From classic TV shows to recent standout hits, it's safe to say that Sky is packed full of some veritable viewing gems.

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With the fourth and final season of Succession recently dominating at the 2024 Emmys and everyone talking about the current season of True Detective, there's never been a better time to hunker down with a riveting show.

If you're after something a little more light-hearted, hits like Code 404 and Poker Face are sure to bring the laughs, as well as pull viewers in with their crime-centred plot lines.

Looking for even more of a laugh? Well, A League Of Their Own and Rob & Romesh Vs are packed full of side-splitting moments across sports and travel.

Sci-fi fans have the likes of The Lazarus Project and Westworld to binge watch on Sky, while Fred West: The Glasgow Girls or David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived have got documentary lovers covered.

So, if you're ever feeling at a loss about what to check out, read on for our latest picks of the best TV shows to watch on Sky below.

Best TV shows to watch on Sky right now

Mary & George

Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine in period attire, walking through a luxury garden in a scene from Mary & George
Sky UK

This Sky Original drama is inspired by the explosive true story of Mary Villiers, who moulds her charismatic son, George, to seduce the King and achieve immense power. Julianne Moore stars as the treacherous Mary Villiers, alongside Nicholas Galitzine who plays George. Not quite your typical period drama, this series is an audacious historical psychodrama that will have you glued to the screen.

True Detective

Jodie Foster and Kali Reis stand in the snow, wearing heavy winter gear in a scene from True Detective: Night Country
Jodie Foster and Kali Reis star in True Detective: Night Country. HBO

After a mind-bending detective drama? Well, with four seasons to its name this is the show that will have you gripped from start to finish. Each season welcomes new detectives who are tasked with investigating a police case.

The first season, which starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, is highly acclaimed and even 10 years later is undoubtedly a brilliant watch.

The fourth and latest season aired in early 2024 and sees Jodie Foster and Kali Reis lead the drama as a formidable policing duo who are tasked with investigating a chilling six-person disappearance, which seems to have links back to a previously unsolved murder case. Set in the expansive and chilling location of Alaska, this is definitely one that will keep you guessing throughout.

Based on a True Story

Kaley Cuoco as Ava and Chris Messina as Nathan in Based on a True Story sitting together looking shocked
Kaley Cuoco as Ava and Chris Messina as Nathan in Based on a True Story. Universal Content Productions

Based on a True Story is the dark, comedic thriller series all about society’s obsession with true crime. The show follows a married couple – played by Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina - who decide to collaborate with an infamous serial killer on the loose and cash in on the true crime podcast wave that is sweeping the world.

With eight episodes averaging at around 30 minutes each, this ticks all the boxes if you’re after an easy-to-watch series.

Succession

Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy in Succession sitting with a hand over his mouth
Kieran Culkin as Roman Roy in Succession. HBO

You can't have a list about the best TV shows and not include the multiple Emmy Award-winning drama, Succession.

The series follows the Roy family, who are owners of global media and entertainment conglomerate, Waystar RoyCo. Over the course of four seasons, the Roy siblings battle for power and the leadership role after patriarch Logan steps down as CEO.

Those in the cast of Succession include Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook and Brian Cox.

The Lazarus Project

Paapa Essiedu as George in The Lazarus Project wearing a stripy top and brown jacket
Paapa Essiedu as George in The Lazarus Project. Sky UK

If you enjoy a sci-fi thriller, then The Lazarus Project is one to put on your watchlist.

Starring Paapa Essiedu as George, The Lazarus Project follows the character as he discovers he has been reliving the same six months of his life, unknown to everyone else. George is soon contacted by a secret organisation called The Lazarus Project, who turn back time to prevent global catastrophes.

And with a new instalment having dropped in November, that means you’ve got two full seasons to enjoy!

Euphoria

Zendaya as Rue Bennett and Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn sat together on brown chairs
Zendaya as Rue and Hunter Schafer as Jules. Warner Media

Despite only having two seasons, Euphoria has become one of the best TV shows with an all-star cast. The series offers a glimpse into the struggles of teenage life in a world of social media, drugs and trauma.

Euphoria features the likes of Zendaya, Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney. Zendaya stars as the lead, 17-year-old Rue Bennett, who is battling a drug addiction whilst navigating high school life.

A third season is currently in the works.

Chernobyl

Paul Ritter as Dyatlov wearing an all white outfit with a hand on his desk
Paul Ritter as Dyatlov in Chernobyl. Sky/HBO

Chernobyl is a powerful drama that explores the truth surrounding the 1986 nuclear disaster, bringing to life the true story of the man-made tragedy and the brave men and women who made sacrifices to save Europe from a widespread disaster.

Code 404

Stephen Graham as Carver in Code 404 wearing a grey jacket and brown shirt
Stephen Graham as Carver in Code 404. Nick Wall/Sky UK

In Code 404, a police detective is brought back from the dead as part-human and part-robot.

Starring Stephen Graham and Daniel Mays, the comedy follows two detectives as they investigate cases, often finding themselves in unfortunate circumstances.

Intelligence

Nick Mohammed as Joseph and David Schwimmer as Jerry standing next to each other looking concerned
Nick Mohammed as Joseph and David Schwimmer as Jerry. Ollie Upton/Sky UK

Created by Nick Mohammed, Intelligence is a British sitcom set in GCHQ which follows an NSA agent, Jerry, as he is assigned to the cybersecurity division in the British office, where he works alongside computer programmer Joseph to fight crime.

The series features none other than David Schwimmer, one of the faces of one of the biggest sitcoms ever.

Ray Donovan

Liev Schreiber as Ray Donovan in Ray Donovan wearing a dark suit and white shirt
Liev Schreiber as Ray Donovan in Ray Donovan. Suzanne Tenner/Showtime

Ray Donovan, played by Liev Schreiber, is a fixer for all of Hollywood's big names. Despite making a career out of fixing other people's problems, though - and being pretty good at it - Ray's past is proving a problem, as his father is out of prison and causing trouble.

Dreamland

Freema Agyeman as Trish and Lily Allen as Mel in Dreamland leaning on a railing
Freema Agyeman as Trish and Lily Allen as Mel in Dreamland. Natalie Seery/Sky UK

Dreamland is the series all about secrets, lies, loves and aspirations within a family of four sisters. It stars Lily Allen in her first ever lead TV role, where she plays Mel, a party girl who makes an unexpected reappearance in Margate and destabilises her family's life.

COBRA

Robert Carlyle as Robert Sutherland in COBRA wearing a dark suit and red tie
Robert Carlyle as Robert Sutherland in COBRA. Matt Squire/Sky UK

COBRA is a political thriller you'll absolutely love.

Based on the real-life COBRA Committee, who convene to deal with national emergencies, the series follows a group of politicians and experts as they respond to various national crises.

Get ready to binge watch all three seasons!

Breeders

Martin Freeman as Paul in Breeders sitting at a table, talking to a man
Martin Freeman as Paul in Breeders. Avalon/Sky UK Ltd

Dark humour series Breeders stars Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard as married couple Paul and Ally, parents of two kids, as they navigate through the complexities of life as a working parent.

The witty family sitcom may make your own family dynamic look quite... normal?

Westworld

Tessa Thompson as Dolores Abernathy in Westworld wearing a black leather outfit
Tessa Thompson as Dolores Abernathy in Westworld. HBO

Westworld is an award-winning drama series that blends both sci-fi and Western worlds together.

Set in a futuristic Wild West themed park known as Westworld, a group of robots who have been programmed to not harm the human guests of the park begin malfunctioning - leading to devastating results.

The Wire

Lance Reddick in The Wire.
Lance Reddick in The Wire. HBO

It may have been over 20 years since The Wire first hit screens, but it still ranks as one of the best TV dramas ever.

Set in Baltimore, The Wire is focused on a local organised crime underworld and the power struggle between those on either side of the law.

Poker Face

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale sitting down, with Benjamin Bratt as Cliff Legrand in Poker Face looking at her from the background
Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale and Benjamin Bratt as Cliff Legrand in Poker Face. Peacock

Poker Face is the 10-episode whodunnit series starring Natasha Lyonne.

Lyonne stars as Charlie Cale, who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. She hits the road and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can't help but solve.

A League of Their Own

Romesh Ranganathan in A League Of Their Own sitting down and smiling
Romesh Ranganathan in A League of Their Own. Gary Moyes/CPL Productions Gary Moyes/CPL Productions

A League of Their Own has stood the test of time, bringing together sports and comedy in a panel show format.

Each episode includes a panel of famous faces as they join host Romesh Ranganathan, team captains Jamie Redknapp and Jill Scott, and series regulars Micah Richards and Mo Gilligan to compete for points across three rounds.

Past guests include Harry Styles, Frank Lampard and Tony Bellew.

And Just Like That

John Corbett as Aidan Shaw and Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in And Just Like That... standing in a lift
John Corbett as Aidan Shaw and Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in And Just Like That. BO/WarnerMedia

And Just Like That follows Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte as they navigate life and friendship in their 50s.

If you're after a nostalgia-filled night, especially if you're a Sex and the City fan, then AJLT is the series for you. And with a third season confirmed, now is the time to play catch-up!

I Hate Suzie

Billie Piper as Suzie Pickles in I Hate Suzie looking shocked
Billie Piper as Suzie Pickles in I Hate Suzie. Robert Viglasky/Sky UK

Created by Lucy Prebble and Billie Piper, dark comedy I Hate Suzie follows the life of Suzie Pickles – a famous actress who is the subject of a phone hacking incident which sees compromising pictures of her made public, throwing her life into disarray.

The second season, I Hate Suzie Too, follows Suzie Pickles as she tries to rebuild her life and career.

House of the Dragon

Milly Alcock as young Rhaenyra Targaryen and Emily Carey as young Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon hugging each other
Milly Alcock as young Rhaenyra Targaryen and Emily Carey as young Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon. HBO

House of the Dragon is set 200 years before Game of Thrones, and tells the story of a civil war.

The series is full of battles, deaths and dragons - so naturally you're going to want to tune in. If you find yourself at a loss after finishing the first season, fear not as a second is coming in Summer 2024.

Fred West: The Glasgow Girls

Fred West: The Glasgow Girls key art, showing three people walking down an alley
Fred West: The Glasgow Girls. Sky UK

Sky Original documentary Fred West: The Glasgow Girls tells the story of prolific serial killer Fred West's early years in Glasgow and the experiences of his first three victims.

The three-part series explores whether clues were missed and asks questions which will leave you wondering how many lives could have been saved if he was stopped earlier.

David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived

Daniel Radcliffe wears a chequered shirt and chats to David Holmes, who sits in his wheelchair and wears a beige sweatshirt and Timberland boots
Daniel Radcliffe and David Holmes. Sky

This documentary film tells the story of David Holmes, who was the stuntman for Daniel Radcliffe in the Harry Potter films before a tragic accident on the set of the penultimate movie left Holmes paralysed with a debilitating spinal injury.

Featuring behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Holmes, Radcliffe, family and friends, the documentary shows the pair’s inextricable bond and highlights Holmes's extraordinary resilience.

A must-watch whether you're a Potter fan or not!

Rob & Romesh Vs

Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan in Rob & Romesh Vs wearing ornate gold and black outfits
Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan in Rob & Romesh Vs. Andrea Southam/ Sky UK

Rob & Romesh Vs sees the pair take on a new challenge each episode, from conquering the world of professional ballet to opening their own restaurant, with the comedic duo's attempts delivering laughs aplenty.

The BAFTA-nominated series returned in February for a two-parter which saw Rob & Rom enter the world of Formula 1 by heading to the ultra-glamorous Monaco GP to hang out with Team Mercedes and drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Looking for something else to watch? Check out our best series on Netflix, best Netflix comedies and best Netflix horror movies.

Want to see what's on the other streaming sites? Take a look at our best Disney Plus shows guide or best Disney Plus movies.

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Authors

Katelyn MensahEntertainment and Factual Writer

Katelyn Mensah is the Entertainment and Factual Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.

Morgan Cormack
Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.

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