Aaron Epstein\/Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Netflix<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Grab the tissues, because you\u2019re going to need it for Netflix\u2019s From Scratch. Based on actress Tembi Locke\u2019s true story<\/a>, From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home<\/a>, the eight-part series tells the heart-wrenching tale of Amahle \u2018Amy\u2019 Wheeler (Zoe Saldana), an American student who travels to Italy and ends up falling in love with a Sicilian chef named Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea). However, when Lino faces life-threatening health issues, their lives are turned upside down and their families are brought together. A story of love, loss, resilience, and hope across cultures, From Scratch truly captures the beauty of community and family. \u2013 Grace Henry<\/a>, Entertainment and Factual Editor<\/strong><\/p>
49. Love Is Blind<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Netflix<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
The most explosive Love Is Blind scenes since Giannina turned runaway bride in season 1, the latest batch of episodes of Netflix\u2019s deliciously deranged dating show (or \u201csocial experiment\u201d) was the perfect viewing for hunkering down this past autumn. From Andrew\u2019s fake tears to Bartise\u2019s victim-to-villain arc, and not to mention Cole\u2019s overall existence, Love Is Blind doubled down on its remit to provide mouthwateringly juicy drama this year. Come for the baffling experience of watching people get engaged within days of meeting (but never actually meeting), stay for the blistering dissection of modern masculinity in the reunion episode. \u2013 Minnie Wright<\/a>, News Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
48. The Thief, His Wife, and the Canoe<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
ITV<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on ITVX<\/a> and BritBox<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
The bizarre true story of John and Anne Darwin from Seaton Carew had to be seen to be believed \u2013 and ITV offered a unique and fun take starring Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan in the lead roles. Much more than just another true crime series, Marsan and Dolan undercut the at times comedic nature of the story with chilling and very real performances, showing the true human cost of John\u2019s terrible actions. It was impossible to take your eyes off either of them, with their captivating portrayals fit for the big screen let alone the small screen. And as a Teessider writing this, their accents were quite good \u2013 no easy feat.<\/p>\n
Visually, the miniseries is stunning, contrasting the beautiful Panama with cold and drab Hartlepool, often accompanied by a jingly and quirky soundtrack. Unforgotten<\/a>\u2019s Chris Lang showed just what a fantastic writer he is, pairing the bizarre nature of this story with light comedy and a dark coercive control understory and, perhaps most impressively, portraying it all without judgement. \u2013 Helen Daly<\/a>, Associate Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
47. Love Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
ITV<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on\u00a0BritBox<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Our summer evenings were booming this year, as Love Island season 8 kicked off on ITV2. A whole two months of coupling up, mugging off and heads turning, the latest season wasn\u2019t short of dramatic moments \u2013 many of which we have to thank Ekin-Su and Davide for! It feels like just yesterday when she was crawling around the balcony with Jay\u2026<\/p>\n
As Casa Amor returned, things only got hotter on the island \u2013 cue an influx of residents to the main villa, as contestants chose to twist rather than stick with their original partners (Ahem, Dami!). It was a summer of love and non-stop banter (which is what we really tune in for anyway!) \u2013 Grace Henry, Entertainment and Factual Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
46. The Rehearsal<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
HBO<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Sky<\/a> and NOW<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Nathan for You star Nathan Fielder\u2019s high-concept, high-budget comedy explores what life would be like if you could rehearse its most important moments down to the tiniest details. What starts off as a relatively simple premise gradually builds into its own mini world in which real people become actors, actors become real people, and Fielder straddles the line between both, as he gets increasingly tangled up in the spiralling project.<\/p>\n
It all concludes with a stomach-churningly uncomfortable final episode that shines a light on the off-screen consequences of a reality\u00a0TV<\/span> culture where the product is more important than the participants. Did it go too far? Was any of it even real? Whatever conclusions viewers came to, one thing was beyond doubt \u2013 you couldn\u2019t take your eyes off it. \u2013 Christian Tobin<\/a>, Production Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
45. Bridgerton<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Liam Daniel\/Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Netflix<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Shondaland\u2019s Bridgerton returned to Netflix for season 2 and it didn\u2019t disappoint. With the first season focusing on Daphne Bridgerton\u2019s (Phoebe Dynevor) marriage to Simon, the Duke of Hastings, during the Regency era of London\u2019s ton, the second instalment turned its attention to Anthony, Viscount Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) \u2013 as explored in Julia Quinn\u2019s novel The Viscount Who Loved Me<\/a>.<\/p>\n
And despite the absence of Reg\u00e9-Jean Page\u2019s charming Simon, season 2 proved to be almost as popular as the first as Simone Ashley (Kate Sharma) and Jonathan Bailey\u2019s exhilarating chemistry took centre stage in this tantalising enemies-to-lovers tale. \u2013 Grace Henry, Entertainment and Factual Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
44. The Crown<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Netflix<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Has there been a series this year which created quite as much conversation and controversy as The\u00a0Crown<\/span><\/a>? With the arrival of its fifth season, the royal Netflix drama brought up a slew of complaints about its historical veracity<\/a> and status as a \u201cfictional dramatization\u201d of real events. However, when you cut past the noise, let\u2019s face it \u2013 this season was just as strong as the others, with a phenomenal new cast, a gripping central storyline buoyed up with intriguing off-shoot historical stories, and the soap opera dialled up to 11. Sure, it may not be particularly subtle with its metaphors, but when was this show ever?<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Crown<\/span> is, and always has been, a visually sumptuous character drama first and foremost, and with performers such as Elizabeth Debicki and Dominic West bringing their A game, those characters really do come alive on screen, making this an utterly addictive watch. \u2013 James Hibbs<\/a>, Drama Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
43. Wednesday<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Netflix\/ YouTube<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Netflix<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
With revamps, reboots and revivals in vogue at the moment, it was only a matter of time before The Addams Family IP was resurrected and repackaged by a mad scientist streamer. While critics were divided over whether Wednesday<\/a>\u00a0was a spooky success or a Riverdale rip-off in black, no one can deny that the highlight of this hugely popular comedy horror was the gothic gift of\u00a0Jenna Ortega\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n
Created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, Wednesday crept into CW drama territory at times, but overall delivered a quirky murder mystery that stayed faithful to the Addams Family brand (Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia was inspired casting) with a Tim Burton-esque feel thanks to the director\u2019s executive producer role. However, it was ultimately Ortega\u2019s deadpan expressions and commitment to not blinking that made Wednesday a success \u2013 as well as that dance scene taking TikTok by storm<\/a>. \u2013 Lauren Morris<\/a>, Entertainment and Factual Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
42. Don\u2019t Hug Me I\u2019m Scared<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Channel 4<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Netflix<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
You need only look at a project like Don\u2019t Hug Me I\u2019m Scared to see the true value of Channel 4; our publicly-owned reveller in all things offbeat is the natural home for this adaptation of the viral web series. Here, it continues to thrill a dedicated fanbase with its creepy and mysterious spin on vintage children\u2019s television, brought vividly to life through inventive crafts and puppetry. The original creative team of Becky Sloan, Joe Pelling and Baker Terry reunite for this brand new run, capturing the spirit of their earlier shorts while pushing the concept further with bold new characters and ideas. This ensures plenty of material to fill the expanded runtime, which has grown by 20 minutes, as Red Guy, Yellow Guy and Duck\u2019s relentless torment continues. \u2013 David Craig<\/a>, Drama Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
41. Breeders<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Sky UK Limited\/Avalon<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Sky<\/a> and NOW<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we were pitching the show to broadcasters, my thing was always \u2018it\u2019s a comedy, but only just\u2019,\u201d Martin Freeman told RadioTimes.com<\/a> earlier this year and, indeed, he wasn\u2019t kidding. Breeders \u2013 co-created by The Responder<\/a> star with The Thick of It\u2019s Chris Addison and Simon Blackwell \u2013 is fronted by two of the best comic performers of their generation in Freeman and Daisy Haggard, cast as wearied parents Paul and Ally.<\/p>\n
A superb supporting cast including Alun Armstrong, Joanna Bacon and Patrick Baladi all help bring the humour, but the show is also so unflinchingly honest, so absolutely brutal about the realities of parenting that episodes can often leave you feeling short of breath\u2026 and not just because you\u2019ve been laughing so hard.<\/p>\n
Never was that more true than with this year\u2019s exemplary third season, which saw Ally struggle with the menopause and growing distant from daughter Ava (Eve Prenelle), while Paul sought to repair his relationship with son Luke (Alex Eastwood), while continuing to combat his anger issues. \u2013 Morgan Jeffery<\/a>, Executive Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n
If you\u2019re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0 Streaming Guide<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n
The Christmas double issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>subscribe now<\/strong><\/a>. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the\u00a0<\/strong>Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> <\/body><\/html>\n
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