February has plenty of new and returning TV shows that you’ll be wanting to add straight to your watch lists, including a prestige Sunday night BBC drama (from the creator of Netflix’s global sensation Adolescence) and the next offering from the team behind Derry Girls.
Here’s what you need to watch out for this month, across streaming, BBC One and ITV.
BBC
Lord of the Flies
When is it on? Premiering on 8 February at 9pm on BBC One.
The classic novel Lord of the Flies, which centres on a group of schoolboys who get stuck on a desert island, is getting the adaptation treatment at the BBC, marking the first time its ever been depicted on the small screen. It’s set to be epic, coming from Adolescence’s Jack Thorne and with Hans Zimmer behind the theme and some of the additional music.
Going from “hope to tragedy”, the story follows the group as they “attempt to remain civil” and try to “organise themselves”, as teased by the synopsis. The BBC drama will introduce a cast of young actors in the famous literary roles, including Winston Sawyers (The Crow Girl) as Ralph, Lox Pratt as Jack, and David McKenna as Piggy.
ITV
Betrayal
When is it on? Premiering on 8 February at 9pm on ITV.
Fronted by Vigil star Shaun Evans and Beyond Paradise’s Zahra Ahmadi, ITV’s new thriller centres on MI5 officer John Hughes, and Evans has described the espionage drama as being a “very interesting dual story”.
The four-part series was written by David Eldridge, who penned 2015’s The Scandalous Lady W, which starred Natalie Dormer.
Netflix
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast
When is it on? Arriving to Netflix on 12 February.
This brand-new series, described as a comedy-thriller, is being brought to us by Derry Girls’ creator Lisa McGee – who has also reunited some of the other creative team behind the Channel 4 hit.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast focuses on three women, now in their late 30s, who had been close friends since school, as they are set to embark on “the most thrilling adventure of their lives” (as the synopsis describes). The lead actors are made up of Unforgotten’s Sinéad Keenan, Caoilfhionn Dunne (A Thousand Blows) and The Dry’s Roisin Gallagher – with other ensemble cast members including Michelle Fairley (Gangs of London), Josh Finan (Say Nothing), Emmett J Scanlan (Kin).
Netflix
Bridgerton season 4, part 2
When is it on? Arriving to Netflix on 26 February.
If you have already binge-watched your way through the first batch of season four episodes, you’re in for quite a wait. The second half of the new Bridgerton season won’t be here until the end of the month – yes, we’ll just have to get used to the yearning.
The Cinderella-style story introduces Sophie (Yerin Ha), a maid who captures the attention and affections of one Benedict Bridgerton. The climax of part one left us hanging after that staircase scene, and fans are also longing for more Kanthony content, as well as seeing how Francesca’s reunion with the beautiful Micheala is going to play out…
Prime Video
Vanished
When is it on? Arriving to Prime Video (via MGM+) in the UK on 27 February.
Peaky Blinders star Sam Claflin and The Flight Attendant’s Kaley Cuoco join forces in this new thriller.
“When a couple’s trip to Paris takes a dark turn with the sudden disappearance of her boyfriend Tom (Claflin) aboard a train to the south of France, Alice (Cuoco) is plunged into a web of intrigue and danger, uncovering shocking secrets about the man she thought she knew,” the official synopsis reads.
Hulu/Disney+
Paradise, season 2
When is it on? Arriving to Disney+ on 23 February.
The hit sci-fi thriller, which stars This Is Us star Sterling K Brown and was also created by Dan Fogelman, will return this month, picking up after the events of the season one finale. We described Paradise as “shockingly addictive” in our premiere review, and the appetite for its return has only kept growing.
“It was never just about the bunker! Xavier searches for Teri out in the world and learns how people survived the three years since ‘The Day’. Back in Paradise, the social fabric frays and new secrets are uncovered about the city’s origins,” it was revealed, along with the season two trailer.
Apple TV
The Last Thing He Told Me, season 2
When is it on? Arriving to Apple TV on 20 February.
Fans have been waiting for almost three years for the follow-up to this star-studded thriller, which is based on Laura Dave’s 2021 novel of the same name.
The logline for season two reads: “When Owen (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) shows up after five years on the run, Hannah (Jennifer Garner) and her stepdaughter Bailey (Angourie Rice) find themselves in a race to figure out how to reunite their family before the past catches up to them…”
The new edition of Living Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Taylor Swift, is here! Buy Taylor in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.
TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK’s biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world’s oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).