The best TV shows of the year so far

By Helena Kealey on 25/5/2018

We're not even half way through, and 2018's TV has been some of the best ever. Here are the best TV shows of 2018, and how to watch them

Derry Girls, Channel 4 ★★★★★

In our opinion, Derry Girls has been not only the funniest comedy show of the year so far, but possibly the best and most re-watchable programme in the whole of 2018. Not everyone agrees with us, though.

Set in Derry in the 1990s, six rebellious Catholic school girls are dealing with the nightmare of puberty, parents, exams and the ever-present IRA.

Six tightly written episodes see our protagonist 16-year-old Erin Quinn (Saoirse Jackson) go from fighting with her mad, diary-stealing cousin Orla to eventually coming to her rescue as Orla humiliates herself on stage. Trust us, it's hilarious.

WHERE

Watch on channel4.com

The Assassination of Gianni Versace ★★★★★

From the makers of the gripping The People v OJ Simpson this glamorous drama is based on the real-life murder of designer Gianni Versace, delving into the surreal life of compulsive liar Andrew Cunanan, played by Glee actor Darren Criss and Gianni's sister Donatella Verace, played by Penélope Cruz.

Murderous minds, clandestine sexual practices and the lives of the rich and famous collide in this visually magnificent drama.

WHERE

Buy it on Amazon or iTunes

A Very English Scandal, BBC One ★★★★★

Outstanding performances from Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw have seen this dark - and surprisingly funny - BBC drama based on the true story of murderous MP.

It follows the story of Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the Liberal Party from 1967 to 1976, who fell from power under a hailstorm of accusations that he'd had a secret homosexual relationship in the 60s (when such things were illegal) and had plotted to have his ex-lover Norman Scott murdered to stop the story getting out.

A Very English Scandal offers up the very worst of English society with wit and verve. It’s almost as good as sleeping with your secretary.

WHERE

On BBC iPlayer now

Atlanta, BBC Two ★★★★★

Emotionally fraught and in equal measure joyous, hopeful and bleak, Glover originally wrote Atlanta to give America (and now BBC Two audiences) an insight into the Black experience, telling FX on the Television Critics Association press tour: 'you can’t write that down. You have to feel it.'

WHERE

On BBC iPlayer now

Patrick Melrose, Sky Atlantic ★★★★★

Benedict Cumberbatch finds his ultimate role with 'narcissistic, schizoid, suicidal alcoholic' Patrick Melrose in a compelling adaptation of Edward St Aubyn's novels.

Possibly the best TV drama of the year – certainly of the year so far – the lives of wealthy, upper-class English family living in the South of France and tormenting one another has collected astonishing reviews from everyone, including us.

Cumberbatch plays Patrick Melrose, a man who turns to drug and alcohol abuse to cope with the trauma of a childhood being spent abused by his father.

WHERE

Airing on Sky Atlantic, watch on NOWTV

Keeping Faith, BBC

Watched by an astonishing nine million people, this Welsh noir thriller sees former Broadchurch star Eve Myles play Faith Howells, a young mother and solicitor whose husband Evan suddenly vanishes.

An unexpected stand-out drama, Keeping Faith is currently unavailable to watch on the BBC but with a second series in the works, there's a high chance it'll re-appear either on the BBC streaming service or on Netflix. We'll let you know if it does.

Collateral, BBC ★★★★★

The four-part police thriller on BBC Two stars Hollywood heroine Carey Mulligan as its leading lady (she comes full circle since appearing in Doctor Who in 2007), Billie Piper (also a famous Doctor Who veteran) and Hayley Squires, (who shone in I, Daniel Blake) and a whole host of other women.

David Hare's complex murder mystery BBC drama that started on a high and did – in our opinion – go off the boil as the series went on. Nonetheless, it was one of the most remarkable series, admired for both its complicated, interwoven plot and moral judgement cast on twenty-first British society.

WHERE

Currently unavailable

Evil Genius, Netflix

We've all been so obsessed with true crime stories for ages now – from podcasts like Serial to the new documentary we're all going to be cooing over shortly (also on Netflix) The Staircase – that it's hardly a surprise at least one of them has made the list of the best TV of the year so far.

Investigating one of the craziest bank robberies ever, we return to Pennsylvania in 2003 for a Netflix documentary about a pizza delivery driver who walked into a bank with a bomb locked around his neck, demanding money, claiming he was being coerced.

WHERE

Netflix