You’d be forgiven for thinking television was all murder and misery these days. It often feels as though every show is a traumatic true crime drama or a bleak comment on society. Just once in a while, it would be nice to turn on the TV and see something cheering.
While they are few and far between, uplifting TV shows do exist – series that aim to lift your spirits and leave you in a better mood than when you pressed “play”. Here are the 11 best heartwarming, life-affirming TV shows to watch when you need a pick-me-up:
Last Tango in Halifax
Derek Jacobi as Alan and Anne Reid as Celia in ‘Last Tango in Halifax’ (Photo: Matt Squire/BBC/Lookout Point)
Disclaimer: this Yorkshire-based series is written by Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright, so it isn’t all laughter and rainbows. The overarching storyline, however, is undisputedly lovely. Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid play Alan and Celia, two widowers who fall in love in their later years. While their families are not too keen on the arrangement at first, Alan and Celia’s love transcends all, making for a delightful – and all too rare – series proving that life doesn’t end as soon as you get your pension.
