The most exciting TV still to come in 2022 from 'The Crown' to 'House of the Dragon'

We're midway through 2022 and have already seen some golden TV moments - Jamie Dornan's thriller The Tourist on BBC One, the epic Stranger Things season four finale, and the return of Britain's Got Talent to ITV to name just a few.

But the year's TV highlights are far from over, so as we reach the midway point of 2022, we're looking ahead to all of the amazing shows still to come.

Read more: The most exciting movies still to come in 2022

Here's our pick of the programmes worth staying in for over the next six months.

Apple TV+

Surface – 29 July

A twisty thriller starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw as a woman suffering extreme memory loss from a traumatic head injury thought to be the result of a suicide attempt.

But as she fights to piece together her life in San Francisco with her husband and friends, she discovers a shocking love triangle and questions whether the story she's been told about her life is the same as the secrets she's forgotten.

Also coming to Apple TV+ in 2022: Five Days at Memorial (12 August), See season 3 (26 August), Slow Horses season 2 (TBC), Bad Sisters (TBC)

BBC

SAS: Rogue Heroes - Autumn

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight debuts a new drama about how the world's greatest Special Forces unit, the SAS, was formed during the darkest days of World War II, based on Ben Macintyre's novel.

Read more: 2022 Emmy snubs

Starring Connor Swindells as David Stirling, Jack O’Connell as Paddy Mayne, Alfie Allen as Jock Lewes, Sofia Boutella as Eve, and Dominic West as Lieutenant Colonel Wrangel Clarke.

The English - TBC

Emily Blunt stars in this Western set in 1890s America, where her character travels to the US to wreak revenge on the man she believes to be responsible for her son's death.

She meets an ex-cavalry scout and member of the Pawnee Nation by birth with a shared history which must be defeated at all costs, if either of them are to survive.

Inside Man - TBC

Sherlock showrunner Steven Moffat has signed up a star-studded cast including Stanley Tucci, David Tennant and Lydia West for his new thriller.

A prisoner on death row in the US, a Vicar in a quiet English town, and a maths teacher trapped in a cellar cross paths in the most unexpected way…

The Gold - TBC

Hugh Bonneville and Dominic Cooper star in this dramatisation of one of the seminal moments in British crime history.

A 1983 break-in at the Brink’s-Mat security depot near Heathrow started out as a 'typical Old Kent Road armed robbery' according to detectives at the time, but became much more significant when the robbers discovered £26million of gold bullion.

Strictly Come Dancing - Autumn

BBC One's flagship entertainment show returns for another year, and although Oti Mabuse and Aljaz Skorjanec have left, there are four new dancers plus Anton Du Beke back as judge.

The celebrity cast is yet to be confirmed, but there are sure to be some big names on the list who'll be vying to compete with the reputation of last year's talented line-up.

Also coming to the BBC in 2022: Crossfire (autumn), His Dark Materials season 3 (TBC), the Qatar World Cup (21 November onwards)

Channel 4

The Great British Bake Off - Autumn

Everyone's favourite TV cooking contest is set to return in the latter part of the year as a new batch of amateur bakers take to the famous tent.

The last two series have run from September to November because of COVID filming restrictions, but the usual schedule is August to October, so look out for news on the 2022 start date.

Also coming to Channel 4 in 2022: I Am (TBC)

Disney+

Welcome To Wrexham (25 August)

Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made headlines in 2020 when they took over as owners of Wrexham AFC but the club has gone from strength to strength with the duo at the helm. This new docuseries will go behind the scenes on their purchase, following their exploits at the oldest football club in Wales.

Andor (31 August)

The latest chapter in the Star Wars saga takes place between Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One, and charts how Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) grows from displaced refugee to thorn in the side of the Empire. The 12-episode season will unfold over the autumn, and will see other Rogue One alumni appear including Forrest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera, and Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Monthma.

Mike (TBC)

Moonlight star Trevante Rhodes takes on the role of Heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson in this new drama which explores the wild, tragic and controversial life and career of one of the most polarising figures in sports culture.

Also coming to Disney+ in 2022: She-Hulk (17 August), The Old Man (Autumn), Willow (30 November), The Santa Clauses (TBC)

ITV

I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! - November

The Ant and Dec hosted celebrity contest is always a highlight in ITV's schedule, but this year is even more of a must-see as it will mark the first year back in the Australian jungle rather than the North Wales castle following the coronavirus pandemic.

A spin-off all star series has also been announced for 2023, which will see some of the previous seasons' most notorious contestants travel to a new camp in South Africa.

Also coming to the ITV in 2022: The Qatar World Cup (21 November onwards)

Netflix

The Sandman - 5 August

Netflix's new fantasy series adapts Neil Gaiman's comic book series of the same name and follows the people and places affected by Morpheus, the Dream King, as he mends the cosmic — and human — mistakes he's made during his vast existence.

Watch a trailer for The Sandman

The star cast includes Tom Sturridge, Charles Dance, Joely Richardson, David Thewlis, Stephen Fry, Jenna Coleman and Sanjeev Bhaskar.

The Crown season 5 - November

The hugely popular series following Queen Elizabeth II's reign is back for its latest instalment this autumn, where we reach the early to mid 90s.

An ever-changing cast this time includes Imelda Staunton as The Queen, Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki as Charles and Diana, Jonny Lee Miller as John Major, and Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret.

Wednesday - TBC

A new live-action series features Wednesday Addams as she branches out from The Addams Family as a student at Nevermore Academy.

She'll try to solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago, tackle a monstrous killing spree terrorising the town, and harness her own psychic abilities.

Also coming to Netflix in 2022: Lockwood & Co (TBC), The Witcher: Blood Origin (TBC)

Paramount+

Tulsa King (13 November)

Taylor Sheridan, the reigning king of dad TV (Yellowstone, 1883), has lured Sylvester Stallone into making his first venture into television drama. Sly plays a New York mafia boss exiled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after being released from a 25-year prison sentence. It’ll hopefully serve as a reminder of Stallone’s incredible drama skills when he’s not playing an oiled-up musclehead.

Also coming to Paramount+ in 2022: Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (TBC)

Prime Video

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2 September)

Will Amazon’s Tolkien gamble deliver the fantasy show to rule them all? The shopping giant has reportedly invested a billion dollars into The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and the first of five seasons will hit Prime Video just weeks after House of the Dragon lands on Sky.

Watch a teaser for The Rings of Power

Like its Game of Thrones rival, it’s a prequel set eons before the story we know from the movies, but it’ll all be familiar with orcs, elves, hobbits, and even Galadriel and Elrond all along for another epic saga.

Dead Ringers (2022)

Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz is making her first major foray into the world of television with this gender-swapped small-screen adaptation of David Cronenberg’s cult 1980s film. Written by Normal People’s Alice Birch, Weisz plays an extraordinary pair of gynaecologist twins who share everything, and are on a mission to change the way women give birth.

The Grand Tour (Q3)

Clarkson, May and Hammond return for another The Grand Tour Special in 2022, with filming taking place over the summer in Poland, Czech republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia. Expect the usual hijinks, childish humour, and car-based shenanigans.

Sky

House of the Dragon - 22 August

One of the most anticipated shows of the year is this prequel series to Game of Thrones, starring Matt Smith, Paddy Considine and Rhys Ifans.

Set 200 years before Game of Thrones, it tells the story of the House of Targaryen and the events leading up to the civil war, promising just as many battle scenes as the sorely missed main show.

This England - autumn

In a drama even timelier now than Sky could have imagined when it was first commissioned, Kenneth Branagh plays the now finally outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Watch a teaser for This England

The series tells the story of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK and Johnson's leadership during the unprecedented period, which could now coincide nicely with him leaving Downing Street.

Fantasy Football League - TBC 2022

The sporting panel show makes a welcome return in this reboot 18 years on from the original ending.

It was first on our screens hosted by Frank Skinner and David Baddiel but this new version, released just in time for the World Cup, will star Matt Lucas and Elis James.

Also coming to Sky in 2022: Irma Vep (2 August), Funny Woman (October), Gangs of London season 2 (TBC)