This post is a collaboration with TV Licensing (a trademark of the BBC), but all thoughts and experiences are my own.

There’s something truly comforting about coming home, curling up on the sofa, and getting stuck into great films on TV or a show that makes you laugh so hard you’ve got to pause it to breathe. Television has always been more than background noise in our house, it’s the heartbeat of our downtime, the soundtrack to our friendships, and the glue that brings our little family closer together. TV has this amazing way of turning everyday moments into lasting memories. 

As part of the BBC TV Licensing ‘Rest & Connect’ campaign, I wanted to share just a few of the shows and series that have really stuck with us, the ones that make us laugh, bring us together, and spark that “you have to watch this” excitement we all know and love.

1. Amandaland Is Our Multiverse Now

Right now, me, Georgina and our friend Ryan are completely hooked on the Amandaland universe, the brilliantly funny spin-off from Motherland. Amanda is easily one of the most iconic TV characters ever written, and every episode leaves us howling. It’s clever, sharp, and just so wonderfully awkward in the best way.

We already loved Motherland, and Ryan’s constantly telling us to watch Mandy next, Diane Morgan is in both, and he’s convinced we’re missing out by not starting it sooner. He is massively obsessed with Diane Morgan though, I mean I can’t blame him, everything she does is comedy gold. There’s something so reliable about BBC comedies like this, when one of us recommends a new series, someone always says, ‘If it’s a BBC, it’ll be good,’ and we’re yet to not love something.

2. Romesh Ranganathan Appreciation Society

We don’t just watch shows with Romesh in them… we actively hunt them down. Georgina and I love him so much that if he’s hosting, acting, or even doing a voiceover for a trailer, we’re already in! 

I grew up watching The Weakest Link after school (iconic), so when the new version with Romesh came back, it felt like full-circle comfort. Now we binge it together, shouting answers at the screen and laughing at his perfectly delivered sass.

3. Game Shows = Family Mayhem

The Hit List is our family’s go-to chaos inducer. We’re talking full competition mode: shouting, smug celebrations, and lots of “I KNEW THAT!” from people who absolutely didn’t. Whenever we’re at each other’s houses, someone always suggests it, and suddenly it’s game night.

The 1% Club is another family favourite where we’ll even play along in the group chat! Someone always uses their Pass after the timer has finished. One day we’ll have to get whiteboards and play in person so there’s no cheating! We’ve probably watched nearly every game show in existence, we just love playing along!

4. Decluttering Inspiration

TV isn’t just to switch off and relax, but it also motivates us. Sort Your Life Out, Georgina and Ryan’s new find is all about cleaning and organising your home. They’ll pop it on late at night and I’ll catch the end right before bed. Great show… but it’s dangerous. Because next thing I know Georgina’s pulling open the “junk drawer” and giving me ten bin bags to take to the charity shop. Or worse: Vinted listings. Send help.

5. TV That Takes Over

TV really does bring us all together. We joke that whenever we start a new show, the rest of the family ends up watching it too. It spreads like wildfire. Suddenly, everyone’s texting theories or quoting lines, and even everyday chat starts sounding like we’re in a crime drama, “What’s your ETA?” “Copy that.” All because we’ve been watching the same police drama!

Your TV Licence lets you enjoy a huge range of live TV. It covers you for:

• All TV channels, like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Dave and international channels – but you don’t need a licence if you only watch non-BBC channels on-demand
• Pay TV services, like Sky, Virgin Media, and BT – but these are platforms that could have both live and on-demand services
• Live TV on streaming services, like YouTube and Amazon Prime Video
• Everything on BBC iPlayer.
  This includes recording and downloading. On any device.

TV isn’t just background noise here, it’s the soundtrack to our laughter, the trigger for family debates, and the reason our group chat is always popping off. Whether it’s bingeing comedy, getting competitive over game shows, or just enjoying a film together, our licence helps make those moments possible.