Some of the best TV shows ever made have come out of the UK. Whether you prefer comedies, dramas or anything in between, there are always new shows to catch up on. 2021 and beyond look set to be some excellent years for British TV as the BBC, ITV, Sky, and other channels are loaded with fresh new content for us to watch.
We have so much telly to look forward to in the comings months and years that we decided to make a list of some of our most anticipated shows. All of these shows were either produced in the UK or feature scripts from British writers or the work of British actors. If you’re looking for a new show to watch this year, you might want to choose one of these from our list.
Around the World in 80 Days
Jules Verne’s famous novel of the same name is well known in the UK and has previously been adapted. This new eight-part series began filming back in 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic before wrapping in March 2021. David Tennant will be playing the lead role of Phileas Fogg, whose poorly thought-out casino wager leads to the journey of a lifetime. The show will be airing on BBC One, most likely before the year is over, and Tennant will be joined by Leonie Benesch from The Crown as journalist Abigail Fix.
Time
Time was released in June on the iPlayer and follows the story of a 50-year-old teacher being imprisoned for the first time as well as a prison officer being targeted by an inmate with connections. Starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, the series was created by legendary screenwriter Jimmy McGovern. The three-part series is short but definitely worth a watch for some interesting on-screen drama.
Trigger Point
In this new ITV thriller from the work of Jed Mercurio, Vicky McClure plays bomb disposal expert Lana Washington. It’s the story of a front-line bomb disposal pro whose squad is pushed to the limit fighting a terrorist threat to London, written by Daniel Brierley and executive produced by Mercurio. Six new episodes are in the works, with a release date of early 2022.
Wolfe
Wolfe is a six-part criminal drama starring Guerrilla’s Babou Ceesay as an accomplished forensic pathologist and university professor characterised as “half genius, half liability. Wolfe uses his special expertise to solve a case of the week despite having a complicated family life and a diverse work team that includes a child prodigy. From the creators of Shameless, the series stars Natalia Tena, Naomi Yang, Adam Long, and Shaniqua Okwok.
Danny Boy
Danny Boy, a new BBC Two feature-length drama, tells the story of real-life soldier Brian Wood, who was accused of war crimes in Iraq by human rights lawyer Phil Shiner. The show premiered in May and has achieved a lot of high praise from viewers and critics. Anthony Boyle (Ordeal by Innocence) plays Wood, and Toby Jones (Murder and Party Animals) plays Shiner, in a script written by Robert Jones (Murder and Party Animals). You can watch the full show now on BBC iPlayer.
Conversations with Friends
The BBC and Hulu are teaming together to adapt author Sally Rooney’s debut novel, Conversations with Friends, following the huge success of Normal People. This tale follows a pair of young Irish students who become acquainted with a glamorous older married couple. Expect themes of love, sex, university, class, friendship, and mental health. The cast also looks fantastic, with Joe Alwyn and Jemima Kirke as Nick and Melissa, Alison Oliver as the lead Frances, and Sasha Lane from Utopia (US) and Loki as Frances’ companion Bobbi.