London TV Screenings’ Top Series This Year

Showcasing some of the biggest shows on the open market – “King & Conqueror,” “Sandokan,” “Walking With Dinosaurs”–  as well as a bevy of awaited titles – “Bookish,” “Cold Water,” “Maigret,” “A Prophet,” “This City is Ours”– the 2025 London TV Screening is again a powerhouse showcase of some of the biggest TV highlights of 2024, plus the trends shaping TV markets.  

To help you cut through the slates, here’s Variety’s picks of 20+ shows that will whet buyers’ appetites.

“The Assassin,” (All3Media Intl.)

“Bodyguard” and “The Good Doctor” leads Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore play a hit-woman now out to pasture on an idyllic Greek island reunited with her estranged son seeking answers about his father and mother’s past. He soon gets some in no uncertain way when her past catches up with her. A series that ticks so many boxes: creators Harry and Jack Williams (The Missing,” “The Tourist”) repute; sun-drenched settings; a female-led action thriller; strong cast; robust anchor play on Prime Video, U.K./Ireland, and co-production bulwarking production values between Two Brothers Pictures with Germany’s ZDF, All3Media Intl. and Australia’s Stan.

“Beyond,” (New Regency)

New Regency’s first European series acquisition, partnering with Bravado Equity, produced by CBS Studios, Berlin-based Syrreal Entertainment and ARD Degeto. One of the standout recent TV hits in Europe, “Beyond” (aka “Oderbruch”) kicks off with the grisly discovery of the bodies and bones of 248 murder victims left in the desolate marshy expanse of Germany’s northern border with Poland. Soon, however, it lifts off melding procedural and a shocking fantasy explanation. A huge hit on ARD Mediathek, and a top winner at October’s Cadiz South Intl. Series Festival, Spain’s biggest TV fest. 

“Bookish,” (Beta Film)

This is “Sherlock star Mark Gatiss’ show, as its creator and star, bookshop owner Gabriel Book in a chaotic, racy and dangerous London 1946, who helps the police out cracking murder mysteries, finding solutions in his books relishing words – “flensing” in Ep.1  – and a quote machine. But for all the literary razzmatazz, it’s the series’ emotional cast which sets it apart: the portrait of the wounded in heart from loss in WWII, the kind of quiet deep pain that lasts lives. Heading for UKTV and U.S. PBS, another potential milestone in producer Eagle Eye’s ongoing relationship – think “Hotel Portofino,” “Patience” – with Beta Film. 

“Cold Water,” (ITV Studios)

“The Walking Dead’s” Andrew Lincoln makes his British TV comeback after 15 years in the latest series from multi-award winning Sister Pictures (“Chernobyl,” “Eric”), penned by playwright David Ireland who has described it as a “dark, funny, twisted thriller.” Lincoln plays John, repressed and raging at his stay-at-home life who moves his family to rural idyll Coldwater. There he is befriended by Tommy, a neighbor, a seeming pillar of the community, blissfully unaware that Tommy is harbouring horrifying secrets.

“The Genius Game,” (CJ ENM)

 Being an attractive, social-savvy celebrity can be hard – especially if you are one of 13 hopefuls selected for the “Genius Game” based on your social IQ, charisma, charm and intelligence. In every episode, led by a mysterious presence, players compete in complicated games that challenge their analytical reasoning, attention to detail and even loyalty. Predictably, secret alliances are formed, surprising bonds are forged and betrayals, well, are an everyday occurrence. Created by Jung Jong-yeon (“Girl’s High School Mystery Class”)and following four successful seasons in Korea, the show has now been commissioned in the U.K. – and hosted by David Tennant – and the Netherlands. 

“The Hot Spot,” (Nippon TV)

A sci-fi dramedy from the creators of “Rebooting,” “The Hot Spot” follows Kiyomi Endo (Mikako Ichikawa), a 41-year-old single mother working at a business hotel near Mt. Fuji. After a near-accident, she encounters an alien – not as a savior of humanity, but as a reluctant problem-solver for her daily inconveniences. A Series Mania Co-Pro Pitching finalist, the series bowed on Nippon TV in January, dominating ratings among teens and key female demos. Netflix Japan has snapped up the show, where it launched at No. 1 on the platform’s ‘Top 10 TV Shows in Japan’s chart.

“I Jack Wright,”(Federation Studios)

 Jack Wright (Trevor Eve) is a successful, respected businessman – why on Earth would he want to die? His family is in shock after his untimely passing, also when they find out that his third wife and two sons have been largely cut out of his will. Things spiral further out of control once it becomes obvious that Jack’s “suicide” was, in fact, murder. In the Wright family, torn by feuds, succession won’t be swift. This drama-thriller is directed by Tom Vaughan and written by Chris Lang, and produced by Federation Stories. Nikki Amuka-Bird, John Simm, Gemma Jones, James Fleet and Harry Lloyd also star. 

“Inside Therapy With Matt and Emma Willis,” (WBITVP)

From BAFTA-winning Twenty Twenty, “Inside Therapy” offers unprecedented access to real therapy. Commissioned by the BBC it follows people as they embark on deeply personal journeys with some of Britain’s top therapists. Guided by presenters Matt and Emma Willis (“Love Is Blind: UK”) – who have spoken openly about their own experiences with therapy – the series demystifies the process while tackling universal struggles such as anxiety, grief and relationship challenges. Filmed in a specially created clinic where cameras remain unseen, the series will capture  breakthroughs in real-time. Said to be a key part of the BBC’s mental health focus, “Inside Therapy” provides practical insights into navigating modern life.

“Kabul,” (Mediawan Rights)

Set during the chaotic final days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, drama-thriller “Kabul” is a tense geopolitical thriller unfolding between the Taliban’s takeover and the border closures two weeks later. Intelligence operatives race to track an ISIS cell suspected of planning an airport attack, as personal and political stakes collide. SAG winner Eric Dane (“Euphoria,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) joins an ensemble cast including Valentina Cervi and Jonathan Zaccaï . In the vein of “Chernobyl,” and “Argo,” the series blends high-stakes drama with raw human survival. Produced by 24 25 Films, Cinétévé and written by Olivier Demangel (“Atlantics”), Thomas Finkielkraut (“Les Guerriers”) and Joe Lavy. 

“King & Conqueror,” (Paramount Global Content Distribution)

The succession battle to end all succession battles: “King & Conqueror” stars James Norton as Harold of Wessex and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William of Normandy, “two allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown,” the synopsis notes. The climax of their rivalry, 1066’s Battle of Hastings, forged modern Britain.  Created by Michael Robert Johnson, a writer on Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes,” one of the most eagerly awaited packages at the London TV Screenings. 

“Maigret,” (Banijay Entertainment)

Leading the charge for Banijay is “Maigret,” the first contemporary TV adaptation of the iconic detective novels by Georges Simenon, heading for PBS Masterpiece. Written by Patrick Harbinson (“Homeland,” “24,” “The Tower), the market debut – produced by Playground, behind “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light” – introduces a fresh take on the legendary Parisian Chief Inspector Jules Maigret. This reimagining features a young, unconventional Maigret, a rising star but still with something to prove, played by Benjamin Wainwright  (“Belgravia: The Next Chapter”), glimpsed in a debonair first look photo released earlier this week. 

“A Prophet,” (Studiocanal)

For many, “Emilia Pérez” director Jacques Audiard’s best film, a Cannes Grand Prix winner, now reimagined as a series reuniting the film’s producer Marco Cherqui(“Les Sauvages”) and creator Abdel Raouf Dafri, once more with his writing partner, Nicolas Peufaillit. 12 years have passed since the movie, and that shows. The social outcast lead is now a Black African (Mamadou Sidibé), action moves to Marseilles and the protagonist is taken in by a suave bourgeois member of the French-Arab community. What looks set to remain, however, is the series focus and themes: Life as a survival thriller, the racist gulf of modern France, the forging of a criminal as a matter of chance, and circumstance, not character. 

“The Rainmaker,” (Lionsgate Television)

“Code Black” scribe Michael Seitzman takes on Grisham’s bestselling “The Rainmaker.” Fresh out of law school, Rudy Baylor (Milo Callaghan)  battles legal heavyweight Leo Drummond played by John Slattery (“Mad Men”) in a bout that goes beyond the courtroom. Alongside his boss and her disheveled paralegal, Rudy unravels two connected conspiracies tied to the mysterious death of their client’s son—all while facing off against his ambitious ex-girlfriend (Madison Iseman). Produced by Lionsgate Television and Blumhouse Television which recently partnered on a multi-film deal to conjure anew the horror classics from Lionsgate’s library. 

“Sandokan,” (Fremantle)

From an original idea by Luca Bernabei, heads of production house Lux Vide, which is among the biggest plays hitting the London TV Screenings. It also ticks multiple boxes in terms of market demand. English-language, and with stars –  Can Yaman (“Daydreamer”), Ed Westwick (“Gossip Girl”) and John Hannah (“The Mummy”) – inspired by the novel series of Emilio Salgari, and with a large focus on entertainment. It’s “simply a great epic adventure, based on a known IP,” says Fremantle CEO Jens Richter. Set in Borneo in the mid-1800s, there’s also a large dose of romance as freedom-loving Sandokan falls for the daughter of the British Consul in Labuan, another kindred independent spirit.     

“Sunny Nights,” (Cineflix Rights)

A Will Forte, D’Arcy Carden-led crime comedy directed by and showrun by Trent O’Donnell. Chosen for Berlinale Market Selects before screening in London, the caper turns on American siblings Martin and Vicki as they try to build a spray tan business – only to fall into the maws of the Sydney underworld. “I focused on blending a dramatic, high-stakes criminal story with my comfort zone – performance-driven comedy and dialogue, O’Donnell has told Variety. “Sunny Nights” is set to air on Australian streamer Stan later in 2025. 

“This City Is Ours,” (Sony Pictures Television)

Epic new crime drama, filmed in Liverpool and Spain, is created and written by Stephen Butchard (“The Good Mothers,” “The Last Kingdom”). Sean Bean takes on the role of gang leader Ronnie Phelan, joined by Julie Graham, James Nelson-Joyce as his friend Michael and Hannah Onslow, the latter playing a couple who wants to start a new life – away from organized crime. For Michael, it’s all he’s ever known. For years, he’s been bringing cocaine into the city with Ronnie. But now, a shipment goes missing and heads are about to roll. Produced by Left Bank Pictures for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. 

“Top End Bub,” (ZDF Studios)

A sequel to 2019’s “Top End Wedding,” the eight-part romcom series re-teams Logie winner Miranda Tapsell (“The Sapphires”) and Gwilym Lee (“The Great.”) Now based in Adelaide, Indigenous lawyer Lauren and husband Ned are settled – until they’re thrust into parenthood, taking in Lauren’s orphaned niece. Forced to return to the Top End, they juggle new responsibilities, their marriage, and Lauren’s deepening cultural ties. Produced by Goalpost Pictures and backed by Screen Australia, “Top End Bub” rolls out on Prime Video, with ZDF Studios handling international sales. 

“Unconditional,” (Keshet International) 

This thriller, produced by Spiro Films, proves there’s nothing stronger than mother’s love, as an innocent vacation suddenly spirals into a nightmare – twentysomething Gali is arrested for drug smuggling in Moscow. Her mother, Orna, is plunged into a desperate fight for her daughter’s freedom, as a bureaucratic “error” leads her into a web of diplomatic conflicts and deception, from the Israeli Parliament to Moscow’s underworld and the Far East’s criminal networks. Created by Dana Idisis and Adam Bizanski, and based on true events, “Unconditional” is the most expensive and ambitious Keshet drama to ever be produced. Jonathan Gurfinkle directs.  

“Walking With Dinosaurs,” (BBC Studios)

A reimagining of one of the biggest TV IPs in British television history: Its most watched science program during the 20th century. The original 1999 Walking With Dinosaurs was made like a traditional nature documentary. Its reimagining acquires a true crime edge: as individual dinosaur remains unearthed by dinosaur hunters, thanks to cutting-edge science, experts work out how these prehistoric creatures lived, hunted, fought and died more accurately than ever before. “We’ll meet a range of spectacular dinosaur species across an array of prehistoric landscapes, including a young Triceratops battling a ravenous T. Rex and a lonely Lusotitan risking it all for love,” BBC Studios promise. A BBC Studios Science Unit production, co-produced with ZDF and France Télévisions for BBC and PBS. Andrew Cohen and Helen Thomas exec-produce, while Kirsty Wilson serves as a showrunner. 

“We Come in Peace,” (Newen Connect)

Ambitious grounded Swedish sci-fi, combining the brains of “Real Humans” creator-writer Lars Lundström and “The X-Files”’ Frank Spotnitz, who serves as co-writer and co-producer, next to pedigreed main producer Piodor Gustafsson (“Border”), Lithuanian, Belgian partners. The show might have creatures, seemingly from out-of-space, but are they friends or foes, and isn’t the enemy within us? “This is smart, thought-provoking and entertaining,” says Spotnitz about the show due to premiere late 2025 on TV4. ZDF co-produces. Top notch talent attached take in actors Fares Fares (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “Cairo Conspiracy”), Evin Ahmad (“Snabba Cash”), and helmer Jens Jonsson (“8 Months”).