Why you should watch: Created by the master of 'walk and talk' Aaron Sorkin, The West Wing simmers with a level of authenticity that was applauded by real White House workers at the time. It was also crowned Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmy Awards for four years running. If it's good enough for cameo stars Amy Adams, Nick Offerman, J.K. Simmons, Glenn Close, Laura Dern and Christopher Lloyd, then it's good enough for us!

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Why you should watch: The X Files took its hair-raising cues from fellow TV favourites The Twilight Zone and Twin Peaks before supplanting both at the zenith of pop-culture royalty. The show, which boasted Breaking Bad's Vince Gilligan as an occasional writer/director, employed a thrilling "monster of the week" blueprint for much of its run while the first four series never dipped below 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. The theme music alone still gives us the chills, six years after it ended.

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Why you should watch: In a four-star review of the opening series, The Times hailed "a new union" on screen between "salty British street humour" and "whizz-bang special effects". The Evening Herald went on to compliment Misfits' "uniformly superb" central cast too, which changed after series three when Joseph Gilgun, Karla Crome and Nathan McMullen replaced Iwan Rheon, Antonia Thomas, Lauren Socha and Robert Sheehan.

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Why you should watch: The Americans is a carefully-crafted, paranoid, period spy drama. Since it wrapped up after six superb seasons, Rolling Stone ranked it as the 14th greatest show of all-time. Meanwhile, Insider included it in a list of '50 TV shows everyone should watch in their lifetime'. However, Rotten Tomatoes says it best: "One of the best spy thriller shows out there, The Americans delivers tension, action, drama and sometimes humour while keeping it smart and grounded. The main characters make you care a lot about them despite being cold-blooded killer threatening America."

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Why you should watch: Vicky McClure might be more widely recognised for her turn in Line of Duty but she first found fame playing Lol in the This is England film, and subsequent series (three of them). In This Is England '86, she summoned a career-best performance laced with rage and devastating vulnerability as her character's abhorrent father Mick returned home. The soundtrack kills, as you'd expect, while critics praised its humour and scrappy ensemble. The sublime cast includes Stephen Graham, Joe Gilgun, and Michael Socha. It's not an easy watch at times, but it's well worth it.

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Why you should watch: A brilliant cast - including Gemma Chan, Katherine Parkinson, Colin Morgan, Neil Maskell and Baby Reindeer's Tom Goodman-Hill - all shine in their respective roles. Digital Spy expressed an appreciation for the "fearlessness and creativity" flowing through the series. Fans were in uproar when it didn't come back for a fourth season. As one fan wrote on IMDb: "Plenty of food for thought, and more straightforward than something similar like the big budget Westworld."

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Why you should watch: Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies bagged a ridiculously impressive cast - including popstar Olly Alexander, and actors Keeley Hawes, Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Fry) for his emotionally-charged magnum opus. It's a Sin was nominated for 12 British Academy Television Awards and quite rightly. The BFI said it "stands as a passionate, beautifully gay tribute to all the smalltown boys, everywhere". Although not quite a true story, creator Russell T Davies drew on his own experiences as a young, gay man growing up during the Eighties.

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Why you should watch: This is one of the better prison dramas out there. The six-part mini-series from Channel 4 stars Nina Sosanya, Stephen Wight, Laura Checkley and Ron Donachie as prison guards in this "impeccably observed show about life on the wing" (The Guardian). Sabrina Barr of Metro commended Screw's mastery of balancing danger and humour. Meanwhile, The Telegraph called it "Porridge played straight". Like BBC One's Time, this series proves once again that the prison environment is ripe for a drama, only Screw has more laughs.

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Why you should watch: After This is England, Shane Meadows and Stephen Graham team up once again to unrelentingly brutal effect in hard-hitting drama The Virtues. The Independent called the series "deeply disturbing" yet "deeply impressive" as this four-parter ascended to a flawless 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating. The series also starred the great talent that is Niamh Algar (Malpractice). It's not an easy watch, but the performances are masterful.

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Why you should watch: From acclaimed filmmaker Lee Daniels and Dopesick's Danny Strong, this musical drama's secret weapon is actress Taraji P. Henson. She collected a Golden Globe Award for her work as Cookie Lyon. Sitting on an 84% Rotten Tomatoes score after five seasons is no small matter, either. Lee Daniels denies Empire is based on the lives of P. Diddy or Jay Z, but admits that much of the show came from his own life and his obsession with the hit show Dynasty.

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Why you should watch: It’s the Blade Runner universe rendered through anime, with high-profile names such as Brian Cox, Jessica Henwick, Stephen Root and Barkhad Abdi lending their voices to the English-language version (the original is Japanese). According to Polygon it's an "engrossing, sci-fi, neo-noir revenge story", which the publication singled out for its "atmospheric composition".

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Why you should watch: Radio Times reviewer David Craig slapped four stars on Deadwater Fell when it first aired in 2020. Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter noted David Tennant's dead-eyed fulfilment of portraying a "seemingly admirable town pillar" in this mystery series. 88% on Rotten Tomatoes confirms guaranteed entertainment. There's a cracking supporting cast, too, including Cush Jumbo, Matthew McNulty, and Anna Madeley. You won't forget this one.

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Why you should watch: Directed with frenetic style to devastating effect by Utopia's Marc Munden and written by Jack Thorne. Help took home the prestigious Rose d'Or on the international awards circuit while Comer and co-star Cathy Tyson each bagged British Academy Television Awards. The Standard argued it would "be remembered as one of the best" pandemic pieces. It will break you, but it's a necessary and truthful piece of work.

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Why you should watch: For starters, National Treasure has a cast of ever-reliable actors, including Julie Walters, Tim McInnerny and Andrea Riseborough. Of course, the late Robbie Coltrane in the leading role adds extra heft to the proceedings. The four-part series was celebrated by Variety for its "intelligent and unsentimental observations about the costs of fame and the routine concessions made to celebrity". Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter gave a shoutout to Coltrane for his "skillful shifting of moods and manners, keeping you guessing as to whether he's just a lout or a real predator".

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Why you should watch: This period comedy-drama is great, bawdy fun. As well as the two leads, it stars an impressive cast - including Gillian Anderson, Jason Isaacs, Sacha Dhawan, and Douglas Hodge. Matt Shakman of Fargo, WandaVision and Game of Thrones directed the pilot, and iNews claimed it "should have never been cancelled" after three riotous seasons.

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Why you should watch: Before reaching the heights of The Wire and Luther, Idris Elba appeared in Ultraviolet as a cool hunter of neck-biters. The great British cast also includes TV favourites including Jack Davenport, and Stephen Moyer (who coincidentally went on to star as vampire Bill Compton in True Blood). Despite being axed after just six episodes, The Guardian's review said its "establishment of a consistently downbeat tone becomes almost hypnotic". If you like vampire dramas, then this short-but-sweet series will give you your fix.

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Why you should watch: The Killing has been compared to David Lynch's seminal Twin Peaks, and hyped up by The Hollywood Reporter who said: "When each episode ends, you long for the next - a hallmark of great dramas." Publications such as Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide and The Vancouver Sun were equally positive. Although arguably not as brilliant as the original Danish version, this is great viewing for crime fans. All four series are available on Channel 4 now.

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Why you should watch: From Bridgerton and Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, Scandal was named one of the Top 10 Television Programmes of the Year in 2013 by the American Film Institute. Its leading star Kerry Washington garnered acting nominations at the Golden Globes, Primetime Emmys and SAGs. Its Rotten Tomatoes ranking is 93%, so it's a must for fans of political thrillers. There are seven series to watch in total, which originally aired from 2012 to 2018.

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Why you should watch: With Jack Thorne (National Treasure, Wonder, His Dark Materials) at the helm, you're in good hands. Kiri received the thumbs-up from Den of Geek, which stated in its review: "However painful this particular story, his words coming from the mouth of an actor as charismatic as Sarah Lancashire make for a rare and compelling combination." The Guardian's Chitra Ramaswamy labelled Kiri "beautifully observed", too.

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Why you should watch: Skins launched the careers of future big-hitters - including Daniel Kaluuya, Luke Pasqualino, Joe Dempsie and Hannah Murray - who would go on to win Oscars, appear in Game of Thrones, and mix in with Hollywood's elite. It's a refreshing, entertaining and worthy series, which The Guardian described as "hedonism with consequences, comedy with tragedy".

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Why you should watch: With a cast including Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, and Adrian Lester, this political thriller is a no-brainer. Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky supplies the goods for a "truly clever" (The New Statesman) TV event split across six episodes. The Undeclared War is also an "intelligent, chilling drama" according to The Telegraph.

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Why you should watch: Leading lady Sharon Rooney took home the Best Actress prize at the Scottish BAFTAs in 2015, but the show is also known as the calling card for Jodie Comer pre-Killing Eve. In a glowing review, The Stage pointed to My Mad Fat Diary's "unique and uncompromising perspective on adolescent angst that distresses and delights by turns".

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