As we reach the end of another productive year of television, it’s time to look ahead to what promises to be an action-packed twelve months.

From royalty and dragons to the return of Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, here are the twenty biggest shows to look forward to in 2022….

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Better Things (Series 5), Brassic (Series 4), Cash Carraway, Chloe, Euphoria (Series 2), Four Lives, Funny Woman, Holding, I Hate Suzie (Series 2), The Ipcress File, Marriage, My Name is Leon, Nolly, The Outlaws (Series 2), Pam & Tommy, Ralph and Katie, The Responder, Ridley, Then Barbara Met Alan, Westworld (Series 4), Without Sin

 

AFTER LIFE (SERIES 3) – January 14

2022 will mark a number of big farewells for specific television shows with After Life being one of them. The acclaimed Netflix dramedy is set to conclude the story of troubled journalist Tony (Ricky Gervais) and his companions.

Expect plenty of laughs and poignant scenes….and the guarantee that Brandy the dog will survive!

 

ANNE – January 2

Four years after it first went into production, the factual mini-series Anne is finally set to air on ITV on January 2nd. Based on the novel by Kevin Sampson, the drama focuses on how Liverpudlian campaigner Anne Williams fought for justice over her son Kevin’s death during the Hillsborough Disaster.

Leading star Maxine Peake could well be an early contender for BAFTA recognition come 2023 in a Liverpool-based production that should prove an emotional watch a’la Little Boy Blue (2017) and Anthony (2020).

 

BETTER CALL SAUL (SERIES 6) – TBC

There are a number of big TV goodbyes in 2022 that include our favourite fictional lawyer Jimmy McGill (and his more renowned name, Saul Goodman). Having portrayed the character in both ‘Saul and Breaking Bad, it will be a bittersweet end for leading man Bob Odenkirk especially after his recent health scare.

The final series of the pre-Breaking Bad spin-off will undoubtedly explore the end of Jimmy’s relationship with devoted lover Kim Wexler as well as the shady dealings of Gustavo Fring and his right-hand man Mike Ehrmantraut.

 

THE CROWN (SERIES 5) – TBC

The Royals are back in town this year as Netflix’s The Crown welcomes its second shake-up of casting changes. BAFTA-winner Imelda Staunton steps into the breach as Queen Elizabeth II (succeeding both Claire Foy and Olivia Colman) along with Jonathan Pryce as Prince Phillip, Dominic West as Prince Charles and Elizabeth Debecki as Princess Diana.

Expect plenty of key events to be covered this series including the Windsor Castle fire and the fallout from Charles and Diana’s divorce….

 

DERRY GIRLS (SERIES 3) – TBC

It’s time to say a wee goodbye to our favourite Irish lasses as Channel 4’s hit sitcom airs its third and final series.

For a comedy that has fans in stitches throughout, there’s also a lot of heart in how it handles being a teenager during the Troubles in Northern Ireland – so it’s sure to be an emotional farewell.

 

GENTLEMAN JACK (SERIES 2) – TBC

After a long wait, Suranne Jones reprises her acclaimed role as real-life landowner Anne Lister in the second series of the hit BBC drama.

 

GRACE AND FRANKIE (SERIES 7B) – TBC

For almost a decade, Hollywood legends Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin have provided us with plenty of laughs and poignancy in their popular roles as Grace Hanson and Frankie Bergstein.

The final, final series of the hit sitcom will see Grace struggle with the return of her convict husband while fans can look forward to an appearance from a certain country western singer with historic links to Fonda and Tomlin.

 

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (SERIES 1) – TBC

After the vocal disappointment of Game of Thrones’s final series, HBO will finally be unleashing their eagerly-anticipated spin-off that is set 200 years before the fall of the Iron Throne.

The prequel series will focus on the reign of the Targaryen dynasty with big names like Matt Smith (Doctor Who, The Crown), Paddy Considine (Dead Man’s Shoes, Hot Fuzz) and Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One, Sound of Metal) all involved in key roles.

 

KILLING EVE (SERIES 4) – FEBRUARY 27

The cat-and-mouse chase between MI6 agent Eve Polastri and psychotic Russian assassin Villanelle will finally draw to a close in 2022 as television says goodbye to one of the best female-driven shows of the 21st century.

Leading stars Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer have been mesmerising throughout the past three series of the hit BBC thriller. However, loyal fans are praying that their respective characters finally hook up amid the rising threat of “The Twelve”.

 

THE LORD OF THE RINGS (SERIES 1) – SEPTEMBER 2

Amazon are taking a massive gamble (and a whopping budget) this year with their own adaptation of the beloved J.R.R. Tolkien novels.

With no connection to the epic fantasy film series from Peter Jackson, this particular spin-off centres on what look place between the Hobbit trilogy and the adventures of the Fellowship.

 

THE MANDALORIAN (SERIES 3) – TBC

After that epic Series 2 finale, Star Wars fans can certainly look forward to seeing their new favourite bounty hunter continue his journey across the galaxy.

With cute sidekick Grogu (a.k.a. Baby Yoda) absent for this outing, it will be interesting to see how Mando will cope during his latest set of space adventures.

 

THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL (SERIES 4) – February 18

Following a long hiatus, the adventures of taboo-breaking comedian Midge Maisel are set to continue in the fourth series of Amazon’s multi-award winning sitcom.

The humorous pairing of Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein remains comedy gold so expect plenty of wit and foul-mouthed dialogue throughout!

 

OBI-WAN KENOBI – TBC

The second Star Wars-themed programme on the list is sure to be a more nostalgic one for hardcore fans as Ewan McGregor reprises his role as the middle-aged Obi-Wan Kenobi in a new series of the same name.

This will mark the Scottish actor’s first appearance as the legendary Jedi knight since Revenge of the Sith (2005) and will reportedly see him joined by Hayden Christiansen as the ill-fated Darth Vader.

 

OUTLANDER (SERIES 6) – MARCH 6

‘Droughtlander’ is almost over for die-hard fans of the hit fantasy series as the Fraser family return to our screens in 2022.

Devoted lovers Claire and Jamie will fight to protect those they love, as they navigate the trials and tribulations of life in colonial America.

 

OZARK (SERIES 4) – JANUARY 21

Following THAT jaw-dropping cliffhanger at the end of Series 3, Ozark fans will certainly be savouring the arrival of the crime-thriller’s final series.

Marty Byrde and co. are back for a hefty FOURTEEN episodes, of which seven will be released in late January with the rest airing later this year.

 

PEAKY BLINDERS (SERIES 6) – TBC

2022 will also see us say goodbye to the Peaky ‘fookin” Blinders following a successful six series run. Cillian Murphy’s conflicted Brummie gangster Tommy Shelby will be baying for blood in order to protect his criminal family.

The ever-consistent Stephen Graham becomes the latest high-profile name to join the show’s prestige cast that will sadly be without Helen McCrory (Aunt Polly) following her tragic passing in 2021.

 

RAY DONOVAN: THE MOVIE – JANUARY 14

Two years after its abrupt cancellation, the crime-based series Ray Donovan is finally returning for one last outing via the TV film route.

Liev Schreiber is back as our favourite fixer as he seeks to take down his criminal father Mickey (Jon Voight) once and for all.

 

THE RECKONING – TBC

Already deemed the most controversial programme of 2022, the BBC are taking a massive gamble with their factual drama that focuses on the rise and fall of comedian Jimmy Savile.

BAFTA-winner Steve Coogan tackles the challenging role of Savile in a drama that will undoubtedly attract a lot of criticism from viewers.

 

THE RIG – TBC

After a brief and premature end to his time on Vigil, Line of Duty’s Martin Compston will be hoping for better fortunes in Amazon’s tense new thriller.

Compston is joined in the sea-based series by other recognisable names including Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek), Iain Glen (Jack Taylor, Game of Thrones) and Rochenda Sandall (Line of Duty, Small Axe: Mangrove).

 

TRIGGER POINT – TBC

On the subject of ‘LOD’, creator Jed Mercurio and leading star Vicky McClure have collaborated again on a new six-part thriller that focuses on the work of the Metropolitan Police Bomb Disposal Squad during a summer bombing campaign.

Expect PLENTY of tension over the course of those six weeks!