After a long and miserable winter, Spring is doing everything it can to burst through. Try as it might, and as much as we can hope, long, sun-kissed evenings sat in a pub garden are still a way away. The silver lining is that the dregs of winter mark the perfect time to start a new TV show – and thankfully this year we're spoilt for choice. So, if you want to find out about the best TV shows for 2024, you've come to the right place.
From novel adaptations to comedy debuts, 2024 is off to a strong start on the TV front. Some of our old favourites returned (though it's a shame Emily in Paris wasn't ready to binge in the Christmas-NYE interim), The White Lotus star Leo Woodall and This is Going to Hurt's Ambika Mod took centre stage in David Nicholls' Netflix adaption of One Day and Claudia Winkleman was back wearing a huge hood and causing chaos in a castle for season two of The Traitors.
And that's before we look ahead to the exciting debut comedies like Big Mood, which is coming later this month and stars Bridgerton and Derry Girls actor Nicola Coughlan and It's a Sin star Lydia West. There's also a TV adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley out in April that you might not have heard about – starring man of the moment, Andrew Scott.
To put it another way, we might still be living in a bleak and unaffordable world, but there are no more excuses to sit on the sofa watching old episodes of Grand Designs and Dinner Date this year (though we won't blame you if you do).
Without further ado, here's a list of the top TV shows to get excited about this year. And for those who are a bit behind, you can find all the best shows to catch up on at the bottom of this article.
What are the best TV shows for 2024?
Feud: Capote vs The Swans – 17 April, Disney+
The second season in the 'Feud' anthology, this eight-episode series is based on the bestselling book Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era by Laurence Leamer. It follows acclaimed writer Truman Capote as he destroys his friendships with the jet setting socialites of New York City high society by writing a thinly-fictionalised account of their scandalous and hedonistic personal lives in his novel Answered Prayers.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz – 2 May, Sky Atlantic
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a 2018 Holocaust novel by New Zealand novelist Heather Morris, which has been adapted for television for Sky Atlantic. It follows the real-life story of Lale Sokolov, a Jewish prisoner who was tasked with tattooing ID numbers on prisoners' arms in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during the Second World War.
Bridgerton, Season 3 – 16 May, Netflix
The Shondaland series is set to dive into Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton’s (Luke Newton) romance – a narrative sidestep from the Julia Quinn books the show was originally based on. The first four episodes of the new season will premiere on 16 May, and the next four will be available to stream on 13 June.
Emily in Paris, Season 4 – Coming soon, Netflix
Love it or hate it, everyone's guilty pleasure is back for a fourth season in 2024. Our favourite expat Emily is still very much still in Paris, her love life is still a mess and the cliffhangers from season three are yet to be resolved. We can't wait to see what nonsensical storylines and outrageous outfits the show has in store.
Joan – Coming soon, ITVX
Woman of the moment, Sophie Turner stars as the notorious jewel thief Joan Hannington in ITV's upcoming drama. The six-part series is based on the protagonist's memoir, I Am What I Am: The True Story of Britain’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief, and is set in vibrant 1980s London.
Kaiser Karl - Coming soon, Disney +
Kaiser Karl is the upcoming French Original series chronicling the rise of fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld through the world of 1970s Parisian high fashion. It's set in 1972 when Lagerfeld, aged thirty-eight, was a little-known fashion designer. After meeting and falling in love with Jacques de Bascher, he finds himself in competition with Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, the head of the most prestigious fashion brand around.
Black Doves – Coming soon, Netflix
Keira Knightley is back in the fold in Netflix’s new thriller. It's set to land on the platform sometime in 2024. They've kept the plot largely under wraps, but here's what we know about Black Doves so far: 'The series follows Helen embarking on a passionate affair that endangers her carefully constructed web of subterfuge.'
Squid Game, Series 2 – Coming soon, Netflix
The terrifying fatal gameshow that's won multiple awards, become a real life reality show and inspired halloween costumes around the world is returning. The first series of Squid Game became a global phenomenon and the second one is coming to Netflix later this year. It will follow Gi-hun as he abandons his plans to go to the US and starts a chase with a motive.
Shows to catch up on in 2024:
Ripley – Streaming now, Netflix
For fans of The Talented Mr Ripley, this new series is a reboot with a twist. The eight-part psychological thriller dives into Tom Ripley's character, played by the supremely talented Andrew Scott, and largely follows the same plot as the 1999 film. It's set in 1960s New York when Tom Ripley is hired by a wealthy man to convince his wayward son to return home from Italy. But after meeting Dickie Greenleaf (played by Johnny Flynn), Mr Ripley becomes an infatuated and relentless criminal.
Big Mood – Streaming now, Channel 4
We've had Big Boys, Big Brother and Big Little Lies, and now Channel 4 has introduced us to Big Mood – starring Lydia West and Nicola Coughlan. The six-part series explores the intricacies of female friendship when confronted with serious mental illness. But don't worry, there are some big laughs along the way too.
Palm Royale – Streaming now, Apple TV
It's always good to have a bit of Kristen Wiig in our lives. And in March, she returned to our screens to play a woman who reconstructs her identity in the 1960s after she was dismissed by her husband and her entire social circle. Charming! It's another novel adaptation, based on Mr. & Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel.
The Regime – Streaming now, Sky/ NOW
The Regime, if you can believe it, depicts a year in a palace of a crumbling authoritarian regime. Kate Winslet plays the chancellor of the fictional Central European autocracy in the HBO show, who finds her position threatened by domestic turmoil.
The Gentleman – Streaming now, Netflix
If this name sounds familiar, it's because it is. That's right The Gentleman is Guy Ritchie's new series, which is set to pick up where his 2019 film of the same name left off. Theo James plays Eddie Halstead, a man who has inherited a large estate from his father, but learns that the land has become part of Mickey Pearson's weed-growing empire.
Alice & Jack – Streaming now, Channel 4
This eerie romantic drama created and written by Victor Levin stars Birdman's Andrea Riseborough and About Time's Domhnall Gleeson. And if that's not enough to sell it to you, it also stars Aisling Bea, Sunil Patel and Aimee Lou Wood.
The New Look – Streaming now, Apple TV+
The New Look on Apple TV depicts the life of Christian Dior in Paris after World War II when he created his fashion line that unofficially got named 'New Look'. No, not the high street brand. We're still waiting on that series to be given the green light...
One Day – Streaming now, Netflix
For fans of David Nicholls (or anyone with respect for Northern accents), may we turn your attention towards the 12-episode TV adaptation of his best selling novel One Day. The 2011 film version, featuring Anne Hathaway as the Northern belle Emma Morley, was met with mixed reviews. But the Netflix version (starring Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall) has been a smash hit. You don't want to miss it.
Mr & Mrs Smith – Streaming now, Prime Video
This is the Mr & Mrs Smith reboot you didn't know you needed – with a much less dramatic marketing strategy than the 2005 film. Donald Glover (also known as Childish Gambino) and Maya Erskine recreate the iconic characters first (and infamously) played by exes Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. It offers a very different and arguably more seductive take on the story and has eight whole episodes to play with.
Domino Day – Streaming now, BBC Three
If you're after some science fiction from your TV viewing, then you might want to tune into Domino Day on BBC Three. Starring Siena Kelly, it's been described as a modern day witch drama about a young woman desperately trying to figure out who she is.
Masters of the Air – Streaming now, Apple TV
Good news for Austin Butler fans, he plays a pilot in this World War II drama. It's based on the 2007 book Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany by Donald L. Miller and follows the 100th Bomb Group of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Yes, Austin's finally managed to shift his Elvis accent...
Ex Pats – Streaming now, Prime Video
Lulu Wang's upcoming series looks at the personal and professional lives of a tight-knit group of expatriates living in Hong Kong. Starring Nicole Kidman, the six-part series is based on the 2016 novel The Expatriates by Janice Y. K. Lee. It's described as a show 'where affluence is celebrated, friendships are intense but knowingly temporary, and personal lives, deaths and marriages are played out publicly—then retold with glee'.
Griselda – Streaming now, Netflix
This is Sofia Vergara as you've never seen her before. The Modern Family star takes on the role of the 'Godmother of Cocaine', Griselda Blanco, in Netflix's new series about her life. Brought to us by the creative team behind Narcos, it hopes to humanise the legendary Columbian drug lord (who even Pablo Escobar was scared of) and explores her origin story in a new light.
The Tourist, Series 2 – Streaming now, BBC One and iPlayer
If you're a fan of the BBC drama thriller The Tourist, starring Jamie Dornan and Danielle Macdonald, then you'll be pleased to here series two arrived on BBC One on New Year's Day. And this time, they've swapped Australia for Ireland. Time to catch up!
The Traitors, Series 2 – Streaming now, BBC One and iPlayer
It was everyone's favourite word-of-mouth success in 2022, and second series of The Traitors was no different. The format stayed the same, but the characters, the twists and the outcome was totally different. If for some wild and unimaginable reason you missed it, cancel all your plans and binge it now.
True Detective, Season 4 – Streaming now, Sky/ NOW
Everyone loved the first season of True Detective, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. The second season didn't go down as well (it starred Vince Vaughn, so the less said about that the better). The third was led by Mahershala Ali and didn't make much of an impact either. But the fourth seems to have restored the shows reputation with a whopping 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Cristóbal Balenciaga – Streaming now, Disney+
If you're after something visually pleasing ahead of Spring, then you might want to watch this scripted six-part drama series inspired by the life and legacy of the iconic Spanish fashion designer, Balenciaga.
Nikki Peach is news and entertainment writer at Grazia UK, working across pop culture, TV and current affairs.