In an era of endless streaming options, a select group of television programmes hold a unique power: the ability to soothe, comfort, and provide a reliable escape. Readers from across the UK and beyond have shared the series they return to time and again, creating a definitive map of the nation's comfort viewing habits.
The Sitcoms and Dramas That Feel Like Home
For many, comfort is found in the witty, fast-paced world of Gilmore Girls. Jayne Stead from York describes the series as "snappy, sassy and only just past its prime," praising its strong yet flawed female leads and the picturesque, if improbable, Connecticut setting. She enjoys watching it with her daughter, finding shared joy in the mother-daughter dynamic.
Another standout is the critically adored Detectorists, a gentle comedy about metal detectorists Andy and Lance. Sam from Ely, Cambridgeshire, and his wife rewatch it every winter. "It promises us the sights and sounds of long hot summer evenings in the country," he says, highlighting its slow, nuanced humour and the beautiful Suffolk backdrop. The show's theme tune alone is enough to bring a lump to his throat.
Matt Berry's Toast of London earns high praise from Rhys, 24, in Cardiff, who calls it Berry's "best work." He admires its daft plots, left-field cameos, and the unique achievement of making an unlikeable protagonist someone you root for. He's watched the series from start to finish at least 15 times.
From across the Atlantic, Schitt's Creek has found a devoted fan in Meg, 58, from Sussex, who calls it her "perfect comfort show." A long-time admirer of Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy, she was moved to tears by the series' heartfelt conclusion.
Nostalgic Escapes and Gentle Worlds
For some viewers, comfort television is about retreating to a simpler, kinder time. Ben from Bedfordshire finds solace in the 1985 adaptation of Mapp & Lucia, citing its impeccable cast, immaculate sets, and story disconnected from modern life. First watched with his late husband, the series became a shared comfort and remains a "perfect fictional retreat."
Similarly, Tim K, 60, from Brooklyn, uses the pastoral drama Lark Rise to Candleford to escape the "nightmare of the current political climate," preferring its simpler world to news and reality TV.
Nostalgia also drives the appeal of travelogues like Michael Palin's Around the World in 80 Days. Robert Smith, 59, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, values its sense of adventure and its snapshot of travel before smartphones. A poignant moment for him is Palin watching a sunset while trying to catch football scores on the BBC World Service.
Reality, Factual, and the Reassurance of Order
Comfort isn't confined to fiction. Maddy Paxman, 67, from London, finds the BBC docuseries Saving Lives at Sea "strangely relaxing." The combination of jeopardy at sea and the reliable heroism of the RNLI volunteers provides a comforting sense that help is always at hand.
The structured format of classic shows also provides solace. Phil Hundley from Chicago praises the original Perry Mason series (1957-1966) as the template for legal dramas, where "the truth always wins out and justice is always served"—a fantasy he finds deeply comforting.
For Patti Powell, an American living in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, the archaeological series Time Team became a "happy place" during the pandemic. She finds comfort in the familiar team of presenters and the show's focus on discovery.
The Ultimate Rewatch Champions
The dedication of some viewers is remarkable. Carol Bloomfield, 67, from Durham, has watched all series of David Suchet's Poirot at least twice, always finding new details in the sets and costumes. Elisabeth Kaplan in Vienna has an extraordinary record with the sitcom Superstore, which she uses as background noise for daily naps. She estimates she has rewatched the show more than 60 times, wondering what Netflix would think of such loyalty.
Other notable mentions include the cosmic wonder of Brian Cox's The Planets, the unique documentary style of How to With John Wilson, the gentle competition of Richard Osman's House of Games, the feel-good factor of First Dates, and the enduring, friendship-filled solace of Friends, which Vanessa from Dorset says makes her "feel less lonely, like having real friends around."
This collective testimony reveals that comfort television is less about a specific genre and more about a show's unique ability to provide consistency, evoke positive emotion, and offer a reliable portal to a world that feels safer, funnier, or more orderly than our own.
