Evenings are getting cooler and darker, and it's surely only a (short) matter of time before the great British summer finally gives up until next year. But while there are plenty of decent reasons to bemoan the onset of winter, the TV schedule certainly isn't one of them. As if to aid us in our hibernation efforts as the nights stretch out, a new crop of lavish period pieces, gripping thrillers and big-budget dramas are set to arrive on our screens for autumn, setting the agenda for chats around the coffee machine in offices across the nation. Goodbye, social life. It was nice knowing you for a while.
From Netflix's priciest project to date, to the sci-fi drama that's already earned comparisons with Game Of Thrones, this is our edit of the shows you need to be watching this season.
The Crown
Hot on the heels of ITV’s Victoria, the next monarch to receive the costume drama treatment is our own Queen Elizabeth II. The debut season of Netflix’s most ambitious (and most expensive) project to date charts the 27-year-old Elizabeth’s rise to power, thrust into the limelight after the death of her father. Claire Foy wears the crown of the title, flanked by Matt Smith as Prince Philip and Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret. A visually dazzling exploration of the era’s political and personal intrigues, it has apparently ruffled some feathers at the Palace – which has got us feeling all the more excited…
When does it start? Series One of The Crown will arrive on Netflix on November 4
Divorce
Sarah Jessica Parker returns to HBO for the first time since Sex and the City – though don’t expect to see her dashing around in couture and sinking Cosmos, because Divorce looks set to be an altogether bleaker affair. A dark comedy from Catastrophe creator Sharon Horgan and Girls writer Paul Simms, it tells the story of – you guessed it – a passive aggressive divorce case that couldn’t be further from a Paltrow-esque conscious uncoupling.
When does it start? Divorce will air on Sky Atlantic in October
NW
The latter half of 2016 is shaping up to be an exciting couple of months for fans of Zadie Smith. Not only will the autumn bring a fourth novel, Swing Time, it’ll also see her 2012 bestseller NW take shape on the small screen. Set in the London borough of the title, it’s a tale of two childhood friends whose lives are pulled in different directions. Nikki Amuka-Bird (who you’ll recognise as Luther’s DC Erin Gray) and Eye In The Sky’s Phoebe Fox are set to star.
When does it start? No date has been confirmed yet, but NW will be arriving on your screens later this autumn
Westworld
Thanks to a liberal sprinkling of sex and violence, HBO’s latest big budget drama has already garnered comparisons with Game Of Thrones. While you won’t find any dragons here, the component parts all hint towards success on a similar scale. Based on a ‘70s sci-fi film by Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton, the 'Westworld' of the title is a sinister theme park populated by virtual reality ‘hosts.’ Both on screen and off, it’s pedigree is impeccable: re-boot master J.J. Abrams is on board as executive producer, with a cast that includes Thandie Newton, Evan Rachel Wood and Anthony Hopkins.
When does it start? It's expected to arrive on Sky Atlantic in early October
Amanda Knox
Twice convicted, twice acquitted - did Amanda Knox kill her friend Meredith Kercher in cold blood? Was she just a naïve student on a year abroad, caught up in hideous circumstances? And why are we so ready to consume ever-more salacious ‘true crime’ stories as entertainment? These are just some of the questions posed in Netflix’s gripping new documentary, set to arrive on the streaming site later this month. As Knox chillingly puts it in the latest trailer, ‘either I’m a psychopath in sheep’s clothing, or I am you.’ Uncomfortable but unmissable viewing.
When does it start? The film will be available to stream on Netflix from September 30
Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life
The fans asked and Netflix obliged. Nine years after we said goodbye to Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, the streaming service has brought back our favourite fast talking, heavily caffeinated mother-daughter duo. A Year In The Life will consist of four hour-and-a-half episodes, each centred around a different season (because, no, it’s not always ‘fall’ in Stars Hollow). Amongst the returning characters are Rory’s erstwhile love interests Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) and Dean (Jared Padalecki), and the much-analysed teaser trailer has devotees asking whether a Gilmore baby is on the way. We’re expecting the televisual equivalent of hot chocolate and marshmallows on a cold winter’s evening.
When does it start? All four parts will be available to stream on Netflix from November 25
Black Mirror
Charlie Brooker’s unnervingly prescient Black Mirror has found a new home on Netflix for its third season. Plot details for the first set of standalone episodes are sketchy, but what we can expect is a collection of dark, suspenseful tales exploring our fraught relationship with tech. The six original episodes, which hardy souls will be able to binge on in one sitting, are certainly not lacking in star power: in ‘Nosedive’ alone, you’ll spot James Norton, Bryce Dallas Howard and Alice Eve, with Atonement’s Joe Wright in the director’s chair, while ‘San Junipero’ will star Gugu Mbatha-Raw and The Martian’s Mackenzie Davis.
When does it start? Six episodes will be available to stream on Netflix from October 21
The Case Of Jon-Benét Ramsey
If you were hooked on Making A Murderer and The People Vs. OJ Simpson at the start of the year, this could be your next true crime fix. This eight part docu-series revisits the unsolved murder of 6-year-old pageant queen JonBenet Ramsey, who was found dead in her home in 1996. By re-examining old evidence and re-visiting interviews with key suspects and family members, the makers of the show hope to cast light upon a case that has been left cold for almost two decades.
When does it start? The show starts on US channel CBS on September 18, but a UK date is yet to be announced
The Fall
The brilliant Gillian Anderson will be reprising her role as DSI Stella Gibson for one last time in what’s been confirmed as the third and final season of The Fall. After leaving us on a major cliff-hanger last time around, the opening episode will have plenty of questions to answer – namely, will serial killer Paul Spector (played by Jamie Dornan) ever be brought to justice? As ever, we’re expecting a sometimes uncomfortable but always gripping watch – with cameo appearances from Stella’s excellent work wardrobe.
When does it start? The third season is slated to air later in September
Close To The Enemy
Award-winning writer and director Stephen Poliakoff returns to the small screen in November with Close To The Enemy, his first TV project since Dancing On The Edge in 2013. Set in Blitz-striken London in the aftermath of World War Two, the six-part BBC drama follows a British spy (played by One Day’s Jim Sturgess) as he attempts to persuade a Nazi scientist to hand over military secrets. Sturgess will be joined by an impressive roster of up-and-coming Brit stars, including Alfie Allen, Freddie Highmore and Charlotte Riley.
When does it start? It's slated to arrive on BBC Two in November.
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