Binge-worthy TV shows popular in the UK

Watching TV is one of the most relaxing pastimes out there, and today’s fans of the small screen can choose from a rich pool of shows that they can play to unwind after a long day. From thrilling series that can keep viewers on-edge to relaxing realities that let them loosen their minds, there is something for everyone to enjoy. However, the more options there are, the harder it gets to choose. That’s why this list clarifies some of the most popular TV shows in the UK that are definitely worth the time. 

Peaky Blinders

In season six of Steven Knight’s famous gangster drama, the fans saw leading character Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) go to hell and back. After the fifth season, where Tommy was faced with Oswald Mosley, his conscience was sparked and his character went through a huge transformation for the better. The final season takes Tommy on a fight against fascism, which he conducts both at home and overseas. He invests all the skill and fortune that he has in the attempt to better the world. However, the mission could not possibly be achieved without sacrifice, and the audience is continuously on their toes trying to keep up with all the thrilling twists. Tommy suffers a betrayal (another mystery for fans to figure out), and the plot puts him in several intensely emotional scenes. The ending was a definite goodbye from Peaky Blinders to the world of television drama, and a step forward in the planning of a movie that will continue the story in the next generation

Love Island

Not only has Love Island experienced tremendous success in the UK, but the format was also purchased by 13 other countries, including Australia and the United States. The show first aired in 2015, and pretty soon it was gathering three million viewers per episode in Britain alone. In fact, the viewers became so passionate about it that it led to the emergence of Love Island. So what exactly is it about? Namely, the show presents a group of beautiful single people who are housed together in a luxurious villa so they can try to find love. And as soon as two people become a couple, their relationship is tested through new additions to the existing team. The participants spend eight weeks in the villa and, in the finale, the winners get to go home with £50,000 and several other endorsements. Thanks to the exciting love triangles and numerous other thrills, Love Island manages to keep the audience genuinely interested, season after season. 

Bad Sisters

Based on the series, Clan, this popular Irish sequence follows the turbulent lives of four sisters: Eva, Ursula, Bibi and Becka. The fifth sister Grace is married to John-Paul, a despicable man who is absolutely detested by the four main characters. The sisters truly want their brother-in-law dead and gone, and those who decide to watch the show will probably agree. However, when John-Paul quickly ends up dead, no one knows who is responsible for his death. From then on, the series keeps switching from the present day to flashbacks from the past where one can see different attempts to get rid of the man, as well as the reasons why he deserved it. Besides the police, who are doing what they can to solve the mystery, there are two other persons particularly interested in the case: insurance agents, played by Brian Gleeson and Daryl McCormack, are desperately trying to figure out what happened so they can avoid paying out the insurance policy left behind by the victim. Alongside a grasping storyline, Bad Girls is also known for its fantastic performances, especially when it comes to Grace – a woman torn between her husband and her sisters. 

Dragon’s Den

Dragon’s Den is a popular TV show that originated in Japan, but it spread to both Britain and the United States (where it’s known as Shark Tank). This is a business-oriented reality show that invites entrepreneurs to pitch their products and ideas to a group of investors called the Dragons. Each of the inventors comes with the hope to secure funding for the project, as well as a portion of invaluable knowledge that the Dragons possess. However, they need to give up a percentage of their business in return. Over the years, the show has revealed some amazing entrepreneurs, including the creator of the famous Reggae Sauce. However, even though many business owners got the investment and support they were seeking, others have pretty unpleasant experiences. The candidates who come unprepared need to be brave enough to withstand the grilling of the merciless Dragons. 

Derry Girls

After the season three finale, Derry Girls became one of those TV shows that left fans yearning for more. The viewers will surely remember the witty lines and beloved characters of the Northern Irish sitcom for a long time – especially the scenes where the girls receive their GCSE results and accidentally end up involved in a burglary. And, of course, the one where they perform an amazing tribute to The Spice Girls in a charity event. The series features several iconic characters, including the amusing Sister Michael (Siobhan McSweeney), Uncle Colm, who saves the girls from police interrogations, and, of course, the hilarious chief of police portrayed by Liam Neeson. The final instalment takes the girls on an adventure, graduating from the Our Lady Immaculate College and getting to vote in the Good Friday Agreement referendum. The hilarious portrayal of the characters and the events they go through makes the viewer laugh and cry, and in the end, wish there was more to watch. 

Ghosts

Ghosts is a fun BBC sitcom about a couple named Mike and Alison who live in a run-down mansion full of ghosts. Even though the title and the context may seem sinister, the series is actually filled with comical scenes and entertaining characters. The show’s appeal lies largely in the fact that it supports all the characters equally, letting all of them shine in their own manner; they all get an equal portion of laughs. However, the series is not only about the comedy, as it also involves major plot developments and a few shocking events that can actually teach viewers how to deal with grief. And even though Ghosts is incredibly entertaining, writing it was surely not all fun and games – the team must have gone through ruthless script edits as there is not a single line wasted in the entire experience. 

The Apprentice

The Apprentice is another format of a show that was sold in different parts of the world. In this version of the popular reality series, Lord Alan Sugar works with associates Karen and Claude to find an aspiring entrepreneur, who will get a chance to become his business partner. At the same time, the lucky candidate will receive a £250,000 investment. The core aim is to spot talented business minds and give them the opportunity to claim a life-changing sum of money and a partnership that will help them transform their business career. However, the show has also hosted plenty of contestants who were not all that business-savvy and competent in the field they are looking to enter. For the viewers, it was both harsh and amusing to watch arrogant individuals trying to keep up with some of the most successful business people in Britain. 

Big Boys

Big Boys follows Jack, who starts his educational journey at Brent Uni just after the death of his father. Due to confusion in accommodation planning, Jack is housed with a more mature student called Danny. Like many other shows that portray the first year of university, Big Boys is full of binge drinking and awkward sexual experiences. However, the core of the narrative lies in the intensity of Jack and Danny’s friendship. The events are all affected by Jack’s grief and the struggles with his sexuality, while Danny reveals a set of his own issues through the episodes. But the thing that makes this one so refreshing is the portrayal of the relationship between a gay man and his straight best friend, which hasn’t been well explored by conventional television. The events shift from being hilarious to heartbreaking, turning Big Boys into a powerful emotional rollercoaster. Luckily for all the fans, season two is announced to return in 2023.

Watching television is something we all often turn to, and with such a huge variety of shows available nowadays, everyone can find something that matches their taste. No matter how picky a viewer one may be, the list above should offer inspirations for at least a title or two to binge-watch. 

The editorial unit