Who's been making an impact in the entertainment industry over the past year?
The world of television is not only constantly changing and evolving, but also continues to spotlight the truly incredible talent driving its transformation for the better. From actors to producers, directors to writers, there's an entire industry that deserves their dues. Now, in a bid to celebrate some of the very best, it's time for RadioTimes.com's TV 100 list. Teaming up with industry experts and executives across the world of TV, we've pulled together a lengthy list of people who have been achieving some career highs over the past year. Last year's list was topped by Mr Bates vs the Post Office, an ensemble accolade for the show that got everyone talking and boasted the likes of Toby Jones, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Monica Dolan. But who's on the list this time round? Read on to find out the winner of RadioTimes.com TV 100, and who else made the list. RadioTimes.com TV 100 – The full list 1. Richard Gadd It's an undeniable fact that 2024 was the year of Baby Reindeer, with Richard Gadd's powerful stalking drama inspired by his own experience going viral within days. Gadd bared his soul on Netflix and was propelled to instant stardom across the globe, winning a couple of prestigious awards while he was at it. With a new television project on the horizon, the future looks very bright for Gadd. - Helen Daly, Associate Editor 2. Jessica Gunning <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/02/GettyImages-2201587952-9969ab0.jpg" width="3893" height="2595" alt="Jessica Gunning accepts the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series award, wearing a black dress." title="Jessica Gunning accepts the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series award" /> You can't think about Baby Reindeer without the outstanding, captivating and disturbing performance from Jessica Gunning in the role of stalker Martha. British TV viewers will have known about her for years, but it's about time for her to get her flowers for the star she is. - Helen Daly 3. Ambika Mod After her gripping turn in the BBC’s This Is Going To Hurt in 2022, Ambika Mod truly ascended to start status in her endearing, hilarious and heartfelt work as the likeable Emma Morley in Netflix’s life-affirming adaptation of David Nicholls’s One Day. Once again lighting up the screen in Disney+’s crime drama The Stolen Girl, Mod has shown she is adept at both comedy and pathos, showing that there doesn’t seem to be a limit to what she has in her arsenal. - Lewis Knight, Trends Editor 4. Leo Woodall Making his mark as a cheeky chappy in the second season of The White Lotus, Leo Woodall completed his transformation into leading man material as loveable bad boy Dexter Mayhew in Netflix’s One Day and then as Maths genius Edward Brooks in Apple TV+’s Prime Target. Woodall is also continuing his rise as romantic lead following his charming work in the acclaimed film Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. As Hollywood beckons, we imagine he’ll be a fixture on the small and big screens. - Lewis Knight 5. Dominic Treadwell-Collins If you didn't watch Rivals in 2024, your year must have been seriously lacklustre. The bonkbuster of the year was brought to life by former EastEnders superhero Dominic Treadwell-Collins, whose passion for the soap genre was evident throughout the adaptation. While based on the Jilly Cooper hit novel, the Disney Plus series won over viewers with its slew of hilarious characters, unashamed soap opera essence running through every episode and its raucous drama, with Treadwell-Collins proving anything really is possible. - Helen Daly 6. Ruth Jones & James Corden Ruth Jones and James Corden are quite used to breaking records, and they did it again in 2024 with the return of Gavin & Stacey for one final outing. We finally saw a resolute ending for beloved Nessa and Smithy, with Jones and Corden tying up the story with a glorious bow. - Helen Daly 7. Claudia Winkleman The Traitors simply wouldn't be The Traitors without Claudia Winkleman's off-beat humour throughout. Viral moments like Alexander's singing wouldn't exist if Winkleman wasn't fighting laughter throughout. And her outfits alone make her a worthy candidate for this list. - Helen Daly 8. Chris McCausland Chris McCausland proved anything is possible with a positive mindset when he won Strictly Come Dancing in 2024. The comedian, who is blind, had a wonderful partnership with Dianne Buswell, and challenged what it is to be a dancer. McCausland is truly trailblazing and an inspiration for many. - Helen Daly 9. Marisa Abela Industry season 3 was one of the greatest runs of television in recent memory, and Marisa Abela was undoubtedly at the centre of these episodes, bringing vulnerability, edge and brittle emotion in her turn as troubled banker Yasmin Kara-Hanani. Already finding roles on the big screen in the form of her charismatic star turn in Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black and going toe-to-toe with A-list stars in Steven Soderbergh's espionage drama Black Bag, Abela is a talent who is here to stay, and we cannot wait to see what she does next. - Lewis Knight 10. Danny Dyer While Rivals largely focussed on a power struggle at the top of a broadcaster, it was the love story between Freddie and Lizzie that captured hearts around the globe. Dyer became a period drama heartthrob overnight as the world came round to the charm Brits have known and loved for years. - Helen Daly 11. Katherine Parkinson Although many know Parkinson for her roles in The IT Crowd and Doc Martin, it was her recent stint as Lizzie in Rivals that captured the public's imagination. Her character arc, from writing romance novels and being cheated on by a no good husband, to finally acting on her feelings for Dyer's Freddie, was the punch-in-the-air moment for many, proving that Parkinson can bring her uncanny and infectious comedy to any role. - Morgan Cormack, Drama Writer 12. Mark Rylance Rylance is no stranger to accolades from his various roles on stage and screen, but the actor more recently returned for the second season of hit BBC historical drama, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light. Almost a decade after its premiere season, Rylance slipped effortlessly back into the role of shrewd politician Thomas Cromwell, delivering another standout and nuanced performance. - Morgan Cormack 13. Lashana Lynch The gripping cat and mouse nature of The Day of the Jackal's TV series reboot was brought superbly to life by Lynch, who starred as MI6 agent Bianca. It's no easy feat bringing such a complicated character to life, but it's one that Lynch – who has already wowed audiences in The Woman King and No Time to Die – takes on with flawless gusto, as well as flexing a co-executive producer credit on. With an upcoming role in the anticipated film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone in the pipeline, Lynch continues to demonstrate versatility in her roles and a dedication to portraying multifaceted women. - Morgan Cormack 14. Eddie Redmayne Having delivered various award-winning performances over the years, Redmayne has more recently proven that he is a dab hand at bringing the most chilling characters to life, as evidenced in 2022's The Good Nurse and more recently in The Day of the Jackal. The suave and sophisticated assassin he plays in the Sky series is no stranger to acting himself, but it's Redmayne's ability to adapt and flit between a cold killer and warm family man that really shines through. - Morgan Cormack 15. Chris Clenshaw Having taken on the role as EastEnders executive producer back in 2022, Clenshaw has achieved major success with several standout storylines and has truly given the fans of Walford what they've wanted – epic, talking point drama. He's overseen storylines such as the unforgettable The Six whodunnit, the return of Cindy Beale and the introduction of countless new characters, as well as various exciting reprisals. While Clenshaw will undoubtedly be missed on the soap, his EastEnders legacy is simply unforgettable and will reamin a beacon of inspiration for any aspiring TV fan. - Morgan Cormack 16. Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham The return of Wallace and Gromit in new film Vengeance Most Fowl was not only one of the highlights of the Christmas schedule – but of the entire year. The beloved stop-motion animated duo are the products of co-directors Park and Crossingham, who have continued to capture audience's imaginations (and hearts), proving that the family-friendly characters really are for all, as they continue to scoop up many a rightful award for their hard work. - Morgan Cormack 17. Adeel Akhtar There's a litany of work that Akhtar is known for, but 2024 saw the actor take on the lead role in hit BBC drama Showtrial as Sam Malik, a solicitor struggling with his own demons and insomnia. Akhtar, like many of his previous roles, delivers a corker of a performance through all five episodes, expertly achieving one of the most complex and thought-provoking two-hander relationships with Michael Socha's Justin. The same year saw Akhtar star in Black Doves and the much talked about Fool Me Once, underlining once again that Akhtar's effortless wit and charm can be brought to life in pretty much any role that he lends his hand to. - Morgan Cormack 18. Michelle Keegan 2024 really kicked off with quite the dramatic start after the release of Harlan Coben's Fool Me Once, propelling Michelle Keegan back into the limelight. Her lead role as the troubled Kate kept viewers gripped and rooting for her, prepared to go on plenty of twists and turns with her enigmatic character – and wincing at the pointed one-liners delivered her way by Joanna Lumley's mother-in-law character. After rising to fame with roles in Coronation Street and Our Girl, Keegan proved that she's here to stay with her standout performance in this role – alongside her appearance in Ten Pound Poms, which shines a light on the real-life Australian migration scheme that unfolded in post-war Britain. - Morgan Cormack 19. Don Gilet Going from a notable EastEnders serial killer to a beloved cosy crime drama detective is no easy feat, but Gilet has taken up the helm of Death in Paradise with impeccable ease. Not only is Gilet's DI Mervin Wilson the show's first Black lead, but his character is also one who has had to balance a lot of change, emotion and personal strife – something which Gilet brings an easygoing charm to. - Morgan Cormack 20. Lee Jung-jae It's hard to think of Netflix hit series Squid Game without thinking of its lead star Lee Jung-jae. The South Korean actor had already had a ream of accolades and standout performances before the dystopian series came along, but both the show and his character Gi-hun have become part of the cultural zeitgeist forevermore. Jung-jae's stint in the series has seen him go from meek and vulnerable to a man on a mission, demonstrating the versatility and range of his skills as an actor. - Morgan Cormack 21. Lee Byung-hun 22. The Traitors cast 23. Peter Kosminsky 24. Andrew Scott 25. James Bye 26. Lacey Turner 27. Rapman 28. Sharon Horgan 29. Rob Brydon 30. David Mitchell 31. Anna Maxwell Martin 32. Cristin Milioti 33. Nava Mau 34. Alex Hassell 35. Aidan Turner 36. Nicola Coughlan 37. David Tennant 38. Will Smith 39. Emily Maitlis 40. Sagar Radia 41. Daf James 42. Sophie Willan 43. Jack Rooke 44. Elliot Hegarty 45. Alan Cumming 46. Daniel Lawrence Taylor 47. Nabhaan Rizwan 48. Jack Lowden 49. Aimee Lou Wood 50. Millie Gibson 51. Colin Farrell 52. Adelayo Adedayo 53. Joe Barton 54. Steve McFadden 55. Lucia Keskin 56. Nicôle Lecky 57. Mickey Down and Konrad Kay 58. Shonda Rhimes 59. Emily Atack 60. Gary Lineker 61. Victoria Smurfit 62. Ella Purnell 63. Lennie James 64. Sharon D Clarke 65. Bella Maclean 66. Emma D'Arcy 67. Ncuti Gatwa 68. Maryam Moshiri 69. Larry David 70. Varada Sethu 71. Russell T Davies 72. Freddie Flintoff 73. Chris Packham 74. Matt Smith 75. Zara McDermott 76. Laura Aikman 77. Lorraine Ashbourne 78. Gary Oldman 79. Alex Horne 80. Nida Manzoor 81. Paapa Essiedu 82. Monica Dolan 83. Heidi Thomas 84. Himesh Patel 85. Inua Ellams 86. Juno Dawson 87. Sharma Angel-Walfall 88. James Graham 89. Josh Finan 90. Diane Morgan 91. Michael McIntyre 92. Anna Sawai 93. Luke Newton 94. Keely Hodgkinson 95. Bob Mortimer 96. Luke Littler 97. Steven Knight 98. Romesh Ranganathan 99. Reece Shearsmith & Steve Pemberton 100. Susan Twist Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Baby Reindeer's Richard Gadd: "I grappled with inner demons, the likes of which I never thought I would"
Richard Gadd has been named the most influential person in TV over the last 12 months by Radio Times.
Stalking, stand-up comedy and sexual assault; it’s not an obvious recipe for an international television sensation, yet that is exactly what Baby Reindeer was. “The world went crazy for it,” says Richard Gadd of his ground-breaking 2024 Netflix series. “I thought it would be like an indie film, successful but perhaps as an art-house cult series.” Instead, his life was irreparably changed. “Nothing can prepare you for becoming an obsession with the public and the papers and the internet,” he says. “For that feeling of suddenly being seen.” We’re in the east end of Glasgow, the day after Baby Reindeer is nominated for eight BAFTAs. These are not the show’s first accolades. At last year’s Emmys, Gadd won three awards – for acting, writing and executive producing the series. Alongside him Jessica Gunning, who plays Martha, the woman who stalks Gadd’s character Donny Dunn, won best supporting actress and is also now nominated for a BAFTA. Today we’re marking another public acknowledgement of his remarkable rise: the actor, writer, comedian and now showrunner is number one on the RadioTimes.com TV 100 (with Gunning ranked second), a list decided by leading figures in the television industry. “I’ve always felt outside of the industry in a lot of ways, always felt like I came up in a weird way,” says the 36-year-old, who has broken off from filming his new BBC One series Half Man in Glasgow to talk to Radio Times. “I’ve never really felt a part of it until now.” Gadd was brought up, with his older sister Katie, in the Fife village of Wormit on the southern side of the Firth of Tay, opposite Dundee. Gadd’s father, the microbiologist Geoffrey Gadd OBE, is a professor at Dundee University. His mother Julia worked in schools and had a fear of flying, so the family would holiday in North Yorkshire. He recalls fish and chips in Whitby and walks on the moors. It sounds a happy youth, but he says it wasn’t entirely so. “I think every childhood has its struggles,” he explains. “It wasn’t plain sailing. Every child has problems, and even adolescence, coming of age, is a challenge in and of itself, trying to figure out the world.” In a pattern that would repeat through his life, Gadd buried himself in creativity. “I spent my whole childhood writing,” he says. “I was always attempting to write comedy, trying to act and just doing silly stuff that would make my friends laugh.” He excelled in drama lessons at his secondary school in St Andrews, playing the lead in what he calls “the Scottish play” and became “completely obsessed” with The Office. “I was such a Ricky Gervais fanboy. I said to myself, ‘This is what I want to do, one day, to be in a show that I’ve written.’” After studying English literature and theatre studies at Glasgow University, Gadd went south to London, where he struggled to make it on the stand-up circuit. This is the testing period of near breakdown that Gadd mined in Baby Reindeer. “I’ve had real low points in my life,” he observes. “Numerous times where I thought, ‘God, maybe I should just get a job, get some stability in my life.’ I would call my parents and say, ‘I can’t do this any more.’ They would tell me, ‘No, keep going.’ Which is remarkable, because it’s not easy to know your son’s living in London, impoverished and working in a bar.” What would Gadd say if I gave him a telephone and his own 25-year-old self was on the other end of the line? “Probably: ‘It’s going to be OK.’ Twenty-five was a difficult time for me. It was the aftermath of everything that happened, and I was still reeling. It felt like I was in a darkness that would never lift.” Lest the darkness should settle again, Gadd continues to lose himself in writing. “You’ll never see me at the private members bars or parties. I just work really hard all the time; I’m constantly doing stuff and there are exciting things happening right now that I’m working on.” He need only look at the effect of Baby Reindeer to see his labours have been worthwhile. “It was number one in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, places where it broke cultural boundaries. That is the power of Netflix; the power of television. It’s a hugely powerful medium, the most watched art form. Netflix now has a route to change lives around the world.” And while his early exposure to Ricky Gervais on BBC Two, and plotting his own future television career, has left Gadd with an abiding respect for the Corporation – “I love the BBC,” he says, as near to punchy as he will get, “I think it’s hugely important as an independent voice in media, a fantastic institution and I’ll always want to work with the BBC” – Gadd has a three-year writing deal with Netflix and an understandable affection for a company that, arguably, threw him a lifeline when they gambled on his unlikely project. “They took a chance on a story that was extreme,” he admits. “There were times where I’d think, ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this’ and worry they would realise it was such a risk and suddenly pull the plug. But they stuck by it, and I’ll always be grateful for that.” Not all the attention Gadd has received for Baby Reindeer has been positive. The series was a fictionalised version of Gadd’s earlier life, devised from two previous stand-up shows, but it was broadcast by Netflix with the tag: “This is a true story.” Some viewers went online and claimed that a Scottish woman called Fiona Harvey was the real Martha. Harvey has since brought a $170 million defamation lawsuit against Netflix in the US. The case comes to court in California this May when, quite possibly, Gadd will be portrayed in an unfavourable light by Harvey’s legal team. How is he preparing for a moment when his motives and actions will be publicly questioned? “There are limits to what I can say,” he observes, perhaps a little dazzled by the prospect. “It’s such new ground for me I’m not sure you know how to prepare, I don’t know how you’d want to be prepared.” So, Gadd is losing himself in his new BBC series, which co-stars former Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell. The two play half-brothers whose lives entangle to dramatic effect. “There’s a lot of themes like isolation and loneliness and shared trauma and generational trauma in Baby Reindeer. It’s similar with Half Man – it borrows from a world of broken people. “It’s 24/7 pretty obsessive,” he adds. “I’m writing, acting and producing at the same time. I work pretty much day and night; I only pause to sleep. Maybe it’s not healthy but no matter how it’s received, whether people like it or not, well, I gave it everything.” Gadd has a vulnerable, almost boylike, demeanour. Pale and quietly spoken, his wispy black beard and tufted black hair make him appear near translucent and I find myself wondering about the welfare of a man I have never met before but who says things to me like “I grappled with inner demons, the likes of which I never thought I would”. It’s worth remembering that Gadd has been damaged; when Donny is repeatedly sexual assaulted by an older man in the entertainment industry in Baby Reindeer, it’s a version of something that actually happened. Does he look after himself, attend to his own psychological needs? “I sometimes put the work first,” he admits. “Self-care isn’t something that happens overnight, but I definitely look after myself a lot better than I used to. I lost a third of my body weight to do Baby Reindeer. I’m getting slowly better, maybe, but things are all-consuming.” Now he has met with such success, is he less likely to be overwhelmed by memories of what happened to him? “Probably not,” he says. “And I would be worried about acting like success is a solution to any internal struggle or traumatic experience. I can’t say that fame provided any solutions for it at all. Because now so many people know about what happened, it almost brings a new set of neuroses around it.” Better get back to work then. See the full TV 100 list, including more Baby Reindeer stars, Rivals cast and many more. Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Mr Bates vs The Post Office won't get sequel: "There's a documentary to be made"
"I think the role of drama in this is done."
When it arrived at the start of this year, Mr Bates vs The Post Office became an immediate mega-success for ITV, not only drawing in huge numbers of viewers but also starting a further conversation surrounding the Post Office scandal. Since then, legislation has been passed by Parliament in an attempt to address the injustice, and plenty of other developments have ensued. But would the team behind the drama consider continuing the story and dramatising these events, either in a second season or some form of sequel series? RadioTimes.com set out to find out just that, speaking with producer Patrick Spence after the team behind the show were named the winners of this year's TV 100. When asked whether he would consider returning to the story in another drama, Spence said: "No. No, I don't think so. I think there's a documentary to be made. "I hope they'll do one of those Radio 4 things where they get the team together 10 years later and talk about making the show. But I think the role of drama in this is done. "I certainly wouldn't be interested in going back and telling this story again, because I think it's up to other people now to carry the baton. But I think there's an amazing documentary that could be made about this whole story and what's happened since." <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2023/12/mrbatesvsthepostoffice01-6041f5c.jpg" width="5400" height="3600" alt="Amit Shah as Jas, Krupa Pattani as Sam, Lesley Nicol as Pam, Ifan Huw Dafydd as Noel, Julie Hesmondhalgh as Suzanne, Toby Jones as Alan Bates, Monica Dolan as Jo, Asif Khan as Mohammad, Will Mellor as Lee and Shaun Dooley as Rudkin in Mr Bates vs The Post Office standing in front of a red background" title="mr_bates_vs_the_post_office_01" /> He continued: "Alan [Bates] and Suzanne are going off to Necker Island as guests of Richard Branson. Alan was asked at one point, 'What do you want out of this?' and he listed all the things that he felt the Post Office and the Government should do. "And then at the end, just flippantly, he said, 'And if Richard Branson wants to give me a holiday because I can't afford one, that would be great.' Read more: Mr Bates star Monica Dolan weighs in on "danger" of government's Post Office response Mr Bates star Will Mellor on justice for Post Office victims: "Talk's cheap" "And within an hour, I think, Virgin had been in touch and said, 'We'd like you to be our guest on Necker Island.' So, we told Alan we're coming with him with a camera crew to film a documentary, which we obviously won't. "But no, I don't think there's a role for a follow-up drama. I think there's a role for a follow-up documentary, but I think now it's up to the Government, and I think it's up to the Post Office, and it's up to Fujitsu to finish this story." Meanwhile, when asked the same question, writer Gwyneth Hughes concurred, saying: "I think it would be hard to produce another drama because they just take too long. "But yes, there's plenty to go at for documentary teams. I mean, there's stories falling out of the sky on this." View Green Video on the source website This year's full TV 100 is out now. Mr Bates vs The Post Office is available to watch on ITVX. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
'Mr Bates vs The Post Office didn't change the law – the people of Britain did'
"That wasn't us, that was Great Britain, that was the United Kingdom. That was the best of all of us."
Mr Bates vs The Post Office became a talking point among everyone when it was released at the beginning of this year, and no one could have predicted the heights it went to – re-energising the fight to get justice for those wrongly prosecuted during the Post Office scandal. Over several years, more than 900 subpostmasters were wrongly accused and prosecuted of theft, fraud and false accounting due to the defective Horizon IT system. People's livelihoods were ruined and it was Alan Bates who took the Post Office to court in order to get justice. The four-part series shone a light on an issue that turned many people's lives upside down, and it got Britain talking and soon the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the government would bring in a new law to "swiftly exonerate and compensate victims". With its tenacious storytelling and success with critics and audiences alike, it is no surprise the series has topped this year's Radio Times' TV 100 list. "I think we all feel incredibly proud to be British, when we watched the way, you know – all we did was we made a TV drama, and it made people angry," producer Patrick Spence told RadioTimes.com about the impact of the series. He continued: "What the people of this country did was they rose up as one and demanded of the Prime Minister that he take action. That wasn't us, that was Great Britain, that was the United Kingdom. That was the best of all of us. Standing up and saying, 'Enough already, you've got to do something about this.' And that made us very proud to be a small part of that." As Spencer noted, the series sparked something with the British public, which led to hundreds of thousands of people signing a petition, calling for ex-Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells to be stripped of her CBE. It was under Vennell's leadership that the Post Office wrongly prosecuted hundreds of its employees and she has since returned her CBE. "I am truly sorry for the devastation caused to the subpostmasters and their families, whose lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system," she said in a statement. The series itself broke records for ITV and became the most watched programme of 2024 so far and ITV's biggest new drama in over a decade, something show bosses did not expect. Polly Hill, the ITV commissioner behind the drama, told RadioTimes.com: "I did think it would get a lot of interest from the press and I hoped of course that it would find an audience as it was a brilliant telling of the story, but we could never have imagined the attention we got. "Although I'm not surprised the drama made the nation angry because it's a story that shocked and angered everyone who came on board. We are all really proud of what our drama has helped achieve. It shouldn't have taken a drama to make the government take action, but we are proud that our drama has done so much good." Read this year's Radio Times TV 100 list in full Just over a week after the show premiered on ITV1 and ITVX, the first episode of the four-parter had already been watched by 10.9 million viewers, with the series averaging 9.8 million across all four episodes. Spence echoed Hill's thoughts that it shouldn't have taken a drama for people to pay attention to the wrongdoings. He explained: "I'm very, very proud of the team who all excelled in their various ways. I'm also very proud of the role that drama has played. A lot of people said, 'Isn't it awful that it took a drama to to get people to pay attention?' "And my attitude is now, 'Isn't it brilliant? That drama can have that effect.' And let's hope it happens again. And let's hope that it further renews everyone's enthusiasm for investing in drama as a cultural form, because it's shown what it can achieve." Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who changed the entertainment landscape more than anyone in the past 12 months?
There have been some huge developments in the world of television over the past year, and some truly phenomenal things have been achieved for the medium. Considering this, it's once again time for Radio Times to put together its annual top 100 list, celebrating those who changed the entertainment landscape for the better over the past 12 months. Last year, Ncuti Gatwa came out on top of the list, and in the year since he has gone on to debut as the Fifteenth Doctor in Doctor Who and star in the highest-grossing film of 2023, Barbie. We have teamed up with industry experts and executives from across the TV landscape to pull together this year's list, which highlights some incredible work. Read on to find out the winner of the Radio Times TV 100, and who else made the full list. Radio Times TV 100 - the full list 1. Mr Bates vs The Post Office - ensemble <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2023/12/mrbatesvsthepostoffice01-6041f5c.jpg" width="5400" height="3600" alt="Amit Shah as Jas, Krupa Pattani as Sam, Lesley Nicol as Pam, Ifan Huw Dafydd as Noel, Julie Hesmondhalgh as Suzanne, Toby Jones as Alan Bates, Monica Dolan as Jo, Asif Khan as Mohammad, Will Mellor as Lee and Shaun Dooley as Rudkin in Mr Bates vs The Post Office standing in front of a red background" title="mr_bates_vs_the_post_office_01" /> "We couldn't be more proud of the continued success of Mr Bates vs The Post Office. It's ITV's biggest drama since records began, over 20 years ago, and so to top Radio Times' TV 100 list is yet another fantastic milestone. The drama has now been watched by over 14 million viewers since its launch, only three months ago. So I think it's safe to say that this epic ensemble cast (the first ensemble to ever top this list, I'm told!) undoubtedly represents the most important TV talent of the past year. Congratulations to all!" - Kevin Lygo, Managing Director, Media & Entertainment ITV 2. Kieran Culkin "Kieran Culkin, quite rightly, took awards season by storm for his performance as Roman Roy in the fourth and final season of Succession. Over the course of its acclaimed run, Kieran not only brought the laughs as arguably the funniest of the Roy siblings, but he also left you feeling sympathetic for this multi-faceted character who is ultimately just seeking his father's approval." - Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content, Sky UK and Ireland 3. Sarah Lancashire "Sarah Lancashire is one of the most remarkable talents of our age. A multi-award-winning actress who commands every scene, she has an incredible depth and range that means you just can't take your eyes off her. Her phenomenal performance as Sergeant Catherine Cawood in Happy Valley mesmerised audiences from the start. In the unmissable final series, viewers were transported right back just like it was yesterday as we were reunited with our hero. She's a complicated, straight-talking charismatic character with an enormous heart. Grandmother, sister and policewoman, Cawood is so believable and empathetic. Audiences felt every moment and went on that emotional rollercoaster with her every step of the way." - Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer, BBC TV and Radio 4. Bella Ramsey "The Last of Us was a truly infectious series that captured audiences across both sides of the Atlantic. Bella had the daunting task of making a much-loved character their own and they more than delivered. Showcasing their versatility on screen, Bella most recently made waves in BBC's Time, and we eagerly await the much-anticipated second series of The Last of Us here at Sky." - Zai Bennett 5. Ncuti Gatwa "Since topping this list last year, Ncuti has exploded on to our screens and very quickly established himself as our incredible new Doctor. His performance is electrifying. You just want to spend time with him on his wild adventures in space and time. The new series is going to be unmissable." - Charlotte Moore 6. Sally Wainwright "Sally Wainwright is a genius, a multi-award-winning writer lauded for creating strong and complex female characters; combining humour with authentic dialogue and so often shining a light on Yorkshire. Her genre-defining crime drama Happy Valley came after an agonising seven-year wait and became the biggest drama of 2023. The sensational final series was an emotional rollercoaster that gripped the nation. Visceral, emotional and provocative from beginning to end, viewers were on tenterhooks, begging for more. There's no other TV drama like Happy Valley – it's a show we'll be talking about for decades to come. It's seminal, it pushed boundaries with an unrelenting ambition and quality that completely changed the landscape of crime drama." - Charlotte Moore 7. Claudia Winkleman "Where to begin with Claudia Winkleman? How about her unparalleled contributions to the world of television and broadcasting. As a consummate broadcaster, Claudia has consistently captivated audiences with her wit, charm, and genuine passion for popular entertainment and the people that make it, on and off camera. Her versatility is evident across a wide spectrum of shows, from the iconic Strictly Come Dancing via her much loved Radio 2 show to The Piano and mega hit The Traitors. Winkleman's delightful on-screen presence, coupled with her adept interviewing skills, cunning self deprecation and ability to connect with viewers, have made her an indispensable figure on British television. Her influence extends beyond the screen, as she has become a cultural icon celebrated for her distinctive style, unmistakable flair and that fringe, which covers up a razor sharp mind, deep intellect and love of an afternoon nap." - Kenton Allen, Chief Executive, Big Talk Productions "Claudia is someone I love watching on telly. A natural presenter who, with a twinkle in her eye, delivers warmth and humour in abundance but can also dial up drama and emotion. One minute you’ll be laughing, the next you’ll be crying. She is just class! Her traitor's performance is as iconic as her fringe." - Charlie Irwin, CEO of Thames, a Fremantle label 8. Ayo Edebiri "Ayo Edebiri is one of the most exciting comedic actor/writers of her generation. In the last couple of years, not only has she stolen the show in two movies (Theater Camp and Bottoms) but audiences were captivated by her dazzling performance as sous chef Sydney in The Bear. The series shows her going toe to toe with her troubled boss played by Jeremy Allen White. With wit and heartbreaking solemnity she is completely spellbinding." - Dame Pippa Harris, Neal Street Productions, Co-Founder 9. Jesse Armstrong "To say Jesse Armstrong has made an impact on the TV landscape would be an understatement. Succession can only be described as a masterpiece with Jesse at the helm. The multiple awards, including four Primetime Emmy wins for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, is proof enough. I can't wait to see what Jesse puts his pen to next." - Zai Bennett 10. Hannah Waddingham "Hannah Waddingham has been popping up on British screens for years, but it finally feels that, thanks to Ted Lasso, she is getting her due. A hugely charismatic, funny and soulful presence, it's no wonder that off the back of her role in the show, she has picked up jobs such as starring in ITV's Tom Jones and, of course, presenting the Eurovision Song Contest. For a series like Ted Lasso which is full of heart, and which centres around Jason Sudeikis's loveable puppy dog of a man, Waddingham's Rebecca still manages to stand out as the real emotional core, while also getting some cracking one-liners. If Apple TV+ were wanting to play in this world again following Sudeikis's apparent departure, as has been rumoured, then there is surely no one better to pick up the torch and lead the next iteration of the football comedy-drama than Waddingham." - James Hibbs, Drama Writer, RadioTimes.com 11. Chris Clenshaw "Chris Clenshaw is, quite simply, a master of soap. His passion and enthusiasm for the genre is infectious and he's turned EastEnders back into appointment viewing which culminated in the lengthy 'Six' storyline that hit a magnificent crescendo on Christmas Day. Chris has proven soaps are not to be looked down upon and have more relevance than ever in today's viewing habits." - Helen Daly, Associate Editor, RadioTimes.com 12. The Traitors cast "Landing at the tail-end of 2022, the first outing for The Traitors turned out to be the biggest surprise hit of the year, with buzz around the series reaching fever-pitch as the final thrilling episodes aired just before Christmas. Surely it'd be impossible for a follow-up to replicate the same levels of excitement? Somehow, 2024's sequel not only matched but surpassed its predecessor in terms of feverish audience obsession. If they'd fumbled the casting, it could've been a disaster – The Traitors lives or dies on the chemistry of its contestants – but the new episodes saw another fantastic set of diverse personalities lured to that Scottish castle. Machiavellian mastermind Paul. Jazatha Christie. Baby-faced traitor Harry. Diane! They and their cohorts ensured that this was unmissable, appointment-to-view television all over again." - Morgan Jeffery, Executive Editor RadioTimes.com 13. Pedro Pascal "2023 was undoubtedly the year of Pedro Pascal. The recognition is thoroughly deserved as he first gained our notice as Oberyn Martell in a little show called Game of Thrones and his star exploded as Joel in The Last of Us. I'm sure his success will continue into 2024 with the Gladiator sequel next, and Marvel's Fantastic Four on the horizon." - Zai Bennett 14. Millie Gibson "From the moment she started filming Doctor Who, everyone knew what an exceptional talent Millie Gibson is, she can play every emotion from humour to vulnerability. The audience fell in love with her instantly when she first appeared on Christmas Day and I can honestly say this is only the start for what is in store for Ruby Sunday. For someone so young, Millie's future is looking very bright and I am thrilled she is such a key part to the Whoniverse." - Charlotte Moore 15. David Tennant "David Tennant was already a completely beloved member of British acting royalty – but it was his return to Doctor Who as part of the 60th anniversary specials that fully secured his status as a national treasure. From drama to comedy to space travel and now a gameshow, it seems there's nothing he can't turn his hand to while still having an absolute laugh along the way. Truly, it's David Tennant's world and we're just living in it." - Louise Griffin, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor, RadioTimes.com 16. Gary Lineker "Few presenters have set the national news agenda as much as Gary Lineker, whose compassionate social media posts on topical issues opened up fiery discussions about the limitations placed on BBC employees and freelancers in the name of impartiality. As with many football stars, Gary often captures the nation's mood more than most commentators – or the majority of politicians, for that matter. Lineker's status as the Beeb's biggest paid star is a perennial talking point. Still, it never feels more justified than when his statements help to capture the zeitgeist of the nation or when he inspires swathes of solidarity – not just his supportive co-workers but the general public at large. Gary, never change." - Lewis Knight, Trends Editor, RadioTimes.com 17. Harlan Coben "Harlan is a powerhouse of story and invention. His mind is always five steps ahead of everyone with new ideas. He always wants to entertain and surprise an audience in the freshest possible ways." - Nicola Shindler, Executive Producer/Chief Executive of Quay Street Productions 18. Paul O'Grady "Paul O’Grady was nothing short of a broadcasting legend. At ITV we had the privilege of working with him over many, many years – both as his hilarious alter ego Lily Savage and as animal lover Paul himself – culminating in the much-loved For the Love of Dogs, which continues to be such a special programme for so many." - Kevin Lygo 19. Elizabeth Debicki "Elizabeth's an amazing actress but her performance in The Crown was truly outstanding. She embodied the character, spirit and soul of Diana incredibly and is finally receiving the recognition she deserves. I can't wait to see what she does next." - Charlie Irwin 20. Ali Wong & Steven Yeun "Ali Wong and Steven Yeun burst onto our screens last year in the multi-award-winning comedy-drama Beef. From their first clash in a road rage incident, audiences were hooked by their escalating, tempestuous feud. Both actors demonstrated not only superb versatility – by turns hilarious, then heartbreaking – they also portrayed two utterly credible characters, who held our sympathy throughout despite behaving appallingly." - Dame Pippa Harris 21. Jeremy Allen White 22. Michelle Keegan 23. India Ria Amarteifio 24. Danielle Harold 25. AJ Odudu & Will Best 26. Lenny Rush 27. Russell T Davies 28. Lee Mack 29. Vinette Robinson SPOTLIGHT ON... 30. Thomas Brodie-Sangster "We're so proud of Thomas and the energy he brought to our Australian local original, The Artful Dodger. He is a force of nature on set, bringing to life everything that you'd expect from Dodge. You couldn't ask for more." - Diego Londono, Executive Vice President, Media Networks & Content (Europe & Africa) at The Walt Disney Company 31. James Norton 32. Layton Williams & Nikita Kuzmin SPOTLIGHT ON... 33. Danny Brocklehurst "Danny is a brilliant writer because he writes such real and grounded characters but is always trying to push the stories and situations they find themselves in to be as entertaining as possible. He also combines dark truths with very funny humour in a way which isn't at all easy but feels totally natural." - Nicola Shindler 34. Maya Jama 35. Ashley Walters & Kane Robinson 36. Nicola Shindler 37. Bobby Brazier 38. Rosie Jones 39. Stephen Lambert 40. Jane Tranter 41. Michael Sheen 42. Sarah Snook SPOTLIGHT ON... 43. George Kay "George Kay had (another) golden year - delivering his fresh and devastating take on the Yorkshire Ripper story with The Long Shadow, giving us the final chapter of the magnificent Lupin and entertaining the world with the absurdly thrilling Hjack. His range is HUGE!" - Damien Timmer, Chief Creative Officer, Mammoth Screen 44. Steve Pemberton & Reece Shearsmith 45. Ruth Wilson 46. Eiichiro Oda 47. Alison Hammond 48. David Beckham 49. Meryl Streep 50. Ghosts cast 51. Kim Kardashian 52. Kirsty Young 53. David Holmes 54. Jeremy Strong 55. Iain MacLeod 56. Ellie Simmonds 57. Jonathan Bailey 58. Alice Oseman 59. Luke Littler SPOTLIGHT ON... 60. Spencer Matthews "Spencer has had an extraordinary year and growing up on screen, not least choosing to share his journey to find his late brother Michael through a powerful documentary; being incredibly open about how he's navigated loss and grief in the process and inspiring others. We know the future is bright for Spencer." - Sean Doyle, Director, Unscripted, Disney+, EMEA 61. Sarah Phelps SPOTLIGHT ON... 62. Idris Elba "Idris is an icon. I own his Idris-designed pea coat and love the music he produces. His portrayal of Stringer Bell in The Wire left an indelible mark, and his global stardom continues to rise with roles in Luther and the Marvel franchise. Despite his fame, he remains effortlessly cool and approachable. When he agreed to participate in a sketch for Sport Relief, it was a thrill. On set, he brought his trademark charm and humour, making the experience unforgettable. Idris Elba can truly make your day, on-screen and off it." - Sir Lenny Henry, Founder, Esmerelda Productions 63. John Corbett 64. Niamh Algar 65. Jodie Whittaker 66. Issa Lopez 67. Bob Mortimer & Paul Whitehouse 68. Eanna Hardwicke 69. Gary Oldman SPOTLIGHT ON... 70. Adeel Akhtar "Nothing gives more pleasure than seeing a wonderful talent shine bright – and Adeel is exactly that. Not only is he one of the kindest men in the business but he's an actor with unparalleled versatility, range and depth. From his comedic brilliance in Four Lions to his moving and haunting performances in Murdered by My Father, Sherwood and beyond, he remains a joy to watch in everything he does. A testament to his immense craft is that he has transcended the usual roles offered to Asian men of a certain age, and is instead standing shoulder to shoulder with the best of his generation." - Jon Sen, Joint Managing Director, Esmerelda Productions 71. Matthew Macfadyen 72. Danni Minogue 73. Issa Rae 74. Heidi Thomas 75. Jack Thorne 76. Stephen Fry 77. Emma Mackey 78. Jack & Harry Williams 79. Brian Cox (actor) 80. Bre Tiesi 81. The Gladiators 82. Tom Edge 83. Natasha Lyonne 84. Stephen Graham 85. Sam Reid 86. Declan Lawn & Adam Patterson 87. Rebecca Ferguson 88. Mawaan Rizwan 89. Mary Earps 90. Suranne Jones 91. Ashley Jensen 92. Aneurin Barnard 93. Kris Marshall 94. Ellie Leach 95. Sinéad Keenan 96. Yūki Kaji & Bryce Papenbrook 97. Elizabeth Olsen 98. Alan Carr 99. Jill Scott 100. Romesh Ranganathan Full list of contributors: Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer, BBC TV and Radio Dame Pippa Harris, Neal Street Productions, Co-Founder Damien Timmer, Chief Creative Officer, Mammoth Screen Kenton Allen, Chief Executive, Big Talk Productions Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content, Sky UK and Ireland Nicola Shindler, Executive Producer/Chief Executive of Quay Street Productions Mark Linsey, President of Scripted, BBC Studios Kevin Lygo, Managing Director, Media & Entertainment ITV Kate Harwood, Managing Director, Euston Films Charlie Irwin, CEO of Thames, a Fremantle label Sir Lenny Henry and Jon Sen, Esmerelda Productions Disney+ Hat Trick Productions Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Mr Bates vs The Post Office team on winning Radio Times TV 100 and continuing to fight for justice
The ITV drama topped our annual TV 100 list.
Drama is a powerful tool. It has the power to make us laugh, cry, hide behind the sofa in terror, and get angry. Yet, now and then, it can also bring about a monumental societal and political tidal wave. When Mr Bates vs The Post Office started airing on ITV1 and ITVX on 1st January 2024, few could have imagined the impact that four-part drama would have on the country in such an important election year where news space would be at a premium, but such is the power of compelling storytelling. The British Post Office scandal saw over 900 subpostmasters wrongly prosecuted due to faulty software where the Fujitsu-owned Horizon system showed incorrect shortfalls which had to be covered. Many subpostmasters were left in financial ruin and handed a criminal conviction. Some took their own lives. Others are yet to come forward. The ITV drama saw Toby Jones portray tenacious Alan Bates who took on the Post Office, starring opposite Julie Hesmondhalgh as his loyal wife Suzanne. Elsewhere, Monica Dolan took the role of Jo Hamilton, another subpostmaster who was forced into taking accountability for the shortfall, and Will Mellor played Lee Castleton, a subpostmaster who put all his faith in the law to trust it would save him, and learned it wouldn't. Katherine Kelly, meanwhile, portrayed the role of Angela van den Bogerd (one of the top bods in the Post Office who handled complaints made about the Horizon system), while Lia Williams embodied Paula Vennells, the former CEO of the Post Office. It was written by Gwyneth Hughes (Vanity Fair, Tom Jones, Three Girls). As soon as the drama launched, the scandal hit the news cycle, with many viewers discovering this dreadful injustice for the first time, and others rediscovering it. It prompted unprecedented public outcry and an even more unexpected response from the government, who were quick to quash the scandal (with this being an election year, after all). It was an easy decision, therefore, to award the Radio Times TV 100 top spot to the team behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office for the impact they have had as a collective, on society, politics and most importantly, the lives of all the subpostmasters affected by the Horizon scandal. The response simply wasn't something the Mr Bates team expected and to this day are still stunned by. "It's surreal and thrilling," executive producer Patrick Spence told RadioTimes.com. "We only set out to allow the subpostmasters to feel heard, that was our stated intent. We didn't realise that the show would have this effect. The most important thing is they feel heard now – they really feel heard now. For us, that's the greatest reward, but this is lovely, too!" Writer Gwyneth Hughes added: "We had no idea when we started work it was going to be such a big deal. We knew it was a great story but it was something that had been bumbling along for 20 years that nobody had really got a grip of. It was very complicated and very difficult to write, and we thought it would 'find an audience' (which is TV speak for 'nobody is going to watch it'). "People tuned in and found this extraordinary thing had been happening under our noses in this country [where] we're so proud of our fairness, decency, and rules of cricket. It was a real surprise." Polly Hill, the ITV commissioner behind the drama, added: "I did think it would get a lot of interest from the press and I hoped of course that it would find an audience as it was a brilliant telling of the story, but we could never have imagined the attention we got – although I'm not surprised the drama made the nation angry because it's a story that shocked and angered everyone who came on board. "We are all really proud of what our drama has helped achieve. It shouldn't have taken a drama to make the government take action, but we are proud that our drama has done so much good." Read more: Will Mellor says reaction to Mr Bates vs The Post Office is "unprecedented" Mr Bates star Monica Dolan weighs in on "danger" of government's Post Office response Spence attributes the success of the campaign to the power of drama, emphasising the impact it can have on the public who were true activators of change. But ultimately without the drama, the road to repayment would still be long and drawn out. "I'm very proud of the team who all excelled in their various ways," Spence explains. "I'm also very proud of the role that drama has played. A lot of people said, 'Isn't it awful that it took a drama to get people to pay attention?' And my attitude is now, 'Isn't that brilliant, that drama can have that effect?' "And let's hope it happens again. I hope it further renews everyone's enthusiasm for investing in drama as a cultural form because it's shown what it can achieve. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2023/12/mrbatesvsthepostoffice01-6041f5c.jpg" width="5400" height="3600" alt="Amit Shah as Jas, Krupa Pattani as Sam, Lesley Nicol as Pam, Ifan Huw Dafydd as Noel, Julie Hesmondhalgh as Suzanne, Toby Jones as Alan Bates, Monica Dolan as Jo, Asif Khan as Mohammad, Will Mellor as Lee and Shaun Dooley as Rudkin in Mr Bates vs The Post Office standing in front of a red background" title="mr_bates_vs_the_post_office_01" /> "I don't think this TV programme changed the law. I think the people of Great Britain changed the law. But I do think seeing drama's role in getting that message out and getting people to listen has been amazing to witness. It's every producer's dream." A move that really wouldn't have happened without public outcry came when Rishi Sunak announced a new law on 10th January meaning those convicted in the Horizon IT scandal would have their charges overturned and would be given an upfront payment, or the chance to appeal for a greater fee. "On the night that Rishi changed the law, I was sitting in front of the telly with my wife, watching all four channels featuring this story in so many different ways almost all night long," Spence continues. "I got a text from Lee Castleton, saying thank you for what we've done. That's what it was all about, allowing them to feel that the whole country has understood the way they'd been suffering." Monica Dolan added: "It is amazing. I suppose the thing I'm wary of is that the law was changed for people with a criminal conviction for them to have their convictions overturned and for them to be repaid. There are many, many more people who didn't have criminal convictions. "It's great the government made a grand gesture like that. Alan Bates himself hasn't been compensated yet. And there will have been many people who [balanced their accounts] to a point they couldn't put money in any more and then sold their businesses at a loss. Somebody needs to pay all these people back, too." When the law changed, Bates, like Dolan, was cautiously accepting of it, reiterating there was still work to do to ensure everyone was compensated. They have a right to be wary: the following month, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch entered into a row with Henry Staunton (Post Office chair) after he alleged he was told to delay payouts to the subpostmasters so the Tories could "limp into the election". Badenoch strongly denied Staunton's claims, calling them "completely false", but the fact remains the same: many subpostmasters are still waiting for the money that's rightfully theirs. Hughes's message to the government? "Just get on with it and make sure the subpostmasters get paid their due. It's not compensation, money was taken from them and they want their money back. It's not simple; it's very complicated, but it's not impossible. They're not getting any younger. People are dying without vindication, without their money, and that's just beyond sad, isn't it?" Her sentiment is very much echoed by Hill, who commented: "I hope the postmasters get proper compensation and that it happens quickly. This injustice has been going on too long." View Green Video on the source website Spence added: "It's the best and worst of Britain, all in one story. I think we all feel incredibly proud to be British – all we did was make a TV drama and it made people angry, what the people of the country did was rise up and demand of the Prime Minister that he take action. "Watching what has happened since and watching several politicians try and claim how they cared all along and how much they'd been fighting for them all along when they hadn't... There was a four-year gap from the end of our show to transmission in which any of those politicians could've done something. Only James Arbuthnot [Conservative], Kevan Jones [Labour] and a couple of others had actually been doing anything at all – they're the only ones that deserve praise. "Watching the squabbling within the Post Office and all the inaction which has left subpostmasters unpaid, without justice and without compensation or financial redress is really shameful, isn't it? Things like this [TV 100] are everyone's chance to keep this story front and centre and keep reminding everyone that it's not over yet, as Alan kept on saying and does say in the drama. Until they all have received financial redress, we have to keep shouting." Read this year's Radio Times TV 100 list in full Mr Bates vs The Post Office is streaming on ITVX now. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Radio Times TV 100 winner revealed: Post Office drama takes top spot
The news is out: Mr Bates vs The Post Office has topped the Radio Times TV 100 list. The ITV drama has made history by becoming the first ensemble to gain the coveted title, with executives and influentials across the TV industry coming together to have their say, with Radio Times' team of experts agreeing it was a very worthy winner. Mr Bates vs The Post Office aired on ITV on 1st January and was an instant hit, with overnights showing it beating The Tourist season 2 by over 1.4 million viewers. No mean feat considering how popular the BBC series was in its first outing. Viewer success continued for the real-life series, with it becoming ITV's biggest drama in over a decade, beating even Downton Abbey. But it was what was happening outside the TV show that was most incredible, with the government finally taking action to help the subpostmasters who were affected by the Horizon Scandal. Rishi Sunak announced a new law determining that those wrongly convicted would have their convictions overturned, and would be offered a lump sum of repayment. Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells handed back her CBE following public backlash. Some of the subpostmasters started to settle. There's still a way to go before everyone impacted by the faulty computer system is repaid, but since the drama launched, more progress has been made in a few months than ever before. And that's why they came at the top of our TV 100 list, which you can see in full here. Digital Editor Morgan Jeffery said of the result: "Radio Times' TV 100 list is an inspiring snapshot of the biggest power players in TV right now, populated by a sensational range of diverse talent and disciplines – but in a year where the game-changing drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office demonstrated the power that television truly has to highlight important issues, change lives and ultimately shape the world that we live in, there could only ever be one winner." Kevin Lygo, Managing Director, Media & Entertainment ITV, commented: "We couldn't be more proud of the continued success of Mr Bates vs The Post Office. It's ITV's biggest drama since records began, over 20 years ago, and so to top Radio Times' TV 100 list is yet another fantastic milestone. "The drama has now been watched by over 14 million viewers since its launch, only three months ago. So I think it's safe to say that this epic ensemble cast (the first ensemble to ever top this list, I'm told!) undoubtedly represents the most important TV talent of the past year. Congratulations to all!" Executive producer Patrick Spence said of the award: "It's surreal and thrilling. We only set out to allow the subpostmasters to feel heard, that was our stated intent. We didn't realise that the show would have this effect. The most important thing is they feel heard now – they really feel heard now. For us, that's the greatest reward, but this is lovely, too!" Polly Hill, ITV commissioner, added: "Thank you for recognising Mr Bates vs The Post Office by putting it top of your TV 100. We are incredibly proud of the drama and the reaction it's had. ITV doesn't always get recognised in the way it deserves, so thank you." Read this year's Radio Times TV 100 list in full Mr Bates vs The Post Office is streaming on ITVX now. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Radio Times TV 100 is coming – here's how you can find out who's topped the list
The Radio Times TV 100 is coming – and we're gearing up to reveal the latest winner of our annual award. Every year, we team up with the industry's biggest names and channel executives to find the best talent on and off camera who've brightened up our screens, told an important story, or changed the way we consume television. And on Sunday 7th April 2024, we'll be announcing the latest winner along with the full list, which is jam-packed with talent. Make sure you head over to our Facebook page or our YouTube channel at 7pm on Sunday 7th April 2024 to find out who's topped the list. And let us know what you think of the final list by having your say on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Last year, Ncuti Gatwa stormed to victory on the Radio Times TV 100 list. The 31-year-old would go on to have a stellar year, making his debut in Doctor Who where he appeared in an historic bi-generation scene with David Tennant's Doctor. He was also a part of the biggest film of 2023, Barbie, where he starred as one of the many Kens opposite Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie. If that wasn't enough, he also helped the ensemble team behind Sex Education wrap up their final season. Who'll win this year? Join us at 7pm on Sunday 7th April 2024 to find out... Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Russell T Davies relishes "secret" as he teases new Doctor Who
The returning showrunner says "we'll all be dancing" once the secret is out.
Russell T Davies has teased that he has a "secret" he can't wait to share with the world when Doctor Who returns with new star Ncuti Gatwa in the lead role. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com after Gatwa topped our TV 100 2022 list, the returning showrunner spoke excitedly if rather cryptically about what fans can expect – and it certainly sounds like Whovians are in for a treat. "Sometimes you know you've got a secret. And you hold it close to your chest and let it burn, because secrets are so delicious," he teased. "I've got that right now, because my secret is seeing Ncuti with Millie Gibson on the rushes of Doctor Who, every single day, and oh my God, this is so good!" He added that when the secret is out, "we'll all be dancing" and promised fans "a completely new Doctor, and yet a Doctor utterly faithful to the 60 years that came before." Read more: Doctor Who guest star returns in 2023 Christmas special Ncuti Gatwa calls for John Boyega Doctor Who cameo: 'Get on it, Russell' Meanwhile the BBC's Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore has also revealed that she reckons Gatwa will "set the world alight" when his episodes begin airing. "Ncuti has an incredible dynamism, he's a striking and fearless actor whose talent and energy are boundless," she said. "From what I've seen so far – no spoilers – he is going to set the world alight and take Doctor Who on extraordinary adventures when he takes charge of the TARDIS." View Green Video on the source website Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer with episodes of the classic series also available on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage and visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ncuti Gatwa reflects on Sex Education exit: "I made some of my best friends"
Gatwa recently announced his departure from the series.
Ncuti Gatwa has opened up exclusively to RadioTimes.com about leaving behind Eric on Sex Education. The actor, 30, announced in February 2023 that he would be leaving the Netflix comedy series after the fourth season, which is expected to air on the streaming giant later this year. Following his recent RadioTimes.com TV 100 win, Gatwa reflected on his time on Sex Education, describing it as "special". "Being a part of that ensemble for four years was so special. I made some of my best friends and worked on a project that meant something special to people," Gatwa admitted. "Hopefully it aided and accompanied a larger cultural conversation we're having at the moment of inclusion, acceptance and love. Shout out to Ben Taylor for making that show what it was and being the funnest boss to work with." Read more: Ncuti Gatwa on topping TV 100 2022 list as he reflects on career Ncuti Gatwa on "tough" time filming Doctor Who and Sex Education Russell T Davies praises Ncuti Gatwa's 'new but faithful' Doctor after TV 100 win As for what fans can expect from flamboyant Eric Effiong in his final season, Gatwa teased: "Some exceptional eye make-up!" Gatwa initially shared the news of his exit via his Instagram, sharing a picture of his dressing room door saying: "Last day. Last time. Bye bubs, thank you for all the lessons and for all the strength." His role of Eric, was without a doubt one of the stand-out performances in the series, earning him a Scottish BAFTA among countless other industry award nominations. View Green Video on the source website Speaking to Gay Times around the time of his departure, Gatwa said of the cultural impact Eric and Sex Education had: “I was at UK Black Pride and the amount of people who were coming up to me specifically about the relationship between Eric and his dad was constant. “And I think it really touched people to see this portrayal of this Black man, this strong big Black man loving his gay son. It was quite beautiful, and it's something that we don't see often and I think that's why it impacted people.” Sex Education is available to stream on Netflix. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times Podcast.
BBC boss says Ncuti Gatwa's new Doctor will "set the world alight"
BBC's Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore has praised RadioTimes.com's TV 100 winner, Ncuti Gatwa, while also dropping a tantalising teaser of what we can expect from the star's 2023 debut on Doctor Who. Gatwa will take over the reins of the TARDIS in the coming months and has been recently spotted filming in Wales with new companion Ruby Sunday (played by Millie Gibson). Commending Gatwa on his TV 100 placement, Moore told RadioTimes.com: "Ncuti has an incredible dynamism. He's a striking and fearless actor whose talent and energy are boundless." Teasing what's to come, she added: "From what I've seen so far – no spoilers – he's going to set the world alight and take Doctor Who on extraordinary adventures when he takes charge of the TARDIS." Gatwa's casting was announced on 8th May 2022, becoming Jodie Whittaker's successor on the long-running sci-fi. Speaking at the time of his casting, Gatwa said: "There aren't quite the words to describe how I'm feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared. "This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavour my upmost to do the same. Read more: Ncuti Gatwa on topping TV 100 2022 list as he reflects on career Russell T Davies praises Ncuti Gatwa's 'new but faithful' Doctor after TV 100 win "Russell T Davies is almost as iconic as the Doctor himself and being able to work with him is a dream come true. His writing is dynamic, exciting, incredibly intelligent and fizzing with danger. An actor's metaphorical playground. "The entire team have been so welcoming and truly give their hearts to the show. And so as much as it's daunting, I'm aware I'm joining a really supportive family. Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart but I am giving it all to this show." View Green Video on the source website As for how filming's going, Gatwa told RadioTimes.com: "Filming is going great. Was a tough start as I was doing doing Sex Education and Doctor Who at the same time for two months at the beginning but now that Sex Ed is wrapped and I'm just in Doctor it has been so much fun having full reign to explore and find the character. "It truly is the funnest role and the action never stops. Their world is constantly in motion and that is so exciting to play. Each week there is a new adventure too! I’m very lucky to get to work with Russell and his scripts. I'm very, very lucky." Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Russell T Davies praises Ncuti Gatwa's 'new but faithful' Doctor after TV 100 win
Russell T Davies has given Doctor Who fans a tantalising insight into the new season starring Ncuti Gatwa. Speaking to RadioTimes.com following Ncuti topping our annual TV 100 list, the returning showrunner has spoken about a secret he's keeping - and it's all about how great the incoming Doctor is in the lead role. "Sometimes you know you've got a secret. And you hold it close to your chest and let it burn, because secrets are so delicious," Russell teased. "I've got that right now, because my secret is seeing Ncuti with Millie Gibson on the rushes of Doctor Who, every single day, and oh my God, this is so good!" Speaking specifically about what Ncuti will bring to the iconic sci-fi role, Russell added: "I can promise you a completely new Doctor, and yet a Doctor utterly faithful to the 60 years that came before. Soon, the secret will be out, and we'll all be dancing!" Read more: New Doctor Who "one of the greatest things" showrunner has ever made Russell T Davies's focus is on Doctor Who for 'years to come' Russell topped RadioTimes.com's TV 100 list in 2021, for his work on It's a Sin and his shocking return to Doctor Who. Following in his footsteps, Ncuti's casting as the Doctor, on top of his joyful role as Eric in Sex Education, meant the 30-year-old was a frequent nominee among our panellists. View Green Video on the source website Speaking of his win, Ncuti said he was "very pleased", adding: "Being recognised for anything is just bloody lovely, isn't it? Let alone being on the RadioTimes.com TV 100 list. TV is on fire at the moment and so to top the list as well feels extra cool." On joining the list of iconic previous winners, Ncuti added: "It's extremely cool company to keep. The titans that have topped the list before me, people such as Russell T Davies, Michaela Coel, Jodie Whittaker, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Olivia Colman, are all inspirations to me and their work is something I aspire to. They're just really great story tellers above all else and that's all I could want to do." Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ncuti Gatwa on topping TV 100 2022 list as he reflects on career
The Doctor Who star looks back on his phenomenal career to date.
Ncuti Gatwa has been named the winner of RadioTimes.com's TV 100 2022, after topping the list of the most influential names in the industry. Compiled with the help of TV executives from the likes of the BBC, Netflix and many more, our annual list celebrates the greatest stars in the entertainment industry. Ncuti, who was recently cast as the lead role in Doctor Who as the series approaches its 60th anniversary, came at the top of the list, following his current boss Russell T Davies, who won last year. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com about placing at the top of TV 100 2022, Ncuti said he was "very pleased", adding: "Being recognised for anything is just bloody lovely, isn't it? Let alone being on the RadioTimes.com TV 100 list. TV is on fire at the moment and so to top the list as well feels extra cool." Ncuti joins an exclusive list of winners which includes Michaela Coel, Olivia Colman, and of course, Russell T Davies, and the 30-year-old is delighted to be counted alongside such huge talents. "It's extremely cool company to keep. The titans that have topped the list before me, people such as Russell T Davies, Michaela Coel, Jodie Whittaker, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Olivia Colman are all inspirations to me and their work is something I aspire to. They're just really great storytellers above all else and that's all I could want to do." Read more: Russell T Davies praises Ncuti Gatwa's 'new but faithful' Doctor after TV 100 win Doctor Who confirms new cast members for season 14 Ncuti rose to fame when he landed a role in Netflix's hit comedy series Sex Education, where he played Eric Effiong (the upcoming fourth season will be his last). This year will undoubtedly be huge for him as he becomes the 15th Doctor, following a surprise return from David Tennant in the autumn. If that wasn't enough, Ncuti will also take to the silver screen as he appears in the highly-anticipated Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. But reflecting on his career, there's one moment that stands out as the proudest: "Winning a BAFTA Scotland award for Sex Education. That meant so much to me on many different levels. It has pride of place in my house." Ncuti won Best Actor in Television at the 2020 ceremony. As for other career highlights, Ncuti admitted: "Gosh, there are a lot of highlights. I've been very lucky to work with some very cool people and do some very cool stuff. But I'd say ultimate highlights are the (many) days I spent singing random songs a cappella with Asa [Butterfield, Sex Education co-star] before a take. Or making up our own brand new nonsense song!" View Green Video on the source website If you're looking for something to watch tonight, head over to our handy TV Guide. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ncuti Gatwa says filming Doctor Who, Sex Ed at same time was "tough"
The actor discusses juggling two demanding roles.
Ncuti Gatwa has revealed that juggling commitments to Netflix's Sex Education and the BBC's Doctor Who was "tough", after topping the RadioTimes.com TV 100 2022. The annual event sees industry experts and executives come together to name the 100 individuals who have made the greatest impact on entertainment over the calendar year. Following an extraordinary 12 months in which he was revealed to be the Fifteenth Doctor, Gatwa has emerged as this year's top talent, telling RadioTimes.com that his intense recent workload hasn't always been easy. "Filming is going great. [It] was a tough start as I was doing Sex Education and Doctor Who at the same time for two months at the beginning," he explained. "But now that Sex Ed is wrapped and I'm just in Doctor, it has been so much fun having full rein to explore and find the character. It truly is the funnest role and the action never stops." Read more: Ncuti Gatwa on topping TV 100 2022 list as he reflects on career Russell T Davies praises Ncuti Gatwa's 'new but faithful' Doctor after TV 100 win Following the enormous success of his hard-hitting LGBTQ+ drama It's a Sin, Russell T Davies made the shock announcement that he would be returning to Doctor Who after more than a decade away. His latest tenure begins with the 60th anniversary specials, coming later this year, which will reunite former stars David Tennant and Catherine Tate for a special celebration of the long-running sci-fi show. Gatwa's iteration of The Doctor is expected to step in towards the end of the three-part storyline, before taking centre stage in the upcoming Doctor Who season 14, which is a co-production with Disney Plus. He added: "Their world is constantly in motion and that is so exciting to play. Each week there is a new adventure too! I'm very lucky to get to work with Russell and his scripts. Very, very lucky." Meanwhile, fans will be bidding farewell to the actor's Sex Education character, Eric Effiong, in the show's upcoming fourth season, as Gatwa announced on social media it was his final performance for the acclaimed teen comedy-drama. View Green Video on the source website Sex Education season 4 is coming soon to Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream. Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
RadioTimes.com TV 100 2022 – the full list
It sure has been a stellar year for television and we at RadioTimes.com want to continue celebrating the achievements of those behind the biggest TV events of the past year. Last year's winner, Russell T Davies, has gone on to have a wondrous year, with him returning at the helm of the 14th season of Doctor Who, as well as working on Nolly, You & Me and upcoming BBC drama Men Up. Once again, we have teamed up with industry experts and executives – including directors of content from Sky, the BBC and more – to pull together this list of the top 100 people who changed the entertainment landscape for the better in 2022. Read on to find out the winner of the RadioTimes.com TV 100, and who else made the full list. 1. Ncuti Gatwa "Ncuti has an incredible dynamism, he's a striking and fearless actor whose talent and energy are boundless. From what I've seen so far – no spoilers – he is going to set the world alight and take Doctor Who on extraordinary adventures when he takes charge of the TARDIS." - CHARLOTTE MOORE, CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER AT BBC TV AND RADIO Read more: Ncuti Gatwa on topping TV 100 2022 list as he reflects on career Russell T Davies praises Ncuti Gatwa's 'new but faithful' Doctor after TV 100 win 2. Alice Oseman "Alice is the genius creator of Netflix's huge hit Heartstopper, which burst onto our screens last year. Alice wrote and illustrated the original webcomic, and also wrote the subsequent TV series detailing the tender, romantic coming-of-age of two teenage boys, Charlie and Nick. Alice's writing is utterly original, big-hearted, and emotionally engrossing and it's no wonder the series is so enormously popular with audiences around the world." - DAME PIPPA HARRIS, FOUNDER OF NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS 3. Huw Edwards "Huw Edwards faced one of the greatest challenges in television broadcasting history last September, tasked with delivering the news to the nation that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away following an unrivalled seven decades as monarch. Though he'd reportedly only learnt of the Queen's death 10 seconds beforehand, the BBC News anchor broke the news with the same level of professionalism and decorum he's displayed throughout his almost 40-year career. He remained a constant across the coverage that followed, including fronting the BBC's broadcast of the Queen's funeral, providing a much-needed sense of dependability during what was for many a time of great loss and instability." - MORGAN JEFFERY, RADIOTIMES.COM EXECUTIVE EDITOR 4. Jennifer Coolidge "Like the rest of the world, I was captivated by Jennifer Coolidge in the return of The White Lotus, from her on-screen rollercoaster adventure in the show to an award-winning off-screen adventure in the form of an Emmy and a SAG. Nearly two decades on from when her comedy talents first graced our screens, it's been amazing to see her achieve the recognition she's always deserved, and I can't wait for what's to come." - MARINA STORTI, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT NOW 5. Emma D'Arcy "Emma D'Arcy was a breakout star as Rhaenyra in House of the Dragon. Despite arriving halfway through the season and taking over the role, their commanding power earned them critical acclaim and a Golden Globes nomination. And then there was the negroni sbagliato!" - DAMIEN TIMMER, CHIEF CREATIVE OFFER AT MAMMOTH SCREEN 6. Claudia Winkleman "Claudia Winkleman is so brilliant at making the audience feel totally engaged with the shows she presents, as if she is one of them watching alongside and I'm sure her very natural performances require a huge amount of skill and ability to perform. But it's fun to watch! Her taste is also trusted by audiences so if she is on a show, they feel they know it will be worth watching." - NICOLA SHINDLER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AT QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS 7. Adam Kay "Former doctor Adam Kay took the hilarious, heart-breaking and sometimes headache-inducing entries from his best-selling 2017 memoir This Is Going to Hurt and adapted them into one of the best comedy-dramas to come out of 2022. An increasingly chaotic and ultimately devastating dose of junior doctor life, the show is another impressive credit to add to the writer's ever-growing TV résumé, and with multiple BAFTA nominations under his belt, let's hope Kay is planning on penning more for the screen." - LAUREN MORRIS, RADIOTIMES.COM ENTERTAINMENT WRITER 8. Lionesses "The Lionesses provided one of the most-watched TV spectacles of the year as a peak audience of 17.6 million viewers tuned in to watch England's Euro 2022 final victory against Germany. Top scorer Beth Mead, captain Leah Williamson and match-winner Chloe Kelly have become household names, their achievements woven into the fabric of British football history. And there's more to come with the 2023 World Cup on the way." - MICHAEL POTTS, RADIOTIMES.COM SPORT EDITOR 9. Yasmin Finney "Brand new to the scene, Yasmin has arrived into acting with the most incredible energy, passion and excitement for what is sure to be a wonderful career ahead. Heartstopper found a special place in people's hearts last year, as did Yasmin with her gentle depiction of Elle. We are looking forward to seeing her again in season 2 as well as her other projects including the BBC/Disney's iconic Doctor Who." - ANNE MENSAH, VP AT NETFLIX 10. Hamza Yassin "Hamza Yassin captured the hearts of the nation last year when he took to the dance floor in Strictly Come Dancing. The CBeebies and wildlife presenter was crowned the winner and proved hugely popular with audiences, both young and old. He exudes warmth and passion and I'm excited about his future on the BBC." - CHARLOTTE MOORE 11. Paapa Essiedu "I'm thrilled that Paapa has made this list. He's proved himself as a leading man in The Lazarus Project, showing us yet again what a compelling and dynamic actor he is. We're excited to see him in action again, with the second series returning to screens later this year." - ZAI BENNETT, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CONTENT, SKY UK AND IRELAND 12. Heidi Thomas "Heidi Thomas is a true one off - a creative power house whose talent for creating three-dimensional, beautifully drawn characters is fully matched by her ability for writing storylines that entertain and enthral viewers in their millions. The enduring success of Call the Midwife is a testament to her extraordinary creativity and dedication to such a very special show that never shies away from challenging subject matter which makes it utterly unique." - CHARLOTTE MOORE "Call the Midwife has been keeping us all entertained for over a decade, a mammoth achievement which can be attributed to the memoirs of nurse and midwife Jennifer Worth, on which it's based, its ever-evolving cast and Heidi Thomas, the brain behind the brilliant operation. The creator, writer and executive producer continues to find ways to tap into what people love so much about the BBC period drama while also carrying the narrative forwards as we head into the 1970s, which is no small feat. And on a more profound level, Thomas has continually ensured that women's stories and voices remain at the forefront of the conversation, which might not seem as revolutionary in 2023 given the wealth of female-led projects on offer, but her work undoubtedly paved the way for countless other women who are now making their mark on the world. It's a glittering legacy that makes Thomas one of the most influential creators working today." - ABBY ROBINSON, RADIOTIMES.COM DRAMA EDITOR 13. Harry and Meghan "It was a big year for Harry and Meghan, as they invited viewers into their lives following their decision to step down as senior members of the royal family in 2020. Talking candidly about their new life in California, as well as sharing moments from their courtship, marriage and eventual exit from the UK, the six-part documentary gave viewers a chance to hear the couple's side of events. And what a viewing success it was, with the documentary becoming Netflix's biggest factual debut yet, as the first three episodes racked up 81.55m viewing hours around the world in its first week. If that wasn't enough, the couple signed a five-year deal with the streaming giant reportedly worth $100 million - so we can expect a lot more from them in the coming years." - GRACE HENRY, RADIOTIMES.COM ENTERTAINMENT AND FACTUAL EDITOR 14. Kit Connor "Despite having already featured in the likes of Rocketman and His Dark Materials, Kit Connor truly was launched into the international spotlight with his moving and charismatic screen presence as Nick in Netflix's Heartstopper. Now with film castings and a devoted fan following, Kit Connor is a face we can expect to see on our screens again and again." - LEWIS KNIGHT, RADIOTIMES.COM TRENDS EDITOR 15. Joe Locke "A total unknown before his breakout role as Charlie in Netflix's Heartstopper, Locke's immense likability and effervescence shone throughout the show's first run. Now the social media savvy star is set to appear in Marvel series Agatha: Coven of Chaos opposite the likes of Kathryn Hahn, and these days there are few surer signs of mainstream success." - LEWIS KNIGHT 16. Sadie Sink "Sadie Sink's breakout role was as the feisty, fearless Max in Stranger Things. The tough skater-girl first appeared in series 2 and quickly became a firm favourite with audiences. Sink has an extraordinary ability to combine brooding teenage anger with wit and vulnerability, giving a truly memorable performance. Her reputation as one of the most exciting young actors of her generation was consolidated by her outstanding performance in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale playing Brendan Fraser's estranged daughter." - DAME PIPPA HARRIS 17. Chris Clenshaw "Since Chris Clenshaw became the Executive Producer on EastEnders, you can't deny how the soap has gone from strength to strength. Mind-blowing plot twists, devastating real-life storylines and of course the same classic humour we love from the genre have all combined to create a near-perfect era for the soap, which is full of ambition and entertainment. Clenshaw is proving himself to be a master of the genre, and we can't wait to see what's next for the residents of Walford (not least who dies in the Christmas flash-forward!)." - HELEN DALY, RADIOTIMES.COM ASSOCIATE EDITOR 18. Jenna Ortega "Jenna Ortega firmly stole the spotlight last year with her performance in Tim Burton's Addams Family revival, Wednesday. Starring in the titular role, Jenna redefined Wednesday for the modern day, and expertly captured her character's wickedly cynical worldview, curiosity and intelligence. Her wit, humour and poise struck a chord with audiences all across the world and we can't wait to see what she'll do next when Wednesday returns for a second season." - ANNE MENSAH 19. Joe Lycett "Comedian Joe Lycett has really stepped into his power over the last year, leveraging his position as a household-name comic and trusted presenter to enact meaningful change and push other public figures to make better decisions for the good of society and the planet. Making the nation think whilst also making his devout followers chuckle with as much regularity as ever, Lycett is a shining example of using your platform for good (without squandering your skills in the process)." - ROB LEANE RADIOTIMES.COM GAMING EDITOR 20. Mo Gilligan "Last year, Mo Gilligan kept us laughing with the release of his second Netflix comedy special, There's Mo to Life. Mo's high-energy, common touch and outstanding humour allowed him to bring light and laughter to a range of topics including being a broke teenager and the joys of working in a London retail store. We look forward to seeing him continue to thrive this year across his stand-up comedy and hosting projects." - ANNE MENSAH SPOTLIGHT ON... 21. Jodie Whittaker "Jodie made Doctor Who history as the first female Doctor and her time on the show is indelibly marked on our memories. She instantly became a huge success and was welcomed by fans around the world as the Thirteenth Doctor. Everyone she worked with all said how welcome she made them, she was a great company leader both on and off screen and really inhabited the traits of the Doctor. She also knew how important that role is to the viewers which showed in her performance. She's a brilliantly gifted actress and I can't wait to see what's next." - CHARLOTTE MOORE 22. Ukraine Eurovision winners 23. Jack Rooke 24. Sharon Horgan 25. Mike White 26. Joseph Quinn 27. Romesh Ranganathan 28. Simone Ashley 29. Sam Ryder 30. Jackie Woodburne 31. Elizabeth Debicki 32. Milly Alcock 33. Leo Woodall 34. Steven Knight 35. Jamie Dornan 36. Lesley Manville 37. Tony Schumacher 38. Mark Charnock 39. Ambika Mod 40. Zendaya 41. Clive Myrie 42. Jack Thorne 43. Paddy Considine SPOTLIGHT ON... 44. Will Sharpe "This year, Will got the wider global attention he's long-deserved thanks to his stand-out performance in The White Lotus series 2. Not only is he an extraordinary actor, but he writes, directs and is generally just far too talented. We can't wait to see what he does next." - DAN GRABINER, HEAD OF ORIGINALS, UK AT AMAZON STUDIOS 45. Alison Hammond 46. Bob Odenkirk 47. Danielle Macdonald 48. Leon Harrop & Sarah Gordy 49. Cillian Murphy 50. Sally Wainwright 51. Daisy May Cooper SPOTLIGHT ON... 52. Sir Lenny Henry "Lenny Henry is a legend. He is hugely talented as a writer, actor and comedian, incredibly clever and a trailblazing activist. We should all be more Sir Lenny." - NICOLA SHINDLER 53. Ayo Edebiri 54. Olivia Cooke 55. David Tennant 56. Nicola Walker 57. Dan Erickson 58. Sacha Dhawan 59. Lydia Adetunji 60. Selin Hizli 61. Emer Kenny 62. Chris Lang 63. Matt Smith 64. Cast of The Traitors 65. Russell T Davies 66. Nicola Coughlan 67. Hugo Blick 68. Masali Baduza 69. Monica Dolan 70. Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu 71. Harry & Jack Williams 72. Ant & Dec 73. Julia Garner 74. Douglas Henshall 75. Suranne Jones SPOTLIGHT ON... 76. Sue Vertue "Sue combines the experience of a TV legend with the sheer enthusiasm of someone who's just started. Her list of credits speaks for itself, and she is an inspiration to work with, bringing joy to everyone in her orbit." - DAN GRABINER 77. Mandip Gill 78. Wunmi Mosaku 79. Jack Rowan 80. Mark Stanley 81. Steven Moffat 82. Cast of Ghosts 83. Ben Whishaw 84. Micheal Ward 85. Connor Swindells 86. Daniel Laurie 87. Chris Chibnall 88. Daryl McCormack 89. Iman Vellani 90. Joe Barton 91. Lee Mack 92. Lauren Lyle SPOTLIGHT ON... 93. Sir Kenneth Branagh "Kenneth Branagh blew us away with his powerful and transformational performance as Boris Johnson in This England, one of Sky's most compelling titles last year. Sky was pleased to have retold one of the most extraordinary and unprecedented events this county has ever faced, and Branagh's performance did us proud." - ZAI BENNETT 94. Dolly Alderton 95. Stanley Tucci 96. Ryan Murphy 97. Simona Tabasco 98. Kane Robinson 99. Eddie Marsan 100. Selena Gomez Full list of contributors: Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer, BBC TV and Radio Dame Pippa Harris, Neal Street Productions, Co-Founder Marina Storti, Managing Director, NOW Damien Timmer, Chief Creative Officer, Mammoth Screen Kenton Allen, Chief Executive, Big Talk Productions Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content, Sky UK and Ireland Nicola Shindler, Executive Producer/Chief Executive of Quay Street Productions Suki Bergg, Development Executive at Brock Media/Head of Development at BBC Studios Phillippa Giles, Managing Director, Bandit Dan Grabiner, Head of Originals, UK at Amazon Studios Anne Mensah, Vice President, Netflix ITV If you're looking for something to watch tonight, head over to our handy TV Guide. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Russell T Davies: 'If I'd got It's A Sin wrong, that would have been an awful thing'
The winner of our TV 100 list for 2022 on being "blindsided" by the success of his Channel 4 AIDS drama, returning to Doctor Who and why he briefly thought his career was over.
"It's a funny old business, this," says Russell T Davies, who tops this year's RadioTimes.com's TV 100 list, a rundown of the most exciting, influential names working in television today compiled by figureheads of the creative industries. "Christmas 2017, I got a phone call... Years and Years had been turned down, and then I got a phone call saying It's A Sin had been turned down. It was a real feeling of 'Oh, this is the downward slope' – look at my downward slope now! But genuinely, it was Christmas – the irony of it! I was like the Little Match Girl, there was probably a jaunty carol playing in the background, with me going, 'Oh my God, I'm properly out of work.' "It just goes to show that you can be in this job as long as you like, it's still a freelance job. People always say to me 'Oh, you must get everything made!' – oh no, you don't!" Davies' It's A Sin – depicting the lives of young gay men, their friends and their families throughout the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s – was rejected by both the BBC and ITV before Channel 4 finally green-lit a five-part series. "It had been looming in my head for years, almost with a sense of dread," he admits. "Because if I got it wrong, I would have gone to the grave mortified. It doesn't matter if I get Doctor Who wrong. It doesn't matter if I get Years and Years wrong. it doesn't matter if I get Jeremy Thorpe wrong. Who cares? Move on, next drama. If I'd got this wrong – and by wrong I mean if I'd upset people, or just struck the wrong tone, or let down the people we'd lost – that would have been an awful thing. It's very unusual to approach a project with that heaviness, that sense of dread." Launched in January 2021, the series won widespread critical acclaim – including being named RadioTimes.com's no.1 TV show of 2021 – and broke records for Channel 4, with the first episode becoming its most-watched drama launch ever. Davies was "completely blindsided" by the success, having approached transmission "hoping for an audience, hoping that anyone would watch it at all". "The night before transmission, Alex Mahon – who's the head of Channel 4 – sent me a lovely e-mail saying, 'It doesn't matter how many viewers we get tomorrow, we're really proud of it,' which was like a kiss of death. I thought, 'Oh my God, they're actually expecting zero viewers, right at the very top.' so the fact that those numbers were so high was thrilling. "I mean, you only do these things for viewers, you're just lying if you say you don't. You do them so that millions of people will come and watch. I mean Cucumber [Davies' 2015 Channel 4 drama exploring 21st century gay life] was getting audiences of about 1 million. Some episodes got less. So I was kind of resigned to that in my head." Released in its entirety on All 4, It's A Sin also became the most binge-watched show to ever stream on the platform after receiving 18.9 million views. Though there'd been "doubts" about whether all five episodes should be released as a box-set, Davies himself was excited by the idea, having never launched one of his shows in this manner. "I'm watching The Tourist at the moment and I'm pacing that out weekly because I like the cliffhangers, I like the waiting. But It's A Sin is not a thriller, there are no cliffhangers, it's just the story of life, so actually it works very well as a four-and-a-half hour movie." Davies had originally pitched the series as eight episodes, with Channel 4 eventually commissioning five. "I love the final form," he says. "But actually, yes, it would have been wonderful if it had been eight episodes. There are things not in there. There's no episodes with no deaths, for example. If you'd done eight episodes, around about episode five or six, there would have been important moments saying that, actually, life goes on and the problems of HIV and AIDS are not only the problems of death – living with it is a problem. I think it's a shame that there's no episode that does that." A longer run would also have meant more scenes featuring Andria Doherty as Eileen, mother to Colin (Callum Scott Howells), as she embraced activism following her son's death, as well as a scene revealing that Juan Pablo (Tatsu Carvalho), who it's assumed dies off-screen in the final series, was still alive following the passing of his partner Henry (Neil Patrick Harris). "But you sound like a pretty rubbish writer if you sit here complaining about the things you didn't get to write when people would die to have five hours on Channel Four," says Davies. "So I'm very grateful for what I got." Whatever shape It's A Sin ended up taking, Davies "always knew" how it would end, with Jill (Lydia West) visiting hospital to support a lonely man dying from AIDS, before flashing back to show Ritchie (Olly Alexander) and his friends enjoying life together, before the pandemic hit. "I wasn't exactly sure what would happen in the story, but I knew that whatever happened, the story would end with her going back onto a ward to sit with a stranger, and we'd flash back to see that gang at their happiest and their funniest, just laughing on a park bench like you do when you're young. Literally the moment I sat at my desk to type page one, scene one, episode one, I knew that's where it was heading. It's the getting there that's hard work!" The impact of It's A Sin extended beyond just record-breaking viewing figures, with a commemorative t-shirt featuring the slogan "La!" – a catchphrase repeated by the show's young characters – raising half a million pounds for HIV and sexual health charity the Terrence Higgins Trust, something Davies calls "astonishing". "I find that amazing," he says. "I'd never predicted any of that at all." He believes the show ended up forming part of a "movement" that is helping to destigmatize living with HIV and AIDS – as the episodes aired, he heard stories of families who'd previously insisted a son or brother or uncle or father had died of cancer or of pneumonia now finally telling the truth about their diagnosis. "I think it's one of the things that's changing – not just thanks to It's A Sin, but thanks to all the work that the charities and the activists do, is persuading people to stop referring to an AIDS death as a terrible, shameful thing, but simply as a cause of death, with no guilt, no shame, and no stigma attached. To be part of that was extraordinary." View Green Video on the source website So mainstream did the series end up being that the cast reunited for a celebrity edition of Channel 4's The Great British Bake Off, a highlight of the broadcaster's Christmas 2021 schedule. "That's how mad that show was," Davies says. "It's a drama about AIDS... it should have been worthy and tiny and raised 100 pounds for charity and then put on a nice shelf ready for gay retrospectives." Davies himself did not step inside the Bake Off tent, though he's got his eye on making an appearance on a different entertainment programme. "I'm dying to go on [BBC One game show] The Wheel. Oh my God. My entire family is obsessed with The Wheel. [It's A Sin executive producer] Nicola Shindler is obsessed with The Wheel. I love The Wheel. I could go on that and be the Doctor Who expert, couldn't I?" Along with Davies, multiple cast members from It's A Sin appear in this year's RadioTimes.com TV list, including Lydia West, Callum Scott Howells and Olly Alexander, who takes the no. 2 spot. The actor/musician was, Davies says, "the only person ever approached" for the show's lead role of Ritchie Tozer. "Casting well-known people is part of the name of the game – we discovered an awful lot of new talent in that show, people who are now just on fire and I'm so proud of them, but it's partly why we've got Keeley Hawes and Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Fry in there, it was partly to raise money. So he [Alexander] is one of the only out gay names we could possibly have turned to. I do remember thinking, 'If this audition doesn't work, or if he doesn't like us and doesn't want to do it, I'm not quite sure who we'd turn to.' "But then he came in to audition... we were in some little room in the StudioCanal offices with a little video camera and he came in and I read with him, those opening scenes of him being at home and, honestly, within about 10 seconds, I was like, 'Oh that's it'. You're not allowed to tell them they've got the job on the spot, because you have to go and talk to the heads of Channel 4and the finance people... but I literally wanted to run down the corridor after him, 'You've got the part! You've got the part!' – it was so instant. I knew he was brilliant. I just knew." Leaving It's A Sin behind, Davies' next project has landed at ITV – Nolly will see Helen Bonham Carter play Noele 'Nolly' Gordon, who rose to fame for her role as flame-haired widow Meg Richardson in the long-running soap opera Crossroads. "I can't believe I'm making this!" Davies laughs. "Honestly, I've said to people, 'I'm making a drama about Noelle Gordon' and people have said, 'Who's he?' – shocking! Shocking! "It's actually a really great story. If you like your soaps, or if you just like television, actually, I think it'll really work for you. Because it's about that – it's about the mechanics of TV and the whims of TV and the cruelty of it, but in the end the love of it. I'm very, very proud of it. and it's got Helena Bonham Carter! Exciting!" The three-part drama – executive produced by Davies' long-time collaborator Nicola Shindler at Quay Street Productions – will explore the circumstances of Gordon's departure from Crossroads, with the star abruptly dropped from the series in 1981. "She was literally one of the most famous people in Britain. She was hugely famous and she was suddenly mercilessly axed overnight – they didn't even take her out to lunch to discuss it. "It's very much a story of how women are treated by the industry, but it's not a Me Too story, that's what I liked about it. We're fortunate in this day and age that Me Too stories are coming out and are being said, but I think they only scratch the surface. The problems that women have with men are not only sexual problems – men have power and authority and tempers and whims on a level that goes far beyond the sexual." Then, of course, there is Doctor Who – in September 2021, it was announced that Davies would return to the BBC sci-fi series he'd previously revamped and relaunched to enormous success 16 years prior. To mark the show's 60th anniversary, he'll once again take up the showrunner post in what is a rare return to previously-trodden ground. "The truth of it is that everyone lies when they leave Doctor Who and says they've moved on," he suggests. "I mean, I've been thinking about it since I was three, so there's no way you stop thinking about it." View Green Video on the source website Though he's reluctant to discuss his plans too much while his friend, current series boss Chris Chibnall, remains in post, Davies does hint that fans should expect the series to regenerate dramatically in 2023. "The reason I've worked on 34 programmes in my life is because I don't normally like continuing series. That's why It's A Sin came to an end and I just moved on. I like looking at a new set of challenges every time and a blank page – but Doctor Who is always a blank page. "There are things coming up that are brand new ways of telling the stories that have never been done before, so it just feels new. I wouldn't go back if it wasn't feeling new. But that's the thing about Doctor Who – every episode is new. Every single episode. I'm sitting here now, 10 pages away from a climax thinking, 'God, I've never written in this territory before – this is strange and new' – so it's always new. It's a self-renewing show." Thirty-four years on from his first screen credit as a writer, Davies continues to surprise and subvert, entertaining audiences while also tackling important stories with the kinds of themes, humour and characters that feel distinctly him. It's a good time to be Russell T Davies – but also, he suggests, simply a good time to be a writer in television, with broadcasters now more willing to break away from genre favourites to tell more personal stories. "When I was 21 or 22 years old, us writers – me, Paul Abbott, Kay Mellor, Sally Wainwright – would sit in the bar at Granada and we'd all be thinking of our detective show. If you wanted to get on the telly, if you wanted to have a career, if you wanted to get on the ladder, you had to think of your detective show. Or think of your hospital drama. That was the shape of television drama and it's radically the opposite now. "Now you can be like Kayleigh Llewellyn and write [BBC Three comedy-drama] in My Skin, which is literally the story of her and her mother translated onto the screen. Now young writers are looking at Michaela Coel and Phoebe Waller-Bridge and all those other writers and they're thinking, 'I can put my story on screen' – Black writers, diverse writers, all sorts of writers, they're thinking 'Something happened to me and that's a six-part drama'. "That's a fundamental shift in what drama is. There's still great big thrillers like The Tourist and there's still hospital shows but 20 / 30 years ago, it wasn't even possible to have that conversation. Now you can genuinely aim yourself... not just at Channel 4, but at BBC One. and ITV. BBC One put out I May Destroy You. ITV just put out Anne, the Hillsborough story. It's a lot of personal stuff getting on screen now, and that is brilliant." It's A Sin is available to stream on All4. Visit our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
RadioTimes.com TV 100 2021 – the full list
Russell T Davies tops our list of the biggest stars on television – but who else makes this year's rundown?
The TV industry went above and beyond to keep us glued to the screen last year, in what turned out to be another challenging 12 months. From jaw-dropping drama to show-stopping entertainment and a summer of sport we’ll never forget, we at RadioTimes.com want to celebrate the efforts of those behind the biggest television events of 2021. So, once again we have teamed up with industry experts and executives – including directors of content from Sky, the BBC and beyond – to pull together a list of the top 100 figures who in the last year have changed the entertainment landscape for the better. Previous winners have gone on to achieve phenomenal success. Following in the footsteps of 2018 and 2019 list-toppers Olivia Colman and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Michaela Coel was crowned our number one for 2020 – and has gone on to become one of the most in-demand writers and actors in the country following her triumphant series I May Destroy You. Read on to find out the winner of the RadioTimes.com TV 100, and who else made the full list. 1. Russell T Davies “Russell is a powerhouse of ideas, talent and practical know-how, as well as an extraordinarily good writer. He is always one step ahead of trends and navigates changes to the TV marketplace seamlessly. He is the full package. And a joy to work with!" - NICOLA SHINDLER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AT QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS View Green Video on the source website 2. Olly Alexander "It’s A Sin was one of those rare dramas which had a huge impact beyond the screen. Olly’s moving performance as Ritchie was central to the show’s impact, vividly bringing to life the realities of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s on the gay community. He very much deserves his place in the top 10." ZAI BENNETT, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AT SKY 3. Rose Ayling-Ellis "Rose catapulted on to TV screens in 2020 as Frankie in EastEnders and left Mick Carter stunned when she dropped the bombshell that she was his daughter. The first deaf actress to use sign language in the soap, she then went on to capture the public’s imagination by winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and becoming the show’s first ever deaf contestant. Rose has defied stereotypes to prove that hearing impairments need not be a barrier. That electrifying moment in the middle of primetime TV when she covered Giovanni’s ears and danced without sound, for 10 seconds, 10 million people experienced the world through Rose’s eyes and ears. It was mesmerising and an extraordinary tribute to the deaf community. She’s back filming in Walford and I’m looking forward to her return soon." CHARLOTTE MOORE, BBC DIRECTOR OF CONTENT 4. Hwang Dong-hyuk "Squid Game seemed to appear out of nowhere, and quickly became Netflix’s most-watched TV series ever. We were all glued to our screens as we binged the entire, ground-breaking series. But Hwang had been working on the series for 10 years before it came into fruition. His persistence and amazing directorial vision shows us that if you have a good idea, it will get made." SUKI BERGG, SCRIPTED DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, BBC STUDIOS 5. Jesse Armstrong “Jesse Armstrong’s terrible and terrifying creation of the Roy family in Succession makes for compulsive viewing. Three seasons in and the calibre of the writing, led by Armstrong is as high as ever, with an array of wonderfully monstrous characters and razor sharp dialogue.” - DAME PIPPA HARRIS, FOUNDER OF NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS 6. Kate Winslet "Huge congratulations to Kate Winslet for making the top 10. Her performance as the complicated Mare of Easttown kept us all gripped, in what was one of the best US shows of the year, and reminded us what a brilliant and versatile actress she is." ZAI BENNETT, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AT SKY 7. Lydia West “The breakout star of It’s A Sin brought the warm, generous and supremely kind Jill Baxter to life, and we all immediately fell in love with her. It’s no surprise that she’s now been cast in some hugely exciting projects from the likes of BBC, Netflix and Apple TV+.” SUKI BERGG, SCRIPTED DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, BBC STUDIOS 8. Emma Raducanu “Emma Raducanu produced one of sport’s greatest ever fairy tales when she won the US Open as a teenage qualifier last September, with much of the nation watching her. Her raw tennis ability combined with her incredible composure and comfort on the big stage is a unique and heady concoction in someone so young and with so little experience. I’m certain she has more success ahead of her but she has time on her side, and we must afford her that, as life in the tennis and celebrity spotlight will be a huge adjustment for someone who was sitting her A Levels just eight months ago.” CATHERINE WHITAKER, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO TENNIS PRESENTER, AND CO-HOST OF THE TENNIS PODCAST "In terms of British sporting fairytales, it's hard to remember a more unexpected or tangible success story than Emma Raducanu's journey at the US Open last year. The teenager started the year as world No.345 before rising to No.150 prior to the tournament. She swept aside three opponents in qualifying and won a further seven matches in the tournament itself to become the first British women's singles Grand Slam champion since Virginia Wade in 1977. Raducanu is the first ever singles qualifier to win that same Grand Slam across any of the majors in the history of the Open Era and the final cherry on the cake is that this was only her second appearance in the main draw of a Slam, having featured at Wimbledon weeks earlier." MICHAEL POTTS, RADIOTIMES.COM SPORTS EDITOR 9. Stephen Graham “It's been an extraordinary year for Stephen Graham, showcasing his range and skill as an actor. From his heartbreaking, nuanced performance as Tony in Jack Thorne’s Help, to his BAFTA nominated, blistering, tour de force as the chef in Boiling Point, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.” - DAME PIPPA HARRIS, FOUNDER OF NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS 10. The Men's England Euros team “The 2018 World Cup felt like an awakening for the England men's national team, but Euro 2020 felt like a true arrival onto the world stage. A fresh crop of highly talented hot prospects were added to an already vibrant squad for the delayed 2020 tournament, which took place last summer, and boosted England all the way to their first major tournament final since 1966. Raheem Sterling was England's brightest light and Harry Kane found his footing in the tournament after a muted start, but the cries of 'it's coming home' intensified. England's 2-0 victory over Germany in the Round of 16 was the highlight as the Three Lions made light work of an elite nation in a critical game in front of 90,000 at Wembley. Of course, England went on to lose the final following a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Italy, but they inspired a nation, gave us a superb summer and, with their best years in front of them, football has never seemed closer to home.” MICHAEL POTTS, RADIOTIMES.COM SPORTS EDITOR SPOTLIGHT ON... 11. Suranne Jones "It’s an absolute privilege to watch Suranne Jones on the small screen. Jones captured audiences with her gripping portrayal in two very different performances, in two very different dramas – DCI Amy Silva in Vigil and Victoria in I Am Victoria, reinforcing her status as one of the country’s most-loved actors. And, I can't wait to see her light up our screens again as she reprises her role as Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack season 2 – not only as an actor but producer too. A big fan." MARINA STORTI, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT NOW 12. Jed Mercurio 13. Jodie Comer 14. Tom Edge 15. Lee Jung-jae 16. Sean Bean 17. Callum Scott Howells 18. Elizabeth Olsen 19. George Webster 20. Shalom Brune-Franklin SPOTLIGHT ON... 21. Connor Swindells "Look out for Connor Swindells in Kudos Productions SAS Rogue Heroes for BBC One. He plays SAS founder member David Stirling in a performance full of courage, passion, daring and sensitivity. Just one of the brilliant and complex SAS men in Steve Knight’s newest series." PETER SALMON, CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER AT ENDEMOL SHINE 22. Jon Snow SPOTLIGHT ON... 23. Stephen Merchant "Stephen is the dictionary definition of a Renaissance man. Writer, director, producer, actor and let's not forget, stand-up comedian and co-creator of The Office, one of the greatest ever sitcoms. His is a rare and special talent, in front of and behind the camera, or as our US chums call it, he’s a '360 degree threat'. He has more than earned his place on this year’s list as writer, creator, director and actor in The Outlaws and for his extraordinary performance as Stephen Port in Four Lives. We are incredibly lucky to have someone with Stephen’s talent making his shows in the UK. And the cherry on the cake? He’s incredibly charming, generous of spirit, hugely supportive of new talent and a joy to work with. Vive Le Merchant!" - KENTON ALLEN, CEO BIG TALK PRODUCTIONS 24. Ncuti Gatwa 25. Daisy Haggard 26. Clive Myrie 27. Vicky McClure 28. O Yeong-su 29. Rakhee Thakrar 30. Kate Garraway 31. Matthew Macfadyen 32. Gugu Mbatha-Raw 33. John Whaite SPOTLIGHT ON... 34. Jack Thorne "With his powerful MacTaggart speech at the Edinburgh TV Festival where he spoke emotionally about the struggle of the disabled community to find a place within the TV industry, his extraordinary Channel 4 film Help which told how the care homes of England were abandoned in the early days of the pandemic, not to mention his appearance on Desert Island Discs, Jack Thorne has made me cry three times in the last year. Add in the power of his adaptation of His Dark Materials and it’s a profile of a prolific, versatile, warm and very human writer who challenges us in all that he does not just to rouse ourselves but to find our better selves." - KATE HARWOOD, MANAGING DIRECTOR EUSTON FILMS 35. Paul Bettany 36. Alison Hammond 37. Evan Peters 38. Robert Moore 39. AJ Odudu 40. Sophie Willan 41. John Bishop 42. Paige Sandhu 43. Jodie Whittaker 44. Jane Tranter 45. Tom Hiddleston 46. Adil Ray 47. Nida Manzoor 48. Henry Cavill 49. Janette Manrara 50. Harlan Coben 51. Zara McDermott 52. Alex Scott 53. Dua Saleh 54. Bradley Walsh 55. Kadeena Cox 56. Chris Chibnall 57. Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon 58. Anthony Mackie 59. Rose Matafeo 60. Cush Jumbo 61. Ros Atkins 62. Will Poulter 63. Rosario Dawson 64. Shaun Evans 65. Oprah 66. Mo Gilligan 67. Mimi Keene 68. Nicola Walker 69. Sophia Di Martino 70. Bimini Bon Boulash 71. Romesh Ranganathan 72. Munya Chawawa 73. Brian Cox 74. Nadiya Hussain 75. Selena Gomez 76. Jamie Demetriou 77. Mackenzie Crook 78. Cynthia Erivo 79. Sebastian Stan 80. Isabelle Sieb 81. Adam Peaty 82. Samuel Adewunmi 83. Oti Mabuse 84. Brett Goldstein 85. Emily Mortimer 86. Jimmy McGovern 87. Heidi Thomas 88. Olivia Colman 89. Sally Carman 90. Patricia Allison 91. Diane Morgan 92. Peter Jackson 93. Emma Hayes 94. Liberty Poole 95. Martin Compston 96. Jenna Coleman 97. Ant and Dec 98. Natasia Demetriou 99. Anna Maxwell Martin 100. Sandra Oh RadioTimes.com TV 100 contributors Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content Peter Salmon, Chief Creative Officer, Endemol Shine Damien Timmer, Managing Director, Mammoth Screen Dame Pippa Harris, Founder of Neal Street Productions Marina Storti, Managing Director, NOW Kenton Allen, Chief Executive of Big Talk Productions Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content at Sky Nicola Shindler, television producer and executive, and founder of production company Quay Street Productions Kate Harwood, television producer and Managing Director of Euston Films Mark Linsey, Chief Creative Officer of BBC Studios Suki Bergg, Comedy writer Anne Mensah, VP Content at Netflix Disney+ If you're looking for something to watch tonight, head over to our handy TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge tops a list of the biggest stars on television – but who else makes this year's rundown?
Who has captured the imagination of TV viewers in the past year? Which stars are at the top of broadcasters’ wish lists, who landed the biggest roles, and who masterminded the moments that had you glued to your screen? The Radio Times TV 100 put those questions to some of the most powerful television executives and broadcasting veterans who suggested names they thought should be included - and the final 100 was selected by a RadioTimes.com panel of editors. The result is a rundown of 100 TV stars who've had a tremendous past 12 months. See the full list below… 1. Phoebe Waller-Bridge "Phoebe is a phenomenal force of nature who has taken the world by storm with her breathtakingly original voice (creations Fleabag and Killing Eve). She’s an utterly unique writer and performer whose emotional honesty and mischievous wit constantly surprises and captures the zeitgeist, and leaves the audience only craving more. I can't wait to see what she’s done to 007!" CHARLOTTE MOORE - BBC’s Director of Content 2. Stephen Graham "Stephen has been giving us captivating and vivid performances on screen for years. He excels at bringing humanity to complex, challenging characters, which he manages to imbue with absolute truth and credibility. From This Is England to Save Me, he has shown what a brave and emotionally inquisitive actor he is. He gives himself over to each role completely, and as an audience, you can’t help but respond in kind. "This year feels like a defining moment. His portrayal of Joseph in Shane Meadow’s The Virtues was astonishing. It completely blew my mind. And to move from that into playing Anthony Provenzano in Scorsese's The Irishman, shows just how vast his range is. The rest of the world is finally waking up to his immense talent and audience appeal. I can’t wait to see what he does next." NIRA PARK - TV and Film Producer 3. Rylan Clark-Neal <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2019/11/rupaul-102f039.jpg" width="2184" height="3386" alt="BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Rylan Clark attends the Celebrity Big Brother male contestants launch night at Elstree Studios on January 5, 2018 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/ WireImage)" title="Celebrity Big Brother Male Contestants Launch Night" /> "Rylan has a brilliant connection with the audience, he’s naughty and warm but incredibly sharp too. He brings something fresh to our screens with that elusive human touch." CHARLOTTE MOORE - BBC’s Director of Content 4. Ashley Walters “Ashley Walters is a true Renaissance man - a gifted actor, musician, father, brilliant collaborator, leader, friend-and this year, all his myriad talents were on full display, including his stunning return as Dushane Hill in Top Boy." ARIA MOFFLY - Netflix content executive 5. Emily Maitlis “Emily was already having a fantastic year. As lead presenter of Newsnight, she’d brought renewed urgency and clarity, making the show unmissable again. Who will forget her exceptional interview on College Green with a tearful Nicholas Soames and rueful Ken Clarke as they reflected on the abrupt end to their long careers as Tory MPs? But then, together with producer Samantha McAlister, she landed and delivered the scoop of the year. Her interview with Prince Andrew made for spellbinding television and was a masterclass in long form interrogative journalism. The nation was gripped. Brilliant.” PATRICK HOLLAND - Controller BBC Two 6. Stacey Dooley "Stacey's star rose to new heights on prime time TV as she held aloft the Strictly Come Dancing glitter ball in December last year. But since then her career has gone from strength to strength with hard-hitting documentaries on the BBC and her own investigative series on W. Add to that entertainment formats and regular presenting gigs, and you have a year that has demonstrated the versatility of Stacey as a journalist, presenter and broadcaster." TIM GLANFIELD - Editorial Director, RadioTimes.com 7. Motsi Mabuse "While she’s been a familiar face to German audiences since her debut on their version of Strictly Come Dancing in 2007, in this country 2019 has seen Motsi go from relative unknown to one of the queens of Saturday night, showcasing her effervescent personality – and killer dance moves – as a judge on the biggest entertainment show on British TV. Now that's what I call a good year." PAUL JONES - Executive Editor, RadioTimes.com 8. Jodie Comer "Jodie Comer inhabited the role of [Killing Eve's] Vilanelle with a bravura that captured everyone's attention and hearts." PHILLIPPA GILES - Managing Director, Bandit TV 9. Vicky McClure “Vicky’s got the incredibly rare combination of star quality and down-to-earth authenticity that sets her apart as an actor. She brings warmth, honesty and empathy to every performance.” JED MERCURIO – Line of Duty creator/writer 10. RuPaul "RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has been an unequivocal hit for BBC Three. It reached young audiences and, with over 10 million requests on iPlayer, is our most popular entertainment show since we went online. There was big pressure and a lot of responsibility on our shoulders to deliver something special but Mama Ru, the guest judges and our first UK queens served us some truly spectacular TV moments. Series two arrives next year with, of course, more Ru Peter badges to be won and a new crown to be claimed - we’re already gagged for the next instalment." FIONA CAMPBELL - Controller BBC Three The TV 100 2019 panel The below suggested names for the final list, which was created and ordered by RadioTimes.com editors Charlotte Moore – Director of Content, BBC Kevin Lygo – Director of Television, ITV Shane Allen – Comedy controller, BBC Patrick Holland – Controller, BBC2 Peter Salmon – Chief Creative Officer, Endemol Shine Marina Storti – Managing Director, NOW TV Richard Cowles – Creative Director, ITV Studios Zai Bennet – MD Content, Sky Damien Timmer – Managing Director, Mammoth Screen Nira Park – TV and film producer Syeda Irtizaali - Commissioning editor, Channel 4 Phillipa Gile - Managing Director, Bandit TV Dame Pippa Harris – Chair of Bafta and founder of Neal Street Productions Cassian Harrison – Controller, BBC4 Amelia Brown – Managing Director, Thames Television Aria Moffly – Content executive, Netflix Georgia Brown – Director European Originals, Amazon Liam Humphries – CEO UK, Freemantle Alex Sapot – Director of Original Series, Netflix 11. Fiona Bruce 12. Naga Munchetty 13. Olivia Colman 14. Jack Thorne 15. Ncuti Gatwa 16. Richard Madeley 17. Jane Tranter 18. Jesse Armstrong 19. Ricky Gervais 20. Emily Watson SPOTLIGHT ON: Emily Watson "Whoever played the role of Ulana in Chernobyl had to be hugely talented as the character was created to embody the conscience and bravery of dozens of scientists and medical experts, many of whom were women, who risked so much in the pursuit of truth in the aftermath of the 1986 nuclear explosion. Emily Watson navigated this challenge with ease and her performance undoubtedly shone against the bleak and terrifying backdrop that the man-made disaster created." - MARINA STORTI - Managing Director, NOW TV 21. Andrew Scott 22. Alex Scott SPOTLIGHT ON: Alex Scott "Alex Scott is quickly becoming a household name on merit for her roles in BBC and Sky Sports football punditry. She brings insight and energy to studio discussions. Her opinions and passion for the game are genuine. A refreshing, fair presence in a sea of snarling, boisterous characters who rely on airing controversial opinions ahead of their own to stay relevant." MICHAEL POTTS - Sport Editor, RadioTimes.com 23. David Benioff and Dan Weiss 24. Charlie Brooker 25. Russell T Davies SPOTLIGHT ON: Russell T Davies “With Years and Years, Russell T Davies combined the slow burn character genius of Queer as Folk with his forward-thinking Doctor Who imagination to create a blistering, damning yet incredibly entertaining look at the world we now live in – and where we’re headed. It’s impossible to imagine anyone else pulling it off.” HUW FULLERTON - Sci-Fi and Fantasy Editor, RadioTimes.com 26. Laura Kuenssberg 27. Ryan Murphy 28. Lisa McGee 29. Jamie Demetriou 30. Gillian Anderson 31. Jeff Pope 32. Piers Morgan 33. Alan Sugar 34. Nina Gold 35. Ava DuVernay 36. Natasha Lyonne 37. Natasia Demetriou SPOTLIGHT ON: Natasia Demetriou "A bumper year with iconic roles in What We Do In The Shadows, Stath Lets Flats and her own sketch show Ellie & Natasha (pilot 2019, series 2020). A star was born, had a little brother [Jamie Demetriou] and shared the limelight." SHANE ALLEN - Controller, BBC Comedy Commissioning 38. Graham Norton 39. Sharon Horgan 40. Niamh Algar 41. Charlie Covell 42. Jed Mercurio 43. Bradley Walsh 44. Josh O’Connor 45. Cillian Murphy 46. Ant and Dec 47. Emerald Fennell 48. Maisie Williams 49. Mo Gilligan 50. Sarah Phelps 51. Brit Marling 52. David Attenborough 53. Charlie Cooper 54. Daisy May Cooper 55. Annabel Jones 56. Guz Khan 57. Lenny Henry 58. Daisy Haggard SPOTLIGHT ON: Daisy Haggard "[BBC Three's] Back To Life was Daisy’s first television series as a writer and creator and when she pitched the idea to us, we jumped at the chance to work with her. Miri’s story came from Daisy’s passion for telling underdog stories and the different treatment women get in relation to crime than men, especially in the media. She’s managed to create a wonderfully complicated character, fighting for a second chance in a world that makes it so desperately hard for her. Daisy is a unique talent and a true hero and I can’t wait for fans to see where she will take Miri’s story in series two." SARAH HAMMOND - Two Brothers Pictures 59. Ruth Madeley 60. Mobeen Azhar 61. Brian Cox 62. Louis Theroux 63. Nabhaan Rizwan 64. Jodie Whittaker 65. Samson Kayo 66. Oti Mabuse 67. Shane Meadows 68. Emilia Clarke 69. Romesh Ranganathan 70. Jessica Barden 71. Susan Wokoma 72. Chris Mason SPOTLIGHT ON: Chris Mason "As if being a BBC political correspondent isn't enough to keep someone busy in an age of Brexit, Chris Mason, has not only managed to keep up with the relentless schedule as one quarter of the brilliant Brexitcast presenting team and take over from Jonathan Dimbleby after 32 years as chair of Any Questions?.. but also became a social media star when his "I think you might as well ask Mr Blobby for his analysis," interview about Brexit saw him go global from the pages of Le Parisien to the attention of HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." TIM GLANFIELD - Editorial Director, RadioTimes.com 73. Akemnji Ndifornyen 74. Nish Kumar 75. David Harbour 76. Heidi Thomas 77. Simon Cowell 78. Helena Bonham Carter 79. Aidan Turner 80. Sally Wainwright 81. James Corden 82. David Olusoga 83. Keeley Hawes 84. Ade Adepitan 85. David Tennant 86. Mishal Husain 87. Holliday Grainger 88. Freddie Fox 89. Asim Chaudhry 90. Gary Lineker 91. Sandra Oh 92. David Oyelowo 93. Emma Mackey SPOTLIGHT ON: Emma Mackey “Sex Education has been nothing short of a global phenomenon since exploding onto Netflix in 2019, helped in no short part thanks to a critically acclaimed lead performance from Emma as Maeve Wiley. With season two hitting our screens in January, it looks like there’s more success to come for Emma very soon…” EMMA POWELL - News Editor, RadioTimes.com 94. Sophie Rundle 95. Stephen Mulhern 96. Nicola Walker 97. Joe Barton 98. Lesley Manville 99. Helen McCrory 100. Liz Bonnin The 2018 TV 100 list in full
Why Jodie Whittaker topped the Radio Times TV 100
From Broadchurch and Trust Me to the little matter of a new job in the Tardis, it's been an eventful twelve months for our winner... with much more yet to come
The Radio Times TV 100 is all about the last twelve months, and looking back on a year in television it was very hard to find someone more befitting of our top spot than Jodie Whittaker. A pivotal character in Chris Chibnall’s third and final series of Broadchurch, Jodie showed her versatility as a performer, moving from the frenetic grief she exuded as a bereft mother in series one to trusted counsel to another victim of crime in series three. Without her Broadchurch could not have been the success it was – a thrilling whodunit that kept the nation on the edge of their seats for three consecutive series and proved that event television is far from over. And so it was no surprise that Jodie went on to be cast as the lead character in her own BBC four-part drama, Trust Me. A fantastic year by any actor’s standards but perhaps not enough to top our list, until the 16th July 2017 – the day that Jodie Whittaker became a worldwide superstar in a minute-long performance in which she spoke no words at all. View oEmbed on the source website “Introducing Jodie Whittaker, the 13th Doctor.” An intergalactic star was born! To become the lead character of the BBC’s global sci-fi hit would make any actor’s year, but to become the first female to be cast in the iconic role in the show’s 54-year history made global headlines. There are few British actors who can ever find themselves plastered across the front pages of almost every newspaper in the English-speaking world – even fewer who can achieve such buzz without a word being uttered in a new role on screen. Speculation and excitement around the 13th Doctor is deafening thanks to social media, forums, fan blogs and newspaper leader columns and incoming showrunner Chris Chibnall’s decision to cast the first woman in the role has ensured that Doctor Who – and not just its lead character – is regenerating and will surely continue to help see Jodie Whittaker’s star rise with it. We’ll probably not hear much from camp Whittaker over the next few months. But on Christmas Day there will be a female Doctor for the very first time (albeit for a few seconds) as Peter Capaldi's character regenerates in the episode's final scene. It is at this moment that Whittaker will officially be handed a five-decade old baton that will see her life and career change forever. There is no more exciting story that’s unfolded in British television in the past twelve months, and there’s plenty more to come. That’s why we here at Radio Times have put Jodie Whittaker top of our inaugural list. Congratulations to everyone in our top 100, and here’s to another brilliant twelve months of television! Click here for the full Radio Times TV 100 Or read about the Radio Times TV 100's top 10 stars aged 30 and under – or the Top 20 behind-the-scenes talent See a full list of Radio Times TV 100 contributors here
New Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker tops Radio Times TV 100
David Attenborough and Phoebe Waller-Bridge place second and third on our inaugural list, with Thandie Newton and Peter Kay rounding out the top five
Jodie Whittaker has topped the Radio Times TV 100 – a new annual power list celebrating the hottest talent in television, both -on-camera and behind-the-scenes. Whittaker – who was announced as the new and first ever female Doctor in July – kicked off her stellar year with the reprisal of her Broadchurch character, Beth Latimer, for a final series of the ITV drama, before playing the lead in BBC1 medical drama Trust Me. "My first audition [for Doctor Who] was in January so that kicked off 2017 with a huge amount of excitement," Whittaker tells Radio Times. "I can't quite believe everything that's happened. I'm incredibly grateful. "Thank you to Radio Times for this award!" Broadcasting legend Sir David Attenborough – who last autumn returned to narrate the award-winning Planet Earth II – is placed second on the list, followed by Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge in third. The Radio Times TV 100 recognises television talent who have had an exceptional 12 months, exciting the industry and viewers alike. A longlist of names was compiled with the help of a panel of more than 25 influential TV professionals which included channel controllers, commissioners, production executives, writers and producers – from Doctor Who's Steven Moffat to actor Lenny Henry. A panel of Radio Times editors – including TV editor Alison Graham – then ranked the final 100, with the top 20 published in this week's edition of Radio Times magazine. The upper end of the list is dominated by women, with Line of Duty and Westworld star Thandie Newton placing 4th, followed by Claire Foy (in 5th), Sharon Horgan (7th), Laura Kuenssberg (9th) and Pearl Mackie (10th). Peter Kay (6th) and Adam Hills complete the Top 10. “The Radio Times TV 100 celebrates television talent who have had an outstanding past year, so it is perhaps no surprise to see our top 10 dominated by women," said Tim Glanfield, editor of RadioTimes.com. "It’s been a 12 months in which the first female Doctor was announced, some of the most talked about shows were created by incredible comedy writers and performers Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sharon Horgan, our nation’s longest serving monarch was immortalised on screen around the globe by Claire Foy and some of the most significant political events of a generation reported and analysed by Laura Kuenssberg on BBC News.” Other notable additions include Heidi Thomas – the highest placed behind-the-scenes talent – who is 16th on the list, and former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls (18th) whose memorable Strictly Come Dancing stint peaked with a performance to Psy's Gangnam Style. Noel Fielding's efforts on the revamped Great British Bake Off are rewarded with a 19th place finish with Princes William and Harry completing the Top 20 in recognition of their contributions to a number of documentaries to mark the 20th anniversary of their mother, Princess Diana's, death. Click here for the full Radio Times TV 100 Or read about the Radio Times TV 100's top 10 stars aged 30 and under – or the Top 20 behind-the-scenes talent See a full list of Radio Times TV 100 contributors here
Jodie Whittaker tops our new annual TV power list – but who else made the TV 100?
Radio Times TV 100 edited by Tim Glanfield and Susanna Lazarus Who are the hottest talents on television now? Which stars do the broadcasters scrabble to sign knowing that harnessing their talents to a show will make it fly? RadioTimes.com asked some of the most powerful TV executives and broadcasting bigwigs in Britain to name the stars they believe have had an exceptional 12 months. In any list of television talent you might expect to find the names of broadcasting royalty, such as Sir David Attenborough and Bake Off queen Nadiya Hussein. But you will also find bona fide royals in Princes William and Harry, who enter the list at No 20, hailed by the BBC’s former royal correspondent not just as natural communicators but also as role models who would have made their mother proud. The names on the list come from across the television spectrum, from breakout talent – like Phoebe Waller-Bridge – and cult heroes such as Kit Harington to Bake Off’s surprise joker Noel Fielding who, according to one of our panelists, is about to embark on a love affair with the nation The Radio Times TV 100 panel included channel controllers, commissioners, production executives, writers and producers – from Doctor Who's Steven Moffat to actor Lenny Henry (view the full list of contributors at the end of this article). A panel of Radio Times editors – including TV editor Alison Graham – then ranked the final 100. 1. Jodie Whittaker I have had a brilliant year. My first audition was in January so that kicked off 2017 with a huge amount of excitement. And it's continued to be full of surprises! I can't quite believe everything that's happened, I'm incredibly grateful. Thank you to Radio Times for this award! Jodie Whittaker Jodie is not just a talented actor but she has a bold and brilliant vision for her Doctor. She aced it in her audition both technically and with the powerful female life force she brings to the role. She is destined to be an iconic Doctor. Piers Wenger, Controller, BBC Drama 2. Sir David Attenborough Into his tenth decade David Attenborough is still digging up giant fossils, still crawling along the jungle floor with ferocious ants, still winning Baftas – in other words, just a normal year for him. Still curious, still innovating, still excited to share the latest wonders of the natural world, still the greatest story-teller there is. Mike Gunton, Creative Director, BBC Natural History Unit 3. Phoebe Waller-Bridge Phoebe’s career shot up like a firework display in the last year. Fleabag signalled the arrival of a hugely distinctive writer with the mesmerising performing talent to match. The show won nearly every award going, including a Bafta at first crack. It’s led to a Star Wars film role as well as becoming a household name in the UK and industry sensation in the US. She’s handled it all with grace and level-headedness and is destined for ever greater things. Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy Commissioning, BBC2 4. Thandie Newton Thandie Newton was not only magnificent this year in Line of Duty, but also the Sky Atlantic smash hit Westworld. She effortlessly took us on a journey of awakening from machine to supposed consciousness in a powerful, witty and occasionally chilling performance. An actress at the top of her game. Zai Bennett, Director of Programmes, Sky UK 5. Peter Kay Peter Kay can do no wrong. After starting out on C4 with That Peter Kay Thing and Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, he well and truly broke into the mainstream with the sometimes caustic, but always gentle and surprisingly sentimental BBC3/BBC1 smash Car Share. Its finale earlier this year left viewers baying for more. But they are unlikely to get the ending they so badly want, Kay is adamant Car Share is over. Alison Graham, TV Editor, Radio Times 6. Claire Foy Claire Foy has always had regal credentials but the last 12 months have seen her crowned the queen of Netflix. Since cutting her royal teeth in Wolf Hall as the ill-fated Anne Boleyn, she has made her mark on global television audiences as Queen Elizabeth II in the streaming service's big-budget drama The Crown. May her reign continue for years to come. Susanna Lazarus, News Editor, RadioTimes.com 7. Sharon Horgan Sharon Horgan is quite simply an exceptional talent. A razor sharp comic writer and actress. With Catastrophe, she’s finally won the global critical acclaim she’s deserved for years. She has an unerring ability to see humour in the darkness and to go where others wouldn’t dare. More than anything, she’s unrivalled as the person you want to drink wine with on an empty stomach. Jay Hunt, Former Chief Creative Officer, Channel 4 8. Adam Hills Difficult times are a gift for satire and the often horrific nature of the past 12 months has seen Adam Hills, along with Last Leg co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker, transcend the show's original disability and Paralympic brief to become an edgy topical comedy with a strand of political satire running through it. Liam Humphreys, CEO, FreemantleUK Unscripted 9. Laura Kuenssberg Laura’s year speaks for itself and recognition of her exceptional journalism couldn’t be more deserved. From the EU Referendum to the recent General Election, and from morning until night, Laura has taken BBC viewers and listeners through historic political times with her expert insight and flair for asking the questions the audience want answered. Francesca Unsworth, Deputy Director, BBC News and Current Affairs 10. Pearl Mackie She made a monumental assent from virtual unknown to the centre of the Whoniverse and also broke down barriers and won herself rave reviews as Doctor Who’s first openly gay companion. Pearl Mackie will be back this Christmas for one final hurrah as Bill Potts before she and Peter Capaldi bow out, but one thing’s for sure – Mackie has put her name firmly on the television map. No doubt more great things await. Tim Glanfield, Editor, RadioTimes.com [READ MORE ABOUT THE YOUNG TALENT INCLUDED IN THE RADIO TIMES TV 100] 11. Kit Harington With his tour-de-force performance as Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, Kit has become a huge star and a significant player in TV and film. This year he is will appear on BBC1 in Gunpowder, a drama he co-produced, playing his direct ancestor Robert Catesby. Diederick Santer, CEO, Kudos 12. Nadiya Hussain Nadiya Hussain is one of the most natural, engaging and effervescent talents to have emerged in factual television for years. She is not just a passionate and skilful cook, she has an exceptional gift with people, whatever their background. Her ebullience, warmth and enthusiasm bursts out from the screen whenever she appears. Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC2 13. Charlie Brooker Charlie Brooker is a funny, prolific visionary, whose work strikes a chord with millennial audiences from Singapore to San Francisco. His provocative, dystopian Black Mirror began life on Channel 4 and has now picked up three Emmy nominations on Netflix. Earlier this year, he and his production partner in Endemol Shine's House of Tomorrow indie Annabel Jones earned UK industry recognition with a BAFTA win for an hilarious and timely 2016 Wipe, the annual BBC2 satirical review of the year. Peter Salmon, Chief Creative Officer, Endemol Shine Group 14. Jenna Coleman Jenna is as talented as she is mesmerising on screen. As Victoria she is required to do some heavy lifting as the central character and she never misses a beat. Whatever I write for her, she turns into gold. Long live Queen Jenna. Daisy Goodwin, Creator, Victoria 15. James Corden James Corden has become a global superstar following his move to the US to present The Late Late Show But he still returns to the UK each year to present the Bafta-winning A League of Their Own – and this June he enjoyed a successful homecoming by presenting The Late Late Show live from London. Adam Macdonald, Director, Sky1 16. Heidi Thomas Heidi has an extraordinary ability to connect with a wide audience and make them care about the characters and scenarios she creates. As brilliantly demonstrated in Call the Midwife, her meticulous research and heartfelt emotion mark her out as one of the UK's finest screenwriters. Pippa Harris, Executive Producer, Call the Midwife [READ MORE ABOUT THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES TALENT INCLUDED IN THE RADIO TIMES TV 100] 17. Richard Ayoade Richard is a talented comic, writer and director and it’s really no surprise that his wits have lent themselves so tremendously to the role of presenter. We have loved him in Travel Man and he has put his own stamp on The Crystal Maze for a new generation of fans. Kelly Webb-Lamb, Head of Factual Entertainment, Channel 4 18. Ed Balls What I liked about Ed was that he fully embraced the show. He didn't just come on to lark about (although he did end up doing that!), he really gave it his all. In five years’ time people will still remember Ed on Strictly. Len Goodman, Former Head Judge, Strictly Come Dancing 19. Noel Fielding Along with the magnificent Sandi Toksvig, Noel is an utter delight to work with on Bake Off and one of the kindest, gentlest and wittiest individuals I've worked with. His genuine and disarming comic genius is such that I'm convinced the nation's love affair with Noel Fielding is only just beginning. Richard McKerrow, Creative Director, Love Productions 20. Princes William and Harry Prince William and Prince Harry have won heartfelt praise for the way they are using their privileged position to make a difference. Both have chosen to speak publicly about how their mother's death has affected them throughout their lives. The Princes have revealed a vulnerability which royalty rarely acknowledges: Harry admitted that he was driven to the brink of a breakdown and sought professional help. They have tried to help others by spearheading the Heads Together campaign to make mental wellbeing every bit as important as physical health. Both young men have become admirable role models. Diana would have been proud. Jennie Bond, Former BBC News Royal Correspondent 21. Sandi Toksvig 22. Gary Lineker 23. Sally Wainwright 24. Steven Moffat 25. Matt LeBlanc 26. Asim Chaudhry SPOTLIGHT ON: Asim Chaudhry. Fans of People Just Do Nothing will know Asim Chaudhry as his legendary, perverted and severely deluded comic creation Chabuddy G. The Bafta-winning BBC3 mockumentary follows an incompetent group who run Kurupt FM – a pirate radio station in west London – and Chaudhry plays the crew’s manager. He was instrumental in creating the series, having shot and edited it when it started out on YouTube, and even won an RTS award and Bafta nomination for the role. 27. Julie Hesmondhalgh 28. Danny Dyer 29. Millie Bobby Brown 30. Iain MacLeod SPOTLIGHT ON: Iain MacLeod. Iain MacLeod’s time as Emmerdale producer has seen the soap go from strength to strength with a string of award wins, including the show's first Bafta in 16 years. His storylines – most notably the exit of John Middleton's Ashley Thomas – have been hailed for taking Edinburgh to new heights. MacLeod has played with the genre in a way that hasn't been tried before, most notably a point of view episode featuring Ashley which highlighted a day in the life of someone suffering with dementia. Add to that the soap's week of interlinked episodes which culminated in a massive car crash – a stunt that would have been the envy of many 9pm primetime dramas. 31. Elisabeth Moss 32. Jeremy Clarkson 33. Chris Chibnall 34. Scarlett Moffatt 35. Kate Oates SPOTLIGHT ON: Kate Oates. Ever since taking charge of Coronation Street, Kate Oates has put women front and centre with high-profile storylines, from Bethany’s grooming to Michelle’s baby loss plot line. Under her stewardship, the show has become a national talking point again, both for the public and the press, even landing on the Radio Times cover earlier this summer. And there is plenty in the pipeline to excite us: for the first time Coronation Street is switching to a regular six episodes-a-week pattern, plus Oates is overseeing the expansion of the exterior lot in Salford. And Christmas promises an extra special present in the return of cobbles favourite Carla Connor. 36. Sam Heughan 37. Tom Hardy 38. Babou Ceesay SPOTLIGHT ON: Babou Ceesay. The tragic tale of murdered schoolboy Damilola Taylor was retold on BBC1 last year with Babou Ceesay playing his father, Richard – a performance that earned him a Bafta nomination for Best Actor. He eventually lost out to Adeel Akhtar (Murdered by My Father) but Ceesay's star is firmly on the rise: he also landed a leading role in John Ridley's Sky Atlantic drama Guerrilla, appearing alongside Freida Pinto in the miniseries executive produced by Idris Elba. 39. Aidan Turner 40. Richard Cowles SPOTLIGHT ON: Richard Cowles. As Creative Director of Entertainment at ITV Studios, Richard Cowles is responsible for some of the most successful formats on television. He co-created I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! which, 16 series in, remains one of the most-watched shows on television, and was behind the 2013 relaunch of Saturday Night Takeaway. But his runaway hit this year has been Love Island. The dating reality show, first revived in 2015, took on a life of its own this summer, inspiring water-cooler conversations up and down the country and riveting fans with its perfect alchemy of casting, editing and narration. With a winter spin-off already in the works, Cowles will be looking to recreate that magic formula. 41. Brendan O’Carroll 42. Tom Burke 43. John Middleton 44. Simon Dickson and Lorraine Charker-Phillips 45. Harry and Jack Williams 46. Lenny Henry 47. Prue Leith 48. John Thomson 49. Daisy May and Charlie Cooper SPOTLIGHT ON: Daisy May and Charlie Cooper. Hot on the heels of Phoebe Waller-Bridge – whose BBC3 series won fans around the world – come siblings Daisy May and Charlie Cooper, the writers of This Country. The mockumentary delighted audiences when it aired on the BBC's online channel earlier this year with its sharply-observed take on their upbringing in the Cotswolds – a version of the twee county that doesn't make it onto the front cover of Country Living magazine. The pair play cousins Kerry and Kurtan who take viewers on a tour of their village Northleach, via such events as the community's annual scarecrow making competition to the new tattoo business of local 'hardwoman' Mandy. With a second series already commissioned, the next year is looking bright for this talented twosome. 50. Ore Oduba 51. Michelle Keegan 52. Guy Freeman SPOTLIGHT ON: Guy Freeman. The tragic events at Manchester Arena last May, which saw a suicide bomber kill 22 people attending an Ariana Grande concert, inspired One Love Manchester – a star-studded gig played at the city's Old Trafford grounds and attended by thousands of survivors, headlined by Grande herself. The production became the most-watched TV programme of the year so far and the man who helped turn it around in just a week was Guy Freeman. As executive producer, he pulled together a crew and director with just a few days' notice and delivered seamless coverage to millions of viewers at home. A remarkable and unprecedented feat. 53. Damien Timmer 54. Keeley Hawes 55. Ardal O’Hanlon 56. Rufus Sewell SPOTLIGHT ON: Rufus Sewell. Anyone who watched Victoria last year was either Team Melbourne or Team Albert. While the monarch famously went on to marry the latter, the ITV period drama took a popular detour by introducing her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, as an eligible contender for her heart. Rufus Sewell was the man tasked with bringing him to life, and he did so to great plaudits. A surprise series two return delighted the drama's many fans and when he's not strolling the corridors of Buckingham Palace, Sewell can be found starring in Amazon's alt-history dystopia Man in the High Castle, playing SS Obergruppenführer John Smith – a role poles apart from the kindly Lord M. 57. Wunmi Mosaku 58. Paul Hollywood 59. Matt Smith 60. Sian Brooke 61. Lucy Fallon SPOTLIGHT ON: Lucy Fallon. Coronation Street has enjoyed a bumper year, thanks in large part to Lucy Fallon who played vulnerable teenager Bethany Platt with skill and sensitivity as her young character was sucked into a ring of grooming and sexual exploitation. The storyline has won high praise from viewers and critics and in just two-and-a-half years Fallon has become one of the country's most recognisable soap stars, nominated for a string of awards for her efforts. 62. David Olusoga 63. Oliver Kent 64. Peter Capaldi 65. Adeel Akhtar 66. Jed Mercurio SPOTLIGHT ON: Jed Mercurio. What is the biggest drama on the BBC? Many would say Line of Duty. The fast-paced thriller moved from BBC2 to BBC1 in 2017, a switch that reflects years of growing ratings and a highly complex plot following anti-corruption unit AC-12 as they bring bent coppers to justice. The man behind it all? Jed Mercurio, who weaved his multi-strand series into one big web earlier this year. With two more series commissioned by the BBC, viewers still have much to come from Ted Hastings and his crack team. But they'll have to wait for it. The in-demand Mercurio is currently working on new six-part drama The Bodyguard before moving Line of Duty towards its final act. 67. Benedict Cumberbatch 68. Suranne Jones 69. Riz Ahmed 70. Hannah Fry 71. Mike Gunton SPOTLIGHT ON: Mike Gunton. As Creative Director of the BBC Studios' Natural History Unit, Mike Gunton is no stranger to wildlife documentaries. But with Planet Earth II, the executive producer created something truly remarkable. The documentary series – which aired last autumn – featured extraordinary footage from the animal kingdom, none more so than the snake vs iguana chase that provided the climax of the first episode. The scenes went on to claim two Bafta awards – including the viewer-voted TV moment of the year – and captured a global audience, racking up millions of views online. Planet Earth II will go down in history as among Attenborough's finest. 72. Mary Berry 73. Sarah Lancashire 74. Molly Windsor 75. Jack Thorne 76. Gemma Whelan 77. Michaela Coel SPOTLIGHT ON: Michaela Coel. Michaela Coel's name has been firmly on the map for a few years now, ever since she burst onto the scene with her Channel 4 comedy Chewing Gum. Landing a Bafta award for her first series, Coel put out a second run this year, which was met with equal acclaim. Fans will be disappointed to hear there are no current plans to make more, but Coel's decision to call time on her hit show is testament to the exciting potential of this in-demand all-rounder. We'll all be waiting with baited breath to see what she does next. 78. Mark Gatiss 79. Mel Giedroyc 80. Tom Hughes 81. Hassan Akkad SPOTLIGHT ON: Hassan Akkad. Hassan Akkad was a schoolteacher in Syria before he fled the civil war and embarked upon the perilous journey to Europe – a passage littered with fatalities in recent years. Akkad decided to film his voyage and the footage he captured riveted and horrified TV audiences when it was chosen to air as part of BBC2's Exodus: Our Journey to Europe last year. The series humanised the refugee crisis, putting a face on a story that was making headlines around the world, and won a Bafta award for Best Factual Series in May. KEO Films have been commissioned for a follow-up with Akkad now employed as an Assistant Producer on the programme. 82. David Benioff and DB Weiss 83. Olivia Colman 84. Eleanor Tomlinson 85. Ricky Whittle 86. Adrian Dunbar 87. Louise Rainbow 88. Idris Elba 89. Tom Davis SPOTLIGHT ON: Tom Davis. The concept of Murder in Successville is both bizarre and brilliant. Each episode DI Sleet (played by Tom Davis) enlists the expertise of a real-life famous face to investigate a murder in Successville. The catch? Successville is a celebrity hotspot and the homicide count is high: casualties have included Reese Witherspoon, Daniel Radcliffe and Bruno Tonioli. Three series in and the surreal BBC3 hit has gained a loyal following thanks in large part to Davis's imagination and quick thinking. 90. Jeff Pope 91. Shirley Ballas 92. John Oliver 93. Sue Perkins 94. Piers Morgan SPOTLIGHT ON: Piers Morgan. Love him or hate him, Piers Morgan is one of the most talked-about presenters in the country. The Good Morning Britain host riles and delights viewers – and his Twitter followers – in equal measure with his outspoken opinions on everything from President Trump and Brexit to ageism and Kim Kardashian. But with co-host Susanna Reid he has breathed new life into ITV's morning schedule and ensures GMB dominates the column inches on a near-daily basis. 95. Emma Willis 96. Maxine Peake 97. Nicola Walker 98. Jack Whitehall 99. Malachi Kirkby SPOTLIGHT ON: Malachi Kirby. 26-year-old Malachi Kirby broke onto the scene last year with the remake of Roots – one of the TV events of the 1970s. The London-born actor followed in the footsteps of LeVar Burton and John Amos to play the hero of Alex Haley's Pullitzer-winning novel in a big-budget American retelling, airing over here on BBC4. Kirby won rave reviews for his performance, shining bright alongside acting heavyweights Forest Whitaker, Lawrence Fishburne and Anna Paquin, and consolidated his breakthrough with a role in Charlie Brooker's now Emmy Award-winning third series of Black Mirror, appearing in episode Men Against Fire. 100. Brit Marling Read about the Radio Times TV 100's top 10 stars aged 30 and under – or the Top 20 behind-the-scenes talent See a full list of Radio Times TV 100 contributors here Click through to the next page to see which celebrities, controllers, commissioners and production executives contributed to the Radio Times TV 100 The Radio Times TV 100 panel: Sir Lenny Henry, Actor and Writer Michaela Coel, Actor and Creator, Chewing Gum Steven Moffat, Executive Producer, Doctor Who and Co-Creator, Sherlock Kate Oates, Producer, Coronation Street Vinay Patel, Writer, Murdered by My Father Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Head of TV, Blueprint Television Charlotte Moore, Director of Content, BBC Mark Linsey, Director, BBC Studios Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC2 Jay Hunt, Former Chief Creative Officer, Channel 4 Zai Bennett, Director of Programmes, Sky UK Adam MacDonald, Director, Sky1 Jay Marine, Vice President, Prime Video, Europe Shane Allen, Controller, BBC Comedy Commissioning Beth Willis, Head of Drama, Channel 4 Anne Mensah, Head of Drama, Sky Jon Mountague, Head of Comedy, Sky Peter Salmon, Chief Creative Officer, Endemol Shine Group Damien Timmer, Managing Director, Mammoth Screen Nira Park, Founder, Big Talk Productions Jamie Isaacs, CEO, Avalon Television Factual Pippa Harris, Executive Producer, Call the Midwife, and Co-Founder, Neal Street Productions Diederick Santer, CEO, Kudos Nicola Shindler, Founder, RED Production Company Kate Harwood, Managing Director, Euston Films Liam Humphreys, CEO, Freemantle UK Unscripted Read about the Radio Times TV 100's top 10 stars aged 30 and under – or the Top 20 behind-the-scenes talent See a full list of Radio Times TV 100 contributors here