Most Popular TV Shows In The UK In 2023

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People have been turning to television screens for much-needed entertainment for a while now, and luckily for everyone, the selection of shows is better than ever. Not only that we can enjoy an incredible variety of cable TV programmes, but we can also explore the offering of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Of course, some shows are just more popular than others, and if you were wondering which titles are in high demand in the UK in 2023, continue reading…

The Last of Us

The adaptation of The Last of Us was a pretty big challenge for HBO since it was based on a famous video game that sold 37 million copies. Obviously, the game is followed by a passionate fan base and the fans actually made it clear that they expect the result to match the original as much as possible. Meeting such high expectations was not easy, but after only a few episodes, it was clear that the series is going to be a huge success. The show is getting the classic hype that usually follows big HBO titles, and the two leads (Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay) are particularly praised. It seems like HBO created another big hit, and the Brits are surely supporting it. 

Love Island

Love Island is one of the reality shows that experienced global success, mostly thanks to the fact that its format was sold to 13 different countries in the world, including America and Australia. In the UK only, it attracts close to 3 million viewers per episode. Love Island showcases a group of attractive single people staying in a luxury villa as they go on a mission to find love. And once they are coupled, the strong will and the loyalty of the participants continue being tested by new singles entering the house. Having first aired in 2015, it gathered a passionate viewership, and it has become so popular that nowadays people actually bet on the show online. The fans are attracted by the numerous tricks, thrills, and exciting love triangles, and trying to guess which participant will claim the £50,000 reward adds a bit more anticipation to the whole story. 

Doctor Who

Doctor Who comes back as a widely anticipated title, promising more thrill and excitement than ever. According to the latest announcement, the new season which is planned for the end of 2023 will bring us two new Time Lords. First, we will see the return of David Tennant as the 14th Doctor in a row, and then his place will be taken by Ncuti Gatwa, the star of another new hit titled Sex Education. However, the fans are super excited about the return of Tennant who appeared in the show from 2005 to 2010, as well as the fact that he will be joined by Catherine Tate who also comes back as Donna – the Doctor’s companion for the 60th-anniversary specials. On top of that, the adored showrunner Russell T. Davies returns to the role of the series writer.

Love and Death

Passionate fans of true crime will probably recognise the story of Candy Montgomery, an average housewife from Texas who ended up killing Betty Gore who was a close friend of her ex-lover Allan. The crime happened in 1980 when Montgomery attacked Betty with 41 strikes of an axe. Love and Death is the latest take on the gruesome story, following closely the 2022’s Candy – a miniseries from Hulu. Love and Death is a version of the story featuring Elizabeth Olsen starring as Candy Montgomery, while the whole version is the responsibility of the talented David E. Kelly. Moreover, the show is packed with a bunch of star players including Krysten Ritter and Elizabeth Marvel. 

Dragon’s Den

Dragon’s Den is a business reality show that originally comes from Japan. And the fact that it also has its counterpart in the United States titled Shark Tank tells a lot about its popularity. The show invites inventors and entrepreneurs to meet a group of wealthy investors known as the Dragons where they can pitch their ideas, products, and companies. The contestants do their best to get the attention of the Dragons, hoping they will secure an investment in return for a share of their business. Over the course of the years, the series has uncovered many incredible entrepreneurs who continued building their businesses on the foundation of their success in the show. On the other hand, the show also featured a number of failed ideas that had to face a tough grilling from the Dragons. 

Nolly

Nolly is the nickname of the fallen soap star Noele Gordon who was a star back in the ’80s. The drama created by Russell T. Davies tells a story about a queen who lost her crown after being fired from the legendary British soap opera called Crossroads, even though she was at the top of her career at the time. The leading role is portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter, and the show promises to unravel one of the greatest scandals of the ’80s British television. 

Fatal Attraction

Fatal Attraction is the latest adaptation of Adrian Lyne’s 1987 movie, now told and presented by Paramount+. The original story follows Dan Gallagher, a successful lawyer and a family man who meets a woman named Alex Forrest and gets into a passionate affair with her. However, the affair quickly spirals out of control when Alex begins to present erratic and even violent behaviour. The exciting story now gets a new turn, as the new Fatal Attraction picks up where the original version ended. The plot is set in a whole new decade (the 2010s), and the hectic New York environment is now replaced by a fresh Californian setting. After 10 or 15 years, we see Dan trying to seek parole for Alex’s murder, while also dealing with alienation from his daughter who is now an adult. 

The Great British Bake Off

The Great British Bake Off, also known as The Great British Baking Show in the United States has risen to become a global phenomenon. The main reason behind its huge success lies in the fact that the show presents a positive, feel-good attitude from the beginning to the end, which makes it stand out among the other dramatic titles that dominate today’s television. The series follows a group of amateur bakers who all compete for the title of the best, doing whatever they can to overcome tough challenges and master a number of different recipes in the process. However, despite the pressure and the tension, all the participants continue to support each other and even provide assistance when possible. 

Stonehouse

Matthew Macfadyen, the star of this 1970s set drama series, portrays a disgraced politician named John Stonehouse, together with the actor’s actual wife Keeley Hawes. The plot revolves around the true story of the British minister Stonehouse and his peculiar 1974 disappearance from a hotel in Florida. Since all that he left behind was a pile of clothes on the beach, his wife assumes that he drowned. However, Stonehouse actually faked his own death so he could escape to Australia and run away from all the scandals that he got involved with. Even though the series consists of only three episodes, it offers premium entertainment that will keep you on edge the whole time. 

Poker Face

This goofy but highly appealing murder-mystery features Natasha Lyonne in the leading role, and the overall quality and the excitement is what we owe to the show’s creator – Rian Johnson. Lyonne stars in the show as a casino cocktail waitress with the rare ability to notice whenever a person is lying. And from one episode to another, she continues solving different mysteries that the viewers could easily follow independently, without having to watch the rest of the show. Her character is a well-developed one, mostly thanks to the skills that Rian Johnson perfected throughout his Knives Out films that portray exaggerated personalities. 

Yellowjackets

The initial premiere of Yellowjackets immediately launched the series among some of the biggest television hits, and it remained as popular now as the fans are eager to see it continue. Their wish will finally come true at the end of March when all the surviving high school football players from the show are bound to return in Season 2. After seeing some of the characters perish in the wilderness, the viewers are left pondering the destinies of the ones who survived. The new season will help the fans find answers to mind-boggling questions like whether Lottie’s cult captured Natalie and whether Shauna will manage to get away with Adam’s murder.

Incredible titles continue to pop up on our television screens, and as a viewer, it may get hard to focus on the finest ones. But after reading this extensive guide on some of the most popular TV shows in the UK, you will be ready to spend your time in 2023 watching only the best of the best.