AMAZON PRIME
Bliss
Had the world been back to normal, Bliss would no doubt have been heading for cinemas, but instead, it has been snapped up by Amazon. It’s an intriguing mix of drama, romance and sci-fi starring Owen Wilson and Salma Hayek.
Had the world been back to normal, Bliss would no doubt have been heading for cinemas. It’s an intriguing mix of drama, romance and sci-fi starring Owen Wilson and Salma Hayek (above)
He plays Greg, whose life is turned on its head by free spirit Isabel (Hayek). She seems to think she’s living in the Matrix – Isabel believes the whole world is a computer simulation – and after spending time with her, Greg thinks she may be right. From Friday
Greenland
Gerard Butler (above) takes on another muscular role in a CGI-laden action-thriller which reteams him with his Angel Has Fallen director Ric Roman Waugh
Gerard Butler takes on another muscular role in a CGI-laden action-thriller which reteams him with his Angel Has Fallen director Ric Roman Waugh. After a huge comet threatens to devastate Earth, an engineer, his estranged wife and their young son embark on an epic journey across the US in search of sanctuary.
Morena Baccarin, Scott Glenn and Hope Davis also star. From Friday
House
Hugh Laurie is brilliant as the misanthropic curmudgeonly, caustic doctor Gregory House whose medical brilliance is surpassed only by his capacity for biting sarcasm.
It’s essentially a medical procedural in which, in every episode, House uses inspired intuition and Holmesian deductive reasoning to diagnose whatever obscure condition is afflicting his patients, while managing to upset everyone in the process.
Hugh Laurie (above) is brilliant as the misanthropic curmudgeonly, caustic doctor Gregory House whose medical brilliance is surpassed only by his capacity for biting sarcasm
It’s very formulaic but it’s a formula that a lot of people loved – at one point House was the most watched TV show in the world and Laurie the highest paid actor in US TV drama. Available now
In Treatment
Gabriel Byrne stars as psychologist Paul Weston in a show originally broadcast each weeknight: the Monday to Thursday episodes charted his therapy sessions with four troubled souls, families or couples, with the fifth featuring a catch-up with his own psychologist, played by Dianne Wiest.
Among the most memorable guest patients are An Officer And A Gentleman star Debra Winger (above) and Mia Wasikowska as a suicidal gymnast
Among the most memorable guest patients are An Officer And A Gentleman star Debra Winger, Mia Wasikowska as a suicidal gymnast and John Mahoney as a CEO suffering from panic attacks. A fourth series, with Uzo Aduba taking over the lead role, is due this year. Available now
BBC iPLAYER & ALL4
Ramy
Ramy (played by comedian Ramy Youssef) is a young Egyptian-American man living in New Jersey. On the one hand, he wants to to be a good Muslim and observe the tenets of his faith.
On the other, he’s a millennial slacker and a big fan of all the temptations of 21st Century life that Islam generally takes a dim view of and which lead him into some distinctly post-watershed situations.
Youssef draws on his own experience as a first-generation American and a Muslim in this comedy-drama, which is an often very funny exploration of the tension between religion and secularism.
Ramy (played by comedian Ramy Youssef, above) is a young Egyptian-American man living in New Jersey He wants to to be a good Muslim and observe the tenets of his faith
Ramy is essentially having a very early mid-life crisis and neither the mosque nor the American culture he is surrounded by has all the answers. Youssef won a Golden Globe for the role. All4, from Friday
Pls Like
The first series had Liam Williams mixing with such self-absorbed and talentless oddities as DumpGhost, Millipede and HoneyDew (Eleanor Nawal, above)
Comedian Liam Williams turns his satirical guns on the narcissistic world of YouTubers and TikTokers in this spot-on comedy, now entering its third series. The first, which set out to ‘expose the vacuousness of vlogging culture’, had Williams mixing with such self-absorbed and talentless oddities as DumpGhost, Millipede and HoneyDew (Eleanor Nawal); in the new series, he learns to be an ‘influencer’.
Subscribe to this. BBC3/iPlayer, from Sunday
Deliver Us
The latest offering from the never-ending Scandi noir production line is a Danish thriller with a dark, psychological twist. At the centre of the tale is Mark, an anti-social young man who takes great pleasure in terrorising his neighbours.
They put up with him until it appears he’s literally got away with murder, but their efforts to silence him for ever have a much deeper impact than anyone expected. Walter Presents/All4, from Friday
Spiral
This excellent Bafta and Emmy-award-winning French crime drama is, sadly, finally over after eight series and 86 episodes, all of which are available. What a trip it’s been.
A sort of gritty Gallic version of The Wire, it provides an eye-opening view of France’s justice system and, indeed, French society. BBC iPlayer, available now
The Mallorca Files
Sometimes daytime shows are better than those airing at primetime – this sun-kissed police drama being a case in point. The second run begins on Monday, but if you missed the first, it’s now available to stream.
Met officer DC Miranda Blake (Elen Rhys) and German detective Max Winter (Julian Looman, above, with Rhys) join forces to investigate crimes committed against expats
Met officer DC Miranda Blake (Elen Rhys) and German detective Max Winter (Julian Looman) join forces to investigate crimes committed against expats living on the island. BBC iPlayer, available now
Mark Kermode’s Secrets Of Cinema
In each episode, Mark Kermode (above) dissects some of cinema’s most popular genres, including romcom, sci-fi and horror
The most recent run ended last week; now all three episodes join their predecessors on the streaming service. In each, the film critic dissects some of cinema’s most popular genres, including romcom, sci-fi and horror. BBC iPlayer, available now
Mark Wright: The Last Chance
During injury time at the end of Crawley’s FA Cup victory over Leeds on January 10, a famous face made his professional football debut. Mark Wright is better known for his time on TOWIE, but his original goal in life was to be a star of the beautiful game.
Mark Wright (above) is better known for his time on TOWIE, but his original goal in life was to be a star of the beautiful game
But despite spells with Spurs, Arsenal and West Ham, he didn’t make the grade. He discusses why as he tries to make a comeback at 33. BBC iPlayer, available now
Why is there such a buzz about..?
Lupin (Netflix)
The smash hit French series begins with Assane Diop (Omar Sy) orchestrating an audacious heist, stealing Marie Antoinette’s necklace from the Louvre.
In flashbacks to 1995, we learn why he is so interested in this particular piece. His father, a Senegalese immigrant and a chauffeur for a wealthy couple, was wrongly accused of stealing it from them years ago and apparently committed suicide.
Now Assane is determined to find out what really happened, a quest that necessitates theft, abduction and breaking into jail and out again.
The smash hit French series stars Omar Sy (above) as Assane Diop
The show’s title comes from Arsène Lupin, a fictional ‘gentleman burglar’ created by novelist Maurice Leblanc. Lupin and his methods are an inspiration for Assane, although it requires some suspension of disbelief to accept that he is, like his hero, a master of disguise, capable of transforming into a little old man – Sy is 6ft 2in tall and built like a tank.
According to Netflix, Lupin is among its most popular shows, up there with Bridgerton and The Queen’s Gambit. It will have been viewed by more than 70 million households in the first 28 days since its release.
Why so popular? A huge star in France, Sy is a magnetic performer capable of both swagger and vulnerability, sometimes at the same time. His scenes with his ex, Claire (Ludivine Sagnier), are charming.
Also, it’s highly entertaining and a very easy watch. Yes, it’s daft but you’re invested in Assane’s mission. So far, we just have the first five episodes which end on a cliffhanger. We’ll get the next five later this year.
Neil Armstrong
SKY/NOW TV, BRITBOX & ACORN TV
The Blacklist
From the moment criminal mastermind Raymond ‘Red’ Reddington (James Spader) handed himself in to the FBI offering to help the bureau catch his most dangerous associates – but only if rookie agent Liz Keen (Megan Boone) was on the task force – it’s been a rollercoaster ride of action, witty one-liners and mysteries.
‘Red’ (James Spader) hands himself in to the FBI and offers to help them catch his most dangerous associates but only if agent Liz Keen (Megan Boone, above) is on the task force
But are we any closer to discovering Red’s real identity? Perhaps series 8, premiering on Tuesday (Sky One, 9pm), will have some answers… Sky/NOW TV, series 1-7 available now
A.P. Bio
Wonderful US comedy starring Glenn Howerton as Jack, a Harvard philosophy professor who, after losing out on his dream job, returns home to Toledo, where he lands the role of advanced placement biology (aka A.P. Bio) teacher at a local high school.
Wonderful US comedy starring Glenn Howerton as Jack (above centre, with Patton Oswalt as Jack’s boss and Paula Pell as Helen DeMarcus), a Harvard philosophy professor
However, he has no intention of instructing his pupils in their given subject. Instead, he plans to use their brains to help him gain revenge over a rival. Sky/NOW, available now
Armstrong & Miller
After wowing the crowds at the Edinburgh Fringe, Ben Miller and Alexander Armstrong launched their first TV sketch show in 1997, which ran until 2001 on Channel 4.
After wowing the crowds at the Edinburgh Fringe, Ben Miller and Alexander Armstrong (above) launched their first TV sketch show in 1997, which ran until 2001 on Channel 4
All episodes are now heading our way, allowing fans to relive the joys of spoof costume drama Brunswicke Park and Big Brother parody Bog Hose House, among many other highlights. BritBox, from Thursday
Leaving Neverland
British film-maker Dan Reed’s Emmy-winning documentary tells the story of Wade Robson (above, with Michael Jackson) and James Safechuck
British film-maker Dan Reed’s Emmy-winning documentary tells the story of Wade Robson and James Safechuck. They were befriended by Jackson as children and, after the singer’s death, said he had sexually abused them.
Their testimony is compelling. BritBox, from Thursday
Lost In Austen
A lighthearted fantasy in which present-day romantic singleton Amanda (Jemima Rooper) is lured by Elizabeth Bennet (a brilliant Gemma Arterton, above) from her London bedroom
A lighthearted fantasy in which present-day romantic singleton Amanda (Jemima Rooper) is lured by Elizabeth Bennet (a brilliant Gemma Arterton) from her London bedroom, through a magic portal, to take her place as a character in Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice – with calamitous consequences. BritBox, available now
The Missing File
A terrorist attack, and a missing person appear unrelated, but as Detective Avi (Moris Cohen) delves deeper, he discovers an alarming link. Also stars Orna Banai (above)
Gripping eight-part Israeli detective drama. It focuses on efforts to solve two puzzling cases – one is a terrorist attack, and the other involves a missing person. They appear unrelated, but as Detective Avi (Moris Cohen) delves deeper, he discovers an alarming link.
Also stars Orna Banai. Acorn TV, available now
NETFLIX
Firefly Lane
A ten-part adaptation of Kristin Hannah’s bestselling book. Sarah Chalke and Katherine Heigl play Tully and Kate, who have been friends since they were teenagers.
Although looking for different things in life, their bond seems unbreakable – until an act of betrayal threatens to tear the pair apart. From Tuesday
Call My Agent!
The fourth season of the French comedy drama about an actors’ agency in Paris is supposed to be the last. It’s a shame as more fans are discovering what started out as a cult hit.
ASK, the agency, numbers some of the biggest names in French cinema among its clients but is perpetually in crisis, with its agents (including Nicolas Maury) squabbling among themselves and trying to stop their actors being poached by other firms while also dealing with their impossible demands.
ASK, the agency, numbers some of the biggest names in French cinema among its clients but is perpetually in crisis. Agents include Nicolas Maury (above)
It features huge French stars such as Monica Bellucci, Isabelle Huppert and Juliette Binoche appearing as versions of themselves. It’s an ensemble piece, but agent Andréa (Camille Cottin) is the central character. Available now
Space Sweepers
Space Sweepers has been billed as the first South Korean space opera blockbuster. It’s the year 2092 and Earth is no longer habitable. Humanity has migrated to stations orbiting the planet.
Our heroes are a crew of trash collectors who make their living clearing the space debris – including old spaceships and that sort of thing – that causes havoc if left drifting around up there.
However, the sweepers’ world is turned upside down when they pick up what is apparently an android bomb in the form of an extremely cute child. From Friday