SWITCHED ON (TEN TV SHOWS FOR 2024)

As exciting as the cinema will be in 2024, what will we be switching on on our small screens this year?

2024 will see the Olympics in Paris, a new 'Doctor Who' go full throttle, the return of 'The Traitors' and 'Gladiators' to British TV and Netflix's 'Bridgerton'.

None of these, however, are on our top ten watchlist.

Here's what's Pomona is most looking forward to.

TRUELOVE (Channel 4, January)

Take a top drawer cast over the age of 70, put them in a dark comedy drama about ageing and see how it pans out.

That's exactly what Charlie Covell and Ian Weatherby have done for this six part comedy for Channel 4 about friends meeting at a wake who decide to help each other avoid a grim, slow decline into death.

With Covell having previously delivered 'The End of the F**king World,' and a cast including Lindsay Duncan, Clarke Peters, Sue Johnston, Phil Davis, Peter Egan and Karl Johnson, if this is executed well this has cult show written all over it.

JULIA (Sky Atlantic, January)

Sarah Lancashire is back for a second outing of the HBO show about the US TV chef Julia Childs.

Also starring 'Frasier' alumni David Hyde Pierce and Bebe Neuwirth, the eight episodes see her grappling with a visit to the White House, an interview with Life magazine and interest from the FBI.

With episodes entitled Fried Chicken, Pressed Duck, Chocolate Mousse and Lobster Americaine, audiences will be expecting some more mouthwatering culinary comedy drama from this charming show.

MASTERS OF THE AIR (Apple TV+, January)

Having already given us 'Band of Brothers' and 'The Pacific,' executive producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks give us another World War II epic.

And what a cast of rising stars they have assembled including Austin Butler, Barry Keoghan, Ncuti Gatwa,  Callum Turner and Anthony Boyle.

A story about a US air squadron deployed against the Nazis, with 'No Time To Die' director Cari Joy Fukunaga on directorial duties for several episodes, this will be an eagerly anticipated sequel to the previous two shows.

ONE DAY (Netflix, February)

After a rather underwhelming movie version 11 years ago with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, David Nichols' fans will be hoping his sublime romcom novel will get a much better adaptation on the small screen.

Word of mouth has been positive about Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall's performances in this Netflix version as the frustrated lovers Emma and Dexter.

Get it right and the two actors' careers could go stratospheric just like Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones after 'Normal People'. Fingers crossed.

RENEGADE NELL (Disney+, Spring)

After acclaimed appearances in 'Dancing at Lughnasa' and 'Ulster American' in the West End, Louisa Harland continues to build her post 'Derry Girls' career with this historical period drama.

With Nick Mohammed of 'Ted Lasso' fame, Adrian Lester and Joely Richardson also starring and Sally Wainwright writing, hopes are high for this Disney+ show about a female highwayman in 18th Century England.

Mohammed plays a spirit called Billy Blind who helps Nell realise her true destiny.

THE DRY (Series 2, Britbox, ITVx & RTE, Release Date TBC)

If you haven't seen Series One of this droll Dublin comedy drama do yourself a favour.

Fran Harris' show about an alcoholic and her dysfunctional family is a hoot, with Roisin Gallagher set to return as Shiv Sheridan who is desperate to stay on the path to sobriety.

Acclaimed director Paddy Breatnach is back on board overseeing a terrific ensemble cast that includes Ciaran Hinds, Pom Boyd and Moe Dunford with a storyline set seven months after the first series. If series two is anywhere near as good as the first, audiences are in for a treat.

BIG BOYS (Channel 4 - TBC)

The "wee English fella" from 'Derry Girls' Dylan Llewellyn's other sitcom vehicle returns for a second series after an impressive first run.

Written by Jack Roofe, this show about student life was also notable for how it tackled coming out and mental health.

Series Two finds Llewellyn's Jack, Jon Pointing's Danny and Izuka Hoyle's Corinne adjust to second year life at Brent University.

RIPLEY (Netflix - TBC)

The deadly machinations of Patricia Highsmith's character Tom Ripley have been adapted many times before - not least in Anthony Minghella's acclaimed 1999 movie 'The Talented Mr Ripley' with Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law.

Netflix returns to that story with Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn taking on the roles of Tom, Marge Sherwood and Dickie Greenleaf.

Originally intended for Showtime, the series is written and directed by Steven Zallian of 'Schindler's List' and 'Searching for Bobby Fischer' fame and shot in striking black and white which, if executed well, could create quite a stir.

BLUE LIGHTS (BBC1 - TBC)

Declan Lawn and Adam Patrerson's Belfast police procedural was one of the best programmes of 2023.

Impressively researched, tightly written and brilliantly acted, series two finds the officers picking up the pieces after the gunning down of a very popular colleague.

Starring Sian Brooke, Martin McCann and Helen McNally, there's speculation the show will turn its attention this time to loyalist paramilitaries after previously focusing on a dissident republican crime gang. But whatever the plot, if it can retain its earthy Belfast humour and its authenticity it should be another success.

THE DAY OF THE JACKAL (Peacock, Sky & NowTV - TBC)

Yet again TV producers are turning to another popular novel that has been adapted twice in the past for the big screen.

Acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Ronan Bennett of 'Face' and 'Top Boy' fame has penned this version of Frederick Forsythe's hitman thriller with Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lunch.

With Brian Kirk on directorial duties, it'll be fascinating to see if Redmayne can outgun the 1973 movie version with Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale or the 1997 remake with Richard Gere and Bruce Willis.