From Liverpool’s Eurovision to the end of one of the greatest dramas of all time, Succession, and even the comeback of the original reality show, Big Brother, we were treated to some TV treats in 2023.
It’s also been rather crazy, with a BBC newsreader throwing the middle finger and the ultimate conclusion to a year’s worth of EastEnders storyline, which was a pleasant slow-burner to our usual binge-watching.
While it’s wonderful to look back, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2024.
Dramas, reality programmes with surprising twists, and films given extended time in TV series are all available.
Save a seat for us on the couch for these future highlights…
Fool Me Once
If you’re looking for something to watch while you recover from your New Year’s Eve hangover, go no further than Fool Me Once.
Joanne Lumley plays Judith, the mother-in-law of Michelle Keegan’s character Maya, and one statement should be enough to persuade you.
Things start to fall apart when Maya sees her husband, whom she believes was murdered, on the Nanny cam. The thriller’s approach of its topic is nearly soap opera-like, yet it’s nonetheless fascinating.
Netflix, January 1
Celebrity Big Brother
Big Brother returned to television after a five-year hiatus and was warmly received in living rooms around the country.
We were reminded of how wonderful TV can be when a group of strangers are put into a home and then forced to cohabit in the first ITV series, won by lawyer Jordan Sangha, which is why we were pleased to hear that we’d be getting a celebrity version shortly.
In recent years, the showbiz version has outperformed its counterpart – it’s difficult to surpass series 17 (AKA David’s Dead), so we’re excited to see who they torture, oh, feature in the newest iteration. We’ve already made some forecasts.
ITV, approx March
Love Island: All Stars
Love Island Games, which entailed reuniting past islanders from across the world for a second round, has received praise.
The aforementioned series did not air in the UK, but we now have the opportunity to see old individuals try again at love.
With Maya Jama back at the helm and a new twist on the recurring formula, this may be just what we need to fall back in love with Love Island.
ITV, January 15
Bridgerton
The regency-style drama re-invented the wheel in 2020 and showed a new audience the joy of period pieces.
Each season it gets saucier from the Duke’s tantalising moments with a spoon, to Antony and Kate’s almost kisses, they keep us fixed to our screen.
This time it’s the turn of Lady Whistledown (Nicola Coughlan), or Penelope to those not in the know, and Colin (Luke Newton), whom her feelings for have been unrequited up until now.
It’s a big year for Nicola who will also be playing the lead in Big Mood – a Channel 4 comedy series that puts female friendship at its heart.
Netflix, part one May 16 and part two June 13
True Detective: Night Country
Jodie Foster will portray policeman Liz Danvers, who will investigate the inexplicable disappearances of six personnel from a research outpost in the freezing wilds of Alaska.
This new project is significant since it is Jodie’s first regular TV job since 1974, when she featured in Paper Moon, so it had to be good to convince her to go on.
NOW TV, January 14
The Traitors
It was the unexpected hit that we now can’t live without. Maddy’s ‘loyal, faithful, faithful, not sure, traitor’ continues to haunt us more than a year after the first season ended, and we eagerly await its replacement.
Contestants in the reality show must figure out who the ‘traitor’ is who is secretly’murdering’ faithfuls before they grab all of the money. It’s a lovely, basic premise that leads to fantastic television.
BBC, January 3
Doctor Who
On Christmas Day, our new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, had his first complete episode, and Millie Gibson made her debut as the new companion, Ruby Sunday. Already, the 15th iteration brings something airy, joyful, and invigorating.
When asked what he sought to add to the part, Ncuti just stated that he wanted to bring his “black and beautiful self,” and we can’t wait to see more of it in a full series.
BBC, May
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
This remake of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie‘s 2005 film is ideal for the month of love.
It’s a no-brainer when two lonely strangers, portrayed by Donald Glover and Maya Erskine, are promised a beautiful life of espionage, fortune, global tours, and a dream brownstone in Manhattan in return for working at a secret agency.
The hitch is that they must adopt new identities – Mr. and Mrs. John and Jane Smith. What comes next? They fall in love, of course, but happily ever afters are never simple.
Amazon Prime, February 2
Breathtaking
This three-part play, based on the biography of palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke, will remind us all of the sacrifices NHS workers made during the Covid-19 epidemic.
It promises to be both thought-provoking and compelling, with Joanne Froggatt in the starring role.
ITV, early 2024
Mr Bates Vs The Post Office
The drama will centre on how an IT malfunction at the Post Office led to the false accusation of several of its employees of fraud.
After malfunctioning computer software revealed multiple inaccurate accounting deficiencies, 550 postmasters and postmistresses were also charged with stealing.
The court battle lasted more than a decade, with some of those wrongfully accused even being imprisoned, and was only concluded in March 2019.
ITV has recruited an all-star ensemble to tell the narrative, featuring Toby Jones, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Will Mellor, and numerous more well-known names.
ITV, January 1
The Gladiators
It’s unexpected that the BBC has brought back the programme, which features really strong people in unitards demonstrating their brawn through a series of obstacles. Previously hosted by Ulrika Johnson, Bradley Walsh will deliver the laughs this time. We’ve seen how fast he can connect with The Chase participants, so he’ll be right at home.
BBC, January 13
One Day
Based on David Nicholls’ best-selling novel of the same name, One Day follows the romance of student Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley on the same day every year for the following two decades.
The novel was adapted into a hit film in 2011, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, but Netflix has now given it the TV treatment more than ten years later.
Ambika Mod and The White Lotus’ Leo Woodall will fill the roles of the Devil Wears Prada actor and Jim for the 14-part series, which is sure to be a tearjerker.
Make sure you have lots of Kleenex on hand because this is going to be a tearjerker!
Netflix, February 8
Griselda
For this fascinating new Netflix series, Sofia Vergara has morphed into Colombian criminal gang head Griselda Blanco.
The episodes, created by the same people who worked on Narcos and Narcos: Mexico, will depict Blanco’s reign of terror in the 1970s. ‘The Cocaine Godmother’ is said to have made about $80 million each month at one time.
Netflix, January 25
Supacell
Set in South London, where creator Rapman grew up, the series will investigate what happens when ‘regular’ Londoners are given superpowers and how they utilise them to better their lives.
The series is especially interesting since it will be one of the first to employ innovative camera technology to enhance the beauty of black skin.
Netflix, tbc
Rivals
Hold your horses, because if you’ve ever read one of Jilly Cooper’s bonk busters replete with scandalous relationships and spanking, you’ll soon be able to watch it come to life on the small screen.
The amorous lives of the British upper classes’ show-jumping and polo-playing throng will leap off the pages, performed out by some of our favourite British actors, including David Tennant, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer, Claire Rushbrook, and Emily Atack.
Disney Plus, early 2024
Joan
With one glance at Joan’s (Sophie Turner) bob, we know she’s serious.
The life of a real-life infamous diamond thief will be on full display. Instead than only seeing the crimes, we’ll learn what drove her, including her desire to provide a better life for her six-year-old daughter, Kelly.
ITV, tbc
House of the Dragon
The fantasy series, a prequel to one of the greatest series of all time – Game of Thrones, is back for a second round.
Enemies Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) will continue to battle it out in more tense and gruesome episodes.
NOW TV, summer