The best new TV in May 2025

THE HANDMAID'S TALE

Sat 3 May

Channel 4

Praise be, the misery marathon ends here. The Handmaid’s Tale bows out after six seasons of red cloaks, whispered rebellions, and Gilead-themed nightmares. June’s fight reaches its final crescendo, and we’re promised and actual resolution, though probably not a spa day. Brutal, beautiful, and occasionally just bleak enough to make your houseplants wilt, this final season ties up the trauma with a red ribbon. May your enemies meet you at the Wall, and may your streaming connection hold strong.

FOREVER

Thurs 8 May

Netflix

Judy Blume gets the streaming treatment with Forever. A teen romance that dares to treat teenage feelings like they actually matter. Set in 2018 (yes, the pre-TikTok era), it follows a high school couple navigating love, sex, and identity without a single vampire in sight. It’s sweet, smart, and refreshingly sincere- like an indie film snuck into your algorithm by someone who still writes a diary. Bonus points if you ever had an awkward first love with a questionable fringe.

POKER FACE

Thurs 8 May

Sky Max

Charlie Cale’s back on the road and back to her nonsense. Natasha Lyonne returns with a cigarette. a side-eye and an internal lie detector that somehow makes her the world’s scruffiest detective. Season 2 dials up the murder, guest stars, and the retro-sleuth vibes. Think Columbo if he drove a Dodge Charger and quoted conspiracy theory podcasts. This is crime solving with zero polish and moustache panache.

LOVE, DEATH + ROBOTS

Thurs 15 May

Netflix

Ten more bite-sized brain-melters from the show that ask, “What if AI was horny and sad, but also deeply philosophical?” Expect animated mayhem, existential dread, and at least one surprise emotional gut-punch delivered by a robot with daddy issues. It’s Black Mirror’s chaotic little cousin, raised on comic books and Red Bull. Whether you love animation, sci-fi, or just don’t have the attention span for a full film, this remains your go-to neon fever dream.

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WELCOME TO WREXHAM

Fri 16 May

Disney+

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney continue to run a football club the way most people run a group chat- badly, but with heart. Season 4 picks up post-promotion as Wrexham AFC faces new challenges, bigger crowds, and the growing threat of actual football expectations. It’s still about more than sport, though: small-town dreams, working-class grit, and watching Deadpool cry in the rain. Come for the goals, stay for the wholesome bromance.

MURDERBOT

Fri 16 May

Apple TV+

Meet your new favourite introvert: a killer security droid who’d rather be left alone to binge-watch soap operas. Murderbot, based on Martha Wells’ cult sci-fi books, is half action, half emotional shutdown. There’s corporate sabotage, identity crises, and enough social anxiety to short-circuit an airlock. If WALL-E had trust issues and access to heavy weaponry, you’d be close. Come for the explosions, stay because your new best friend doesn’t want to talk about feelings either.

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2025

Sat 17 May

BBC One

This year’s Eurovision hails from Basel, Switzerland- home of neutrality, watches, and now, glitter cannons. Expect geopolitical subtext disguised as disco, ballads with wind machines, and an entry from Finland that may or may not involve a chainsaw. You’ll cheer. You’ll cringe. You’ll weirdly fall in love with a Lithuanian yodeler. No event combines earnest patriotism and total chaos quite like this. Let’s get loud, let’s get weird, and may your favourite lose gloriously in the semi-finals.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

Fri 23 May

Apple TV+

John Krasinski and Natalie Portman play squabbling siblings in search of eternal life, which honestly feels like a metaphor for any family holiday over five days. Directed by Guy Ritchie (yes, that Guy Ritchie), this globe-trotting mystery promises stylish action, rapid-fire banter, and probably one too many slow-motion monologues. Somewhere between Indiana Jones and a really dramatic ancestry.com ad, it’s slick, fast, and suspiciously moisturised.

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