December update: The best new TV dramas in 2025 to watch on Netflix, Disney Plus, ITV, BBC, and more

Streaming site: Netflix

Cast: Lena Headey, Gillian Anderson, Lucas Till, Aisling Franciosi, Nick Robinson, Diana Silvers, Lamar Johnson, Natalia del Riego and more.

Release date: 4th December

Plot: Two matriarchs - one leading a family built on wealth and lineage, the other guiding a makeshift clan of orphans and outsiders bound by love and survival - find their worlds unexpectedly entwined. Their connection is forged through two crimes, a buried secret, a forbidden romance, and a coveted stretch of land hiding rich veins of silver.

As their lives collide, the clash mirrors America’s own divide between the privileged and the powerless, all unfolding in a rugged frontier where justice struggles to reach.

How many episodes? 10

Worth watching? If you love Western dramas filled with slow-burn tension, moral grey areas, and tangled family loyalties, then you might want to add this one to your watch list.

Streaming site: Netflix

Cast: James Nesbitt, Minnie Driver, Ruth Jones, Alfred Enoch, and Lucian Msamati

Release date: 1st January

Plot: The official synopsis reads: "Simon had the perfect life: loving wife and kids, great job, beautiful home. But then his eldest daughter Paige ran away and everything fell apart. So now when he finds her, vulnerable and strung out on drugs in a city park, he finally has the chance to bring his little girl home. But it turns out she’s not alone, and an argument escalates into shocking violence. In the aftermath, Simon loses his daughter all over again, and his search to find her will take him into a dangerous underworld, revealing deep secrets that could tear his family apart forever."

How many episodes? Eight

Worth watching? We love us a Harlan Coben series. They're full of the most insane twists you never saw coming, so if you don't want to miss out on all the January office chat then I suggest you pop this on and give it a watch!

Channel: BBC One

Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, Alistair Petrie, Douglas Hodge, Michael Nardone, Noah Jupe, Hugh Laurie, Diego Calva, Camila Morrone, Indira Varma, Paul Chahidi, and Hayley Squires.

Release date: 1st January

Plot: Season two picks up with Jonathan Pine living quietly under a new identity - until a run-in with one of Richard Roper’s former mercenaries pulls him back into the shadows. This time, Pine is racing to stop Colombian power player Teddy Dos Santos and a conspiracy set to shake an entire nation. Teaming up with the sharp and enigmatic Roxana Bolaños, he’s forced deep into a new arms network where betrayal lurks at every turn.

How many episodes? Six

Worth watching? We loved season one so we can't wait to Tom Hiddleston and the gang back for another run. That's our New Year's Day plans sorted!

Channel: BBC One

Cast: Ashley Jensen, Alison O’Donnell, Steven Robertson, Lewis Howden, Anne Kidd, Angus Miller, Conor McCarry, and Eubha Akilade.

Release date: 9th November

Plot: 5th November

How many episodes? Six

Worth watching? The long-running series continues to captivate audiences, with Season 9 ranking among the top 10 most-watched BBC dramas last year and claiming the title of Scotland’s most-watched BBC drama in 2024. Critics have praised it as "flawless" and "the best crime drama you’ll see all year."

Channel: Channel 4

Cast: Vicky McClure, Kerry Godliman, Nabil Elouahabi, Eric Shango, Natalie Simpson and more.

Release date: 9th November

Plot: The third season follows the Bomb Disposal Squad and the Police Counter Terrorism Unit as they join forces to tackle a bomb threat - only to uncover a chilling plot driven by a relentless quest for revenge.

How many episodes? Six

Worth watching? Yes, yes, yes! With its high-stakes suspense, gripping investigations, and a pulse-pounding revenge plot, the third season keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Streaming site: Netflix

Cast: Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Brittany Snow, Natalie Morale, and more.

Release date: 13th November

Plot: After losing her young son, author Aggie Wiggs (Claire Danes) has vanished from the spotlight, struggling to write. Her life changes when Nile Jarvis (Matthew Rhys), a powerful real estate mogul and former suspect in his wife’s disappearance, moves in next door. Drawn to uncover the truth, Aggie dives into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, chasing his secrets while confronting her own.

How many episodes? Eight

Worth watching? With its tense mystery, psychological twists, and standout performances, this gripping thriller is definitely worth a watch.

Streaming site: Disney Plus

Cast: Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash, Teyana Taylor, and Matthew Noszka.

Release date: 4th November

Plot: Created by Ryan Murphy, the new legal drama is about a group of female divorce lawyers who break away from a male-dominated firm to launch their own powerhouse practice in Los Angeles. It dives into high-stakes cases, personal drama, and the power of women rewriting the rules in a man’s world.

How many episodes? 10

Worth watching? Ryan Murphy knows how to deliver drama, and with this stellar line-up, All’s Fair looks set to be a binge-worthy mix of high-stakes legal battles and irresistible personal drama.

Channel: Channel 4

Cast: Lola Petticrew, Tom Cullen, Gillian Anderson, Martin McCann, Gerard McCarthy and Oisín Thompson.

Release date: 9th November

Plot: Set in 1970s Belfast, during the Troubles, Trespasses follows a risky romance between Cushla, a young Catholic teacher, and Michael, a married Protestant barrister. The series, which is adapted from Louise Kennedy’s novel of the same title, dives into the peril and passion of love across a divided city.

How many episodes? Four

Worth watching? If you're a fan of the book, definitely. We'll be tuning in for Gillian Anderson, alone.

Channel: BBC One

Cast: Siân Brooke, Martin McCann, Katherine Devlin, Nathan Braniff, Joanne Crawford and more.

Release date: 29th September

Plot: Season three looks into the dark secrets of the middle-class in Belfast as the collapse of the old political and criminal order has paved the way for a new era of global gangs.

How many episodes is it? Six

Worth watching? We loved season one and two and season three has already got us hooked. It's quickly becoming one of our fave police dramas.

Channel: ITV1

Cast: Suranne Jones, Jodie Whittaker, Elizabeth Berrington, Christian Cooke, Lee Boardman, Abdul Salis, Kate Fleetwood and more.

Release date: 5th October

Plot: The series follows two criminal besties who are about to take on the ultimate heist.

The official synopsis states: "Set in the picturesque mountainous region of Southern Spain, it's apparent from the outset that Sam and Bert have unresolved issues of the thieving kind. Locked into a pattern of fierce friendship coupled with deep mistrust, that goes back many years, Bert apparently has no one else to turn to in the final weeks of her life. And we sense this isn't going to be an easy ride for Sam, who is clearly burying feelings of guilt, and a past she'd rather stay forgotten."

.How many episodes is it? Six

Worth watching? Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker pretty much smash any role they have, so them together will be the dream duo we didn't know we needed.

Streaming platform: Netflix

Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Gary Oliver, Rowan Polonski, Joanne Zorian, Alex Badini, Sharlto Copley, James Purefoy, Danny Woodburn, Gareth David-Lloyd and more.

Release date: 30th October

Plot: The fourth and fifth seasons will cover Andrzej Sapkowski’s three remaining books: Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and Lady of the Lake.

How many episodes is it? Eight

Worth watching? You'll want to tune in if you've seen the previous seasons to see how the story pans out. If you like fantasy and have never seen an episode, we recommend.

Streaming platform: Amazon Prime Video

Cast: Sam Claflin, Alexandra Roach, Bill Nighy, Karla Crome, Kate Ashfield, David Fyn and more.

Release date: 22nd October

Plot: "Lazarus follows a man who returns home after his father's death and begins to have disturbing experiences that can't be explained," the official synopsis reveals.

.How many episodes is it? Six

Worth watching? The series is created by Harlan Coben, who is behind Missing You, Stay Close, Caught and Fool Me Once. Every single one of those series had us in a choke hold, so we have high expectations for Lazarus.

Streaming platform: Netflix

Cast: Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Leighton Meester, Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons and more.

Release date: 23rd October

Plot: Unlikely couple Joanne and Noah are back for another season. After falling head over heels for one another despite their difference religious backgrounds (He's a rabbi and she's agnostic), their romance continues to blossom, but can it stand the test of time with friends, family and work a big part of their lives? This season, Brody's wife, Leighton Meester, joins the series. We can't wait to see the episodes.

How many episodes is it? 10

Worth watching? Absolutely! We loved season one and binged the entire thing in just two days, so we'll be tuning in to see Brody and Bell back in character.

Channel: BBC One

Cast: Lorraine Ashbourne, Joanna Scanlan, Tamsin Greig, Rosalie Craig, Taj Atwal, Chandeep Uppal, Macy Seelochan, Amelia Bullmore, Tony Hirst and more.

Release date: 12th October

Plot: Riot Women follows five women who put together an impromptu rock band in the hopes of winning a local talent competition.

How many episodes is it? Six

Worth watching? Based on the cast alone we'll be clearing our Sunday evenings to tune into this one.

Streaming platform: Netflix

Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Addison Rae, Laurie Metcalf, Suzanna Son, Joey Pollari, Tom Hollander, Tyler Jacob Moore, and Olivia Williams

Release date: 3rd October

Plot:The eight-part series, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, tells the horrific true story of murderer Ed Gein, who was found guilty of killing two women and exhuming several corpses to use their skin and organs as clothing in the 1950s.

How many episodes is it? Eight

Worth watching? If you're interested in true-crime you'll want to add this to your list, but it won't be an easy watch.

Streaming platform: Netflix

Cast: Jenna Ortega, Steve Buscemi, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Luis Guzmán, Hunter Doohan, Billie Piper, Isaac Ordonez, Victor Dorobantu, Georgie Farmer, Moosa Mostafa, Evie Templeton, Owen Painter, Noah Taylor and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo

Release date: Part 1 (6th August), part 2 (3rd September)

Plot: Wednesday Addams returns for a second year at Nevermore Academy, with fresh foes and woes awaiting the moody teen. "This season, Wednesday’s journey is darker and more complex as she navigates family, friends, new mysteries, and old adversaries, propelling her headlong into another year at Nevermore," co-showrunners and executive producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar told Tudum.

How many episodes is it? Eight

Worth watching? Absolutely! Season one introduced us to Jenny Ortega's weird and wonderful Wednesday. We expect an equally impressive second season, with the likes of Lady Gaga joining the cast.

Streaming platform: Netflix

Cast: Mae Martin, Toni Collette, Sarah Gadon, Sydney Topliffe, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Brandon Jay McLaren, Tattiawna Jones, Isolde Ardies, Joshua Close, Patrick J. Adams, Patrick Gallagher, Gage Munroe, and Byron Mann.

Release date: 25th September

Plot: Set in a seemingly charming but eerie town, the series is a thriller that dives into the dark side of the troubled teen industry.

How many episodes? Eight

Worth watching? If you like suspense and drama, well then this could be your new watch. It’s looking to be a mind bending series, with lots of twists, plus the cast line-up led by Toni Collette and Mae Martin is pretty impressive, so we’ll be watching for this reason alone.

Streaming platform: Prime Video

Cast: Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, Laurie Davidson, Waleed Zuaiter, Anna Chancellor, Francesca Corney, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Karen Henthorn, Leo Suter, and Tanya Moodie

Release date: 10th September

Plot: Laura’s seemingly perfect life begins to fall apart when her son introduces his new girlfriend, Cherry, who Laura suspects might be a scheming social climber - but is her suspicion justified, or just a sign of paranoia?

How many episodes? Six

Worth watching? We love a thriller and with a talented cast The Girlfriend is looking like a must-watch for fans of psychological drama.