The Beast In Me (Netflix) The suspense-fuelled psychological thriller showcases excellent performances from Claire Danes as Aggie and Matthew Rhys as Nile If you like great performances, you’re going to love The Beast In Me. Matthew Rhys and Claire Danes star as uneasy neighbours in a cat-and-mouse thriller that has her grieving, cash-strapped author Aggie Wiggs interviewing his Nile Jarvis, an arrogant and very rich man who may have killed his wife. The scenes between them are dynamite, and who cares that Danes is basically playing the same kind of strung-out character she usually does? She’s very good at it, and the plot takes you in directions you don’t expect, too. (Eight episodes)Rivals (Disney+) Rivals follows a deep seated enmity between Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Tony Baddingham (David Tennant). The series is based on the Rutshire Chronicles by Jilly CooperHas there ever been more of a summer show than this pitch-perfect Jilly Cooper adaptation? And while the second half of series two isn’t due until November, if you’re new to Rivals you’ve still got 14 glorious episodes of saucy and swaggering 1980s rivalry between lothario aristo Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and cigar-chomping TV tycoon Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) to enjoy. There’s never been a better Cooper adaptation than this and, even if you’ve never read the books, the first series in particular is just a big ball of fun. (Two series)Trespasses (Channel 4) The Northern Irish drama sees Gillian Anderson star as alcoholic widow Gina Lavery (right)A tale of forbidden love set during the Troubles in Belfast in 1975, Trespasses marries tragedy with a wry sense of humour and delivers passion where it counts. It’s a coming-of-age tale for 24-year-old Catholic teacher Cushla (Lola Petticrew), as she’s swept off her feet by the considerably older Protestant lawyer Michael (Tom Cullen). Petticrew and Cullen are the focus of the show, but you’ll find yourself wanting more of Gillian Anderson, who steals her scenes as Cushla’s drunk mother Gina. (Four episodes)The Hunting Wives (ITVX) The series, set in Texas, follows an elite pack of ‘hunting wives’ who go shooting in their spare time. Yet their socialite world is marred with secrets, obsession and scandalHold on to your (cowboy) hats for this racy Texas drama about scheming spouses who smile to your face then stab you in the back to protect their social status. It’s like Desperate Housewives with more sex and guns, and hinges around socialite Margo (Malin Akerman), leader of the elite pack of ‘hunting wives’ who like to go shooting in their spare time. Margo is a sexual predator who isn’t fussy about age or gender, but will she have her way with seemingly innocent new arrival Sophie? The show’s saucy thunder was rather stolen by Heated Rivalry when they both debuted after Christmas, so now would be a good time to check out the eight-part first run. (One series, with a second on the way)The Guest (BBC iPlayer) Brace yourselves for a tale of infatuation in thriller The Guest, which will draw you into its gripping game of cat and mouse from the beginning When downtrodden cleaner Ria (Gabrielle Creevy) is offered a job by fancy-pants businesswoman Fran (Eve Myles) at her swanky country house, it seems as if Ria’s luck is finally about to change. And it is, but not necessarily for the better. The Guest takes off like a rocket from part one, getting straight to the heart of the matter and even killing off a character by the end of that episode. Is Ria as meek as she seems? Is Fran as confident? We’re saying nothing, but brace yourselves. (Four episodes)Waiting For The Out (BBC iPlayer) Critically acclaimed Waiting For The Out stars Josh Finan as Dan, who undertakes the seemingly impossible mission of teaching philosophy to convicts Based on A Life Inside, Andy West’s memoir about teaching philosophy to prisoners, Waiting For The Out is filled with wisdom and wit that feels earned – because it is. The Responder’s Josh Finan stars as Dan, a gentle man who looks like he’s going to crash and burn giving lessons on philosophy in a prison. But Dan’s not as gentle as he looks and the prisoners aren’t what he expects either, and this show lives in the lively back-and-forths. Finan’s performance is acting at its best, in the sense that it doesn’t look like acting. (Six episodes)Sirens (Netflix) The Netflix series Sirens takes place over a weekend as a glamorous beach estate. Milly Alcock and Julianne Moore pictured in the dark comedyJulianne Moore, Milly Alcock and Meghann Fahy star in a glamorous but quirky thriller that flew under the radar when it was released in 2025. Based on a play by the writer of meaty TV drama Maid (Netflix), it’s about two estranged sisters and one demanding employer, and it unfolds on a fancy island estate where Simone (Alcock) serves the whims of eccentric billionaire Michaela (Moore). One day Simone’s wrecking ball of a sister, Devon (Fahy), shows up thinking she knows exactly what’s going on between Simone and Michaela and how to save her sister. The joy of the show lies in how she’s both right and wrong. (Five episodes)A Woman Of Substance (Channel 4) Jessica Reynolds plays Emma Harte as she transforms from a poor Yorkshire maid to a business tycoon in New York cityThis 2026 remake of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s tale of success against the odds soars in the flashbacks, which track the rise of young Emma Harte (Jessica Reynolds) through a life in service that’s nowhere near as jolly as that at Downton Abbey. The scenes set at the other end of Emma’s life, when she’s a tycoon in 1970s New York – played by Brenda Blethyn in a fabulous wig – are the stuff of pure soap opera, but when they’re served together you’ve got a highly enjoyable blend. The shorter 1985 version is also available to stream on Channel 4. (Eight episodes)All Her Fault (Sky/Now) Succession’s Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning star in miniseries All Her Fault which chronicles a mother's gripping search for her missing childA glossy US thriller that starts with every parent’s nightmare: a mum turns up at a house where her child is supposed to be on a playdate, but the occupant has no idea what she’s talking about. Worse than that, the phone number of the mother the child was supposed to be with is disconnected. Succession’s Sarah Snook brings us into the horror of that moment in the opening scene of All Her Fault, which then digs beneath the surface of her perfect suburban life. Eight parts is a long time to sustain that story, but Snook and co-star Dakota Fanning, as fellow mum Jenny, are up to the task. (Eight episodes)The Girlfriend (Amazon Prime Video) The Girlfriend follows a tug of war between a mother (played by Robin Wright) and the new girlfriend of her son (played by Olivia Cooke), whom she suspects to be a manipulative con artistLike All Her Fault, this is an addictive thriller that picks you up and doesn’t let go, getting more ridiculous and fun with each episode. The Girlfriend follows what two alpha women will do to keep the man they love. It stars Robin Wright as mum Laura and Olivia Cooke as Cherry, the new girlfriend of her son Daniel (Laurie Davidson), and the strength of the show is in the way it flips between their perspectives as they battle for control of Daniel. (Six episodes)Black Doves (Netflix) Spy action thriller Black Doves stars Keira Knightley as Helen Webb, who gets sucked into the London Underworld following her husband's assassinationWriter Joe Barton brought a fresh perspective to the spy thriller with Black Doves, a cartoonishly comic and violent series about operatives who sell their secrets to the highest bidder. Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire play some of the colourful characters in a London-set show that’s a blast from start to finish. Be warned, it’s bloody – but smart enough to justify it. (One series, with a second on the way)Rooster (HBO Max) Carell's performance as a politically incorrect novelist trying to connect with his liberal daughter (played by Charly Clive) is commended in RoosterFather-daughter relationships change over time and that idea is at the heart of ten-part comedy Rooster. Steve Carell stars as a politically incorrect novelist who visits his daughter at the liberal college where she works. When she burns down the campus home of her cheating ex, circumstances conspire to make him stay. There’s a lot to like in this show, from Carell to British actress Charly Clive as his daughter to all the quirky side characters. It has a good heart without being too soppy about it. (One series, with a second on the way)The Pitt (HBO Max) The Pitt follows the lives of healthcare professionals in a Pittsburgh hospital as they forgo personal crises, workplace politics and the mental toll of treating critically ill patientsIf you miss ER, this show scratches a similar itch. The Pitt even stars Noah Wyle – once ER’s John Carter – as grizzled Pittsburgh ER chief Dr Robby, who shepherds his rookie medics as wisely as he can. Where the two shows differ is that The Pitt is almost all about the job and plays in real time, with each series following one 15-hour shift. It can be a hard watch, but it’s delivered with that dark sense of humour that marks the best hospital dramas. Look out for young doctor Mel – she’s played by Taylor Dearden, daughter of Bryan Cranston. (Two series)Death By Lightning (Netflix) Death By Lightning captures the untold story of Charles Guiteau (played by Matthew Macfadyen), the man who assassinated the 20th US president James A. GarfieldOdds are, you’ve never heard of Charles Guiteau. You’ll be hard-pressed to forget him after watching this deeply satisfying drama about the delusional, real-life figure who assassinated US President James Garfield in 1881. Guiteau wasn’t an idealist – he was a passionate supporter of Garfield who thought he deserved a job as a reward for said support, and Matthew Macfadyen plays him for all he’s worth. It’s one of those dramas you enjoy, but also come away from feeling smarter. (Four episodes)Pluribus (Apple TV) Post-apocalyptic science fiction series Pluribus is set in an apocalyptic world where a mind-altering virus has taken over. Rhea Seehorn stars as the show's protagonist Carol Every once in a while, a show comes along that’s just so different that everyone takes notice. Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan gave us one of those last year with this nine-parter. Gilligan’s story tracks what happens when a virus transforms the world’s population into relentlessly cheery individuals, and seemingly the only normal person left to deal with them is Carol (above, played by Rhea Seehorn of Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul), a cynical romance novelist who already hates people. We won’t spoil what happens, but let’s just say Apple were right to book two series off the bat with this one. (One series, with a second on the way)Yellowstone (Paramount+) Yellowstone tells the story of the Dutton family, who own one of the largest ranches in America, Yellowstone Dutton RanchIf you’ve never watched Yellowstone and you like family dramas with modern Western grit then boy, are you in for a treat. No less than five shows from American uber-producer Taylor Sheridan currently comprise the Yellowstone universe, from Yellowstone itself, hinged around Western screen veteran Kevin Costner as a ranch patriarch, to prequels 1883 and 1923 (the latter starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren) and spin-offs Marshals and Dutton Ranch. This lot will see you through the World Cup and beyond. (Five series)Black Rabbit (Netflix) Black Rabbit casts Jude Law (left) and Jason Bateman in a gritty drama based on the tense relationship of two brothersWhen this gritty thriller about the bond between brothers came out last year, it suffered by comparison with the similarly male-heavy HBO drama Task, but it’s a meaty piece of work in its own right. Jude Law and Jason Bateman play the siblings who used to be in a band but grew up to deal with death, deceit and gangsters in the restaurant business. The show makes the most of its Manhattan locations and does pay off the time you put into it – but don’t expect to like any of the characters. Do have a giggle at the flashback punk video that opens episode two, featuring Jude Law giving us his best Kurt Cobain impression. (Eight episodes)Believe Me (ITVX) Daniel Mays plays ‘black cab rapist’ John Worboys in deeply unsettling true-crime drama Believe MeITV has a great track record of making real-life drama that hits hard and even has a real-world impact. True-crime drama Believe Me, about the ‘black cab rapist’ John Worboys, is just one of the more recent examples. He’s played unsettlingly well by Daniel Mays in a series that brings home both the horror of what his victims experienced and the difficulties women face in being believed. If you missed last year’s Mr Bates Vs The Post Office (also ITVX), that’s worth watching, too. (Four episodes)Legends (Netflix) Legends tells the unlikely true story of a group of ordinary people tasked with the undercover mission to stop the flow of heroin into the UKNot all true-crime tales are harrowing. Legends is a great British underdog story set in the 1990s, about what happened when ordinary members of the public – after minimal training – were sent undercover to stop the flow of heroin into the country. It’d be a good enough thriller if it were fictional, but the fact that this is all based on a true story just makes it hit all the harder. Written by Neil Forsyth (The Gold), Legends has a good sense of humour, too, particularly in the training section in which Steve Coogan’s veteran agent weeds out the no-hopers… sometimes with barely more than a look. (Six episodes)Shrinking (Apple TV) Harrison Ford (right) stars in Shrinking, a comedy drama series about a grieving therapist (played by Jason Segel, left) who decides to become drastically more involved in his patients' livesHarrison Ford has always been funny, but he gets to flex his comedy muscles in Shrinking, which starts out being mostly about grieving therapist Jimmy (Jason Segel), who decides the only way to deal with the death of his wife is to be unsparingly honest with everyone. The resulting chaos is hilarious, but what has given the show its appeal since is the cast around Segel, including Ford as Jimmy’s brilliantly no-nonsense colleague Dr Paul Rhoades and, from series two, smaller additions such as Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein as Louis – the man who accidentally killed Jimmy’s wife. Goldstein is a writer on the show and co-created it with Segel. (Three series, with a fourth on the way)