Lucy Mangan is the Guardian TV critic and author of Bookish: How Reading Shapes Our Lives
June 2026
Middle aged man in a suit gestures while standing near an ice machine and flowers outside a building
TV review
Best Medicine review – this US remake of Doc Martin is perfect rubbish ... and you need it in your life
This cosy medical drama does exactly what it sets out to do – soothe viewers’ souls with a celebration of smalltown values and secret goodness. It’s TV where nothing will distress you
Alice and Steve sit on a wall by a river, talking and smiling
TV review
Alice and Steve review – Jemaine Clement and Nicola Walker’s icky comedy is dated and wrong
This tale of a midlife man dating his best friend’s 26-year-old daughter is interminable, and so unconvincing that Clement looks embarrassed throughout
TV review
Cape Fear review – Amy Adams and Javier Bardem’s immaculate update is a wild, wild ride
TV review
The Vardys review – very bad, very boring and devastating for Wagatha Christie fans
TV review
Not Suitable for Work review – Mindy Kaling tries to make the new Friends ... and utterly fails
May 2026
David Morrissey and Alan Cumming stand face to face at an open doorway with colorful stained glass above
TV review
Tip Toe review – David Morrissey is magnificent in Russell T Davies’s brutal new drama
A woman with a formal haircut looks serious while standing against a tiled wall.
TV review
Star City review – Anna Maxwell Martin is terrifying in a fascinating space race thriller
Nicolas Cage wearing black clothes and trilby and a face mask with spider-like eyes
TV review
Spider-Noir review – Nicolas Cage’s stylish take on the superhero as a 1940s detective is huge fun
A man sitting in a chesterfield armchair wearing a blue and white striped jumper
TV review
Untold UK: Vinnie Jones review – this chaotic biopic is an unexpected amount of fun
TV review
Two Weeks in August review – Jessica Raine is extraordinary in this exquisite look at a holiday from hell
TV review
Ponies review – Emilia Clarke’s joyful 70s spy thriller shouldn’t work ... but it really does
TV review
The Boroughs review – this witty, star-packed monster show could have been made by Spielberg
TV review
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed review – this totally bingeable thriller will glue you to your seat
TV review
Falling review – Jack Thorne’s religious romance is a god-awful mess
TV review
The Dark Side of Married at First Sight review – there is enough awful detail here to fuel 1,000 more exposés
TV review
Off Campus review – hot fun for fans of bums, boobs, hockey and Heated Rivalry
TV review
Wrestling With Trump review – the president gets an almighty smackdown!
TV review
Believe Me review – this punchy, intelligent drama is a role model for other TV shows
TV review
Legends review – Steve Coogan takes on Britain’s biggest drug gang
TV review
Number One Fan review – four hours of guaranteed, preposterous fun