The 2010s gave us some of the most iconic TV shows of all time.
With the likes of Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad cementing themselves as some of the all-time greats, along with dramas such as Peaky Blinders and Fleabag creating some of the most iconic characters on television, the new decade has a lot to live up to.
Despite this, 2020 is already promising to be a great year and an immense kick-starter for television for the next period of the 21st century.
Here are seven of the shows that The River is most excited for:
Westworld series 3
When Westworld first premiered, it was seen as a predecessor to fellow HBO series Game of Thrones.
The show has remained highly popular in its first two series’ due to its in-depth storytelling and strong cast featuring the likes of Thandie Newton and Anthony Hopkins.
The sci-fi drama is even bolstering the cast further for its third season with Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul joining the show.
The third series also marks a new chapter for the HBO show as the story will follow main character Dolores outside the constraints of the park for the first time.
Killing Eve series 3
Phoebe Waller-Bridge may not be renewing Fleabag anytime soon, but the award-winning writer and executive producer will be bringing Killing Eve back for a third outing in 2020, with the show also recently renewed for a further fourth season.
The end of the last series left fans with many questions, but both Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh shall be returning to their much beloved-roles.
Noughts and Crosses
Based on the novel of the same name by Malorie Blackman, this brand new BBC drama will begin in 2020.
The show will loosely follow the books plot, set in a dystopian world where Africa developed technologically ahead of Europe and became the ruling class.
The story follows Sephy (Masali Baduza), the daughter of a politician and member of the black ruling class, and Callum (Jack Rowan), her love interest who is from the white underclass.
The show will also feature UK Grime artist Stormzy in a role specifically created for the show.
The Haunting of Bly Manor
The creators and cast of the highly popular Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House return for a second series which will now look at a new plot line.
For gothic literature lovers, the story will turn its attention to Bly Manor, the setting for the famous 1898 horror novella The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.
It seems, with most of the same cast re-appearing in a new story, this show could be Netflix’s answer to American Horror Story and definitely will not be one for the faint-hearted.
Boys
Former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies latest show will begin in 2020, and will follow the story of three young gay men affected by the 1980s AIDS crisis.
The cast will include Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander, as well as stars such as Stephen Fry and Neil Patrick Harris.
The series will be a five-parter broadcasting on Channel 4 and will follow the three young men as their lives change drastically episode by episode as the virus increases in threat.
After Life series 2
Ricky Gervais’ successful first series of After Life left the audience laughing and crying at the same time.
The second season should be no exception.
Following the story of small-town journalist Tony, who has to deal with depression after the death of his wife, the second series will explore the characters in further depth.
Expect the same witty but dark humour from Gervais as well as another rollercoaster of emotions as this series returns to Netflix at some stage in 2020.
Quiz
Based on the crazy real life story, Quiz follows the events on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire back in 2001 as Charles Ingram, a former British army major, cheated his way to winning the £1 million on the gameshow.
The notorious moment and attempted heist will include actor Michael Sheen, who will be portraying the show’s former host Chris Tarrant.
The show will be directed by Stephen Frears, who recently entertained audiences with fellow TV drama A Very English Scandal.
Erica Goncalves Lopes
Bethany Aspinall
Megan Kelly