Beat the back-to-work blues with these series …
Run Away | Netflix
It’s time for yet another adaptation of one of Harlan Coben’s hit novels, following the popularity of Fool Me Once and Missing You. The always believable James Nesbitt plays a desperate father searching for his runaway daughter, who – surprise, surprise – stumbles upon secrets that could destroy his family. The stellar ensemble cast includes Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), Alfred Enoch (Harry Potter), Ruth Jones (Gavin and Stacey), Maeve Courtier-Lilley (Champagne Problems), Ellie de Lange (The Serpent), Annette Badland (Charlie and The Chocolate Factory), Jon Pointing (Sweetpea), Amy Gledhill (Would I Lie To You?) and Lucian Msamati (Conclave).
His & Hers | Netflix
A new mini-series about estranged spouses – one a cop, the other a reporter – who compete to solve a murder case … where each believes the other is a prime suspect! Who’s lying? Starring Tessa Thompson (Passing) and Jon Bernthal (The Bear), put your crime drama IQ to the test and try to crack the case before they do.
The Night Manager | Prime Video
Season one of this six-part British spy thriller based on the 1993 novel by John le Carré was an AMC and BBC co-production that aired as a limited series way back in 2016. Nearly a decade later, it’s back for a second season (and a third is already in the works) as a Prime Video exclusive, starting on January 11. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, Hugh Laurie, Tom Hollander, David Harewood and Elizabeth Debicki, the first season was nominated for a whopping 36 awards and won many, including Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe awards (for Hiddleston, Colman and Laurie, who acts as executive producer). It follows a night manager of a luxury hotel in Cairo, a former British soldier recruited by a taskforce investigating illegal arms sales, to infiltrate the inner circle of an arms dealer.
Hijack | Apple TV
The thrilling second season is back on January 14, set on a Berlin underground train. The inimitable Idris Elba serves as executive producer and stars as a talented negotiator, where one wrong decision could spell disaster. The cast also includes Neil Maskell (Bull), Eve Myles (Coldwater), Maxton Beesley (The Midwich Cuckoos), Archie Benjabi (Under The Bridge), Ben Miles (The Capture) and more. The first season has a 90 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which bodes well for a follow up.
The Beauty | Disney+
The mastermind behind mega hit shows American Horror Story and All’s Fair (so bad it’s good), Ryan Murphy is on a roll with this new international thriller out on January 21. Prepare to be blown away by the star-studded cast of Evan Peters (from AHS), Rebecca Hall (Iron Man 3), Ashton Kutcher and supermodel Bella Hadid, not to mention Anthony Ramos (Hamilton) and Jeremy Pope (The Inspection). Expect a body horror that’s The Substance coded, but with Paris, Venice, Rome and New York as supporting characters. At a time when beauty standards are impossibly high, the message is poignant. A must-watch this season.
The Drops of Gold | Apple TV
This series is based on a popular Japanese manga series about wine (one of our favourite subjects), written by Tadashi Agi which is a pseudonym for Shin & Yuko Kibayashi. Set in Japan, Italy and France, it follows a couple’s perilous adventure to uncover the origin of the world’s greatest wine, a mystery so profound that even their legendary father couldn’t solve. With a 100 per cent rating, it’s even being turned into a video game set in Burgundy in France, if that appeals to you!
Bridgerton | Netflix
The fourth season of one of Netflix’s most trending shows returns at the end of the month and turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict, played by Luke Thompson. Despite his brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball. Yerin Ha (Dune: Prophecy) plays the new love interest, so it will be interesting to see how their chemistry fares against their predecessors. Stay tuned for our own Nicola Coughlan to grace our screens once again as Lady Whistledown, along with all of the usual romp and circumstance …
SEE MORE: 100+ Binge-Worthy Series Of The Year
