Prepare to be highly entertained as these gems come to our screens
If you want to be part of the conversation over the next few weeks, make sure you’ve seen at least some of these TV shows. From returning reality TV favourites to mysterious drama and gripping suspense, we won’t care what the weather is like outside once we’re curled up in front of these.
Dancing with the Stars – RTÉ (5 Jan)
It’s time to sit back and grab our imaginary judging paddles as a fresh flurry of Irish celebrities and well-known faces take to the dancefloor to show us what they can do. Expect to see TV presenter Elaine Crowley, actress and influencer Kaleigh Trappe, Olympic gold medallist Rhys McClenaghan and comedian Gearóid Farrelly in the lineup and a new face on the judging panel. Pro dancer and two-time DWTS winner Karen Byrne will join veteran adjudicators Loraine Barry, Brian Redmond and Arthur Gourounlian while Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy return as presenters.
The Traitors – BBC One (1 Jan)
We cannot WAIT for the Irish version of show ever which will be hosted by the inimitable Siobhán McSweeney but until that arrives on our screens, we will be glued to the UK series which started on New Year’s Day. Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, three ‘traitors’ must successfully pull the wool over their ‘faithful’ counterparts to walk away with a huge sum of money. Expect psychological mind games, bluffing, loud protestations of innocence and a game that will leave you on the edge of your seat. There’s also an added Irish interest in it this year as one of the contestants is a swim teacher from Co Wicklow.
Room to Improve – RTÉ (5 Jan)
If you never laid eyes on a calendar, you’d know it was January because Room to Improve is back on our screens. Whether you love Dermot’s designs or love to scoff at the ever-increasing size of the windows (“Who’re they going to get to clean those?”), it’s must-see TV for most of the population of Ireland if you’re over the age of thirty. Will be the year you finally figure out where people keep finding an extra 100k they didn’t know they had to finish a renovation? Probably not. But it’s worth watching for the comments on social media alone.
Missing You – Netflix
Yes, the plot holes are big enough to drive a car into and the flashbacks are so recurrent that you could actually catch a few micronaps and still stay abreast of the storyline but never-the-less, when the latest Harlan Coben adaptation drops on Netflix, we all watch it. In this one, Detective Kat Donovan’s world unravels when she finds her estranged fiancé on a dating app and ensuing events lead her to reopen her father’s unsolved murder.
With Love, Meghan – Netflix*
Meghan Markle is doing her best Martha Stewart impersonation in the trailer for her latest documentary for Netflix. Filled with stunning shots of the former Royal as the ultimate homemaker, it shows her preparing food, arranging flowers, tending her herb garden, collecting honey and clinking glasses with friends (including Mindy Kaling) in a way that is as captivating as it is cringeworthy. It’s another box ticked in the couple’s $100 million deal with the streaming giant and even if we’re watching it between our fingers, you better believe we’re going to watch it.
The White Lotus S3 – Sky (16 Feb)
Sun, scandal, sex and murder are the key ingredients in all of The White Lotus instalments to date and this one, set in Thailand, looks to be no different. And we couldn’t be happier about it! Created by Mike White, this season features yet another all-star cast including Michelle Monaghan, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sex Education’s Aimee Lou Wood. Let’s just say, if it’s even half as good as the previous two seasons, we’re all in for a wild ride. Watch the trailer and the put the date in your calendar.
Zero Day – Netflix (20 Feb)
After the success of The Diplomat, it’s not surprising that Netflix has commissioned yet another political thriller for its audience. This one sees Robert De Niro in his first ever regular TV series role as a former U.S. President who is called out of retirement to find the source of a deadly cyberattack. Unfortunately, once he starts working on it, he discovers a vast web of lies and conspiracies that makes him question everything the thought he knew. The series also stars Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons and Angela Basset and will be available to watch next month.
*The release of With Love, Meghan documentary was delayed until 4 Mar due to the Los Angeles wildfires that had a devastating impact on the area.
