Here's our latest edition of The Watchlist, an exciting new feature on What To Watch, updated weekly, which sees our team pick the very best TV shows.
It might be a new series that's landed on BBC iPlayer or a hidden gem on Netflix, but we promise our picks will have you hooked. This week we have a Netflix crime drama with a difference, a gripping ITV thriller, and much, much more.
Check out all of our Watchlist picks right here... plus we have our best TV shows streaming this week guide with all the shows we're looking forward to.
Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix)
Are you in the mood for a detective show but want something more unique than your typical thriller Enter: Dead Boy Detectives, Netflix’s high-spirited supernatural mystery show.
The new entry in Netflix’s Sandman universe, Dead Boy Detectives follows Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Kayden Revri), two teens who were born (and died) decades apart. In death, Edwin and Charles forge a friendship and set out to solve mysteries. Together, the pair take on conundrums from fellow ghosts, solving disappearances, demonic possessions, and more with the help of a clairvoyant called Crystal Palace (yes, really).
Dead Boy Detectives is a zippy, fun series with a wry sense of humor, and deserves a spot on your streaming rotation. — Martin Shore
Red Eye (ITVX)
Red Eye is ITV’s latest, high-flying thriller. Set primarily aboard an all-night flight between London and Beijing, we follow Dr. Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage), who is being escorted by DC Hana Li (Jing Lusi) as he stands accused of a murder he swears he did not commit. As the case continues to unravel, things get worse on board flight NCA 357. Evidence of a growing conspiracy starts to pile up… as do the bodies!
It’s a thriller that’s perfect for anyone (like me) who enjoyed last year’s Apple TV Plus drama, Hijack. Like the Idris Elba series, Red Eye’s built up some solid momentum as fresh twists come along, and I’m intrigued to see how it plays out. And if you’re impatiently waiting for the ending, you can stream the whole lot on ITVX as a box set. — Martin Shore
Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star season 6 (BBC iPlayer)
Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star season 6 sees eight aspiring artists compete to be crowned Britain's next make-up star as they create jaw-dropping transformations in order to impress judges Val Garland and Dominic Skinner.
Each week, the young MUAs must master every creative brief, from producing looks for Lady Gaga's global brand, Haus Labs to creating theatrical looks for smash hit Six the Musical.
The two make-up artists who fall short in the creative brief then go head-to-head to show off their skill in the tense Face-Off Elimination, where their nerves are put to the test even more when Val whips out her magnifying glass to check every minute detail.
The MUAs talents will have you in awe of their stunning masterpieces and how their stories drive their creativity. — Grace Morris
Shōgun (Disney Plus)
It took me a while to get around to watching Shōgun but I'm so glad I found the time, as it's continued to be appointment TV as the series has continued to air.
This magnetic miniseries (based on James Clavell’s novel of the same name) transports us back to Japan in the year 1600, at the dawn of a civil war. It’s an immersive watch, conjuring a brutal vision of feudal Japan that’s beautifully made, telling a mature, tense story fuelled by its talented ensemble and the characters they play.
The season finale has now arrived, making now the perfect time to dive in if you haven’t already. — Martin Shore
The Block Island Sound (Netflix)
Finding Netflix's own horror movies a bit samey, I wanted something different to watch so I put on the 2020 indie movie The Block Island Sound and it was a great decision!
The movie is about a family living on an island off of Rhode Island called Block Island (wow, that's a lot of "islands"!). A strange noise from out at sea starts causing bizarre happenings, including the mass deaths of animals and strange behaviour from townspeople, and the surviving members of the family have to work out what's going on.
It's an incredibly atmospheric story about a man going mad, and while it's a little slow it keeps you going with the main character's descent into madness as you wonder what he'll do next. Plus, unlike most slow-burn horrors, it actually does conclude in a satisfying way with lots of answers.
I also wasn't expecting Jim Cummings to show up in a fantastic performance as a paranoid conspiracy nut, which was an extra little treat. — Tom Bedford
Mammoth (BBC iPlayer)
This is such a good idea for a comedy it's amazing no one's made it before. Think Life on Mars in reverse as 1970s PE teacher Tony Mammoth (Mike Bubbins) wakes up in the modern world decades after apparently being killed in an avalanche.
Somehow he secures his old job back and is shocked by how things have changed — like how come he can't smoke his pipe in class?! And why is it deemed inappropriate to hit on all the mums at parent’s evening? During one wooing effort, to get rid of the mum's son he says: "Here's 10p Jason, go and get a Marathon from the tuck shop".
This is especially joyous for anyone who experienced a PE teacher just like Tony back in the day. Plus, the support cast is great including Car Share's Sian Gibson as a worried mum. — David Hollingsworth
Renegade Nell (Disney Plus)
Renegade Nell is the latest series penned by Sally Wainwright… which should be enough to convince you to at least try streaming this historical fantasy adventure, given she’s behind top-tier shows like Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack.
The series follows Nell Jackson (Derry Girls’ Louisa Harland), a quick-witted young woman who ends up becoming the most notorious outlaw in 18th-century England after being framed for murder. With the help of a sprite called Billy Blind (who gives Nell some seriously impressive fighting skills) and a small circle of friends, she sets out to clear her name… realizing that her destiny is bigger than she could ever have imagined along the way.
It’s a lively, high-spirited, and action-packed adventure and one that I’d recommend checking out as What To Watch’s resident fantasy nerd. — Martin Shore
The Cuckoo (Channel 5)
Told over four episodes, The Cuckoo is the perfect binge-worthy TV series for those looking for a tense thriller. It stars Jill Halfpenny as lodger Sian, who moves in with a couple and their daughter, Alice, who have made the decision to rent out a room to help ease financial pressures.
At first, Sian seems too good to be true. She cooks for the family, is happy to pay a large deposit upfront, and seems to bond with Alice. But things soon take a much darker turn and it's clear Sian has a motive for why she's there... — Lucy Buglass
Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Baby Reindeer is a darkly comedic Netflix series based on the one-man stage play by comedian Richard Gadd. The series follows a struggling Scottish comic named Donny Dunn (Gadd) who moves to London and ends up being stalked by a customer who walks into the pub he works at.
At first, Donny feels sorry for Martha (Jessica Gunning), a loner who claims she can't afford a cup of tea, so he gives her one on the house. But she soon becomes obsessed with him, finding his email on his comedy website and bombarding him with messages that grow increasingly more unhinged.
The series is an excellent examination of mental health, particularly when it comes to Donny, who is forced to confront a past trauma while Martha's stalking becomes more and more frequent. — Lucy Buglass
Fallout (Prime Video)
Prime Video has brought the Wasteland to our screens! At long last, the hotly-anticipated video game adaptation has aired… and (after The Last Of Us) is further proof that shows based on games can be brilliant.
Set more than 200 years after a nuclear war scarred the planet, Fallout follows three survivors — Lucy, “The Ghoul”, and Maximus — whose personal missions see the trio crossing paths with some of the many, many dangers that call these irradiated lands their home. The show’s fast-paced and packed with action, and the creators have preserved the franchise’s trademark wild, wacky, and darkly comic tone, making Fallout a journey that’s totally worth taking.
All eight episodes are available to stream right now, too. And we’ve got tons of coverage on site as well, ranging from an exploration of the real-life Fallout locations that were used in the show to a chat with the producers on how they adapted the franchise’s ‘vast and crazy world’ for their new Wasteland tale. — Martin Shore
Sugar (Apple TV Plus)
Sugar is about the eponymous detective, played by Colin Farrell, who's tasked with hunting down the missing granddaughter to a powerful Hollywood producer. The more Sugar investigates, the more he's led down a rabbit hole of secrets and criminal underworlds. Standard detective stuff.
But with a breezy pace, wry sense of humor and creative approach to film-making that you don't see much in prestige TV, I've been enjoying what I've seen so far of Sugar. I especially like the main character himself: he's an optimistic, open-hearted and pacifist hero, and I feel like I rarely see characters like that in TV nowadays.
I'm admittedly a big fan of classic film noir, and if you are too then you'll love all the nods and winks at the biggies of the genre (and I've a whole guide on some of the show's references here). But new detective ideas like GPS tracking, computers and social media profiles are all folded into the standard tropes in a really gentle and smart way. — Tom Bedford
Ripley (Netflix)
Steven Zaillian’s Ripley is the latest adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s celebrated thriller, The Talented Mr. Ripley. This new Netflix series is a slow-burn, intense study of our unlikeable lead, and a vastly different visual take on the story many know from Anthony Minghella’s 1999 movie adaptation.
Zaillian’s eight-episode series immerses us in the life of Tom Ripley (played by the eminently watchable Andrew Scott), a small-time conman who is just scraping by in New York City… until a wealthy businessman hires him to bring his son back from his life of luxury in Italy, a job that spirals out into a life of lies, fraud, and murder.
Presented in striking monochrome, Ripley is a striking, film noir take on the well-known tale, and one you should start streaming ASAP. — Martin Shore
Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr season 5 (BBC iPlayer)
Grab your paintbrush as Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr season 5 is back with another series as ten designers compete to win a coveted commercial interior design contract.
Whether they're an upholstery expert or a talented painter, each of the designers have their own unique skills they can use to transform a commercial space, whether that be an activity centre at Chester Zoo or decorating a hospitality box at Ascot Racecourse.
Their artistry is judged by design expert and former editor of Elle Decoration Michelle Ogundehin, along with some special guest judges, who decide which designers have created her "Stand Out Space" and who will be sent home each week.
The series is hosted by comedian Alan Carr, who is always on-hand to give us some laughs as the contestants get busy decorating! — Grace Morris
The Gentlemen (Netflix)
The Gentlemen is a Netflix spin-off of the recent Guy Ritchie movie of the same name. Anyone who’s a fan of Ritchie’s work won’t be disappointed with the director’s first TV project, as it packs in everything you’d expect from one of his crime capers.
We’re following a new character this time around: Eddie Horniman (Theo James, The White Lotus season 2) has inherited his father’s rather large estate, becoming the Duke of Halstead. Except this isn’t any country estate, it’s also home to a sizeable cannabis empire, run by career criminal, Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone). Worse, it’s an operation that other members of the British criminal underworld want a piece of.
The fun all comes from following Eddie as he tries to pull his family away from those unsavoury characters… only to start developing a taste for criminality himself. — Martin Shore
