“One of the best comic creations on TV”: Best romcom shows to watch on BBC, ITV, Netflix and more

With Valentine’s Day everywhere you look – and Wet Wet Wet reminding us of love songs – now’s the perfect time to ignore all the fuss and settle in with some truly funny and heartwarming shows.

If you’re looking for a show to really immerse yourself in – something longer than a typical movie – these are excellent choices.

1. Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Seriously, who wouldn’t want to see Kristen Bell and Adam Brody together? They’re both amazing! In my head, if they were a couple in a show or movie, there’d have to be some realistic hurdles for them to overcome – you know, things that actually make sense. The most important thing is, any tension or will-they-won’t-they stuff needs to feel genuine, not just thrown in for drama.

What to Read Next

Rabbi Brody is open-minded and modern, while Bell hosts a podcast about sex and relationships and doesn’t practice Judaism. The story isn’t about if they should fall in love—they clearly do, and readers quickly connect with them—but about the more complex issues that arise as their relationship develops.

The big question is how these two people will navigate their different cultural backgrounds and what their families and communities will think. The conflict between the Montagues and Capulets seems simple compared to the complexities of modern Californian society.

2. Emily in Paris (Netflix)

This book is perfect for those who’ve fantasized about living in Paris and finding romance – maybe sharing a pastry with a charming local while overlooking the city. (We admit, we’re not sure if Montmartre actually has steps, but it sounds lovely!)

Lily Collins stars as Emily, a marketing professional who relocates from Chicago to Paris. She quickly ends her long-distance relationship and finds herself caught up in a complicated love life amongst the city’s charming streets and bakeries. Things are further complicated by her attraction to Gabriel, a chef who happens to be dating her friend Camille, but a simple love story wouldn’t last five seasons and beyond.

3 Bridgerton (Netflix)

Although Bridgerton isn’t a laugh-out-loud comedy, it’s surprisingly funny. It’s easy to miss the humor, though, because the show has so much else happening at once.

This show is as delightful and airy as macarons, and just as colorful. It’s a refreshing change from traditional historical dramas, openly exploring desire and freely borrowing familiar romantic plots – think a wealthy girl falling for a duke, a privileged boy with a servant, or friends becoming lovers. It embraces classic romance tropes without any hesitation.

The show brilliantly embraced diverse casting, effectively dismissing old-fashioned criticisms and creating exciting new possibilities and experiences for audiences.

4 Feel Good (C4, Netflix)

Mae Martin’s honesty about their identity as a trans non-binary person shines through in this humorous and moving story. It’s a semi-autobiographical tale of love between Mae, a Canadian comedian performing in Manchester, and George (Charlotte Ritchie), a woman who’s always dated men until a chance encounter with Mae at a comedy club changes everything.

Instead of relying on typical romantic drama tropes to create conflict, “Feel Good” uses Mae’s past trauma and struggles with addiction, and George’s anxieties about coming out, as the central focus of the narrative. It might sound heavy, but it’s surprisingly not!

5 Him & Her (BBC)

Stefan Golaszewski’s Him & Her is a charming, low-key romantic comedy that takes place almost entirely in one room. It follows Steve (Russell Tovey) and Becky (Sarah Solemani), a pair of relatable, slightly messy twenty-somethings living in London, as they chat and navigate everyday life. Their conversations are warm and natural, and you might find yourself wanting to do Steve’s laundry!

I absolutely loved following Becky and her partner as they just tried to live their lives! It wasn’t easy, though – their neighbor Dan was constantly popping in with something weird, and Becky’s sister Laura and her fiancé Paul were always around adding to the chaos. Over four seasons, it was hilarious watching them navigate all the strangeness, and it all built up to the big finale: Laura and Paul’s wedding! It was such a fun ride.

6 Colin from Accounts (BBC)

Don’t let the title fool you – “Colin From Accounts” is a charming Australian comedy. The ‘Colin’ in question is actually a dog that Gordon Crapp accidentally bumps into while admiring Ashley, who happens to be played by Harriet Dyer – also the show’s co-writer and Patrick Brammall’s wife in real life.

So, these two characters meet because they’re both trying to help this injured dog, and honestly, it’s not some fairytale romance. It’s way more real – they’re both messed up, have their own issues, and definitely aren’t perfect. But they’re determined to make things work, and that’s what’s so cool. It just proves that real love isn’t always easy, it’s often messy, but it can still totally work out!

7 Starstruck (BBC, Disney+)

Okay, so Starstruck? At first glance, it totally feels like a flipped version of Notting Hill – a regular person falling for a famous face. And yeah, it is that, but honestly, it’s way more than just that simple story! As a total romcom lover, I was so excited to see Rose Matafeo not only star in the BBC3 series, but co-write it with Alice Snedden too. It’s about Jessie, a Kiwi working in London as a nanny and at the movies, and she has this incredibly awkward, amazing one-night stand… with Tom Kapoor, who, of course, turns out to be a huge movie star! It’s just brilliant.

Throughout three seasons, the show follows the characters as they navigate the ups and downs of fame, fortune, and personal relationships, constantly pulled back together by an undeniable connection, even when they try to resist it.

8 Catastrophe (Netflix, Disney+)

This show launched the careers of Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, who both star in and wrote it. It’s a very honest and funny look at the challenges of becoming new parents, following Sharon and Rob, a couple who unexpectedly find themselves pregnant and decide to try making a relationship work.

Both actors are parents themselves, and they honestly portray the ups and downs of raising children. If you’re sensitive about realistic depictions of family life, you might want to watch this one solo. While it might sound depressing, it’s actually very funny – the show doesn’t shy away from awkward, honest, and unfiltered moments. This is especially true thanks to the fantastic supporting cast, including Mark Bonnar and the one and only Carrie Fisher.

9 Sex Education (Netflix)

With its unique setting – a British school where students don’t wear uniforms – Sex Education cleverly blended teen romance, explorations of sexuality and gender, and classic dramatic storylines. This mix appealed to viewers of all ages, going far beyond its intended young adult audience.

Asa Butterfield plays Otis, a typical teenager who lives with his sophisticated mother, a sex therapist, and his father who isn’t around much. Even though he doesn’t have much experience himself, Otis is surprisingly knowledgeable about sex and relationships and starts giving advice to his fellow students.

The show boasts a fantastic supporting cast, including Emma Mackey as Otis’s love interest and business partner Maeve, Ncuti Gatwa as his hilarious and increasingly popular gay best friend Eric, and Gillian Anderson, who delivers a confident and captivating performance as Otis’s mum.

10 Big Boys (C4, Netflix)

Jack Rooke’s comedy draws on his own life and features a central relationship that’s less about traditional romance and more about an unusual friendship. It focuses on Jack (played by Dylan Llewellyn from Derry Girls), a shy gay student, and Danny (Jon Pointing), his confident and outgoing straight housemate.

Jack is struggling with self-doubt and sadness over his father’s death, while Danny hides his own problems behind a confident facade. This isn’t just a story about friendship—it’s a love story if you look closely.

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2026-02-13 19:51