Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • WWDC
  • Best laptop
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • Best web hosting
  • NYT Wordle today

Recommended reading

An animated robot smiles
Netflix Best Netflix shows: 58 great TV series to watch in May 2025
Ellie and Joel holding rifles as they walk through a forest in The Last of Us season 2 episode 6
HBO Max The best Max shows: 39 great series to stream in June 2025
Seth Rogen's Matt looking worried in The Studio on Apple TV Plus
Apple TV + The best Apple TV+ shows: 32 great series to stream in June 2025
A group of women dressed smartly wearing dresses and hats
Paramount Plus The best Paramount+ shows: 26 terrific series to stream in June 2025
Adam DiMarco as Peter in Overcompensating
Amazon Prime Video The 46 best Prime Video shows to watch in June 2025
The cover art for popular Max TV shows shown in a collage
HBO Max Max is launching in Australia soon – here are the top 5 HBO shows I think you should stream first
A remote with Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services running as buttons.
Streaming Best streaming service 2025: Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, Prime Video, and more compared
  1. Streaming
  2. Sky TV

Best Now TV shows: great Now TV shows available on Sky's streaming box

News
By Marc Chacksfield published 2 March 2018

Unmissable shows on Now TV

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Best Now TV shows

Best Now TV shows

Now TV has been a revelation for Sky. Its arrival in 2012 meant a whole host of programmes that used to be strictly tethered to a satellite dish could be enjoyed without a contract. Now anyone can now enjoy Sky, as long as you have a broadband connection that can stream movies and TV shows.

The box is cheap – really cheap. You can get one for under around £20 and it comes with a (limited) free subscription to either the service's movies, sports or TV offerings.

Sky now has two box options for Now TV. There's this Now TV box to entice you to take up its non-contract shenanigans. Or the new Now TV Smart Box that marries both non-contract streaming and Freeview channels.

  • Best cheap Now TV deals: on boxes and shows, movies and sports

We're here to tell you about the best Now TV shows available if you buy the monthly Entertainment Pass. Unlike Netflix or Amazon Prime Instant Video, Sky's shows tend to disappear a little quicker due to rights issues, but don't fear – we will keep this list of the best Now TV shows constantly updated so you always know what's available when you buy your monthly pass.

And if you don't fancy anything, don't forget to regularly check back as new content becomes available through the service.

Check out the rivals...

Best Amazon Prime Instant TV Shows: 50 to choose from
Best Netflix TV Shows: 50 of the best

Page 1 of 31
Page 1 of 31
Atlanta

Atlanta

Donald Glover wrote, starred and produced this superb show about the music scene in Atlanta. The first seasons charts the rise of two cousins as hip hop artists, trying make something of themselves. The show is what you should expect from Glover. It’s smart, funny and a fitting looks at being black and middle class in America. Unfortunately season 2 is going to be delayed as Glover is set to play a young Lando in the upcoming Han Solo movie. As excuses go, that’s one of the best we have heard. 

Seasons on Now TV: 1

Page 2 of 31
Page 2 of 31
The Affair

The Affair

The Affair is not what it seems. At all. It starts off as a half-decent melodrama following writer Noah (Dominic West) and his family as they go on vacation to Montauk in Long Island. There Noah falls for local waitress Alison Lockhart (Ruth Wilson). She's married, he's married and, well, things spiral out of control. The reason The Affair is compelling viewing is because it holds a mirror up to the affair in question. We get differing points of view, from both Noah and Alison. The same scenes play out but clothes change, dialogue changes, even settings change as they remember their sides of same the convoluted story. The first season is essential viewing but the conceit is stretched somewhat for the second and third season - it's still great fun, though.

Seasons on Now TV: 3

Page 3 of 31
Page 3 of 31
Billions

Billions

It's not often that you root for a billionaire hedge fund manager, but Damian Lewis' likeable performance in Billions means you get behind the rich guy - even if his methods of making money may be on the dubious side. Lewis is Bobby Axelrod a hedge fund manager that is being pursued by Paul Giamatti's Chuck Rhoades for insider trading. The whole things is an effortless watch and endlessly entertaining.

Seasons on Now TV: 2

Page 4 of 31
Page 4 of 31
The Blacklist

The Blacklist

James Spader. That name should be enough to get you watching The Blacklist. The actor – who lent his voice to Avengers: Age of Ultron – is fantastic in this show. Only an actor of his calibre could portray playfulness in a character who at his heart is a cold, sadistic megalomaniac. The premise is simple: Red (Spader), one of the FBI's Most Wanted, hands himself in with the caveat that he has information on hundreds of other criminals – information he uses to twist the FBI around his malicious little finger. While the supporting cast isn't quite up to Spader's magnificence, this is one of the more enjoyable shows on Sky at the moment.

Seasons on Now TV: 3

Page 5 of 31
Page 5 of 31
Blindspot

Blindspot

Blindspot has one of the best premises we’ve ever heard of from a TV show: a heavily tattooed, naked woman is found in Times Square, New York, with no recollection of who she is or how she got there. It sounds so mysteriously tantalising, right? What ensues is a crime drama all about the twists and turns the FBI go on that are inspired by the intricate maps of ink on Jane Doe’s skin. It may not be award-winning, but has plenty of fans. 

Seasons on Now TV: 3

Page 6 of 31
Page 6 of 31
Britannia

Britannia

Britannia is splitting audiences, but if you can’t hold for the new series of Game of Thrones, Britannia may fill that fantasy-shaped hole in your viewing calendar.

It’s Thrones made by Brits, essentially, and though it claims to have its roots in historical accuracy (it follows the Roman invasion and occupation of Britain during the Iron Age), it is very much from the George R. R. Martin school of storytelling. Expect buckets of blood, lots of sexy human flesh and a fair amount of never-would-have-actually-happened fantasy magic nonsense thrown in too.

Page 7 of 31
Page 7 of 31
Camping

Camping

Julia Davis is fantastic at creating uncomfortable comedy and that's exactly what she has done with Camping - a show centred on a group of people who go camping together. Davis is sublime as lady Fay, a sex-mad girlfriend of one of the group who is going through something of a midlife crisis. But it's Vicki Pepperdine's Fiona who wins the show. Her portrayal of a moaning, mean and controlling wife is one of the scariest things seen on TV.

Series on Now TV: 1 

Page 8 of 31
Page 8 of 31
Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds has been going strong for 13 seasons, all of which you can stream on Now TV. It’s a US police crime drama. We know what you’re thinking. There are loads of them, right? Well, Criminal Minds is a little different because it’s driven by a team who catch criminals based on high-paced, smart and really damn fascinating behavioural profiling. If you like your dramas laced with more intelligence than action, this is for you. The great thing about Criminal Minds is you can dip in and out of the seasons and still find it really entertaining. Sure you might be a little confused by the ongoing plots and character development, but most episodes have self-contained mysteries. 

Seasons on Now TV: 13

Page 9 of 31
Page 9 of 31
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is well and truly cashing in on our ongoing superhero obsession. The series is based on some of DC’s most interesting characters beyond the obvious choices, like Batman and The Joker. The line-up includes DC heroes like Atom, Firestorm, Captain Cold and Hawkgirl. If you’re a fan of The Flash and Arrow, it’s definitely worth giving this show a spin because they’re all set in the same fictional universe. 

Seasons on Now TV: 3

Page 10 of 31
Page 10 of 31
Deadwood

Deadwood

Swearier than Delia Smith at a Norwich game, Deadwood is a show that may have been short-lived but it will linger a long time in the memory. From the golden age of HBO programming, Deadwood stars a never-bettered Ian McShane as saloon owner Al Swearengen - even his name is sweary - and Timothy Olyphant as the sheriff of Deadwood Seth Bullock. Over three seasons, and set some six months after Custer's last stand, life (and death) in Deadwood is laid bare.

Seasons on Now TV: 3

Page 11 of 31
Page 11 of 31
The Enfield Haunting

The Enfield Haunting

There's jump scares aplenty in this adaptation of the 'true story' of a house in London in the Seventies that was subject of a vicious haunting. The cast is pitch perfect, with Timothy Spall as the sympathetic paranormal inspector and newcomer Eleanor Worthington-Cox as one of the children affected by the poltergeist. While the show doesn't scrimp on accusations that the hauntings were faked by the children, it does hit hard with its scares - think Paranormal Activity by way of EastEnders.

Seasons on Now TV: 1

Page 12 of 31
Page 12 of 31
The Flash

The Flash

The Flash is the best superhero show on television. Yes, that includes all of the Marvel entities. It’s the best as it’s the truest to the comic books, has a fantastic Flash in the form of Grant Gustin and scripts that add real pathos to all of the characters - even when they are fighting giant gorillas. 

Season one sets the story arcs up well, while season two intricately plots the events leading up to season 3, which starts with the famous comic-book series Flashpoint.

Seasons on Now TV: 2

Page 13 of 31
Page 13 of 31
Fortitude

Fortitude

The most expensive Sky show in history is also one of its most divisive. Many love the slow, snow-strewn plot that keeps you guessing right till the end but others were expecting something a bit more action packed - given much of the pre hype was all about polar bears versus humans. Take it as what it is meant to be, though - a crime drama in the Scandinavian mould, sprinkled with supernatural elements - and there is a lot to love. And anything with Michael Gambon as an angry drunk man will get our attention.

All 10 episodes of Season 2 are also available on demand.

Seasons on Now TV: 2

Page 14 of 31
Page 14 of 31
Gomorrah

Gomorrah

The first season of Gomorrah - based on the fantastic true expose of the Sicilian Camorra crime empire by Roberto Saviano - was a brilliant, brutal look at what it means to be a gangster in Sicily. It showed a world that was far away from Godfather romanticism but never really proved a hit to audiences. The second season of the show has changed this, with Gomorrah picking up acclaim from anyone who's seen it.It's a show that's just as epic in scope as The Wire and we can't wait to see where further seasons take it.

Seasons on Now TV: 2

Page 15 of 31
Page 15 of 31
Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy, the super popular US medical drama series that never seems to end, follows the lives of residents, interns and attending physicians as they work their way up the ranks to become fully-fledged doctors. Although the series is named after Gray’s Anatomy, a classic human anatomy textbook, the show explores bigger themes than just medicine, as well as delving into the personal lives and relationships of the characters. That’s probably one of the reasons why it’s won so many awards over the years, has such a dedicated army of fans and is one of the longest running scripted shows on primetime US TV. 

Seasons on Now TV: 14

Page 16 of 31
Page 16 of 31
Guerrilla

Guerrilla

With a cast that stars Frieda Pinto and Idris Elba and a writer who's an Oscar winner thanks to 12 Years A Slave, you would have expected Guerrilla to be talked about more. But it seems to have gone under the radar. This is a shame, as the show about the rise of black power in the UK in the '70s is a great watch.

Page 17 of 31
Page 17 of 31
Hannibal

Hannibal

There's been a glut of cult movies made into TV shows (Fargo and Psycho are also now TV favourites), but Hannibal is the best there is. The most surreal show since Twin Peaks, Hannibal weaves the mythos of Hannibal Lector effortlessly with dream-like imagery and superb acting. While Hugh Dancy's Will Graham is a little one note, Mads Mikkelsen as Lector makes the character his own, complementing Anthony Hopkins' portrayal rather than making you pine for it. The third and unfortunately final season delves both into Hannibal's younger years and the exploits of the book Red Dragon – so there's no better time to catch this superb series.

Seasons on Now TV: 1 (season 3)

Page 18 of 31
Page 18 of 31
The Leftovers

The Leftovers

The Leftovers is bleak. Like really bleak. It begins a little after a Rapture-like event, where a number of people in the world have simply vanished and focuses on the lives of those, well, leftover. Adapted for the screen by Lost's Damon Lindelof, The Leftovers may have a similar Lost-like ensemble approach to its storytelling but that's where the similarities end. The Leftovers is much more real and while this takes time to getting used to it's more than worth it.

Also, the second series is one of the best series of television we have ever seen, so there is that. Catch up now before the third and final series disappears from Now TV.

Seasons on Now TV: 3

Page 19 of 31
Page 19 of 31
Modern Family

Modern Family

Modern Family has been consistently hilarious for six seasons now, using The Simpsons' method of showing good ol' family values through, well, good ol' family dysfunction. Every episode hits the spot. The writing is Emmy award-winning and the acting too, even if the central idea that the Dunphy/Pritchett family is being filmed for a documentary wears a little thin after a while. This is one of Sky's biggest shows and for good reason, too.

Seasons on Now TV: 8

Page 20 of 31
Page 20 of 31
Moone Boy

Moone Boy

Chris O'Dowd has never been better than in this fantastic sitcom, loosely based on his life in Ireland. He stars as Sean, the imaginary friend of Martin Moone, a kid growing up in the '80s. Filled with some fantastic comedy – mainly from Ian O'Reilly who plays Padraic in the show – and more heart and pathos than you would normally find in a 30-minute sitcom, Moone Boy is as good a coming-of-age tale as you will find anywhere.

Seasons on Now TV: 3

Page 21 of 31
Page 21 of 31
Penny Dreadful

Penny Dreadful

The last time famous characters from Victorian gothic literature got together on the screen it was for the laughable adaptation of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Even the genius words of Alan Moore couldn't make that work. So, when Bond scribe John Logan announced he was doing a similar thing with Penny Dreadful, we were sceptical. But it really works. Everyone from Frankenstein's monster – who is finally as poetic as he is in the novel – to Dorian Gray have been given a revisionist spin that makes this series both scary and entertaining.

Seasons on Now TV: 3

Page 22 of 31
Page 22 of 31
Portrait Artist of the Year

Portrait Artist of the Year

If you’ve got just a passing interest in art, then Portrait Artist of the Year is guaranteed to hook you in. Each episode sees a number of professional and amateur artists take on a portrait challenge. The race is then on for them to create the best portrait, so you’ll get a great insight into their process, how they work and how well (or not so well) they cope with painting under pressure. The show would stand up if that was all there was to it, but what makes it even more interesting is that each person sitting for their portrait is someone famous or notable, so you get to hear more about them and their story in amongst all the paint talk. It’s like reality TV for those who prefer a quiet wander round Tate Britain as opposed to a mad one in an Essex nightclub. 

Seasons on Now TV: 4 

Page 23 of 31
Page 23 of 31
Rick and Morty

Rick and Morty

Rick and Morty creators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon have created a hit TV show out of a concept that on paper probably shouldn’t work: darkly funny, animated, adult science-fiction. The story follows cynical and anarchic scientist Rick Sanchez as he goes on a series of out-of-this-world (in every sense of the phrase) adventures with his grandson Morty. It’s gross, laugh out loud funny and a refreshing take on sci-fi world building that’s drummed up a huge deal of interest and army of fans over the past few years. 

Seasons on Now TV: 1

Page 24 of 31
Page 24 of 31
Supergirl

Supergirl

The first long trailer was ridiculed for looking like a rom com, but Supergirl has proved its critics wrong and over the course of two seasons has show itself to be one of the best superhero shows on television. Melissa Benoist is fantastic as Kara Zor-El, playing her just on the right side of innocent, while the inclusion of a certain other superhero in season 2 could have been a bad idea but it has really made Supergirl, well, fly.

Seasons on Now TV: 1

Page 25 of 31
Page 25 of 31
The Trip To Spain

The Trip To Spain

We are now into the third series of The Trip and it shows no signs of wear and tear - it's still as funny and effective as it was when they originally went around the UK eating good food. Mostly ad-libbed and full of meta musings, The Trip is essentially a showcase of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon's talents and thanks to the astute direction of Michael Winterbottom, it's a brilliant watch.

Page 26 of 31
Page 26 of 31
True Detective

True Detective

True Detective is a series that will frustrate. The first season is superb; a sweaty American backwoods whodunnit that flits between present day and the past. In both timezones the leads - Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson - are mesmerising and even if the poetic ending doesn't match the quality of the rest of the season, it still rounds off a marvellous watch. Then there's the second season. Plodding, aimless, pretentious, but still annoyingly watchable.

Seasons on Now TV: 2

Page 27 of 31
Page 27 of 31
Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks is the greatest, strangest season of TV spread over two seasons. The show is both beautiful and grotesque, simple and convoluted. The premise is simple: some FBI agents come to the sleepy town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of Laura Palmer but the way the tale is told through both dreamscapes and fairly ordinary soap opera musings makes it unmissable. Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, the series was eventually hamstrung by annoying TV execs forcing the murderer to be revealed mid way through the second season, but this doesn't detract from the complete brilliance of a show that was way ahead of its time.

And, just as promised, 25 years later we have Season 3 of the show. Almost stripped of the playfulness of the first two seasons, this third slap of Twin Peaks is much darker and even more convoluted - think Fire Walk With Me. It's also brilliant and brings back a number of the original cast.

Seasons on Now TV: 3

Page 28 of 31
Page 28 of 31
Veep

Veep

US politics isn't really that funny at the moment, given the current incumbent of the President's chair. So, thank the world for Veep - an hilarious look at US politics and a bumbling vice president. It's The Thick Of It, US style. While there's no Malcolm Tucker to add the swears, every character has a potty mouth and a quick quip and six series in it's just as good as ever.

Seasons on Now TV: 5

Page 29 of 31
Page 29 of 31
The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead has long been one of the most popular and addictive shows to sink your teeth into. But if you’re a fan and want to rewatch all 8 seasons, or you’re keen to catch up after avoiding the scary, apocalyptic drama for so long, then you’d better act fast. All 8 seasons of the award-winning zombie show are available on NOW TV, and consistently top the service’s Most Popular list, but will only be available to stream until 27 March 2018.

Seasons on Now TV: 8

Page 30 of 31
Page 30 of 31
The Wire

The Wire

The Wire requires patience, an eye for detail and a half-decent knowledge of Baltimore street slang. While you may not have the last thing down pat, it will help understanding the nuances in what is one of the greatest series in television. Each season stands alone, offering up a slice of Baltimore. Over five seasons these slices overlap and coincide, bringing characters together from all walks of American life. You have drug dealers who are well educated, drug users whose morals are stronger than the upper echelons of the police department. There's corrupt politicians, teachers who are trying to turn around failing schools, despite everything conspiring against them, and journalists trying to make sense of what is going, by making their own stories up along the way. It's big, brave storytelling that's Dickensian in its scope and it's utterly fantastic.

Seasons on Now TV: 5

Page 31 of 31
Page 31 of 31
Marc Chacksfield
Marc Chacksfield
Social Links Navigation

Marc Chacksfield is the Editor In Chief, Shortlist.com at DC Thomson. He started out life as a movie writer for numerous (now defunct) magazines and soon found himself online - editing a gaggle of gadget sites, including TechRadar, Digital Camera World and Tom's Guide UK. At Shortlist you'll find him mostly writing about movies and tech, so no change there then.

Read more
An animated robot smiles
Best Netflix shows: 58 great TV series to watch in May 2025
Ellie and Joel holding rifles as they walk through a forest in The Last of Us season 2 episode 6
The best Max shows: 39 great series to stream in June 2025
Seth Rogen's Matt looking worried in The Studio on Apple TV Plus
The best Apple TV+ shows: 32 great series to stream in June 2025
A group of women dressed smartly wearing dresses and hats
The best Paramount+ shows: 26 terrific series to stream in June 2025
Adam DiMarco as Peter in Overcompensating
The 46 best Prime Video shows to watch in June 2025
The cover art for popular Max TV shows shown in a collage
Max is launching in Australia soon – here are the top 5 HBO shows I think you should stream first
Latest in Sky TV
Lale covered in blood and pointing a gun in Gangs of London season 3.
This brutal new crime series has the most insane fight scene I've ever seen – and you won't believe the murder weapon
Andrew Koji as Zeek pointing a gun at someone off camera.
Andrew Koji reveals Gangs of London season 3's new mysterious assassin is like 'the human Terminator' in the Sky Original series
Eddie Redmayne as the Jackal walking away from a ball in a net hanging on a tree with a gun in his hand.
The Day of the Jackal just broke a Sky viewership record following its success on Peacock
Eddie Redmayne preparing to take a shot with a sniper rifle in The Day of the Jackal.
Peacock’s #1 most-watched show The Day of the Jackal has been renewed for season 2 and I couldn’t be happier
Stamford Bridge Stadium
Six things I learned behind the scenes at Sky’s Monday Night Football...
Sky Q
6 things we want in a Sky Q smart TV
Latest in News
AirPods Pro 2 out of their case on a wooden surface
Apple may not get around to launching the AirPods Pro 3 until 2026
Apple Games on macOS Tahoe 26
Mac gaming just leveled up – Steam finally runs natively on Apple silicon
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
New Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 image leaks hint at a thin frame and a big camera bump
ChatGPT Projects
OpenAI has upgraded ChatGPT’s Projects feature, and I find it makes working way more efficient
iPadOS 26 Flick Gesture
Don't call it a Mac – I went hands-on with iPadOS 26, here's what you need to know
The Xbox Rog Ally, WWDC logo and Garmin watch
ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Apple's beautiful Liquid Glass to the Xbox's surprise handheld launch
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    9 must-have apps for students in 2025
  2. 2
    Quordle hints and answers for Monday, June 16 (game #1239)
  3. 3
    NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, June 16 (game #736)
  4. 4
    NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, June 16 (game #470)
  5. 5
    Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster review: barely changed, but still amazing

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...