Favourite TV 2024

I love a pop culture list, especially at this time of year. So here’s 10 shows that I loved in 2024. Disclaimer — there are plenty which sadly I didn’t get around to (Shogun, Nobody Wants This, Show Horses) but have heard are great. My goal for 2025 is to actually watch more TV!

Anyway, here’s my list in no particular order:

Rivals. It’s no secret I’d watch David Tennant act his way out of a paper bag, but I adored everyone involved in Jilly Cooper’s story of big hair, big egos, and big media, in the 80s. The first season is only half the book, so I’m overjoyed there’s been a second season announced. On Disney+

Interview with the Vampire. As a writer, remakes generally wind me up as I know there are plenty of new ideas out there just begging to be made. I feel that remakes have to say something that wasn’t done the first time around. The TV version of Interview with a Vampire, does that by casting the brilliant Jacob Anderson (Game of Thrones) as Louis, thus bringing a much more multi-racial cast to the story. Eric Bogosian (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) plays interviewer Daniel Molloy, selling the hell out of lines such as “Did you eat the baby?”. On BBC iplayer.

One Day. Yes, another remake. But it would be remiss of me to leave this out. Despite loving the book of One Day, I was so-so on the movie. So I wasn’t in a hurry when the Netflix version first dropped. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Adapting David Nicholl’s story into a ten part series allows the story to breathe, and the leads of Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall are completely charming.

My Lady Jane. Right, so i’m really salty about this. Not the show — Amazon Prime. Firstly, I ADORED My Lady Jane, a gorgeous, funny, romantic, riotous adventure, that dropped on Amazon earlier this year. Watching Jane and Lord Guildford and their will they/wont they romance, made my summer, and I don’t think I’ve shipped a couple this hard since Mulder and Scully. What makes me mad is that Amazon have already cancelled the show, and did so with unnerving speed. It’s one of my bugbears that series are expected to find a viewership during their first weekend or be cancelled — when not everyone has the time to drop what they’re doing and catch up with something straight away.

My Lady Jane was especially set up to fail given that it dropped during the summer and during the Olympics. Shows need time to build an audience, and it was actually part way there. When the cancellation was announced, #SaveMyLadyJane was soon trending, and there’s a petition demanding the decision be reserved. Given that the ending is less cliffhanger but more set up for a future series (with a few loose ends), I would still urge you to go and watch. You’ll have the best time, I promise.

The Traitors It was around this time two years ago that the BBC sneakily slipped this into the TV schedules. It was a surprise hit and i’ll admit i was worried that series 2 wouldn’t recapture that same magic. But by god, did it deliver. Dianne leading to the procession to her own funeral. Claudia Winkleman cementing her position as National Treasure. Mollie going all in with her faith in Harry. Batshit. Iconic. Back in January, rightfully in the prime spot of New Year’s Day.

Girls5Eva. This funny, clever, and addictive, series about a group of middle aged women who were once part of a pop group, reform and try once again to find success. It’s a brilliant showcase for singer Sara Bareilles, and she has fantastic support from Busy Phillips, Paula Pell, and Renee Elise Goldsberry (The original Angelika in Hamilton). The latter is a scream as the egotistical Wickie. The songs are catchy and the dialogue is witty. Do check this out. On Netflix.

Inside No 9. This show to an end this year with a last episode so meta that it out meta-d itself. (And I mean that as a compliment!). I’m really going to miss these twisty instalments of miniture-plays. In fact, a stage version is coming to the West End in 2025.

Baby Reindeer Did I always enjoy watching Baby Reindeer? God, no. At times it’s a very hard watch. Did I completely value Richard Gadd’s screen adaption of his one man play, and the conversations that it sparked about the ethics of autobiographical storytelling? Very much so. I really hope that Baby Reindeer’s success means there are more stage to screen work in future.

3 Body Problem I couldn’t begin to explain this big epic sci-fi show, but I know I very much enjoyed it. I’m also very glad that I didn’t end up in the bin after one series like other promising Netflix shows (eg Kaos). Future instalments are planned, with the creators being given a chance to wrap up the story. On Netflix.

Smoggie Queens Released just in this past month, this show about Middlesbrough drag queens is important many ways. But as someone who lived in Teesside for a decade, and went to university in Middlesborough, I feel particuarly strongly that this part of the world deserves to be shown off. It’s done so here through the lense of an engaging cast of characters. On BBC3/Iplayer.

Coming soon… lists of Books / Theatre / Film