BBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on BBC iPlayer and to buy on Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
The nineteenth series of our beloved Strictly brought a fantastic line-up of celebrities, record-breaking scores and, most importantly, a parade of sparkling suits from the inimitable Claudia Winkleman.<\/p>\n
Its long-established glitz and glamour has been all the more welcome the past two years, as the world appears to crumble under a relentless bad news cycle, and the 2021 series a brought not only welcome escapism but also some incredible moments destined for a place in the Strictly history books.<\/p>\n
From the show\u2019s first ever all-male couple, chef John Whaite<\/a> and Johannes Radebe, who delivered sparkling performances, lots of laugh and buckets of joy, to force of nature Rose Ayling-Ellis<\/a> (as the first deaf contestant to compete) showcasing a powerful Couple\u2019s Choice dance, it was nothing short of a total pleasure to tune in to Strictly live from Elstree every Saturday night. And that\u2019s without even mentioning the costume department\u2019s work overtly emphasising Adam Peaty\u2019s backside in the early weeks of the competition. \u2013 Minnie Wright, News Editor<\/strong><\/p>
39. The Beatles: Get Back<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""The\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Apple Corps Ltd<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Disney Plus<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to imagine a more intimate or in-depth look at the creative process than this exceptional documentary series from Peter Jackson, which follows The Beatles as they write and record tracks for their 1970 album Let It Be. Unfolding across three episodes and eight hours, fans of the Fab Four get closer access than ever to John, Paul, George and Ringo \u2013 culminating in the thrill of watching their iconic rooftop concert play out in real time.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s plenty of drama \u2013 including George Harrison\u2019s brief exit from the band \u2013 and as many moments of genius as you\u2019d expect from a portrait of such a brilliant band, but the best moments are arguably those in which we just watch the quartet lark about, with some of their hilarious shenanigans helping to dispel myths that their working relationship had completely deteriorated by this point \u2013 even if there were clear tensions.<\/p>\n
And then there\u2019s the music \u2013 with hits such as I\u2019ve Got A Feeling, Don\u2019t Let Me Down and the titular Get Back featuring prominently, along with numerous covers. Some may find the lengthy run time a little indulgent, but for fans of The Beatles, it doesn\u2019t get much better than this. \u2013 Patrick Cremona, Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
38. In My Skin<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""Cl\u00e9mentine\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Cl\u00e9mentine Schneidermann<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on BBC iPlayer, Sky Go or to buy on Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
To hear Bethan Gwyndaf tell it, she has everything. A high-flying, albeit over-protective mother; a cheesy but loving dad; a conservatory and a house abroad. Sadly though, her friends can\u2019t pop round to see any of it today\u2026or tomorrow\u2026or the day after.<\/p>\n
Because in reality Beth\u2019s life is chaos, and she\u2019s spinning lies. Her mother, struggling with bipolar disorder, has had to be sectioned again, while her abusive dad just drinks in the living room. Her nan\u2019s too far away to help, and her dreams of a life beyond it all are held back by her mother\u2019s dependence on her.<\/p>\n
On the page, Kayleigh Llewellyn\u2019s coming-of-age series reads like a tough watch \u2013 so it\u2019s a credit to the writing and performances (especially that of lead Gabrielle Creevy, now off to Hollywood) that In My Skin is charming, funny and heartfelt alongside the grit. It\u2019s also brilliantly, authentically Welsh \u2013 an embarassing rarity, still, on British TV.<\/p>\n
By the end, as Bethan finds love, comes out on top over school bullies and flourishes despite her struggles, you\u2019ll be punching the air \u2013 though with a certain sadness, given the fairly definitive ending of this year\u2019s second series. \u2013 Huw Fullerton, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
37. Inside No. 9<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""WARNING:\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Available on BBC iPlayer, Sky Go, NOW and to buy on Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Six series in, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith\u2019s superb Inside No. 9<\/a> remains a dark and delightful jewel in the BBC Two crown. While it\u2019s somehow still not the most harrowing experience we\u2019ve had inside this year (see #33 on this list), no other show on TV could jump from a commedia dell\u2019arte\/heist movie mash-up, to a surprising and ambitious Brexit satire, to a chilling morality tale featuring the actual devil himself, but this is an anthology series operating at the absolute peak of its powers.<\/p>\n
Pemberton and Shearsmith finally picked up their long-overdue Best Scripted Comedy BAFTA in 2021, and it\u2019s testament to the show\u2019s reputation that it continues to attract some of the best guest stars in the business. The likes of Sir Derek Jacobi, Gemma Whelan, Sian Clifford and Sarah Parish all brought their A-game this series \u2013 and that\u2019s before we even get to Line of Duty actor Adrian Dunbar\u2019s star turn as Line of Duty<\/a> actor Adrian Dunbar. Mother of God! Series seven can\u2019t come soon enough. \u2013 Christian Tobin, Production Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
36. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""I\"$ <\/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
Putting it simply, I Think You Should Leave\u2026with Tim Robinson is a loose sketch show with few (if any) returning characters and the odd celebrity cameo. But more specifically\u2026 I think it\u2019s the funniest show on Earth?<\/p>\n
Written by Robinson and others including co-creator Zach Kanin and breakout star Patti Harrison, ITYSL is populated by a cast of grotesques and man-children (often portrayed by Robinson himself) who generally push social situations beyond breaking point\u2026 and then further, in increasingly bizarre ways.<\/p>\n
But its strength, truly, is in its dialogue. It seems strange to call a sketch show Shakespearean, but there\u2019s something about the shape of lines in ITYSL that makes them ring like poetry, doomed to rattle around your heads for years afterwards. All I need to do is suddenly recall \u201cHe admit it!\u201d \u201cThe Bones are their money,\u201d \u201cTriples is best\u201d or simply, the word \u201ctables\u201d to be transported back into shaking mirth.<\/p>\n
Clearly, it\u2019s difficult to explain the appeal. But there\u2019s a reason this show has become such a source of online memes (you\u2019ve all seen the hotdog) \u2013 as a strange study of humanity, it can\u2019t be beat. 2021 brought us season two \u2013 I pray more is on the way \u2013 Huw Fullerton, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
35. This Way Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\""This\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Channel 4<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Available on All 4 and Sky Go<\/strong><\/p>\n
Starring Aisling Bea as teacher Aine and Sharon Horgan as her sister Shona, This Way Up returned to our screens with a big tonal shift in the summer. Aine, who attempted suicide at the beginning of season one, appears with a new lease of life \u2013 and a new relationship with emotionally repressed single dad Richard. However, as you might expect, this soon starts to capsize, and with it the rest of Aine\u2019s life as she starts slipping back into her old self-destructive habits.<\/p>\n
Following in the footsteps of Fleabag and Back to Life, This Way Up has been rightly lauded for pushing the boundaries of the comedy-drama genre to better reflect the nuances of life and mental health. Full of the most touching human moments, this returning series flits between moments of hilarity and despair with such deftness that you have no idea what is going to happen next. \u2013 Molly Moss, Trends Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
34. We Are Lady Parts<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\""We\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Channel 4<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Available on All 4<\/strong><\/p>\n
Written and created by Nida Manzoor, We Are Lady Parts centres around geeky microbiology PHD student Amina, whose dutiful search for a husband accidentally leads to her becoming the newest recruit for Lady Parts, an all-women Muslim punk rock band. The show offers a refreshing representation of Muslim women, in which they are allowed to be rebellious and religious: along the way we meet lead singer and butcher Saira, drummer and uber driver Ayesha,\u00a0<\/span>band manager Momtaz and\u00a0bassist and cartoonist Bisma as they fight to get the London scene to stop focusing on their gender and religion \u2013 and start taking their punk seriously.<\/p>\n
We Are Lady Parts is a tightly-crafted show that\u2019s equal parts hilarious, chaotic and silly. Amina offers us an amusing Bridget Jones-style commentary throughout as she thirsts over potential suitors and welcomes us into her hectic fantasy world. \u2013 Molly Moss, Trends Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
33. Bo Burnham: Inside<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\""Bo\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Netflix<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Available on Netflix<\/strong><\/p>\n
There\u2019s Bo Burnham, and then there\u2019s the rest of us. The writer, comedian, actor, director (he\u2019s more accomplished than your average 31-year-old) returned to Netflix this year with a shiny new special,\u00a0Bo Burnham: Inside, in which he revealed what he\u2019d been up to when heading\u00a0outside\u00a0wasn\u2019t an option \u2013 and your sourdough starter pales in comparison. Sorry.<\/p>\n
Inside is almost impossible to pin down, such is the extent of the ground it covers and how the varying ideas are distilled and captured for maximum impact. Weighty, well-trodden subjects such as internet culture and market labour exploitation are cast in a new glow. A ditty about Jeff Bezos somehow became the catchiest tune of the year. One second, you\u2019re laughing, the next you\u2019re in the foetal position \u2013 sometimes simultaneously, such is his distinctly singular brand of artistry. It\u2019s an especially mind-boggling feat when you consider that he scaled this summit solo, writing, directing and editing Inside without a sniff of outside involvement.<\/p>\n
Not that we didn\u2019t already know it, but Inside has affirmed that Robert Pickering Burnham is one of the most talented and innovative creatives working today. \u2013 Abby Robinson, Drama Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
32. The Outlaws<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\""The\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Available on BBC iPlayer, Sky Go and to buy on Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Stephen Merchant finally returned to the BBC this year and reminded us that he\u2019s one of the very best writers working in television today. The Outlaws<\/a> follows a group of perfect strangers brought together by a community service order, who soon find themselves drawn into a dangerous feud involving a ruthless crime kingpin. There isn\u2019t a weak link in the stellar ensemble cast, with Merchant himself co-starring opposite Christopher Walken, Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins and Eleanor Tomlinson.<\/p>\n
The ragtag group initially expects to have nothing in common, but their similarities are gradually revealed in a way that feels completely natural and gives you some hope our polarised society might someday stitch itself back together. Each member is gifted strong material to work with from the expertly crafted scripts, which provide complex backstories as well as a gripping high stakes plot that irresistibly blends comedy and suspense. Without a doubt, one of the most promising debuts of the year; we\u2019re counting the minutes until series two. \u2013 David Craig, writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
31. The Great British Bake Off<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""Bake\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Channel 4<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Channel 4\u2019s The Great British Bake Off brought us the comfort we needed on Tuesday nights in the form of delicious bakes, double entendres, and heaps of banter. As the show introduced us this year\u2019s dozen bakers, it became clear this line-up knew what they were doing, with some of the best bakers we\u2019ve ever seen in the famous tent baking their way to the hearts of Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.<\/p>\n
Forget soggy bottoms, this was the year of Hollywood Handshakes and multiple Star Baker wins, as the contestants went neck and neck for the coveted glass cake stand. Despite the obvious talent, series 12 wasn\u2019t short of the heart-warming (and often very chaotic) moments Bake Off is known and loved for, with hosts Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding causing a stir in the kitchen as usual. And with the show confirmed for three more series on Channel 4, there\u2019s plenty more Bake Off on the way. Oh, we can\u2019t wait! \u2013 Grace Henry, Entertainment and Factual Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
Find something to watch now with our TV Guide<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n
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