Doctor Who to Clarkson’s Farm: your best TV of the year so far
You’ve loved Ncuti Gatwa making the Doctor fun again, lapped up the sexiest season of Bridgerton – and discovered the new Mighty Boosh. Here are Guardian readers’ top TV shows of 2024 to date
Crossword blog
‘Better to escape than delete’ – Guardian crossword setter Sphinx returns
As Steve Pemberton reappears on the puzzle page with a special challenge, he reveals his wordplay influences – from Taskmaster to the Two Ronnies, and Inside No 9
‘The show happened by accident’: cult comedy Inside No 9 shuts its doors
As Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith call time on their grimly hilarious TV anthology, they and their collaborators from a decade of darkness discuss how it was all done
May 2024
TV review
Inside No 9 review – nothing short of miraculous
Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton have been making these ingenious, heartstopping chillers for a decade now – and the final series kicks off with perhaps the most meaningful episode yet
The watcher
Inside No 9: dark, funny and totally riveting – this is the best comedy the UK has ever created
The ninth and final series of the ever-inventive black comedy is packed with stars and cements its status as a classic. It’s such a shock America hasn’t tried to copy it yet
Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith announce stage version of Inside No 9
The pair, whose final season of the hit horror-comedy will air on the BBC this month, say the West End production will feature familiar characters and fresh surprises
December 2021
2021 in TV
The 50 best TV shows of 2021
Inside No 9: An Evening with Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith review – small talk, big laughs
April 2021
From Ken Loach to Big Brother: the twisted minds behind Inside No 9 on their influences
As a new series of the dark comedy begins, creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith reveal what inspired eight classic instalments
December 2020
2020 in TV
The 50 best TV shows of 2020: 50-1
Michaela Coel’s smart, subversive and taboo-breaking drama gave us absolutely unbeatable television – plus more of the year’s best
October 2020
TV and radio blog
Hammer House of Horror: the twisted suburban tales that inspired Mark Gatiss and more
Its bloody instalments turned provincial towns into places where fear was never far away. 40 years on, it remains one of the creepiest, strangest shows ever shown on British TV
May 2020
The best TV shows of 2020 so far
The Nest rose above other primetime thrillers, the bizarre world of Tiger King captivated us, while Feel Good brought some much-needed laughs to our screens
March 2020
Observer TV reviews
The week in TV: Breeders; The Trouble With Maggie Cole; Child of Our Time and more
Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard impress in Sky’s sweary parental comedy
February 2020
Shock horrors! How Inside No 9 makes the mundane unmissable
Now on its fifth series, the magic of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s comedy anthology remains its ability to turn even the most banal of scenarios into disturbingly thrilling TV
September 2019
Best culture of the 21st century
The 100 best TV shows of the 21st century
Where’s Mad Men? How did The Sopranos do? Does The Crown triumph? Can anyone remember Lost? And will Downton Abbey even figure? Find out here – and have your say
December 2018
2018 in TV
The 50 best TV shows of 2018: the full list
2018 in TV
The best TV episodes of 2018, from Inside No 9 to Maniac
November 2018
The Guardian picture essay
Behind the scenes with The League of Gentlemen – a photo essay
Steve Pemberton on playing Tony Martin: 'There’s nowhere to hide'
October 2018
How did Inside No 9 spring the biggest live TV surprise of the year?
Live episodes are often a painful, gimmicky exercises but Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith’s take on the format was one of 2018’s stand-out moments
