The 15 best TV shows of 2019

  • The adventures of the hitman-turned-actor in Hollywood got even darker as it ran on for another series this year and Bill Hader's <em>Barry</em> confronted the question of good versus bad, and how people present themselves to the world. The second season allowed for the characters to be given more depth especially Barry's girlfriend Sally, played by Sarah Goldberg, who was really given a chance to shine. Henry Winkler's acting coach Gene Cousineau remains a highlight. (HBO)
    1/15

    'Barry' S2

    The adventures of the hitman-turned-actor in Hollywood got even darker as it ran on for another series this year and Bill Hader's Barry confronted the question of good versus bad, and how people present themselves to the world. The second season allowed for the characters to be given more depth especially Barry's girlfriend Sally, played by Sarah Goldberg, who was really given a chance to shine. Henry Winkler's acting coach Gene Cousineau remains a highlight. (HBO)
  • The miniseries on the haunting 1986 power plant disaster captivated attentions when it was released in May. Stellar performances from a star-studded cast including Jarred Harris, Emily Watson and Jessie Buckley and a keen attention to historical detail on the catastrophic accident saw that the series was met with much deserved critical acclaim. (Sky UK Ltd/HBO)
    2/15

    'Chernobyl'

    The miniseries on the haunting 1986 power plant disaster captivated attentions when it was released in May. Stellar performances from a star-studded cast including Jarred Harris, Emily Watson and Jessie Buckley and a keen attention to historical detail on the catastrophic accident saw that the series was met with much deserved critical acclaim. (Sky UK Ltd/HBO)
  • <em>Game of Thrones</em> finally drew to a close with a climactic finale after eight seasons of murder, betrayal and power struggles between the inhabitants of Westeros. The fight for the Iron Throne came to a fiery end as Daenerys turned dark and Bran Stark was crowned King in what was a hugely divisive last six episodes. However, the mammoth cultural impact of the Sky/HBO hit can't be denied. (Sky/HBO)
    3/15

    'Game Of Thrones' S8

    Game of Thrones finally drew to a close with a climactic finale after eight seasons of murder, betrayal and power struggles between the inhabitants of Westeros. The fight for the Iron Throne came to a fiery end as Daenerys turned dark and Bran Stark was crowned King in what was a hugely divisive last six episodes. However, the mammoth cultural impact of the Sky/HBO hit can't be denied. (Sky/HBO)
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • Jodie Comer was back as the charismatic killer facing off against Sandra Oh's Eve Polastri again, donning more disguises as she and the British intelligence agent got closer than ever. The imminent sense of peril for the characters, coupled with the razor sharp dialogue, cements the series as one of the best shows of the year as Emerald Fennell took over the writing reins from Phoebe Waller-Bridge. (BBC/Sid Gentle/Steve Schofield)
    4/15

    'Killing Eve' S2

    Jodie Comer was back as the charismatic killer facing off against Sandra Oh's Eve Polastri again, donning more disguises as she and the British intelligence agent got closer than ever. The imminent sense of peril for the characters, coupled with the razor sharp dialogue, cements the series as one of the best shows of the year as Emerald Fennell took over the writing reins from Phoebe Waller-Bridge. (BBC/Sid Gentle/Steve Schofield)
  • <em>Line of Duty </em>returned with a bang and AC-12 had more crime and corruption to contend with, in a plot which had twists and turns to keep viewers hooked all the way through. Whether Ted Hastings was the criminal mastermind H or not was the mystery that had the nation talking. But there's still more to discover when it comes to H, leaving fans gasping for another season. (BBC/World Productions Ltd)
    5/15

    'Line of Duty' S5

    Line of Duty returned with a bang and AC-12 had more crime and corruption to contend with, in a plot which had twists and turns to keep viewers hooked all the way through. Whether Ted Hastings was the criminal mastermind H or not was the mystery that had the nation talking. But there's still more to discover when it comes to H, leaving fans gasping for another season. (BBC/World Productions Ltd)
  • Tommy Shelby and co were back to face a new enemy, this time in the form of the Billy Boys and real life politician: fascist leader Oswald Mosley. This instalment felt different from previous series as it delved further into Tommy's worrying mental state and it proved the show isn't afraid of exploring new territory. After ending on a chillingly ambiguous cliffhanger, viewers will certainly be back for more. (BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd 2019/Robert Viglasky)
    6/15

    'Peaky Blinders' S5

    Tommy Shelby and co were back to face a new enemy, this time in the form of the Billy Boys and real life politician: fascist leader Oswald Mosley. This instalment felt different from previous series as it delved further into Tommy's worrying mental state and it proved the show isn't afraid of exploring new territory. After ending on a chillingly ambiguous cliffhanger, viewers will certainly be back for more. (BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd 2019/Robert Viglasky)
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • RuPaul finally brought <em>Drag Race</em> across the pond to give the UK's talent a go – on the BBC no less – and the results certainly didn't disappoint. The UK queens came charging into the workroom all brash and bawdy with <em>EastEnders</em> and Kim Woodburn references aplenty – a breath of fresh air after the US series began to feel tired after 11 series and numerous spin-offs. The debut proved to be such a success, the show will be back next year. (BBC/World of Wonder/Guy Levy)
    7/15

    RuPaul's Drag Race UK

    RuPaul finally brought Drag Race across the pond to give the UK's talent a go – on the BBC no less – and the results certainly didn't disappoint. The UK queens came charging into the workroom all brash and bawdy with EastEnders and Kim Woodburn references aplenty – a breath of fresh air after the US series began to feel tired after 11 series and numerous spin-offs. The debut proved to be such a success, the show will be back next year. (BBC/World of Wonder/Guy Levy)
  • <em>Succession </em>season two was received with rapturous applause by viewers and critics as the pitch black comedy returned with its whip-smart writing and incredible cast. Accompanied by one of the most memorable theme tunes of all time, the loathsome Logan family saga continued as the show fleshed out the complicated characters further, and earned itself even more fans. (HBO)
    8/15

    'Succession' S2

    Succession season two was received with rapturous applause by viewers and critics as the pitch black comedy returned with its whip-smart writing and incredible cast. Accompanied by one of the most memorable theme tunes of all time, the loathsome Logan family saga continued as the show fleshed out the complicated characters further, and earned itself even more fans. (HBO)
  • Phoebe Waller-Bridge's unique comedy creation aired its second and final series this year, but not before reaching huge levels of popularity as it captured the attentions of US fans. But before it bowed out for good, it made sure it left its mark by leaving thousands with a crush on Andrew Scott's gin in a tin fan: the Hot Priest. The humour, heartbreaking dialogue and exploration of grief ensures <em>Fleabag</em>'s place in television history. (BBC)
    9/15

    'Fleabag' S2

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge's unique comedy creation aired its second and final series this year, but not before reaching huge levels of popularity as it captured the attentions of US fans. But before it bowed out for good, it made sure it left its mark by leaving thousands with a crush on Andrew Scott's gin in a tin fan: the Hot Priest. The humour, heartbreaking dialogue and exploration of grief ensures Fleabag's place in television history. (BBC)
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • Natasha Lyonne was stuck in a never ending party in the debut series of Netflix's <em>Russian Doll </em>as her character repeatedly died. There was a lot more emotional resonance to the comedy drama than one might've first assumed as Lyonne's Nadia and Charlie Barnett's character Alan Zaveri tried to navigate the time loops they were stuck in, and how to break free of them. The popularity of the programme ensured the streaming giant ordered another run. (Netflix)
    10/15

    'Russian Doll'

    Natasha Lyonne was stuck in a never ending party in the debut series of Netflix's Russian Doll as her character repeatedly died. There was a lot more emotional resonance to the comedy drama than one might've first assumed as Lyonne's Nadia and Charlie Barnett's character Alan Zaveri tried to navigate the time loops they were stuck in, and how to break free of them. The popularity of the programme ensured the streaming giant ordered another run. (Netflix)
  • Amazon series <em>The Boys</em> set itself apart from other superhero stories by putting a fresh, adult-aimed spin on the "super-abled" and the vigilantes who want to keep things under control. The conflict between the titular Boys and the Seven and the complicated, fleshed-out personalities in the groups make for a compelling watch which act as the perfect antidote to even those most suffering from superhero burnout. A second season is coming in 2020. (Amazon)
    11/15

    'The Boys'

    Amazon series The Boys set itself apart from other superhero stories by putting a fresh, adult-aimed spin on the "super-abled" and the vigilantes who want to keep things under control. The conflict between the titular Boys and the Seven and the complicated, fleshed-out personalities in the groups make for a compelling watch which act as the perfect antidote to even those most suffering from superhero burnout. A second season is coming in 2020. (Amazon)
  • In a series that lived up to its name, Netflix's <em>Unbelievable</em> told the sad and baffling true story of how a sexual assault survivor was gaslit into retracting a statement about her attack, leaving her assailant free to continue his heinous crimes for years. Kaitlyn Dever rightly earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role as Marie for whom justice was finally served when her assailant was uncovered by the powerhouse duo of detectives played by Toni Collette and Merritt Weaver. (Beth Dubber/Netflix)
    12/15

    'Unbelievable'

    In a series that lived up to its name, Netflix's Unbelievable told the sad and baffling true story of how a sexual assault survivor was gaslit into retracting a statement about her attack, leaving her assailant free to continue his heinous crimes for years. Kaitlyn Dever rightly earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role as Marie for whom justice was finally served when her assailant was uncovered by the powerhouse duo of detectives played by Toni Collette and Merritt Weaver. (Beth Dubber/Netflix)
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • Ava Duvernay's Netflix miniseries told the devastating real life story of the five teenage boys wrongly accused and imprisoned for the rape and assault of a women in Central Park in 1989. The series carefully explored their story from the terrifying interrogations, to the aftermath of justice finally being served. Jharrel Jerome's heartbreaking portrayal of Korey Wise was one of the best performances of the year and rightly earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series. (Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix)
    13/15

    'When They See Us'

    Ava Duvernay's Netflix miniseries told the devastating real life story of the five teenage boys wrongly accused and imprisoned for the rape and assault of a women in Central Park in 1989. The series carefully explored their story from the terrifying interrogations, to the aftermath of justice finally being served. Jharrel Jerome's heartbreaking portrayal of Korey Wise was one of the best performances of the year and rightly earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series. (Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix)
  • <em>Schitt's Creek</em> finally got the recognition it deserved in 2019, despite starting in 2015, as it was nominated for four Emmy Awards. Created by and starring Daniel and Eugene Levy, the series has earned cult status for it's hilarious yet heartwarming script with charming albeit less-than-perfect characters. Catherine O'Hara's performance as Moira in episode "The Crowening" as well as Emily Hampshire's Stevie coming into her own in a production of Cabaret were stand-outs, cementing the programme as one of the best comedies of the year. (Netflix)
    14/15

    'Schitt's Creek' S5

    Schitt's Creek finally got the recognition it deserved in 2019, despite starting in 2015, as it was nominated for four Emmy Awards. Created by and starring Daniel and Eugene Levy, the series has earned cult status for it's hilarious yet heartwarming script with charming albeit less-than-perfect characters. Catherine O'Hara's performance as Moira in episode "The Crowening" as well as Emily Hampshire's Stevie coming into her own in a production of Cabaret were stand-outs, cementing the programme as one of the best comedies of the year. (Netflix)
  • The Netflix series was back with more murder on the mind this year with Holden Ford and Bill Tench getting an audience with Charles Manson himself. However, it was the Atlanta child murders that proved to be the gripping aspect of the series while Tench had a disturbing situation going on in his own home. With the unresolved thread of the BTK killer running through the first and second series, it's clear there's still plenty more to explore in a third season. When that happens is up to exec producer David Fincher. (Netflix)
    15/15

    'Mindhunter' S2

    The Netflix series was back with more murder on the mind this year with Holden Ford and Bill Tench getting an audience with Charles Manson himself. However, it was the Atlanta child murders that proved to be the gripping aspect of the series while Tench had a disturbing situation going on in his own home. With the unresolved thread of the BTK killer running through the first and second series, it's clear there's still plenty more to explore in a third season. When that happens is up to exec producer David Fincher. (Netflix)
The adventures of the hitman-turned-actor in Hollywood got even darker as it ran on for another series this year and Bill Hader's <em>Barry</em> confronted the question of good versus bad, and how people present themselves to the world. The second season allowed for the characters to be given more depth especially Barry's girlfriend Sally, played by Sarah Goldberg, who was really given a chance to shine. Henry Winkler's acting coach Gene Cousineau remains a highlight. (HBO)
The miniseries on the haunting 1986 power plant disaster captivated attentions when it was released in May. Stellar performances from a star-studded cast including Jarred Harris, Emily Watson and Jessie Buckley and a keen attention to historical detail on the catastrophic accident saw that the series was met with much deserved critical acclaim. (Sky UK Ltd/HBO)
<em>Game of Thrones</em> finally drew to a close with a climactic finale after eight seasons of murder, betrayal and power struggles between the inhabitants of Westeros. The fight for the Iron Throne came to a fiery end as Daenerys turned dark and Bran Stark was crowned King in what was a hugely divisive last six episodes. However, the mammoth cultural impact of the Sky/HBO hit can't be denied. (Sky/HBO)
Jodie Comer was back as the charismatic killer facing off against Sandra Oh's Eve Polastri again, donning more disguises as she and the British intelligence agent got closer than ever. The imminent sense of peril for the characters, coupled with the razor sharp dialogue, cements the series as one of the best shows of the year as Emerald Fennell took over the writing reins from Phoebe Waller-Bridge. (BBC/Sid Gentle/Steve Schofield)
<em>Line of Duty </em>returned with a bang and AC-12 had more crime and corruption to contend with, in a plot which had twists and turns to keep viewers hooked all the way through. Whether Ted Hastings was the criminal mastermind H or not was the mystery that had the nation talking. But there's still more to discover when it comes to H, leaving fans gasping for another season. (BBC/World Productions Ltd)
Tommy Shelby and co were back to face a new enemy, this time in the form of the Billy Boys and real life politician: fascist leader Oswald Mosley. This instalment felt different from previous series as it delved further into Tommy's worrying mental state and it proved the show isn't afraid of exploring new territory. After ending on a chillingly ambiguous cliffhanger, viewers will certainly be back for more. (BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd 2019/Robert Viglasky)
RuPaul finally brought <em>Drag Race</em> across the pond to give the UK's talent a go – on the BBC no less – and the results certainly didn't disappoint. The UK queens came charging into the workroom all brash and bawdy with <em>EastEnders</em> and Kim Woodburn references aplenty – a breath of fresh air after the US series began to feel tired after 11 series and numerous spin-offs. The debut proved to be such a success, the show will be back next year. (BBC/World of Wonder/Guy Levy)
<em>Succession </em>season two was received with rapturous applause by viewers and critics as the pitch black comedy returned with its whip-smart writing and incredible cast. Accompanied by one of the most memorable theme tunes of all time, the loathsome Logan family saga continued as the show fleshed out the complicated characters further, and earned itself even more fans. (HBO)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge's unique comedy creation aired its second and final series this year, but not before reaching huge levels of popularity as it captured the attentions of US fans. But before it bowed out for good, it made sure it left its mark by leaving thousands with a crush on Andrew Scott's gin in a tin fan: the Hot Priest. The humour, heartbreaking dialogue and exploration of grief ensures <em>Fleabag</em>'s place in television history. (BBC)
Natasha Lyonne was stuck in a never ending party in the debut series of Netflix's <em>Russian Doll </em>as her character repeatedly died. There was a lot more emotional resonance to the comedy drama than one might've first assumed as Lyonne's Nadia and Charlie Barnett's character Alan Zaveri tried to navigate the time loops they were stuck in, and how to break free of them. The popularity of the programme ensured the streaming giant ordered another run. (Netflix)
Amazon series <em>The Boys</em> set itself apart from other superhero stories by putting a fresh, adult-aimed spin on the "super-abled" and the vigilantes who want to keep things under control. The conflict between the titular Boys and the Seven and the complicated, fleshed-out personalities in the groups make for a compelling watch which act as the perfect antidote to even those most suffering from superhero burnout. A second season is coming in 2020. (Amazon)
In a series that lived up to its name, Netflix's <em>Unbelievable</em> told the sad and baffling true story of how a sexual assault survivor was gaslit into retracting a statement about her attack, leaving her assailant free to continue his heinous crimes for years. Kaitlyn Dever rightly earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role as Marie for whom justice was finally served when her assailant was uncovered by the powerhouse duo of detectives played by Toni Collette and Merritt Weaver. (Beth Dubber/Netflix)
Ava Duvernay's Netflix miniseries told the devastating real life story of the five teenage boys wrongly accused and imprisoned for the rape and assault of a women in Central Park in 1989. The series carefully explored their story from the terrifying interrogations, to the aftermath of justice finally being served. Jharrel Jerome's heartbreaking portrayal of Korey Wise was one of the best performances of the year and rightly earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series. (Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix)
<em>Schitt's Creek</em> finally got the recognition it deserved in 2019, despite starting in 2015, as it was nominated for four Emmy Awards. Created by and starring Daniel and Eugene Levy, the series has earned cult status for it's hilarious yet heartwarming script with charming albeit less-than-perfect characters. Catherine O'Hara's performance as Moira in episode "The Crowening" as well as Emily Hampshire's Stevie coming into her own in a production of Cabaret were stand-outs, cementing the programme as one of the best comedies of the year. (Netflix)
The Netflix series was back with more murder on the mind this year with Holden Ford and Bill Tench getting an audience with Charles Manson himself. However, it was the Atlanta child murders that proved to be the gripping aspect of the series while Tench had a disturbing situation going on in his own home. With the unresolved thread of the BTK killer running through the first and second series, it's clear there's still plenty more to explore in a third season. When that happens is up to exec producer David Fincher. (Netflix)
Amy Johnson

It was rich pickings when it came to television in 2019 as there was an abundance of superb quality programming available, particularly as streaming site rivalry grew even more tense over the past 12 months.

But which TV shows really left their mark by making a splash on the small screen?

Read more: The most notable celebrity deaths of 2019

There were plenty of beginnings when it came to new shows like Netflix’s Russian Doll, but also many old favourites returning including the BBC’s Peaky Blinders back for its fifth series.

However, it also saw some definite endings too, most notably in the conclusion of huge TV talking point Game of Thrones for better or for worse, depending on who you ask. It’s been a rollercoaster.

Latest stories