Blue Planet 2 named best TV show of 2017 by UK critics

Beating Line of Duty, Big Little Lies, and The Crown

Following a year of stunning television, critics have voted for their favourite shows of 2017, with the BBC’s groundbreaking Blue Planet II coming out top.

The Sir David Attenborough-narrated series managed to beat stiff competition from the Thandi Newton-starring Line of Duty and US drama Big Little Lies.

The poll was conducted by RadioTimes, which asked various UK critics for their favourite shows, and the BBC’s output – also including Peter Kay’s Car Share, Detectorists, Doctor Foster and Apple Tree Yard – dominated.

Other shows to feature on the list include Netflix’s The Crown, Channel 4’s Catastrophe and the ITV series Broadchurch.

RadioTimes editor Mark Frith told The Guardian: “It’s been the most incredible 12 months for TV, but in the end Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II won our critics poll by quite a margin.”

Blue Planet II was not only the critics’ favourite show of the year but also the most watched programme of 2017, beating Strictly Come Dancing to take the crown.

The first episode of the series, which featured a transforming fish, was watched by 14.1 million people in its first week, becoming the third most watched show of the past five years.

The top 10 shows of 2017 according to the critics were:

10. Apple Tree Yard

9. Doctor Foster

8. Detectorists

7. Broadchurch

6. Peter Kay’s Car Share

5. Catastrophe

4. The Crown

3. Big Little Lies

2. Line of Duty

1. Blue Planet II