Vincenzo (Netflix) I know Squid Game is the K-drama that took the world by storm, but I found so much in the Korean Netflix show Vincenzo. It’s a surreal black comedy, with hyper-violence, bold twists, and a very flawed antihero lead. The characters are well-written, and it’s a great exploration into corporate corruption and capitalism – plus a memorable scene where a flock of pigeons takes aim at a hitman. Clara, 29, personal assistant, Kent What We Do in the Shadows, season three (BBC Two) In a year so often filled with devastating stories in the news, it was such a welcome relief to have this hilarious, bonkers vampire mockumentary to turn to on the gloomiest of days. What We Do in the Shadows is a delightfully ridiculous time. Dalton Valette, 25, business consultant, US Dopesick (Disney+) I still have two episodes to go, but wow! I was only recently aware of the opioid crisis in the US from watching shows like Justified. But to see how one company put profit over safety and created this crisis is shocking. Then there are the people behind the scenes trying to fight back. It’s a true eye-opener and a tragic tale with an amazing cast, screenplay and direction. David Gillson, 52, analyst, North Yorkshire Midnight Mass (Netflix) My family and friends are getting tired of me asking if they’ve seen Midnight Mass yet. Set on a small fishing village miles from modernity, Midnight Mass is what you get when you take Stephen King, Lost, Guillermo del Toro and Nietzsche, and put them in a blender. It’s full of creepiness, but the writing is top notch. Each character is well-rounded, so by the time things start to go crazy, you’re genuinely invested. Tom Stokes, 27, student, London Time (BBC One) Time is a gritty, sometimes shocking, but realistic portrayal of criminality, the prison regime and real human weaknesses. The acting, particularly by Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, is excellent. Unlike many serialised dramas these days, it kept to a small number of episodes, which kept the energy and momentum high. It left me emotionally exhausted – in a positive way. Kieran Gordon, 63, Wirral It’s a Sin (Channel 4) It’s a Sin should be compulsory viewing. This marvellous television series takes us back to the Aids crisis and gives us a special insight into the times as we follow its characters through terror, confusion and fun. Nobody could have done this better than Russell T Davies and the superb cast, and I want to thank them all. Heather, volunteer, Wales Succession, season three (Sky Atlantic) I wish I could illuminate a hidden gem that deserves more attention, but I kept returning to one show. Succession towers over most other TV in the quality of its writing, its acting and its world-building. While the show is tense almost to the point of aneurysm, it’s also funny: Roman’s text message indiscretion near the end of the series was just the sort of unexpected twist that made you cringe and laugh simultaneously. It’s impossible to mention every delight – even the theme tune is amazing. Graham, 41, researcher, Stockport Our Yorkshire Farm, season five (Channel 5) Our Yorkshire Farm follows a lovely family that works together in a beautiful but harsh area of the Yorkshire Dales. It is heartwarming to see the love and companionship through the whole range of ages, and inspiring to see the parents bringing up their large family whereby each of their children contributes with confidence, joy and happiness. The absence of materialism in their lives is a worthy object lesson to us all. Our nation should be proud of everything this programme shows us. Jerry Latham, 88, retired, Uttoxeter Young Royals (Netflix) Young Royals is a Swedish drama set in an elite boarding school. It has it all: love, intrigue, jealousy, death and betrayal all wrapped up in a coating of class divide, entitlement and privilege. It is utterly gripping and the cliffhangers could teach some UK writers a thing or two. Charles Webber, 58, artist, London Ghosts, series three (BBC One) The best discovery for me in 2021, a year that I desperately needed a smile and laughter, was the haunted house sitcom Ghosts. I found it on BBC iPlayer and I was completely charmed and amused. I watched both series one and two and gleefully discovered a third series in the autumn. I watch it over and over and it feels like an old friend. Katie Tunnicliffe, 61, Sheffield A House Through Time (BBC Two) It’s non-fiction all the way for me. My favourite was the latest of David Olusoga’s A House Through Time programmes. I think this is a work of quiet, but immense, genius. It’s history through the lens of ordinary people and ordinary places, using a single house as a brilliant storytelling device. As a provincial guy, it’s wonderful to see places outside London being explored. How they even find houses with such incredible back-stories must be worth a programme in its own right. Mat Jordan, IT project manager for the NHS, Sheffield Maid (Netflix) The best show I watched this year was the miniseries Maid. It is brutal at times, but balanced with heartfelt emotion. Margaret Qualley was fantastic in the lead role as a house cleaner who dreams of being a writer, but nearly outshone by her mother (played by her real-life mother Andie MacDowell). Jonathan, 39, attorney, New York, US Mare of Easttown (Sky Atlantic) The one series that blew me away was Mare of Easttown. Kate Winslet gives a career-defining performance as the moody and troubled cop Mare Sheehan, whose dedication to her job and the townsfolk she loves often leads her into further trouble. The plot twists and turns, so that you never guess what the truth was and how it will unfold. Intertwined with the dark drama are plenty of laughs to lighten the mood. Kevin Oxley, 59, head of technical services at the University of Hull, Sheffield The Outlaws (BBC One) The Outlaws is Stephen Merchant at his finest. Bristol has a special place in my heart. The accent, the cadence and the perversely acerbic humour bring back poignant memories of living in the West Country. I enjoyed the characters (a group of offenders on community service) for their faithful portrayal of all things personal and moral, without ignoring the costs those choices have on society at large. Anonymous, Malta Grayson Perry’s Art Club (Channel 4) Grayson Perry’s Art Club was my favourite show of 2021: it was a great mix of the inner workings of an artist and enthusiastic members of the public, with some moving stories and struggles. The exhibition was inspiring; something positive to aim for in these dark times. I love the way it encouraged us to get creative. Kitty, 59, student, Scarborough