looking for. Featuring a DCI Tom Brannick, a -based star-studded cast of Irish talent, detective tasked with searching for including Charlene McKenna, a missing man whose car has just Lorcan Cranitch, Michael Smiley, been winched out of Strangford Ian McElhinney and , Lough. But when, at the scene, Tom Bloodlands is an unpredictable finds the calling card of Goliath — drama that’ll keep you guessing a legendary assassin suspected of throughout. LM

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WATCH UK/US Netflix The Last Dance THIS TREMENDOUS SPORTS illustrious career — from his early documentary in ten parts became promise as a young player to his something of a phenomenon in the brief dalliance with professional early part of lockdown, with new baseball. With a range of candid episodes released every week for interviews and some electrifying a spell in April and May. The series archive footage, there’s a real chronicled the career of basketball raw energy to this series, which icon Michael Jordan by homing in ensured it appealed to both on his final season at the Chicago hardcore basketball fans and Bulls while also looking back at the those with little prior knowledge key moments from throughout his of the sport. PC Schitt’s Creek A CANADIAN COMEDY with a once uber-wealthy Rose family after small but dedicated group of fans, they lose everything and are forced Schitt’s Creek exploded on to the to start again, living in a motel in a global stage when it dropped on small town that they once bought Netflix after its third series, as a joke. As with any great comedy, becoming one of the breakout hits Schitt’s Creek brings together the of recent years, sweeping the board perfect balance of razor-sharp at the Primetime Emmys in 2020. scripts, fantastic performances From the pens of father-and-son and just the right number of writing team Dan and Eugene Levy emotional storylines to keep you (the dad from American Pie), the rooting for the protagonists. TG show follows the fortunes of the

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WATCH UK BBC iPlayer David Attenborough’s Life in Colour WHEN IT COMES to showing us It explores the role that colour plays nature at its finest, few come close in different creatures’ lives, from to Sir David Attenborough. And this helping them to find a mate to two-parter is no different. With the warning them of predators. use of cutting-edge technology — Revealing colours and patterns some of which was designed usually invisible to the human eye, specifically for the series — the David Attenborough’s Life in Colour documentary examines how invites us into the world of animals animals see the world around them. in a quite remarkable way. GH WATCH UK/US Netflix Bridgerton

BRIDGERTON IS BASICALLY a cross between and — and honestly, it is just so much fun. The Regency-era romance introduces us to Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) as she makes her debut on ’s marriage mart, where she bumps into the rakish and marriage- averse Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page). They immediately dislike each other — but will they also fall in love? We won’t ruin it, but we will say that there are some racy US Hulu sex scenes later on in the WATCH UK BBC iPlayer drama, so bear that in mind if you decide to watch this with your mum. Staged themselves, the series built on their Produced by Shonda established, easy chemistry. While Rhimes, Bridgerton is STAGED SET THE standard for season one followed rehearsals for based on the popular lockdown television, so hopes were a play via Zoom, the second season series of novels high for the second instalment. Any took a meta twist as Tennant and by Julia Quinn — fears about how season two would Sheen embarked on the lengthy and season two measure up were unfounded, with (and galling) process of recasting is already on the innovative scripts that upended the their own characters for the way. EBG show’s premise — while also never American remake of Staged. losing sight of the platonic love Cue multiple high-profile cameos story at its core. Starring David in every episode, including the likes Tennant and Michael Sheen as of Sir Michael Palin, , exaggerated, comedic versions of and others. FC The Queen’s Gambit ON THE FACE of it, a drama mini-series is elevated by its star, about chess might not sound like Anya Taylor-Joy, who turns in a a likely candidate for a mega terrific performance as prodigy word-of-mouth smash, but Scott Beth Harmon — whose rise to the Frank’s show The Queen’s Gambit top is offset against her frequent became exactly that when it arrived struggles with addiction. With on Netflix in October 2020 (chess an outstanding supporting cast set sales jumped 87 per cent in the and an array of expertly staged USA after its debut). Lavishly chess-match set pieces, it proved produced and consistently almost impossible to resist The engaging, this sumptuous Queen’s Gambit’s charms. PC

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WATCH UK/US Apple TV+ Billie Eilish: the World’s a Little Blurry IN THIS 140-MINUTE film, to Die singer’s struggles with we follow the 19-year-old singer/ Tourette syndrome, the leg pain songwriter from the SoundCloud she suffered with while touring release of Ocean Eyes back in and the moment she met her 2015 and the beginnings of her musical idol, Justin Bieber. career, to her debut album topping A revealing, fascinating and the charts and her numerous sometimes uncomfortable peek Grammy nominations ahead of her at Billie Eilish backstage, this 18th birthday. An intimate look at Apple TV+ documentary highlights Eilish’s rise to stardom, The World’s just how remarkable this up-and- A Little Blurry explores the No Time comer’s songwriting abilities are. LM

US Amazon Prime Video WATCH UK BBC iPlayer Small Axe

THOUGH IT HAD BEEN in development since 2012, and conceived by writer/ director Steve McQueen even earlier, Small Axe — an anthology exploring the experiences of West Indian immigrants living in London through the 1960s and 70s — felt especially timely in a year when conversations surrounding systemic racism and Black identity loomed large. Across five films, Small Axe did plenty to examine the attitudes of the time, reflecting them back at us in such a way as to leave

the audience pondering WATCH UK All 4 US HBO Max not just what has changed but crucially take a terrible turn by the third what has not. Yet It’s A Sin chapter when their world is torn McQueen’s series is no asunder. It’s a Sin brings a dark and mere polemic. Though PREPARE TO HAVE your heart often overlooked chapter in history powerful and at points broken by ’s to life in a truly visceral way. highly critical of the hard-hitting drama chronicling the Davies’s scripts are beautifully power structures that Aids crisis of the 1980s. The story written, balancing profound allowed — and in some unfolds from the perspective of heartache with moments of joy, all cases continue to four gay men sharing a flat in of which are powerfully delivered allow — suppression London as the devastating illness by a cast of rising stars. Years and and abuse, Small Axe begins ravaging their community. Years frontman Olly Alexander is also a gorgeous The boys are busy enjoying parties takes the lead role, while Omari celebration of West and active love lives in the Douglas, Callum Scott Howells and Indian culture. MJ opening episodes, but things Lydia West are also standouts. DC Succession for control of the family business. FROM THE PEN of Peep Show With standout performances from co-creator Jesse Armstrong, a brilliant ensemble cast, this Succession is a dark satirical drama exceptionally crafted television that tells the story of the Roy show treads a careful line between family, owners of the sprawling comedy and drama, drawing you Waystar RoyCo empire, a global into a sometimes bizarre and media and hospitality conglomerate absurd world with characters of that owns everything from TV true depth who you cannot help stations and newspapers to theme but become attached to. With two parks. With the health of patriarch seasons and a cabinet full of awards and founder Logan Roy (played by to its name, Succession is always Brian Cox) failing, his children and screen time well spent. TG those around them begin battling

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WATCH UK/US Disney+ WandaVision of Easter eggs, it was the ’ FIRST foray perfect series to set internet into Disney + was a resounding messageboards on fire every week success, with what felt like the as fans desperately tried to work whole world glued to the mystery of out what would happen next, and what exactly was happening to what it would mean for the wider Wanda () and Vision Marvel universe. Of course, not (Paul Bettany) in the idyllic sitcom every theory paid off (meet Ralph!), world of Westview. Crammed with but it was still an assured start for twists and turns (Agatha! Pietro! Disney’s big streaming plan. On to The Twins! White Vision!) and plenty the next chapter. HF US HBO Max I May WATCH UK BBC iPlayer Destroy You TO PUT IT simply, Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You is astonishing. In just six hours, the show covers a staggering amount of ground, providing a detailed and insightful examination of sexual consent and assault in numerous forms. The show certainly doesn’t shy away from its sensitive subject matter, but Coel’s razor-sharp wit and beautifully written characters go a long way to keeping the conversation accessible. Her portrayal of Arabella is one of the best performances of the year without any doubt, but co-stars Paapa Essiedu and Weruche Opia are also phenomenal, each of them excelling in both comedic and heart- wrenching scenes. I May Destroy You is not only hugely compelling television, it’s important, educational, and impossible to forget. DC US Hulu Normal WATCH UK BBC iPlayer People

YOU’LL HAVE HEARD the gags about how almost everyone in the UK got through the first lockdown — by starting a podcast, baking banana bread, and binge-watching Normal People. Like all the best jokes, this one has its root in truth. We celebrated, obsessed over and related to the highs and lows of the years-long relationship between Marianne and Connell as we watched them grow from awkward schoolkids to young adults, with plenty of pain, passion and misunderstandings in between. Relative newcomers Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal (and his chain) were guaranteed instant stardom and long careers with a pair of blistering, beautiful performances. Elegantly adapted from the book and gorgeously shot, this nuanced, intimate, intelligent drama was the most discussed television in 2020 for good reason. Believe the hype. MJ