A start of a new year might mean a renewed gym membership or career jump for some people, but for us here at Cultbox, it means lots of new telly for us to sink our teeth into.
2018 looks to be a banner year for new series, and January is kicking off in style with homegrown content and imports alike. Here are all the new shows premiering this month.
McMafia (January 1, 9pm) – BBC One
A mafia story with a modern twist, McMafia follows the English-raised son of Russian exiles (James Norton) who has spent his entire life trying to get away from the ghosts of his past. Despite having built a legitimate business and a life with girlfriend Rebecca (Juliet Rylance), his criminal past returns with a vengeance and he is forced to reckon with his own sense of right a wrong.
Superstore (January 2, 8.30pm) – ITV2
Superstore, the America Ferrera-starring sitcom about an Argos-style big box store, is already well into its third season in the US, but ITV2 has finally seen fit to bring it over to us Brits in 2018. At the start, the series uses newly hired Jonah (Ben Feldman) as the audience proxy, as he learns about the work required to survive in retail and in turn finds beauty in the everyday.
Girlfriends (January 3) – ITV
Drama following lifelong friends Linda, Gail and Sue, as they support each other through a series of difficult moments in their lives. In the opening episode, Linda’s world is turned upside down when her husband vanishes from a cruise ship on their wedding anniversary, and she turns to her friends as she struggles to cope with her loss.
Derry Girls (January 4, 10pm) – Channel 4
Comedy set against the Troubles in early-1990s Northern Ireland. The start of a new school term gets off to a bad start for Erin when she wakes to find her cousin reading her diary. But there is worse to come when Granda Joe announces a bomb has been found on the bridge.
Outsiders (January 5) – Netflix
A struggle for power and control set in the rugged and mysterious hills of Appalachia, Outsiders tells the story of the Farrell clan, a family of outsiders who’ve been in these parts since before anyone can remember. Living off the grid and above the law on their mountaintop homestead, they’ll protect their world and defend their way of life using any means necessary.
Underground (January 5) – Netflix
With the country on the brink of Civil War, the struggle for freedom is more dangerous than ever. Underground tells the story of American heroes and their harrowing journey to freedom, with legendary Harriet Tubman blazing the trail.
Hard Sun (January 6, 9.30pm) – BBC One
Sci-fi crime drama starring Jim Sturgess and Agyness Deyn as two detectives with an uneasy working relationship who discover a terrible secret – the world is going to end in the immediate future. The crisis presents them with additional challenges in keeping the peace, as well as keeping their families safe in the face of impending doom.
Next of Kin (January 8, 9pm) – ITV
Kiri (January 10, 9pm) – Channel 4
A drama dealing with the abduction and murder of a young black girl, soon to be adopted by her white foster family, and the trail of lies, blame, guilt and notoriety which follow.
Chicago Justice (January 11, 9pm) – 5USA
The State’s Attorney’s dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators navigates heated city politics and controversy head-on, while fearlessly pursuing justice.
SIX (January 16, 10pm) – 5Spike
Originally airing on History Channel in the US, SIX follows the Navy SEAL Team Six, billed as ‘modern American warriors’. The group’s mission is to eliminate a Taliban leader in Afghanistan, but the plan goes wrong and they instead discover a US citizen who’s been working with the terrorists. You can probably tell what kind of audience this is for, with stories inspired by real-life missions.
Britannia (January 18) – Sky Atlantic
Sky Atlantic’s latest attempt to capture the Game of Thrones audience, Britannia looks muddy, grisly and dark. Set in 43 AD at a time when the Roman Imperial Army aims to destroy the Celtics – a land ruled by warrior women and druids in touch with the underworld – rivals must band together in order to fight the incoming threat. In the trailer this looks fairly tongue in cheek, so could be fun.
The Frankie Drake Mysteries (January 23, 9pm) – Alibi
The series follows Frankie Drake, a female private detective operating in Toronto in the 1920s.
Black Lightning (January 23) – Netflix
The latest addition to the sprawling DC TV ‘Berlanti-verse’, Black Lightning introduces us to the family of a retired superhero, Jefferson Pierce, as outside forces lure him back to the field. Think No Ordinary Family crossed with Luke Cage, and you have the recipe for a potentially great new show.