You can't go wrong with grabbing a blanket and snuggling up to binge a good TV drama. In recent times, there have been some spectacular ones to watch, from Line of Duty to Vigil, Trigger Point to The Suspect. But assuming you've already watched all of those by now, what new TV dramas have you got to look forward to? We're here to give you the low-down on all the exciting new programmes you should be keeping your eyes peeled for in the coming months and beyond.
Best new TV dramas 2024:
Fool Me Once, Netflix
Release date: 1st January
Fool Me Once tells the story of Maya Stern (Michelle Keegan) as she grapples with the brutal murder of her husband, Joe (Richard Armitage). Maya's journey takes a startling turn when she installs a nanny-cam to watch over her young daughter, only to witness a man she believes to be her deceased husband inside her home.
Detective Sergeant Sami Kierce (Adeel Akhtar), spearheads the homicide investigation into Joe's death while wrestling with his own concealed secrets. Maya's niece and nephew, Abby and Daniel, embark on a quest to unearth the truth behind their mother's murder several months earlier. The burning question remains: Could these two cases be interlinked?
The cast also includes Joanna Lumley, Dino Fetscher, Natalie Anderson and Emmett J. Scanlan.
Criminal Record, Apple TV+
Release date: 8th January
A mysterious phone call leads DS June Lenker into a fight to correct an old miscarriage of justice with a well-connected DCI Daniel Hegarty, who's trying to protect his reputation.
Cush Jumbo (The Good Fight, Stay Close) and Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who, The Thick of It) are good friends who wanted to work together again, so they teamed up with writer Paul Rutman and created this show for Apple TV+.
After The Flood, ITV
Release date: 10th January
This brand new TV series focuses on a town that's been hit by a devastating flood. A body of a man is found in an underground car park where PC Joanna Marshall (Sophie Rundle) believes he was murdered, not trapped in the rising waters.
Actress Sophie Rundle (Peaky Blinders and Happy Valley) said: "I am really thrilled to be joining After the Flood. Jo is a brilliantly bold, compelling protagonist. The story is sharp, intriguing and articulate about the climate crisis and the impact on the communities it is directly affecting. There are so many people I’m really looking forward to working with on this project, I can’t wait to get started."
Trigger Point, series 2, ITV
Release date: 28th January
Trigger Point is back with a bang! Vicky McClure takes centre stage as Lana Washington and other returning cast members include Eric Shango as Danny, Nabil Elouahabi as Hassan Rahim, Kerry Godliman as Sonia Reeves and Mark Stanley as DI Thom Youngblood.
Newbies joining Vicky McClure are Natalie Simpson, Julian Ovenden and Tomiwa Edun.
One Day, Netflix
Release date: 8th February
Ambika Mod (This is Going to Hurt) and Leo Woodall (The White Lotus) play Emma and Dexter, two people who met at uni who decide to meet up every year on the 15th July. It's based on the book of the same name by David Nicholls and there's also a 2011 film version starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.
The Way, BBC
Release date: 19th February
Created Michael Sheen, James Graham and documentarian Adam Curtis, this Welsh drama "tells the story of an ordinary family caught up in an extraordinary chain of events that ripple out from their home town", according to the synopsis.
It has a stellar cast including Steffan Rhodri, Luke Evans, Aneurin Barnard, Callum Scott Howells, Sophie Meville, Mali Harries and Georgia Tennant, as well as Michael Sheen himself.
Breathtaking, ITV
Release date: 19th February
Written by Jed Mercurio (creator of Bodyguard and Line Of Duty), ITV's Breathtaking is based on Dr Rachel Clarke's memoir, detailing the early days of the pandemic. The cast is led by Joanne Froggart who plays Dr Abbey Henderson.
This Town, BBC
Release date: 31st March
Written by Peaky Blinders' Steven Knight, this show is full of nostalgia. It stars Michelle Dockery from Downton Abbey, Ben Rose, Nicholas Pinnock, David Dawson and Geraldine James to name a few.
The BBC said: 'This Town tells the story of an extended family and four young people who are drawn into the music scene which exploded from the grass roots of Coventry and Birmingham in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, uniting black, white and Asian youths.'
Ripley, Netflix
Release date: 4th April
Andrew Scott leads the cast of Ripley, in an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's bestselling The Talented Mr. Ripley (published in 1944). He's joined by Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn.
Netflix says: "Tom Ripley, a grifter scraping by in early 1960s New York, is hired by a wealthy man to travel to Italy to try to convince his vagabond son to return home. Tom's acceptance of the job is the first step into a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder."
Blue Lights, series 2, BBC
Release date: 15th April
After a fantastically gripping and compelling first series, the BBC has decided to recommission Blue Lights, a police procedural in Northern Ireland that follows a bunch of new recruits as they join the force, for not one but three more series!
Most of the original cast will be returning for the next instalment and there is said to be six episodes. If you need to catch-up ahead of series 2, you can watch series one of Blue Lights on BBC iPlayer.
Bridgerton, season 3, Netflix
Release date: 16th May (part 1) and 13th June (part 2)
If you enjoyed the first two seasons of this raunchy Netflix regency drama, you'll be pleased to know that the third instalment of Bridgerton is on the way.
Season 1 was Daphne and the Duke's story (with leads Phoebe Dyenvor and Regé-Jean Page) and Anthony and Kate's enemies-to-lovers affair was the centre point of season 2 (with Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley playing the respective parts).
Season 3 focuses on Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope's (Nicola Coughlan) love-story and it will be told in two parts. Initially many fans assumed that it would be Benedict's (Luke Thompson) and Sophie's story, as theirs is the third book in the series, but it seems we will have to wait longer for that one.
If you can't wait for May, why not read some of the best Bridgerton books?
The Responder, series 2, BBC
Release date: 5th May
The Liverpudlian drama starring Martin Freeman as a morally-compromised first-responder will be back on our screens later this year. Joining Martin aka Chris on the night-shifts is rookie Rachel (played by Adelayo Adedayo). Marco (Josh Finan) and Casey (Emily Fairn) will also be back.
It's written by Tony Schumacher, who brings authenticity and some of his real life experiences into the creation of the show, as he was a policeman for a decade.
Trying, series 4, Apple TV+
Release date: 22nd May
If you've not heard of Trying, it's a comedy-drama series on Apple TV+ that follows the journey of a couple (played by Esther Smith and Rafe Spall) who decide to adopt after IVF has failed and they are unable to conceive naturally. They are supported by a dysfunctional but loving network of family and friends.
Series 4 of Trying is set 6 years on from the adoption of Princess and Tyler and shows us how Nikki and Jason are doing as full-time, official parents to a now-teenager and her younger brother.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, BBC
Release date: July
From the mind of author Holly Jackson comes this TV adaptation featuring a crime-solving teen named Pip (played by American actress Emma Myers). You'll also find the legendary Anna Maxwell-Martin from Motherland and Line of Duty and Mathew Baynton from Horrible Histories and Ghosts.
Playing Nice, ITV
Release date: TBC
This psychological thriller is set in Cornwall and focuses on the moral quandary that two couples face after finding out that their toddlers were switched at birth. James Norton and Niamh Algar play one couple, whilst James McArdle and Jessica Brown Findlay play the other.
It's based on a book and is produced by STUDIOCANAL and Rabbit Track Pictures, James Norton and Kitty Kaletsky's production company.
Miss Austen, BBC
Release date: TBC
Jane Austen fans rejoice for there's a new 4-part drama coming to the BBC! Adapted from Gill Hornby's bestselling book of the same name, it's follows Jane and her sister Cassandra. The cast is led by Keeley Hawes, Jessica Hynes, Rose Leslie and Mirren Mack.
Joan, ITV
Release date: TBC
Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) portrays real-life jewel thief Joan Hannington who's in a disastrous marriage with notorious criminal Gary. Joan seizes the opportunity to start a new life for herself with her 6 year old daughter when Gary goes on the run.
Hot Flush, BBC
Release date: TBC
Writer Sally Wainwright has written several hit shows and worked with many of the greats, including Sarah Lancashire, Suranne Jones, Nicola Walker and James Norton. Her next project, Hot Flush is set in Yorkshire and is about a group of friends who are bonded by their love of music. They are all going through a similar stage of the lives: the menopause.
Our favourite new dramas from 2023:
Wilderness, Amazon Prime
Adapted from B.E. Jones' eponymous novel, Wilderness introduces us to Liv (played by Jenna Coleman) and Will, a British couple whose life seems picture-perfect: a rock-solid marriage, a glamorous new existence in New York far from their provincial origins, and the sense of youth with their entire lives ahead. However, this idyllic facade shatters when Liv discovers Will's affair, transforming her heartbreak into seething fury. Determined on revenge, Liv seizes an opportunity when Will suggests a journey across America's majestic National Parks to rekindle their relationship. Wilderness is a darkly twisted love story, where what begins as a dream vacation and a promise of happily-ever-after quickly descends into a harrowing nightmare.
Watch it: September 15th, 2023
Love & Death, ITVX
Love & Death delves into the astonishing real-life tale of Candy Montgomery (portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen) a 1980s Texas housewife thrust into an accusation of murder. Despite a seemingly idyllic family life, a flawless home, and an active role in her church, Candy wrestles with suburban monotony. A spontaneous and electrifying encounter with fellow churchgoer Allan Gore (played by Jesse Plemons) awakens a long-buried desire for excitement in her life. Their carefully orchestrated affair unfolds according to plan, until their respective spouses, Pat and Betty, stumble upon their secret, setting in motion a chilling chain of events that ultimately leads to a gruesome confrontation with an axe...
The Fall of the House of Usher, Netflix
In this chilling horror series, inspired by the literary works of Edgar Allan Poe, ruthless siblings Roderick and Madeline, have transformed Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into a formidable empire of wealth, privilege and power. However, long-buried secrets resurface as the heirs to the Usher legacy meet their demise, one by one, at the hands of an enigmatic woman from their past.
Bodies, Netflix
Adapted from Si Spencer's mind-bending graphic novel, 'Bodies' offers a unique twist on the police procedural genre. When an identical corpse appears on London's Longharvest Lane in four different time periods—1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053—one detective from each era is tasked with solving the case. As they unearth connections spanning decades, these investigators realize their separate inquiries are intricately intertwined, and their focus shifts to an enigmatic political figure, Elias Mannix, portrayed by Stephen Graham. Is Mannix implicated in the murder, or is a far more sinister conspiracy at play? To unravel the mystery, these four detectives must find a way to collaborate across 150 years of history.
The Long Shadow, ITV
Drawing from an extensive case archive, including hundreds of case files, interview transcripts, and police reports, 'The Long Shadow' will be the first definitive account of a case that shook Britain.
Adapted from Michael Bilton's critically acclaimed book, 'Wicked Beyond Belief: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper,' this drama (starring Katherine Kelly) shifts the spotlight to the lives of Sutcliffe's victims, the enduring grief of their families, and the relentless toll exacted on the detectives who spearheaded the investigation.
Watch it: TBC
Payback, ITV
Residing within the serene suburbs of Edinburgh, Lexie enjoys an idyllic family life, blissfully unaware that her husband, Jared, has been laundering Cal Morris' illicit gains on an extensive scale. Unbeknownst to her, every step of Jared's actions is meticulously observed by financial investigators DC Jibran Khan and DCI Adam Guthrie. Their unwavering determination leads them to leverage the Noble family as a means to apprehend Cal Morris and bring him to justice.
As a partner in Jared's business, Lexie is reluctantly drawn into Cal's web, all while the police investigation inexorably closes in around her. Soon, Lexie finds herself navigating a perilous tightrope between the world of Cal and the relentless pursuit of the police, where her safety and even her life hang precariously in the balance.
Watch it: TBC
Culprits, Disney+
Culprits, starring Gemma Alderton and Eddie Izzard, begins where most crime tales conclude: in the aftermath of a high-stakes heist, as a group of skilled criminals disperses, striving to distance themselves from their former lives. However, their past and present converge when a relentless assassin begins systematically hunting them down. As they grapple with the looming threat, questions arise: Why are they being pursued? Who is orchestrating this chaos? And can they reunite in time to shield themselves and their loved ones from the impending danger?
The Crown, Netflix
The sixth and final series of The Crown starts in 1997 and will cover Charles and Camilla's wedding as well as the aftermath of the death of the Princess of Wales. We'll also get to watch the early relationship between young Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Playdate, Disney+
Elisa’s world is turned upside down when her young daughter Lucia is kidnapped at a sleepover. Who is the mystery woman who took Lucia, and what secrets does she know about Elisa?
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.
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