Spies, Napoleonic Wars, Greek islands and autism – has there ever been such a wide range of subjects in TV drama? Cast your vote for TV's favourite drama
The Durrells This warm-hearted ITV drama, based on Gerald Durrell’s books, proved a ratings hit. Keeley Hawes starred as Louisa, who takes her oddball family off to Corfu in the hope of brightening up their lives. Louisa also found romance on the island, while young Gerry delighted in looking for exotic animals to add to his collection.
Happy Valley Unhappy Valley might be a more suitable name, as Sarah Lancashire once again had a thoroughly miserable time as Sgt Catherine Cawood. Set 18 months after the first series, Catherine finds herself under suspicion as she is linked to a series of murders…
The Night Manager This BBC1 adaptation of the John le Carré thriller, starring Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman, caused an absolute sensation when it was shown earlier this year. It kept us guessing until the last and also featured some great supporting performances, notably Tom Hollander as the doomed Major Corkoran.
Poldark The jewel in the crown of the BBC’s autumn schedule has one again enraptured viewers, with Aidan Turner in fine form as our brooding hero. Nothing seems to be going right for Poldark at the start of the series, as he found himself languishing in jail and facing the death penalty. Surely things have to pick up for him and Demelza?
War & Peace There’s nothing more ambitious than adapting Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel about love and loss, set against the backdrop of Russia’s wars with Napoleon, and that’s what the BBC did here with this magical series. Lily James, James Norton and Paul Dano played the young leads.
The A Word Christopher Eccleston and Lee Ingleby headed the cast of this excellent BBC1 drama, although it’s arguably newcomer Max Vento who stole the show as a young boy diagnosed with autism. The family realise if they’re ever going to communicate properly with him, they’re going to have to learn how to communicate themselves.
