Best shows to watch on Channel 4

Wondering what's on Channel 4? Short answer: a lottttt. From laugh-out-loud comedies and edge-of-your-seat dramas to reality TV rabbit holes, American boxsets and addictive international gems from Walter Presents, there's no shortage of brilliant telly to get stuck into.

So, what are the best shows to stream on Channel 4? 

With thousands of shows and boxsets ready and waiting, knowing where to start can feel a bit like scrolling for longer than the actual programme. Luckily for you, we've done the hard work. So grab a snack, get comfy and dive into our top picks from Channel 4.

Drama | Entertainment | Comedy | Reality TV |  Documentaries | Walter Presents 

Drama Drama Drama

Grab a cuppa. You might be here a while.

Pierre

Legal drama starring David Harewood (Homeland, The Night Manager, Supergirl). When one of his clients dies in suspicious circumstances, duty solicitor Pierre finds himself untangling a web of corruption, cover-ups and people who'd really rather he stopped asking questions. Naturally, he doesn't.

Fellow Travellers

Politics, secrets and a romance that's anything but straightforward. Set in 1950s Washington, Fellow Travelers follows Hawk and Tim as they navigate ambition, loyalty and a relationship that has to stay hidden. Starring Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey, this sweeping drama is equal parts heart-racing thriller and love story. 

Three Women

What do you do when life isn't quite giving you what you want? Based on Lisa Taddeo's bestselling novel, Three Women follows three very different women as they take bold steps to pursue happiness, desire and a life on their own terms. Starring Shailene Woodley, Betty Gilpin and DeWanda Wise, this intimate drama is heartfelt, thought-provoking and impossible not to get invested in.

The Undeclared War

A cyber-attack here, a national security crisis there... just another day at the office. Set in a near-future Britain, The Undeclared War follows a team of brilliant analysts at GCHQ as they race to stop a series of cyber-attacks threatening the UK. Starring Simon Pegg, Hannah Khalique-Brown and Siân Brooke, this smart, twist-filled thriller will have you wondering just how secure your Wi-Fi really is.

Think you'll be hooked? Discover everything you need to know about The Undeclared War in our deep dive!!

Hollyoaks

It all happens in this Chester village. And after almost 30 years later there’s never a dull moment.

A Woman of Substance 

Looking for a rags to riches story? You’re in luck! This fierce drama follows Emma Harte’s revenge story, beginning as an impoverished ambitious maid in Yorkshire to becoming one of the world’s wealthiest women. Leading the charge is Jessica Reynolds capturing young Emma’s relentless drive whilst Brenda Blethyn embodies Harte later in life as a formidable businesswoman at the height of her power! Consider us hooked. 

Want to know evennnn more about A Woman of Substance!? Discover all you need to know about Emma Harte's journey from maid to mogul. 

Dirty Business 

When two Oxfordshire locals uncover a huge pollution problem, they expose how regulators completely dropped the ball. The result is a powerful, anger‑fuelled true story that shines a harsh light on the failures of the UK water system.Heartbreaking, infuriating and impossible to look away, perfect for fans of Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Starring David Thewlis, Jason Watkins and Charlotte Ritchie. 

Looking for even more jaw-dropping true story dramas? Discover gripping dramas that are impossible to look away from. 

Trespasses 

Adapted from Louise Kennedy’s novel, this heart-staking drama is set in the 1970s Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Following the forbidden love affair between a Catholic schoolteacher (Lola Petticrew) and a married Protestant barrister (Tom Cullen) this story is delicate and revolutionary. If you had plans this weekend, consider them cancelled!   

Patience

It’s official a second series is allll prepped to press play. 

Based on the extremely popular Astrid: Murder in Paris series, Patience takes things to a whole new level. This six-part police drama is set in York, where young autistic Patience Evans (Ella Maisy Purvis) works in the criminal records department of the Yorkshire police. After forming an unlikely duo with detective Bea Metcalfe (Laura Fraser), a brand-new door opens for Patience. With an instinctive eye for crime scenes – as well as a knack for problem-solving – Patience quickly finds all eyes on her!

The Couple Next Door

When a young couple befriends their new suburban neighbours, their seemingly close bond raises suspicions: is their friendliness genuine or something more? Watch if you want a drama filled with desire, secrets betrayal.

Tip Toe

What starts as a simple favour quickly spirals into something much messier. When Leo lends neighbour Clive a spare key, an ordinary Manchester street becomes tangled up in secrets, lies and life-changing consequences. From Russell T Davies and starring Alan Cumming and David Morrissey, this tense thriller proves that some doors are better left unopened.

Undeniable entertainment

If you can't watch it every day, you’re definitely watching it every week.

The Great British Bake Off

It’s the sweetest escape into a world of flour, sugar and scrumptious creations (where's Smell-O-Vision when you need it?!). Britain’s best amateur bakers take on tricky challenges and jaw-dropping showstoppers that we could never make, but would happily eat. And with Nigella Lawson joining the judging line-up, we're more excited than ever to pull up a chair in the tent.

The Great Celebrity Pottery Throw Down

Who would have though that being famous doesn't automatically make you good at pottery. Shaky hands, ambitious ideas and the occasional clay catastrophe are all on the menu as Lucy Beaumont, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Richard Herring, Paul Merson, Denise Van Outen and Layton Williams enter the pottery. We're rooting for them all, but we're quietly preparing for at least one masterpiece to become several pieces.

Tempting Fortune

A tropical trek sounds lovely... until every snack, shower and home comfort starts eating into the prize pot. Hosted by Rob Beckett, Tempting Fortune follows 12 strangers battling through the Malaysian jungle while trying to resist increasingly irresistible luxuries. Easier said than done when £300,000 is on the line and everyone's keeping score. 

Gogglebox

There’s something quite inception-like about turning on the TV to watch Britain’s best armchair critics reviewing a week’s worth of TV, but we just can’t get enough of it. It's the perfect blend of laughter and gossip.

Grand Designs

Building your dream home sounds lovely. Building it yourself? That's where things get interesting. Join Kevin McCloud as he follows some of Britain's most ambitious self-build projects, packed with bold ideas, unexpected setbacks and the occasional budget wobble. Equal parts inspiring and "how are they pulling this off?", it's impossible not to get invested.

Location, Location, Location

House hunting would be a lot easier if your dream home came with a giant arrow pointing at it. Luckily, Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer are on the case. From wish lists that don't quite match the budget to surprise properties that steal the sho.

Comedy

The kind of comedy that starts with one episode and somehow steals your entire evening.

Break Clause

Starring Samuel Bottomley (How to Have Sex, Am I Being Unreasonable?) and Lara Ricote (Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping), this is the ultimate reminder that heartbreak is one thing, splitting rent is another. It's sharp and it's witty, what's not to love. 

Taskmaster (Series 22)

Every series of Taskmaster answers the same question: how difficult can a straightforward task become? This time, Chloe Petts, Isy Suttie, Matt Lucas, Nina Conti and Richard Ayoade are putting that theory to the test, under the ever-patient guidance of Alex Horne and the ever-impatient judgement of Greg Davies.

It Gets Worse

It's a lottttt being in your twenties. After being evicted, best mates Ethan, Abi and Sam muddle through bad decisions, messy relationships and the general chaos of growing up. Created by and starring Leo Reich, alongside Emily Fairn (House of Guinness, Rain Dogs, Black Mirror), Olive Gray (Reunion, Hijack, Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story) and the one and only Andrew Scott.

Stath Lets Flats 

Oh my gilly goodness, this BAFTA Award-winning comedy is an absolute gem. Jamie Demetriou stars as incompetent estate agent Stath for his father’s family business, Michael & Eagle Lettings. Expect bumbling awkward chaos as Stath shows clients burnt out-houses, employs unique pigeon removal techniques all whilst desperately trying to outshine the ambitious Carole (Katy Wix) for top-agent. This show would most definitely win the silly billy awards in our books. 

Derry Girls

Lisa McGee’s award-winning comedy is full of witty banter, quirky characters and 90s nostalgia. It's a coming-of-age comedy following the wild world of four teens living in Derry during The Troubles.

Chewing Gum

Michaela Coel’s bold hilarious comedy series about quirky 24-year-old Tracey complexities of love, sex, and adulthood in London. Guaranteed to leave you laughing and loud and craving more. 

Peep Show

It’s a cult classic about the hysterically awkward lives of two mismatched roommates. Full of cringe-worthy inner thoughts, sharp wit and dark humour. 

Friday Night Dinner

With a triple-threat of eccentric characters, absurd situations, and laugh-out-loud moments, Friday Night Dinner is a comedic gem if ever there was one. Two siblings gather at the parents’ for Friday dinners with inevitable chaotic consequences.

Reality TV

It’s the good stuff that eeeeveryone’s talking about.

First Dates (Series 25)

Pull up a chair, because love is officially on the menu. First Dates follows hopeful singletons as they meet for a blind date at the restaurant, with sparks, awkward silences and the occasional fairytale ending all part of the experience. Whether it's love at first sight or a polite "nice to meet you", we're invested from the moment they walk through the door.

Apocalypse

No food. No power. No idea the other group even exists. Sounds relaxing, right? In this gripping survival experiment, two groups of ordinary people are dropped into an abandoned town and left to fend for themselves for 28 days. As resources run low and tensions rise, the real challenge isn't surviving the apocalypse, it's surviving each other.

Below Deck Down Under

Turquoise waters, luxury yachts and guests with very high expectations. What could possibly go wrong? Follow Captain Jason Chambers and his crew as they navigate life at sea, juggling demanding charter guests, long hours and plenty of drama along the way. Fair warning: you may end up pricing up a yacht holiday by the end of it.

Virgin Island 

Following adult virgins who have travelled to a gorgeous Mediterranean retreat to take their very first steps in intimacy, all kindly guided through by specialists. It’s warm and super thought-provoking.  

Come Dine with Me

Imagine having random strangers come into your home to judge your cooking and hospitality, but not before having a look around while you’re in the kitchen… That could never be us, but we thoroughly enjoy watching it from the other side of the screen. 

Documentaries and Factual Stories

From gripping true crime to heartwarming classroom moments, Channel 4's factual line-up has something for every kind of documentary fan. Whether you're following detectives piecing together major cases in 24 Hours in Police Custody or spending time with the unforgettable pupils and teachers of Educating Yorkshire, these are the stories that'll keep you hooked. We have an entire section dedicated to documentaries if you want even more suggestions!

24 Hours in Police Custody 

Fancy yourself as a detective, or just a bit nosy? This gripping true-crime documentary drops you right into the action, following real police detective cases around the clock as they work day and night to crack some major cases. We’re so here to not do any paperwork! 

The Jury: Murder Trial

Think you'd make the right call on a jury? This fascinating BAFTA-winning series puts that question to the test. As a real-life murder trial is recreated for a group of ordinary people, viewers get a front-row seat to the debates, disagreements and difficult decisions that shape a verdict

Geordie Coppers

Keeping one of Britain's liveliest cities running smoothly is no easy task. This gripping series follows Newcastle's neighbourhood police teams as they tackle everything from everyday incidents to unexpected call-outs, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the people keeping the city safe.

Jamie's 20 Minute Meals

Short on time but still fancy something tasty? Jamie Oliver is here to prove that great food doesn't have to take all evening. Packed with quick, fuss-free recipes, Jamie's 20 Minute Meals serves up delicious dishes in less time than it takes to decide what to watch next.

Lorraine Kelly’s Norwegian Odyssey 

Join national treasure Lorraine Kelly in this three-part doc, as she traverses beautiful Norway. From stunning fjords and volcanoes, local culture and exploring old Norwegian tradition, this doc has it all. Be prepared to add Norway onto your travel bucket list!  

Best of US

The Good Doctor

Saving lives is the easy part. Navigating hospital politics? Slightly trickier. The Good Doctor follows talented young surgeon Shaun Murphy as he joins a prestigious surgical unit, bringing an extraordinary medical mind and a fresh perspective to every case. Starring Freddie Highmore!

The Good Place

Imagine getting into heaven... only to discover you're not supposed to be there. Starring Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil and Manny Jacinto, The Good Place follows Eleanor as she tries to become a better person before anyone realises a rather big mistake has been made.

Suits

Most lawyers spend years getting qualified. Mike Ross skipped that bit entirely. When legal superstar Harvey Specter takes a chance on a brilliant college dropout with a photographic memory, the pair become one of TV's most iconic duos. Starring Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Sarah Rafferty, Rick Hoffman and Meghan Markle.

Nurse Jackie 

This comedy-drama will have you laughing so hard you’ll wonder if you need to go to the ER. Emmy-winning Edie Falco shines as the charming chaotic, pill-popping Manhattan nurse Jackie Payton. Watch on as she carefully balances sainthood and sin so to not flatline. And with 7 whole series to binge, consider us hooked. 

House 

This gritty medical drama follows House (yes that is his name) and his team treat bizarre diseases that no one else can solve. But House (Hugh Laurie) is veryyy different to your average care-worker, being that caring is not a natural quality of his. Instead, he’s a bit of an antisocial jerk but an absolute medical maverick.  

Walter Presents

The good stuff just got better! Channel 4 have a whole range of international, foreign language dramas handpicked by TV Producer Walter Iuzzolino (known for The Couple Next Door and Professor T). There are loads to sink your teeth into, but here are a couple of our faves to get you started:

Astrid: Murder in Paris

If you love crime thrillers with a twist, Astrid: Murder in Paris is calling your name! Follow the brilliant yet socially anxious criminal analyst Astrid Nielsen as she teams up with no-nonsense detective Raphaëlle Coste to crack the most mind-bending murder cases in Paris — all while navigating the complexities of friendship, neurodiversity, and justice!

What makes it even better is that you can binge-watch series 1-5 now, because trust us, once you start, you won’t want to stop!

Arcadia

Step into a not-so-distant future in this chilling dystopian drama… Arcadia takes place in a society where every citizen’s life is governed by a strict social credit system — and one family's carefully curated existence begins to unravel when long-buried secrets come to light.

What can you expect? Political intrigue, family betrayal, a tightly controlled society on the brink, and a suspenseful ride that will have you questioning just how far you'd go to protect the ones you love. Want to find out more?

Films

We can’t forget about all the films and free-to-view premiers on Film4, and you can see them in the film section on Channel 4. You want action? No problem. How about sci-fi, or maybe you’re looking for thriller? There’s something for everyone! And if you want to check-out the latest films on Freely, we've got youuuu!

If allll of that is still not enough, there's plenty of new and shiny shows on TV at the moment. Check out our deep dive into all the latest TV gracing our screens!