Shocking. Bleak. Controversial. Devastatingly brilliant. All these descriptions are true of HBO and Sky’s five-part retelling of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. The HBO and Sky series has been one of the most talked-about dramas of the year so far, lauded by critics and helping to confirm the current golden age of TV.
At times, the events depicted in the programme were so incredible that many viewers have questioned what was real and what is made up.
The programmes include a new crime thriller by Steven Moffat, a political drama starring Hugh Laurie, an adaption of Jo Bloom’s Ridley Road and a drama focusing on the controversial abortion laws in Northern Ireland.
The six-part series of the same name will delve into the origins of the world’s most esteemed Special Forces unit, the Special Air Services.
Set during the darkest days of the Second World War, a maverick military group revolutionise a new form of warfare in the deserts of North Africa.
Operating as small squads of parachute trained soldiers, the troops deploy behind enemy lines for reconnaissance missions, to raid supply lines, attack reinforcement routes and sabotage enemy aircraft weaponry to help the war effort.
The contemporary crime series, created and written by Robert Murphy (DCI Banks), gives viewers a new story each episode.
A classic crime story is at the heart of the series and the first episode features two crime mysteries investigated by chalk and cheese duo, the wildly ambitious DCI McDonald (Tala Gouveia, Cold Feet) and the shy, modest DS Dodds (Jason Watkins, The Crown); the pair form a quarrelsome but effective partnership.
Although he assures me he’s “too old to play Tim [again]”, you can see the similarities he shares with his famous character.
He is affable and self-deprecating, joking that he thinks the real Steve Fulcher, who he plays in upcoming ITV drama A Confession, was happy for him to play him - although might have wished for “someone taller, maybe?”
With more than 80 film and TV credits to his name, Freeman has starred in everything from cult classic TV series to huge blockbuster franchises.
The new series will see Olivia Colman and Tobias Mezies take over the reins from Claire Foy and Matt Smith as The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The upcoming series will cover The Queen’s reign from 1964 up to 1977 and see the beginning of Prince Edward’s life, the marriage of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips and the celebrations of The Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
Dr Death follows the true story of sociopath and former neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch, who’s gross malpractice resulted in the deaths and severe maiming of numerous patients.
Dornan will star as the twisted doctor during his rise in the Dallas medical community, as Duntsch enjoys the booming success of his neurosurgery practice.
This success soon changes as patients who enter for complex but routine surgeries are left severely maimed or deceased.
Set in London, Flack focuses on the high-stakes world of celebrity PR. It follows Mills Paulson PR agency as it works to keep their clients most outrageous indiscretions firmly behind closed doors.
Series one saw PR Robyn (Anna Paquin) finally face the consequences of her numerous addictions, as her work and home life collided catastrophically.
With her relationships damaged beyond repair, and even her own sister rejecting her, Robyn realises she needs to make a change.
The two-part thriller follows Mark Easterbrook (Rufus Sewell) as he investigates a mysterious list of names discovered in a dead woman’s shoe.
Easterbrook’s search for answers leads him to the unusual village of Much Deeping and The Pale Horse, the home to a group of suspected witches.
Rumours have circulated the town that the witches are responsible for the disappearances of wealthy relatives using dark magic yet Easterbrook remains adamant that there are rational explanations to solve these mysteries.
Best Interests tells the story of two parents who must make a life-changing decision that no one could ever want to make.
Andrew and Nicci’s daughter, Marnie, suffers from a life-threatening condition to the extent that medical staff have suggested that it would be in her best interests to be allowed to die to end any suffering.
Andrew and Nicci struggle to contemplate the decision and launch a legal battle to prevent their daughter’s death.
