Alan Partridge, Celebrity Traitors, Severance and Strictly: TV in 2025

It has been another stellar year in television, with a mix of exciting new shows and returning favourites. Television history was made when Owen Cooper became the youngest male actor ever to win an Emmy for his portrayal of a teenage killer in Adolescence. The year also saw the launch of The Celebrity Traitors, the BBC One spin-off of the hit reality competition series The Traitors, which drew millions of viewers.

From romantic comedies and gripping dramas to reality series and everything in between, here’s our round-up of the best television shows of 2025.

Severance Season 2, Apple Tv+

The hit dystopian workplace thriller Severance, starring Adam Scott, first debuted on our screens in 2022.

Directed and executive produced by Ben Stiller, the series follows Lumon Industries employee Mark Scout, played by Scott, who finds himself at the centre of a mystery that forces him to confront the true nature of his work.

In season two, which premiered earlier this year, Scout and his colleagues face the dire consequences of tampering with the severance barrier, plunging them even further down a path of woe.

White Lotus Season 3, Sky and Now TV

Following two successful seasons set in glamorous holiday resorts in Hawaii and Sicily, The White Lotus returned for its third season, this time in Thailand.

The satirical black comedy drama, created and written by Mike White, introduced an entirely new cast, including Aimee Lou Wood, Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Leslie Bibb and Carrie Coon.

Nominated for 23 Emmy Awards and winning one, the season explored themes of incest, toxic masculinity, sexual boundaries, soured friendships, long-held grudges and, of course, murder.

Adolescence, Netflix

Adolescence, the four-part limited drama series, dominated headlines this year and sparked a national debate about masculinity and the dangers smartphones pose to children.

The series made television history when 15-year-old Owen Cooper became the youngest male actor ever to win an Emmy for his portrayal of Jamie, a teenage murderer.

The Netflix show also features This Is England star and co-creator Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller, the father of 13-year-old Jamie, whose world is shattered when armed police burst into their home to arrest his son.

Eddie is appointed as Jamie’s appropriate adult, accompanying him during police interviews and gradually uncovering the full extent of his son’s alleged actions.

The programme examines incel (involuntary celibate) culture and its links to online misogyny and social-media-driven bullying.

The Studio, Apple TV+

Created by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, The Studio stars Rogen as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of the embattled Continental Studios.

As the movie industry struggles to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of infighting executives wrestle with their own insecurities while managing narcissistic artists and opportunistic corporate overlords in the elusive pursuit of making great films.

The satirical comedy series also stars Catherine O’Hara, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Kathryn Hahn.

Too Much, Netflix

Nearly a decade after the hit show Girls aired its final episode, Lena Dunham returned this summer with a new TV comedy series, Too Much.

The American writer co-created the project with her husband, British musician Luis Felber, and the series is loosely inspired by their relationship.

The 10-episode romantic comedy stars White Lotus actor Will Sharpe and Hacks star Megan Stalter. It follows Jessica, played by Stalter, a New York workaholic in her mid-thirties who relocates to London after a painful break-up. There, she meets Felix, portrayed by Sharpe, and the two share an unexpected connection.

The series traces their evolving relationship and asks the fateful question: do Americans and Brits really speak the same language?

The Girlfriend, Prime Video

Based on Michelle Frances’ novel, The Girlfriend stars Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke in a tense battle between a mother and her son’s girlfriend.

This six-part psychological thriller follows Laura, played by Wright, a woman who seems to have it all: a glittering career, a loving husband, and her beloved son, Daniel. Her perfect world starts to crumble when Daniel brings home Cherry, portrayed by Cooke, a girlfriend who changes everything.

After a strained first meeting, Laura becomes convinced Cherry is hiding something. But is Cherry a calculating social climber, or is Laura’s suspicion just paranoia? The answer depends on who you believe.

Strictly Come Dancing, BBC One

Strictly Come Dancing returned this autumn for its 23rd season, featuring a brand-new cast of celebrity hopefuls all vying for the coveted Glitterball Trophy.

The 15 celebrity contestants have included ER actor Alex Kingston, EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, YouTuber and podcaster George Clarke, sports presenter and former Lioness Karen Carney, and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope.

This will be the final series presented by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who announced their departures in October.

The Strictly Come Dancing finale will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on December 20.

House Of Guinness, Netflix

Created by Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight, House of Guinness brought to life the real scandals, power struggles, and generational secrets of Ireland’s most iconic family.

The Netflix series reimagines the fallout following Sir Benjamin Guinness’s death, set against the backdrop of 19th-century Dublin and New York.

Sir Benjamin, the grandson of Arthur Guinness, who famously signed a 9,000-year lease on St James’s Gate Brewery in 1759, is credited with driving the brewery’s extraordinary success.

The show explores the far-reaching impact of his will on the futures of his four adult children and stars James Norton, Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn and Fionn O’Shea.

How Are You? Its Alan (Partridge), BBC One

After a four-year hiatus, Steve Coogan and his co-writers Neil and Rob Gibbons brought the veteran presenter Alan Partridge back in a new series, How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge).

The BBC series follows Partridge returning to the UK after doing promotional work in Saudi Arabia, as he attempts to rebuild his career through a documentary about mental health.

Coogan, 59, says he enjoys reinventing and playing the character, as it offers a way to explore taboo topics.

The Celebrity Traitors, BBC One

This autumn, the first celebrity edition of the popular murder-mystery-style psychology game The Traitors aired on the BBC.

The final, won by traitor Alan Carr, drew an average audience of 11.1 million, peaking at 12 million.

The Celebrity Traitors brought 19 famous faces, including presenter Jonathan Ross and singer Paloma Faith, to the Scottish Highlands for a chance to win up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.

Carr announced that his prize money, totalling £87,500, would be donated to a children’s cancer charity supporting neuroblastoma.