• Christmas 2021

The best new TV shows to watch in 2022

January returns again, bringing with it new hopes and resolutions. While 2021 might have been a year to forget, we’re hoping at least to see some more of the quality TV dramas that defined the year.

It’s a strong start, with 2022 already promising some high profile television adaptations with some of the world’s finest creative teams at the helm.

Here’s a quick run down of 10 new series we have high hopes for in 2022:

1. The Gilded Age, Sky Atlantic and NOW TV

The latest period drama from the creator of Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age explores the lives of wealthy New Yorkers in the late 19th century. Its star-studded cast includes Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector.

Premieres on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV on January 25 2022

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2. Reacher, Amazon Prime Video

A new adaptation of the novels by Lee Childs, Alan Ritchson plays Jack Reacher, a former US Army Major who takes to investigating crimes. The first series follows the plot of ‘Killing Floor’, which sees Reacher wrongly arrested for the murder he came to investigate.

Premieres on Amazon Prime Video on February 4 2022>

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3. Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina, Amazon Prime Video

The result of a fan-funded kickstarter, which saw $11 million pledged towards a $750,000 target, Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina brings the popular Dungeons and Dragons web-series to life.

Premieres on Amazon Prime Video on February 4 2022>

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4. Vikings: Valhalla, Netflix

The new sequel to the long-running historical drama, Vikings: Valhalla moves both a hundred years into the future and to a new home: Netflix. The end of an era is nigh as the new drama explores the exploits of Leif Erikson, Freydís Eiríksdóttir, Harald Hardrada and the Norman King William the Conqueror.

Premieres on Netflix February 25 2022 >

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5. Sister Boniface Mysteries, Drama

A new spin-off of the beloved Father Brown series, Lorna Watson returns as Sister Boniface – the crime-solving, Vespa-driving, forensics expert nun – in a light-hearted new murder mystery series.

Premieres on Drama in February 2022

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6. No Return, ITV

A family holiday goes horribly wrong in gripping new ITV drama No Return, starring BAFTA award-winner Sheridan Smith. Stuck in the unfamiliar Turkish legal system, two parents fight for the freedom of their young son.

Premieres on ITV early 2022

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7. The Ipcress File, ITV

A major new adaptation of Len Deighton’s bestselling novel, Joe Cole stars as legendary spy Harry Palmer. The Ipcress File tells the story of a well-connected young army sergeant in newly-partitioned Berlin who finds himself on the wrong side of the law, only to be offered a tempting way out of prison.

Premieres in early 2022>

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8. The Responder on BBC One

The latest surprise policing duo comprises Martin Freeman’s unconventional urgent response officer and a new rookie played by Adelayo Adedayo. Based in Liverpool, The Responder sees the troubled partnership tackle the infamous night crime scene.

Premieres on BBC One in 2022>

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9. Sherwood on BBC One

A timely new crime drama exploring the state of modern Britain, Sherwood is inspired by real-life events. When two tragic killings bring Sherwood’s past and present into juxtaposition, a divided community braces itself to relive its worst moments.

Premieres on BBC One in 2022>

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10. Inside Man on BBC One

A star-studded new mini-series sees Hollywood star Stanley Tucci portray the titular ‘Inside Man’ in a series all about surprise personal connections. David Tennant, Dolly Wells and Lydia West also star.

Premieres on BBC One in 2022

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• Christmas 2021

2021 in review: What were our favourite TV shows of the year?

Easily one of the highlights of 2021 was the excellent television content. Despite the pandemic’s lingering impact on the industry, this year produced some instant classics that we’ll be rewatching again and again. And some of Hollywood’s biggest names stepped up to produce their best ever acting performances.

It’s A Sin, Channel 4

One of 2021’s earlier hits, this heartbreaking HIV/AIDS drama broke new ground when it premiered in January. Featuring a painfully relatable cast, headed by musician Olly Alexander, Russell T. Davies’ drama told the story of London’s LGBTQ+ community in the 1980s.

WandaVision, Disney+

Another of 2021’s earliest hits, WandaVision showed how successful the Marvel Cinematic Universe could be on the small screen. Offering quirkier stories than might be possible on film, WandaVision paid tribute to sitcoms old and new in a bizarre but brilliant blend of superhero drama and classic comedy.

The Flight Attendant, Sky One

Kaley Cuoco is the beating heart of this fantastically slick mystery drama, which sees Cuoco play a fun-loving air hostess who finds herself at the heart of a murder investigation. Stylish cinematography is joined by an Emmy-nominated performance from Cuoco.

Mare of Easttown, Sky Atlantic

Kate Winslet’s award-winning turn in a crime drama set in a small town in Philadelphia was lauded by critics in Spring 2021. Revolving around a strong central mystery, Mare of Easttown is a highly polished drama well executed by its creators.

We Are Lady Parts, Channel 4

A brilliantly quirky new feminist comedy putting representation at the heart of the show, We Are Lady Parts blends catchy tunes with an unforgettable cast. It manages to be both a well thought out insight into young womanhood as well as laugh out loud hilarious.

The White Lotus, Sky Atlantic

Not everyone’s lives are as picturesque as the setting of this acclaimed satirical drama, which excited audiences over summer 2021. Set at a holiday resort in Hawaii, The White Lotus explored the dark and complex lives of residents to incredibly watchable success.

Only Murders in the Building, Disney+

This delightful mystery drama takes the cultural obsession with true crime podcasts to the next level. Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez have wonderful chemistry as three true crime enthusiasts who decide to investigate a murder in their own apartment block in New York. It goes about as well as you’d expect.

Squid Game, Netflix

What would this list be without the most talked about show of the year and Netflix’s biggest ever hit? The brilliantly violent Korean drama offers a thoughtful critique on class struggle and capitalism as it pits vulnerable individuals in a competition to the death. All we want now is a second season.

The Wheel of Time, Amazon Prime Video

Amazon’s answer to Game of Thrones, this fantasy adaptation is based on the novels of the same name by Robert Jordan. Rosamund Pike heads a wonderfully diverse cast, which features epic worldbuilding and plenty of adventure thrills and mystery.

YellowJackets, Sky Atlantic

A gritty exploration of four young women’s fight for survival in the Canadian wilderness after their plane crashes. Told in the present-day and flashbacks, the series explores the harrowing months in the wild as well as the girls future in society, where they struggle with the trauma of what happened to them.

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• Christmas 2021

What to watch this week: December 27 – January 1

The best week of the year is here, when ordinary rules don’t apply and everyone is lounging on their sofas eating leftover mince pies and indulging in some excellent TV.

As usual, there’s no shortage of shows to watch this festive period. As well as the customary specials of Worzel Gummidge and Doctor Who, there’s also the return of talent shows The Voice Kids and The Masked Singer and regular review shows Frankie Boyle’s 2021 New World Order and The Last Leg of the Year.

Here’s what we’re watching this week:

December 27

The Voice Kids, ITV, 7.30pm

The pint-sized junior talent show returns, showcasing some of Britain’s best young singers. Presented by Emma Willis, the new series sees judges will.i.am, Pixie Lott and Danny Jones return. Mel C will appear in her first season as the fourth judge.

Jon & Lucy’s Christmas Sleepover, Channel 4, 9pm

Married comedians Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont host a Christmas party for their funny friends, including Roisin Conaty, Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett. This one-off special features food, fun and surprise guests.

December 28

Worzel Gummidge, BBC One, 7.15pm

In what has become a festive regular, Mackenzie Crook’s Worzel Gummidge returns for new episodes post-Christmas. The first of which, Twitchers, sees Worzel and the kids desperate to scare the rare birds at Scatterbrook Farm.

December 29

Frankie Boyle’s 2021 New World Order, BBC Two, 10pm

There will be plenty to make fun of in the annual Frankie Boyle-style review of the year. The famously cynical comedian is back, alongside yet-to-confirmed guests.

The Book of Boba Fett (Season 1), Netflix

One thing we’ll never say no to is more Star Wars offerings from Disney+. This new series is a spin-off from The Mandalorian, focusing on the bounty hunter Boba Fett.

December 30

Attenborough and the Mammoth Graveyard, BBC One, 8pm

Britain’s best loved naturalist explores a mammoth graveyard near Swindon to uncover secrets of the Ice Ages. Could Neanderthals be the ones at fault for the extinction of these glorious tusked beasts?

New Year’s Eve

The Last Leg of the Year, Channel 4, 9pm

Channel 4’s annual end of the year highlight: Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker return for the final time in 2021 to review to year and look ahead to 2022. As usual, they’ll be joined by hilarious guests over the course of a two hour bumper episode.

The Graham Norton New Year’s Eve Show, BBC One, 10.20pm

Graham’s got all manner of big name guests for his final show of the year, including Scenes from a Marriage star Jessica Chastain, The Crown’s Claire Foy and everyone’s favourite Lannister, Peter Dinklage. Michael Sheen, Cush Jumbo, Joe Lycett and The Divine Comedy also appear.

Stay Close, Netflix

A new Harlan Coben adaptation, which stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, Richard Armitage and Sarah Parish in an epic eight-part thriller. Stay Close tells the story of three people, linked together forever and haunted by a terrifying night some 17 years prior.

New Year’s Day

Doctor Who, BBC One, 7pm

Comedian Aisling Bea stars in a New Year’s special of the sci fi classic, as the owner of the storage centre where the Doctor, Yaz and Dan become trapped. If this situation couldn’t get worse, there are Daleks stuck there too.

The Masked Singer, ITV 7pm

The surprise hit entertainment programme, which was the first to make mask wearing cool back in early 2020, returns New Year’s Day. There’s every chance this years disguised celebs could include similar star power as last year, which saw Ne-Yo and Joss Stone in the final.

The Tourist, BBC One, 9pm

Jamie Dornan stars in this chase thriller, where he plays a man who wakes up in the Australian Outback with no memory of who he is. The Missing writers Jack and Harry Williams are at the helm.

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• Christmas 2021

What to watch on Christmas Eve, Christmas and Boxing Day 2021

It’s finally the time of year to put your feet up, eat mince pies and watch a lot of telly.

This year’s festive offerings include all the usual Christmas editions of our favourite shows, brand new drama and plenty of belly laugh-inducing fresh comedy.

Merry Christmas everybody, and here’s our small screen highlights:

Christmas Eve

The Amazing Mr Blunden, Sky Max, 7pm

Festive family classic The Amazing Mr Blunden gets a 2021 remake for Sky, starring Simon Callow. Mark Gatiss provides the script, which sees two teenagers discover two time-travelling ghosts in need of urgent help.

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The Greatest Snowman, Channel 4, 8pm

Sue Perkins hosts a new competition, in which celebrities Johnny Vegas, Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen, Dani Dyer, Liam Charles, and Cherry Healey go head to head to build impressive snow structures.

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Bradley & Barney: Breaking Dad at Christmas, ITV, 9pm

The father and son duo return for a bumper Christmas special, which sees them visit Iceland. During their festive adventure they’ll explore volcanoes, glaciers, and stunning landscapes – all while learning the true meaning of Christmas.

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8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Christmas Special, Channel 4, 9.30pm

A festive edition of the comedy words and numbers game, hosted by Jimmy Carr. Jon Richardson and Sarah Millican will take on Lee Mack and Jason Manford in a holiday special that also features Nick Mohammed, Joe Wilkinson, Susie Dent and Rachel Riley.

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All Creatures Great and Small Christmas Special, Channel 5, 9pm

There’s a Christmas mix up in the new holiday special of All Creatures Great and Small, the heartwarming family series based on the memoirs of James Herriot. Also, romance is in the air for Tristan.

🐷Gather round…'All Creatures Great and Small' returns to @channel5_tv for a Christmas special on Christmas Eve at 9pm! 🎄

Excited to share the trailer which is out today! #acgas

Made in Yorkshire by @PlaygroundEnt with investment from @screenyorkshire. pic.twitter.com/KRfcbrY7Eg

— Screen Yorkshire (@screenyorkshire) December 14, 2021

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Christmas Comedy Club with Lost Voice Guy, ITV, 10.30pm

The brilliant Britain’s Got Talent winner hosts a new comedy showcase for Christmas, featuring big name acts such as Bill Bailey, Rosie Jones, Omid Djalili and Joel Dommett.

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The Last Leg Christmas Special, Channel 4, 10.30pm

The satirical entertainment show returns for a Christmas Eve special, which will recall the topical issues of the year 2021 with comedy, guests and general merriment.

Christmas Day

The Masked Singalong, ITV, 6pm

The hit singing competition that made mask wearing cool is back for a new festive special, as some of our favourite costumed performers return. Fans of the show don’t have to wait long for a new series either – The Masked Singer will return for series three on New Year’s Day!

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Terry Pratchett’s The Abominable Snow Baby, Channel 4, 7.30pm

Julie Walters and Hugh Dancy star in this festive family treat based on the magic of Terry Pratchett. It tells the story of a small town hit by the appearance of sudden mass snowfall and the birth of a huge abominable snow baby, which terrifies the townsfolk.

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The Great Christmas Bake Off, Channel 4, 8pm

It wouldn’t be Christmas without baked goods and Bake Off. This year’s special features the cast of It’s A Sin, who didn’t spend a lot of time baking in the hit LGBTQ drama. The usual mayhem is sure to ensue.

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Call the Midwife, BBC One, 8pm

The Nuns at Nonnatus House are back for a new festive special, which sees Sister Frances deliver her first ever breech baby and the return of Miriam Margoyles as Mother Mildred.

A #CallTheMidwife Christmas Special behind-scenes exclusive! 🎄🎅👶🚲🩺
Our cast talk the joys of the forthcoming festive episode, milk float arrivals, breech deliveries… and a trip to the seamy side of life for young Timothy Turner!
Christmas Day @BBCone 🇬🇧 and @PBS 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 xx pic.twitter.com/KDuHT4cPaO

— Call the Midwife (@CallTheMidwife1) December 11, 2021

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Mrs Brown’s Boys, BBC One, 10.20pm

Will Agnes have yet another Christmas tree-related mishap? Or will it be an uneventful Christmas in the Brown household? One thing’s for sure, we can’t wait to see the first of two new festive episodes this holiday season.

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The Larkins at Christmas, ITV, 9pm

ITV’s Christmas Day offering is a festive evening with the Larkins, which sees the village experience a spate of burglaries. PC Harness investigates, but the worst of the chaos is yet to come. Can the Larkins pull through?

Boxing Day

Around the World in 80 Days, BBC One 5.50pm

David Tennant stars in a new adaptation of Jules Verne’s work, Around the World in 80 Days will air two episodes at once on Boxing Day. Tennant plays Phileas Fogg, who sets off on an international adventure.

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Death in Paradise Christmas Special, BBC One 7.30pm

Hot weather may be a distant dream in the UK, but you can still enjoy it on BBC One on Boxing Day. Whether Christmas on Saint Marie is really better than the cold UK is debatable however, as there’s a sudden murder of a billionaire under mysterious circumstances.

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All Star Musicals At Christmas, ITV, 8pm

John Barrowman hosts a star-studded musical extravaganza, which will see celebs
Fern Britton, Ben Miller, Gyles Brandreth, Anita Rani, Catherine Tyldesley and Radzi Chinyanganya embark on a singing masterclass. They’ll be aided by musical theatre heavyweights Elaine Paige, Samantha Barks and Trevor Dion Nicholas.

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A Very British Scandal, BBC One, 9pm

A new fact-based period drama based on the highly publicised divorce of Ian and Margaret Campbell in the 1960s. Claire Foy and Paul Bettany star in the series, which explores the changing societal treatment of women.

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The Big Fat Quiz Of The Year, Channel 4, 9pm

Jimmy Carr hosts this festive staple, poking fun out of the year where there’s not been a lot of fun. As usual, Mitchell Brook Primary School, Charles Dance and Jon Snow will appear to ask questions. Confirmed stars taking part are Sarah Millican, James Acaster, Jonathan Ross, Judi Love and Guz Khan.

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• Christmas 2021

The best of Christmas 2021 on demand

Christmas is truly a time for television to shine, with plenty on offer from the UK’s biggest On Demand services.

From brand new festive specials to the return of epic fantasy franchises, this year’s holidays have it all. We’ve curated some of our favourite releases of the season to get you in the mood.

Here are our On Demand highlights for Christmas 2021:

1. Being the Ricardos

Biographical film Being the Ricardos is Amazon Prime Video’s biggest release of the season, exploring the relationship between I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star in this complex and well-written drama.

Available on Amazon Prime on December 21

2. Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbye

The quirky crime drama based on M. C. Beaton’s works returns to Sky this festive season. In this Christmas special, Agatha’s plans for a perfect Christmas go awry when the wealthy widow who has hired her detective services drops down dead.

Available on NOW TV on December 21

3. After Ever After: Hansel & Gretel

David Walliams’ third fairytale special for Sky explores what happened next to lost siblings Hansel and Gretel. Walliams of course stars, while Sheridan Smith will portray the witch (who may or may not have survived).

Available on NOW TV on December 23

4. The Amazing Mr Blunden

Festive family classic The Amazing Mr Blunden gets a 2021 remake for Sky, starring Simon Callow. Mark Gatiss provides the script, which sees two teenagers discover two time-travelling ghosts in need of urgent help.

Available on NOW TV on Christmas Eve

5. Don’t Look Up

A fun-filled new disaster comedy sees two low level astronomers tasked with trying to warn the world an apocalyptic meteor is hurtling towards Earth. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep star.

Available on Netflix on Christmas Eve

6. Encanto

The latest Disney offering explores the story of the Madrigals, a Colombian family granted magical powers. Celebrated Hamilton composer Lin Manuel Miranda is behind the songs.

Available on Disney+ on Christmas Eve

7. A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood

While not such a big name in the UK, Mister Rogers is the face of many American childhoods. In this acclaimed biographical film, Tom Hanks delivers a nuanced and powerful performance as the children’s entertainer.

Available on Netflix on Christmas Day

8. The Book of Boba Fett (Season 1)

One thing we’ll never say no to is more Star Wars offerings from Disney+. This new series is a spin-off from The Mandalorian, focusing on the bounty hunter Boba Fett.

Available on Disney+ on December 29

9. Queer Eye (Season 6)

The uplifting makeover series returns to bring joy to the 2021 holiday season. Series six sees the Fab Five deliver more lifechanging makeovers that’ll have audiences sobbing their hearts out (in a good way).

Available on Netflix on December 31

10. Stay Close

A new Harlan Coben adaptation, which stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, Richard Armitage and Sarah Parish in an epic eight-part thriller. Stay Close tells the story of three people, linked together forever and haunted by a terrifying night some 17 years prior.

Available on Netflix on December 31

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