THE SMALL-SCREEN SMASHERS OF 2019
Pass the remote! MARION McMULLEN looks back at some of the year’s top TV moments
EPIC fantasy drama Game Of Thrones came to an end in May after eight series with a blast of dragon fire. The final feature-length episode was called The Iron Throne and left some fans disappointed, but the backlash did not stop the series from winning two Emmy Awards. Plans are now going ahead for a TV spin-off.
FLEABAG and the “hot priest” proved a ratings hit for BBC Three. Adapted by Phoebe Waller-Bridge from her acclaimed one-woman show, the second and final series saw Irish actor Andrew Scott play the man of the cloth. Fleabag scooped six Emmys including best comedy, while Phoebe took the award for lead actress in a comedy.
3
GRIPPING surveillance tale The Capture, on BBC1, kept viewers guessing until the final episode. The tense drama looked at the world of fake news and security cameras with Holliday Grainger (above) leading a cast that included Callum Turner and Ron Perlman.
THE Rugby World Cup Final and Women’s football World Cup both scored viewing victories. England’s match against South Africa was the most-watched TV moment of the year with nearly 13 million viewers, according to ITV. The BBC meanwhile, reported that the entire Women’s World Cup tournament attracted 28.1 million on television and online.
REALITY telly favourite Love Island on ITV2 got off to a slow start but nearly four million viewers watched the live finale. The series also featured one on the worst betrayals in the show’s history when Michael Griffiths dumped Amber Gill for Joanna Chimonides. Amber had the last laugh when she and Greg O’Shea won the £50,000 series prize.
ANT McPARTLIN returned to presenting duties on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent and I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! after taking time off following his drink-driving arrest in 2018. He was banned from driving for 20 months and fined £86,000. His co-presenter Declan Donnelly said in ITV documentary Ant & Dec’s DNA Journey: “It has been a tough couple of years and it has tested the bond we have shared since we were 13 years old.”
STRICTLY Come Dancing made history by airing its first same-sex dance, left. Professional dancers Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Prima took to the dance floor together on the BBC1 show during singer Emeli Sande’s performance of her new single, Shine.
8
RUPAUL, right, finally brought his Drag Race to the UK. The BBC series – in which drag queens tried out a range of challenges such as, fashion design and a sizzling catwalk display – featured celebrity judges including actor Andrew Garfield, GoT star Maisie Williams, model Twiggy and singer Geri Horner. A second series has been confirmed.
9
JENNIFER ANISTON and Reese Witherspoon, below, helped launch new steaming platform Apple TV+ with new drama The Morning Show about a daytime TV programme struck by a #MeToo scandal. The duo were last seen together playing sisters on US comedy Friends.
10
NETFLIX delivered a winner with the third series of royal drama The Crown. Oscar winner Olivia Colman, above, took over the role of Queen Elizabeth from Claire Foy, with Helena Bonham Carter taking over from Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret.