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 Happy Valley, 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 and returning programmes you should be keeping your eyes peeled for in the coming months and beyond.
Best new TV dramas 2025:
Playing Nice
Channel: ITV1 and ITVX
Release date: Sunday 5th January 2025
Cast: James Norton, Niamh Algar, James McArdle, Jessica Brown Findlay
Number of episodes: 4
Playing Nice is 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. It's based on the bestselling book of the same name and is produced by STUDIOCANAL and Rabbit Track Pictures, James Norton and Kitty Kaletsky's production company.
Out There
Channel: ITV1 and ITVX
Release date: Sunday 5th January 2025
Cast: Martin Clunes, Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Carly-Sophia Davis, Natalia Kostrzewa, Mark Lewis Jones, Gerran Howell, Michael Obiora, Eiry Thomas, Sharon Morgan, Marcin Zarzeczny, Jack Parry-Jones, Silas Carson
Number of episodes: 6
Martin Clunes plays a Welsh farmer whose son (played by Louis Ashbourne Serkis, real-life son of actors Lorraine Ashbourne and Andy Serkis) has got caught up with a group of drug dealers in Out There.
Miss Austen
Channel: BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Release date: Sunday 2nd February 2025
Cast: Keeley Hawes, Patsy Ferran, Jessica Hynes, Rose Leslie Mirren Mack, Liv Hill, Synnøve Karlsen, Phyllis Logan, Kevin McNally, Alfred Enoch, Max Irons
Number of episodes: 4
Jane Austen fans rejoice for there's a new 4-part drama called Miss Austen, coming to the BBC! Adapted from Gill Hornby's bestselling book of the same name, it's follows Jane and her sister Cassandra.
Unforgotten (series 6)
Channel: ITV1 AND ITVX
Release date: Sunday 9th February 2025
Cast: Sanjeev Bhaskar, Sinéad Keenan, Victoria Hamilton, MyAnna Buring, Elham Elas, Max Fairley, Pippa Nixon, Jordan Long, Carolina Main, Georgia McKenzie, Andrew Lancel, Kate Robbins, Emmett J. Scanlan, Michele Dotrice, Jan Francis, Damien Moloney
Number of episodes: 6
We'll join Sunny and Jessie as they work to solve a murder case as a spine is dredged out of Whitney Marsh in Unforgotten series 6. As usual, there's a fantastic cast, including four main suspects who are unexpectedly linked, and all have secrets to hide.
Am I Being Unreasonable? (series 2)
Channel: BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Release date: Wednesday 5th February 2025
Cast: Daisy May Cooper, Selin Hizili, Lenny Rush, Dustin Demri-Burns, Juliet Cowan, David Fynn, Phil Dunning, Beatie Edney, Amanda Wilkin, Helen Ann Bauer, Marek Larwood, Karla Crome, Georgie Glen, Chelsea Peretti, Tom Davis, Denise Black, Jamali Maddix, Kojey Radical, Charlie Cooper
Number of episodes: 6
Will the ghosts of Nic’s past finally catch up with her, or will she get away with murder? Series 2 of the thriller-comedy from the minds of Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizili returns with some exciting guest stars.
Toxic Town
Channel: Netflix
Release date: Thursday 27th February 2025
Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle, Rory Kinnear, Karla Crome, Claudia Jessie, Matthew Durkan, Joe Dempsie, Michael Socha
Number of episodes: 4
Based on a true story of the Corby poisonings, Toxic Town follows mothers fighting for justice as their children were born with deformities when toxic waste was dumped in the area. The show has an exceptional cast and is written by Jack Thorne (National Treasure, Kiri).
Virdee
Channel: BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Release date: Monday 10th February 2025
Cast: Staz Nair, Aysha Kala Nina Singh, Elizabeth Berrington, Danyal Ismail, Kulvinder Ghir, Vikash Bhai, Sudha Buchar
Number of episodes: 6
Bradford-based Virdee is an action-packed thriller which follows the stressful work and personal life of DCI Harry Virdee (played by former X Factor Contestant Staz Nair) a Sikh man who's been disowned by his family for marrying a Muslim woman.
Fear
Channel: Prime Video
Release date: Wednesday 5th March 2025
Cast: Martin Compston, Anjli Mohindra, Solly McLeod, James Cosmo, Daniel Portman, Anneika Rose, Bhav Joshi, Maureen Beattie
Number of episodes: 3
When a young family move from London to Glasgow, they are watched by an intrusive neighbour who's intent on destroying their happy lives. But why? Find out in Fear on Prime Video.
The Bay (series 5)
Channel: ITV1 and ITVX
Release date: 2025
Cast: Marsha Thomason, Daniel Ryan, Leanne Best, David Troughton, Barry Sloane, Neil Maskell, Stephen Wight, Ceallach Spellman, Erin Shanagher, Andrew Dowbiggin, Suzanne Packer, Georgia Scholes, David Carpenter, Emme Hayes, Tara Lynne O’Neill
Number of episodes: 6
Another returning drama we're looking forward to is The Bay. In series 5 we see family liaison officer DS Jenn Townsend dealing with her own grief whilst trying to solve a case and help the family of a dead young woman. Meanwhile, Tony is in a loving new relationship, but things are far from ideal at work due to budget cuts.
I, Jack Wright
Channel: Alibi
Release date: 2025
Cast: John Simm, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Daniel Rigby, Trevor Eve, Liz Kingsman, Ruby Ashbourne-Serkis, Harry Lloyd, Rakhee Thakrar, Zoë Tapper, James Fleet, Gemma Jones, Sabrina Bartlett, Percelle Ascott
Number of episodes: 6
Unforgotten creator Chris Lang has written a brand new drama called I, Jack Wright, which zooms in on family life after a murdered patriarch's will excludes his third wife and grown-up sons from inheriting anything.
Riot Women
Channel: BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Release date: 2025
Cast: Lorraine Ashbourne, Rose Leslie, Joanna Scanlan, Amelia Bullmore, Tamsin Greig, Peter Davison, Claire Skinner, Angel Coulby, Taj Atwal, Melanie La Barrie, Chandeep Uppal, Oliver Huntingdon, Jonny Green, Ellise Chappell, Macy Jacob Seelochan, Tony Hirst, Shannon Lavelle, Amit Shah, Rick Warden, Ben Batt, Natalia Tena, Kevin Doyle, Richard Fleeshman, Olwen May, Nicholas Gleaves
Number of episodes: 6
As a huge fan of Sally Wainwright's Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax, I'm beyond excited to watch her new drama Riot Women, which is also filmed in Yorkshire. It's about a group of middle-aged women who create a makeshift punk-rock band to enter a talent competition and it's got a stellar cast!
TV dramas I'd recommend from 2024:
While you wait for the exciting new TV dramas to land on our screens, take a look back at some of our favourite shows from last year:
Fool Me Once, Netflix
Netflix drama Fool Me Once is written by Harlan Coben and 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.
The Tourist, series 2, BBC
The Tourist, stars Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey, The Fall) and Danielle Macdonald (Dumplin', Unbelievable). Series 1 was set in South Australia and began with a man waking up in hospital and having no recollection of who he is and why he's there.
This series however, is set amongst the stunning backdrop of Ireland and follows Elliott (Dornan) and Helen (Macdonald) as they try to uncover his true identity, but they become trapped in the consequences of his past.
Criminal Record, Apple TV+
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Sky
Sky have adapted this series from the Tattooist of Auschwitz book, which was written by Heather Morris upon learning the true story of Lale Sokolov, who was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival in arrived in Auschwitz-Birkena, 1942.
Lale (played by Harvey Keitel and Jonah Hauer-King, from World on Fire and The Little Mermaid) meets Cilka (Yali Topol Margalith) and against all odds, they develop a lifelong love for each other whilst in the most horrific situation imaginable.
The Responder, series 2, BBC
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.
Bridgerton, season 3, Netflix
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?
Trying, series 4, Apple TV+
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.
Insomnia, Paramount+
Vicky McClure fans are in for a treat as she returns to our screens again this year in Insomnia, the new TV drama series on Paramount+, which is based on the book of the same name by Sarah Pinborough.
The synopsis reads: "A couple of weeks before her 40th birthday, Emma stops sleeping - just as her mother had done right before she suffered a violent psychotic breakdown on the night of her own 40th birthday. Emma’s mother always told her she’d go the same way, that she had the same 'bad blood', and now Emma’s terrified it’s true."
"As events worsen, Emma’s world starts to unravel, and she realises that only by investigating the truth of her painful past can she find the answers to her present and prevent tragedy from striking a second time."
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, BBC
From the mind of author Holly Jackson comes this TV adaptation of her book (A Good Girls Guide to Murder) 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.
The Jetty, BBC
Jenna Coleman (best known for playing the monarch in ITV drama Victoria and companion Clara Oswald in Doctor Who) is leading this BBC show in which involves a fire, a podcast and a cold case, as well as an illicit 'love' triangle between a man and two underage girls.
Sherwood, series 2 BBC
The BBCs hugely popular crime drama Sherwood is back for another series. The first season aired in 2022 and followed the lives of residents in a former mining village community that had been fractured by the impact of two murders and the historical conflicts of the 1984 miners' strike.
You can expect a similar level of intensity from series 2 as it follows the same themes, this time focusing on the Sparrows and two new families.
Slow Horses, series 4, Apple TV+
Gary Oldman is back as Jackson Lamb, the slovenly spy in Slow Horses season 4. It promises the usual blend of comedy and high octane drama, with the first episode "(opening) with a bombing that detonates personal secrets, rocking the already unstable foundations of Slough House", according to the press release!
Grace, ITV
Brighton-based police drama Grace is back for series 4. Starring John Simm as DS Roy Grace (from the bestselling books by Peter James) and DS Glenn Branson, played by Richie Campbell.
The Tower, ITV
If, like us, you were gripped by the first two series, you'll be delighted to know that The Tower series 3 is on the way!
Joan, ITV
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.
The Seven Dials Mystery, Netflix
Release date: TBC
Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall is brining Agatha Christie's characters to the streaming service and filming will begin this summer. The cast includes Mia McKenna-Bruce (Persuasion, Tracy Beaker Returns), Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland, The Crown) and Martin Freeman (Sherlock, The Responder).
The Split, BBC
Release date: TBC
The Split ended with a tear-jerking finale back in 2022, but now it's back for a two-part special later this year and we couldn't be more delighted!
Here's what we can expect, according to the BBC: 'Two years on, formidable family lawyer Hannah Defoe (Nicola Walker) and her family are back and have gathered for a beautiful wedding at a magnificent vineyard, nestled in Catalonia’s wine region. Set across one sun soaked weekend, The Split will encompass break-ups, reunions and like all good weddings, plenty of romance. As the sun rises over the glorious Spanish countryside, Hannah is compelled to banish the ghosts of her past and open herself up to the possibility of love again. Can she find the courage to take the leap into a new future?'
Riot Women, 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, Riot Women 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.
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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