Metro.co.uk’s TV squad picks our top TV of the year (Picture: METRO)

Another year has gone by and once again television has proven to be the glue full of highs and lows that binds us altogether.

And what a year it’s been.

Game of Thrones returned with its highly-anticipated prequel, House of The Dragon, we had the most expensive show ever made – the $1billion Rings of Power, and The Traitors came out of nowhere to have the nation close to the brink of a breakdown.

While there have been many highs, it’s also been a surreal year in TV, to put it lightly.

After being sacked for breaking his own lockdown guidance by having an affair with his political aide, former heath secretary Matt Hancock was given a chance for redemption from ITV which, was perhaps far too generous.

And then Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had royalists up in arms with a new string of allegations against the royal family, which naturally divided their fans and critics, and sparked the most complained about article of all time from Jeremy Clarkson.

It’s been another wild ride but at Metro.co.uk, the TV desk has compiled our favourite TV shows of the year and you haven’t seen any of them yet, line them up this Christmas!

Heartstopper (TV editor Adam Miller)

Heartstopper literally changed lives (Picture: Netflix)

I’ve said this so many times throughout 2022, but Heartstopper really was the most game-changing television series for me this year.

It’s the line that’s followed Heartstopper everywhere: ‘I can’t imagine how differently life could have been if I had this growing up,’ but it’s so true.

Alice Osman’s world is just so poignant and while it doesn’t shy away from trauma, it is such a fantastic example of queer joy, and will hopefully be a shining example for TV in the years to come.

Then the cast have just been such stars throughout the year too, taking on protestors at Pride, raising huge money for charity and just being wonderful role models.

The whole Heartstopper movement has been my highlight of 2022, not just the show.

Andor (Assistant TV editor Sabrina Barr)

Andor blew Star Wars fans away more than anyone anticipated (Picture: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Anticipation was undoubtedly high for Star Wars series Andor before its release – but who knew this prequel spin-off to the 2016 film Rogue One was going to blow us away and leave us sobbing wrecks like it did?

Diego Luna makes a stellar return as Cassian Andor in a show that delves deep into heavy themes such as systemic oppression, highlighting the plight of everyday people whose names may be forgotten in the battle for justice, but will fight to their last breath regardless.

We might love watching lightsabers, Jedi and demonstrations of the Force on screen, but Andor proves that the Star Wars universe can be just as compelling without any of the bells and whistles, while also drilling the vital message into its audience that whether an individual is on the side of ‘good’ or ‘evil’, we all have light and dark within us.  

Traitors (TV reporter Meghna Amin)

The Traitors was simply unmissable (Picture: BBC/Studio Lambert Associates/Ma)

The Traitors has become an unexpected highlight of the year, as Claudia Winkleman’s new murder mystery game has brought all the drama.

A mixture of the game Among Us and the reality aspect of Big Brother, the BBC series (which is made even better by the diversity of the cast) sees 22 hopefuls taking part in I’m A Celebrity-esque challenges in a bid to win £120,000.

The only catch is that planted among them are three Traitors who ‘murder’ the remaining Faithfuls by night, and by day, lie to get themselves out of being ‘banished’.

Secret relationships and backstabbing lead to intense fallouts and shocking moments nobody was ready for, especially during the dramatic Round Table scenes when each contestant (in Weakest Link style) shares who they’re voting out and their (often bizarre) reasons why.

The biggest shock falls when (although the viewers already know) the eliminated contestant drops the truth to the remaining players: are they a Faithful or a Traitor?

Amid the lies, tears, and paranoia, a highly addictive game show has become the best reality programme the BBC has ever given us.

Bel-Air (TV reporter Stella Akinwumi)

Bel-Air crushed the doubters (Picture: Peacock)

For me, the Fresh Prince drama reboot Bel-Air was my top TV show of 2022.

Will Smith’s 90s comedy has been a staple in my household for years, so when I heard there was going to be a spin-off, I was a little fearful, especially when I saw the sinister undertones from the first look.

But, after the first episode, I was immediately sold.

Not only was the casting and soundtrack on point, but I loved the way the series incorporated key storylines from the sitcom with a modern twist, and seeing a dark-skinned Black family thriving on-screen was beautiful to see.

Bad Sisters (TV reporter Pierra Willix)

Sharon Horgan struck gold again with Bad Sisters (Picture: Natalie Seery)

After introducing us to one of the vilest villains in recent years, Sharon Horgan totally convinced me to back a group of sisters who had decided to take down one of their sibling’s husbands.

Based on the Flemish series Clan, the Irish black comedy follows the five Garvey sisters—Eva (Horgan), Grace (Anne-Marie Duff), Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene), and Becka (Eve Hewson) who live in Dublin.

It begins with the death of Grace’s abusive and controlling husband John Paul (Claes Bang) and soon sees the sisters wrapped up in a life insurance investigation, which slowly unravels as the cause of his untimely death gets teased out.

Despite the dark themes, this series was a total riot and had a surprising amount of heart as the women did everything they could to protect their sister and take justice into their own hands.

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What was your favourite show of 2022?