19. Framing Britney Spears<\/strong><\/h2>\n
$\""Supporters\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Getty<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Available on NOW<\/strong><\/p>\n
There\u2019s no doubt that 2021 has been the year of Britney Spears \u2013 the iconic global pop star whose controversial conservatorship, controlled by her father Jamie Spears, became a matter of international debate over the last 10 months. While the conservatorship, which gave the singer\u2019s father control of her professional and personal life, had been in place since 2008, public awareness reached an all-time peak this year, in part due to the release of Framing Britney Spears \u2013 one of the most talked-about documentaries to come out of 2021.<\/p>\n
Produced by The New York Times, the 74-minute film directed by Samantha Stark looked at Spears\u2019 rise to fame and her beginnings in show business, before re-examining her treatment by the press in the run-up to her mental breakdown in 2007, which resulted in her father taking control of her life. Featuring interviews with Spears\u2019 former marketing executive Kim Kaiman, paparazzo Daniel Ramos and other people from her life, the film is a thought-provoking reflection on how the public\u2019s attitude to Spears in the early 2000s contributed to her mental decline and digs deeper into the conservatorship, which as of November 2021, was terminated after 14 years \u2013 Lauren Morris, Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
18. Ted Lasso<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""Ted\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Apple TV+<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Apple TV+<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Yeah, I might be all that you get. Yeah, I guess this might well be it. But heaven knows I tried. Tried to hold it together, that is, as\u00a0 Ted<\/span>\u00a0Lasso<\/span><\/a>\u00a0season two delivered one emotional wallop after another.<\/p>\n
From Dani Rojas murdering a beloved mascot in the first episode, all the way through to a truly shocking turn in the finale, this season dished out devastation like it was going out of date. But it also found time for brilliantly barmy fare like a Christmas episode in August (with a central plot about the search for a dentist, no less) and an entire hour of the normally-reserved Coach Beard going out on the lash.<\/div>\n
Along the way,\u00a0Ted<\/span>\u00a0Lasso<\/span>\u00a0wedged its claws even further into our hearts. We worried as Roy and Keeley\u2019s relationship headed for trouble. We shouted at the screen, urging\u00a0Ted<\/span> to take the club\u2019s new sports psychologist seriously. We felt Rebecca\u2019s pain when it looked like Sam might leave. And we even felt a feeling or two for Jamie Tartt, whose journey from Love Island reject to a sobbing mess in Roy\u2019s arms might just be the show\u2019s greatest achievement to date.\u00a0\u2013 Rob Leane, Gaming Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
17. Taskmaster<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""Greg\"$ <\/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, Sky Go<\/strong><\/p>\n
Alex Horne\u2019s\u00a0Taskmaster<\/span><\/a>\u00a0juggernaut showed absolutely no sign of slowing down in 2021. Now nicely nestled in Channel 4\u2019s Thursday night schedule, the show admirably managed to negotiate socially-distanced tasks and the lack of a live studio audience to produce two of its most entertaining series of recent years.<\/p>\n
Series 11 introduced the wider world to the genius of milk-guzzling, vole-undermining Mike Wozniak, while also revealing Ghosts\u2019 Charlotte Ritchie as the best Blue Peter presenter who never was. Series 12 was a similar joy, as the nation tuned in to watch Guz Khan slap a space hopper and Victoria Coren Mitchell share her thoughts on the sexiest Mr Men. Seriously, light entertainment doesn\u2019t get much better than that.<\/p>\n
With its New Year\u2019s Treat, Champion of Champions 2 and series 13 on the horizon, plus several international versions now airing to great fan acclaim (hello\u00a0Taskmaster<\/span>\u00a0New Zealand), it\u2019s safe to say we\u2019ll be living in the\u00a0Taskmaster<\/span>-verse for a good while yet. Five points all round! \u2013 Christian Tobin, Production Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
16. Motherland<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""Motherland"\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on BBC iPlayer and to buy on Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Our favourite social satire returned and brought us more hilarious trials and tribulations from the world of parenting with a third series this year, which went from strength to strength as Julia, Liz and Kevin were plunged into playground politics one again. It began with Julia hosting a nit treatment party after a pandemic swept the school, and many other laugh-out-loud moments like this \u2013 which accurately reflect the madness of parenting \u2013 played out, as well as some quieter and more mundane events, which writer Sharon Horgan has proved she can also squeeze comedy from, even if it is just Julia making porridge.<\/p>\n
Anna Maxwell Martin continues to excel as Julia, but it is Lucy Punch who really lights up this season as Amanda, the queen bee of the parents. In a touching scene, the audience is given more insight into her character when she\u2019s forced to endure a passive aggressive lunch with her mother Felicity (Joanna Lumley), with the pair making a delightful comedy duo. \u2013 Molly Moss, Trends Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
15. The White Lotus<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""The\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
HBO<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Sky Go, NOW and to buy on Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
The\u00a0White<\/span>\u00a0Lotus<\/span>, which was created, written and directed by Mike\u00a0White<\/span>, gets under your skin. The narrative unfolds at the eponymous luxury Hawaiian resort, where the affluent (and predominantly\u00a0white<\/span>) clientele makes the lives of the staff tending to their every whim a living nightmare. The guests clap and the men and women with painted smiles dance, like puppets on a string, which imbues the series with an ever-present, simmering tension that continues to build. It\u2019s deeply uncomfortable to observe and yet, you can\u2019t tear yourself away. It\u2019s a seven-car pile-up and you\u2019ve got a front row seat.<\/p>\n
Entertainment aside,\u00a0White<\/span>\u00a0also touches upon the intersections of race, gender and class, which lends the show to a communal viewing experience, before being unpacked en masse. His approach to the former, in particular, drew some criticism for not being robust enough and centring the\u00a0white<\/span>\u00a0characters when the manager of the resort spa, who is Black, or many of the other employees, who are Hawaiian, should have been\u00a0White<\/span>\u2019s way in. Unlike so many of the shows on this list, The\u00a0White<\/span>\u00a0Lotus<\/span>\u00a0does leave itself open to extensive criticism, but that doesn\u2019t water down its watchability, instead increasing our desire to talk about it. Plus, Jennifer Coolidge\u2019s performance\u00a0must<\/i> be seen to be believed.\u00a0\u2013 Abby Robinson, Drama Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
14. Help<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""Tony\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Channel 4<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on BritBox<\/a> and to buy on Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
In an interview with Channel 4 News back in January 2021, award-winning writer Russell T Davies suggested that the \u201canger\u201d felt by \u201cgenerations to come\u201d over the COVID-19 pandemic, how its been managed and the toll its taken would eventually fuel spectacular pieces of drama. \u201cThat anger, that\u2019s going to be drama,\u201d he said. \u201cThere will be plays, there will be books, there will be pieces of television.\u201d<\/p>\n
How right he was \u2013 Help<\/a>, a one-off feature-length drama also broadcast on Channel 4 in September, was simply raging<\/em> at the sheer injustice of it all.<\/p>\n
Jack Thorne\u2019s script was set in the days leading up to and immediately following the initial outbreak of pandemic in the UK and, through the eyes of newly-minted care assistant Sarah (a spectacularly good Jodie Comer), documented how care homes like the one housing early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s patient Tony (Stephen Graham, predictably brilliant) were all but left to fend for themselves.<\/p>\n
Brought to harrowing life by director Marc Munden \u2013 one particular sequence exploring Sarah\u2019s desperation as she\u2019s left isolated and alone with ailing patients, all shot in one 20-minute take<\/a>, will stick in the memory \u2013 this was more than just a powerful piece of drama,\u00a0 it was a mirror to our times and what we saw reflected back at us was horrifying. \u2013 Morgan Jeffery, Executive Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
13. Only Murders in the Building<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""Only\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Hulu\/YouTube<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on Disney Plus<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
That Steve Martin and Martin Short make for a good comic double act was news to precisely no one, but what came as more of a surprise was that the addition of Selena Gomez improved that dynamic even further. The trio bounce off each other superbly in the sharp and playful Only Murders in the Building<\/a> \u2013 which serves as both a hilarious parody of true crime podcasts and a gripping murder mystery in its own right.<\/p>\n
Set in an opulent apartment building in New York City, the series sees flamboyant theatre producer Oliver Putnam (Short), washed-up TV actor Charles-Haden Savage (Martin) and mysterious young woman Mabel Mora (Gomez) join forces after they each discover they\u2019re fans of the same podcast \u2013 on the same night that a young man is killed in their building suspicious circumstances.<\/p>\n
Their investigations see them run into various dead-ends \u2013 including a brief interrogation of Sting (hilariously played by himself) \u2013 and they even pick up a small but devoted following as they aim to get to the bottom of exactly what happened. One episode, which is almost entirely silent, is particularly well crafted, while the supporting cast, including Nathan Lane and Amy Ryan, is also a delight. \u2013 Patrick Cremona, Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
12. Stath Lets Flats<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""Stath\"$ <\/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
Stath Lets Flats<\/a> gave us some much-needed silliness this year with its highly-anticipated third series. The latest instalment of the mould-breaking comedy, which stars creator Jamie Demetriou as the titular Greek lettings agent attempting and failing to prove he\u2019s capable of handling the North London-based family business, delivered six half-hour episodes of estate agent absurdity, inexplicably funny phrases (\u201cThis floor is made of slips\u201d) and even more insight into the creative mind of the BAFTA-winning comedian.<\/p>\n
Series three follows Stath as he tries to keep Michael and Eagle Lettings in business whilst adapting to life as a new father to his and Carole\u2019s (Katy Wix) unexpected baby daughter Dina. Meanwhile, awkward Al (Al Roberts) is trying to make romantic progress with Stath\u2019s sister Sophie (Natasia) as postwoman Katia (Ellie White) fights for Stath\u2019s divided attention.<\/p>\n
While this sitcom isn\u2019t everybody\u2019s cup of tea, Stath Lets Flats\u2019 new series was, as always, a fresh addition to the increasingly monotonous comedy scene, showing off its talented ensemble with eccentric characters, side-splitting slapstick and ridiculous yet genius dialogue which firmly cements Stath as one of the best shows of 2021. \u2013 Lauren Morris, Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
11. Time<\/strong><\/h2>\n $\""Sean\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC\/James Stack<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nAvailable on BBC iPlayer, Sky Go and to buy on Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Tender isn\u2019t a word you typically associate with a prison drama, but Jimmy McGovern somehow mastered the impossible with Time. The BBC series stars Sean Bean as\u00a0Mark Cobden, a man who is sentenced to a stint in prison following a catastrophic lapse of judgement. Stephen Graham appears alongside him as Eric McNally, a prison officer who has mastered the unique art of his job, but finds himself at a crossroads, which threatens to derail his life. In the most unsurprising news of the year, they are both outstanding.<\/p>\n
We spend the lion\u2019s share of the series with Mark and Eric, but Time is an ensemble piece and any of the characters we meet could sustain their own series, such is the strength of the writing and performances. And while the environment that McGovern sketches is a brutal one, brimming with tension and threat, he also makes space to humanise the men that we meet, never once excusing their actions, but providing vital nuance and an emotional landscape that is so often lacking during conversations about the incarcerated.<\/p>\n
It is one of the most raw, powerful pieces of television you will ever watch, and one that stays with you long after. \u2013 Abby Robinson, Drama Editor<\/strong><\/p>\n
Find something to watch now with our TV Guide<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n
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By Morgan Jeffery Published: Wednesday, 29 December 2021 at 12:00 am Feel as though you\u2019ve missed out on some small-screen gems this year, and hunting for some recommendations? Or just want to see if your favourite show made it onto our list? Then join us now as the countdown of RadioTimes.com\u2018s top 50 TV shows […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":9325,"template":"","categories":[5],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/best-tv-shows-of-the-year-2021-20-11-time-help-maid-and-more.jpg",475,317,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/best-tv-shows-of-the-year-2021-20-11-time-help-maid-and-more-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/best-tv-shows-of-the-year-2021-20-11-time-help-maid-and-more-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/best-tv-shows-of-the-year-2021-20-11-time-help-maid-and-more.jpg",475,317,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/best-tv-shows-of-the-year-2021-20-11-time-help-maid-and-more.jpg",475,317,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/best-tv-shows-of-the-year-2021-20-11-time-help-maid-and-more.jpg",475,317,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2021\/12\/best-tv-shows-of-the-year-2021-20-11-time-help-maid-and-more.jpg",475,317,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Morgan Jeffery Published: Wednesday, 29 December 2021 at 12:00 am Feel as though you\u2019ve missed out on some small-screen gems this year, and hunting for some recommendations? Or just want to see if your favourite show made it onto our list? Then join us now as the countdown of RadioTimes.com\u2018s top 50 TV shows…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/9324"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}