With series like Peaky Blinders and Black Mirror, the United Kingdom has become respected for creating high-quality, engaging, relevant television. In 2023, BBC, ITV, and Sky will release new content that viewers around the world cannot ignore. What will likely be the best British TV shows of 2023?

While there are many others, The Catch, The Good Ship Murder, Desperate Measures, Best Interests, Happy Valley, and Better are among the most talked about. The lineup for British television in 2023 includes a gritty crime drama, a thought-provoking series about euthanasia, and the return of Sally Wainwright’s Happy Valley.

Happy Valley Season 3

The third and final season of Sally Wainwright’s Happy Valley will return on January 1, 2023 at 9 PM on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series stars Sarah Lancashire as the determined Sergeant Catherine Cawood. Catherine will begin a journey back to her nemesis Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) after discovering the body of a gangland murder victim.

Catherine’s grandson, Ryan (Rhys Connah), has turned 16 and contemplates having a relationship with his father, the man Catherine despises. Meanwhile, a pharmacist in another part of the valley finds his world upside down when a neighbor is arrested. The final season of Happy Valley will consist of six episodes of 60 minutes.

The pilot episode will air on BBC One at 9 PM on Sunday, January 1, 2023.

Best Interests

BAFTA-winning writer Jack Thorne’s next project, Best Interests, will air on BBC and BBC iPlayer in 2023. The emotional series stars Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen as a married couple who must confront any parent’s worst nightmare. When doctors tell them that it is best to let their daughter Marnie (Niamh Moriarty) die because of a life-threatening condition, they vehemently disagree.

The fight for their daughter’s life will take them through every stage of the legal system as they continue questioning the decision. Will the couple be able to save their daughter’s life or will the court rule that Marnie should be allowed to die? Sheen and Horgan will be joined by Alison Oliver, Niamh Moriarty, Chizzy Akudolu, Des McAleer, Lisa McGrillis, Gary Beadle, and Mat Fraser.

BBC’s Best Interests will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2023.

Better

The captivating police drama from content studio SISTER stars Andrew Buchan and Leila Farzad. The five-part thriller is created by Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley. It is set and shot completely in Leeds. The story showcases the complexity of family and loyalty in a world in which everyone has a different opinion of what is right and what is wrong.

DI Lou Slack (Leila Farzad) attempts to redeem herself by bringing Col McHugh (Andrew Buchan) to justice even though she helped him become the boss of the criminal underworld in Leeds. Col will prove to be a dangerous rival although DI Slack’s biggest enemy may be within herself. The five-part series will debut on BBC One in 2023.

Stonehouse

Matthew Macfadyen and wife Keeley Hawes will join forces to retell the incredibly complex story of British politician John Stonehouse. The three-part series will debut on January 2, 2023 before the full series drops on ITVX on January 4.

John’s political career is thriving in the late sixties. While serving under Prime Minister Harold Wilson (Kevin R. McNally), Stonehouse will obtain ministerial roles in Aviation before becoming Postmaster General. Before long, Stonehouse will begin trading information for money and things will take a devastating turn.

When rumors of fraud begin circulating, a desperate John Stonehouse will concoct a halfcocked plan to escape with help from a dead constituent and forged passports. Matthew Macfadyen and Keeley Hawes are joined by Emer Heatley, Kevin McNally, Simon Greenall, Dorothy Atkinson, Celia Robertson, Dainton Anderson, and Orla Hill.

Desperate Measures

Channel 5 is gearing up for the new year with several new shows including Desperate Measures which stars Amanda Abbington, Francis Magee, Warren Brown, and Sunetra Sarker. Amanda Abbington plays a diligent bank clerk named Rowan who is raising her teenage son Finn on a shady estate. Rowan will face a potentially deadly dilemma when her son is coerced into a botched drug deal by a gang.

With a brutal gang leader breathing down her neck, Rowan will develop a plan to recoup the money her son lost and save his life. However, her idea to rob the bank where she works may leave Finn without his mother. The four-part series will broadcast on Channel 5.

 

Under Her Skin

Channel 5 has commissioned a new drama with the working title Under Her Skin. The four-part psychological thriller follows a woman who seems to have it all on the surface. In reality, the woman’s world is quickly spiraling out of control in part due to a new friend who is intent on creating chaos in her life.

Jo Joyner will play Laura who appears to have a perfect life and family with a loving husband and two children. Cracks are beginning to present themselves in the veneer and those cracks will be exploited by Emily (Rachel Shenton) to make Jo’s life unbearable. Filming has already begun in Malta with the show set to air on Channel 5 sometime in 2023.

The Catch

The Catch is expected to begin airing on Channel 5 in early 2023. The cast is led by BAFTA-winner Jason Watkins who will be joined by Aneurin Barnard, Poppy Gilbert, Ian Pirie, and Cathy Belton. Watkins plays a proud husband, father and fisherman named Ed Collier who will do whatever it takes to keep his family together.

When a rich man named Ryan Wilson (Aneurin Barnard) begins courting his daughter Abbie (Poppy Gilbert) and threatening to take her away, Ed’s life will begin spiraling out of control. At every turn, secrets will be revealed and those secrets could rip the family apart. Will Ed be able to uncover the truth about Ryan before the mysterious man runs away with his daughter?

The Catch is being adapted by Michael Crompton from TM Logan’s novel with Robert Quinn directing.

2023 British Returning Shows

Several British shows will be returning for another season in 2023. The Madame Blanc Mysteries will return for a second season in 2023 with a Christmas special expected as well. Bertie Carvel is set to return as Dalgliesh for another six-part season covering three Adam Dalgliesh novels.

Other shows that may return in 2023 include The Responder, Annika, Crime, and DI Ray.