7 shows Eurovision haters can watch tonight if they can't face the music

Metro

17-05-2025

You can't get further from Eurovision than this (Picture: BBC/Left Bank Pictures/James Stack)
It's the Eurovision finale tonight, and that means one thing.
People across the world will be cracking out their feather boas, putting up the bunting, and getting ready for four hours of high-stakes singing action.
Yet, while the Eurovision finale is a night of celebration for those who love a cheesy pop song or twenty, for those of us of a slightly grumpier persuasion, this evening could be a long one.
So, to save you from hours of potential TV tedium, we've come up with a list of seven shows to watch if Eurovision really isn't for you.
We've gone out of our way to include something for everyone. From hardboiled BBC crime thrillers to heartwrenching dramas and even a comedy or two, our TV buffet will delight all comers.
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So what are you waiting for? Here's our list of TV shows to watch if you don't like Eurovision.
It's a Sin
It's a Sin is a powerful and moving show that critics and fans adored(Picture: Netflix)
A captivating and emotional period piece about a group of friends living together in 1980s London, It's a Sin explores what it was like to be gay as the HIV/AIDs crisis started to grip Britain.
Boasting an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, It's A Sin is not an easy watch. In fact, at times it'll break your heart into a million pieces and then stomp on the pieces until it's a fine powder before running the dust through an industrial shredder just to make sure the agony you feel is complete.
Yet within the dark places this story explores, there are such jubilant highs and lovable characters that I promise you, the pain will be worth it.
Even better, at just 3 hours and 45 minutes, you can finish it in less time than it takes to watch the Eurovision final.
The Four Seasons
Has Tina Fey ever let us down? (Credits: AP)
It's the time of year when people start thinking about their summer holidays, and what better to get you in the mood for a break than a show about four couples getting away together.
The Four Seasons follows a group of old college friends and their partners – played by an all-star cast including Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and Colman Domingo among others – on four ill-fated getaways.
Think of it as a slightly lower-stakes version of The White Lotus with an even better sense of humour.
Don't take our word for it alone, though; more than 12 million people have tuned in so far to watch it and propelled the show to the number one spot on the global Netflix charts. Is it any wonder the streaming service just renewed it for a second season?
I Am Not Okay With This
Sophia Lillis impressed fans with I Am Not Okay With This (Credits: Courtesy of Netflix)
If you think Eurovision is a bit cheerful, then you might like I am Not Okay With This, a dark comedy about death, friendship, and telekinesis.
Yes, you read that right.
If you've never watched it, the show is based on the book by Charles Forsman and follows Sydney Novak (Sophia Lillis), a teenage girl who discovers she has vast psychokinetic abilities following the death of her father, and let's just say things get weirder from there.
While it's more awkward than your average teenager, I Am Not Okay With This is a surprisingly affecting coming-of-age story that'll have you sobbing by the time the last episode credits roll.
More than that, it has an impressive 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and if you need more convincing, then why not listen to @FreddyInSpace, who perhaps put it best when he wrote on X, 'Great characters. Great soundtrack. Great fun.'
Ted Lasso
'Believe' (Credits: AP)
If you're in the odd position of liking how sweet and saccharine Eurovision can be but don't like the actual contest (maybe you just hate singing?), then might we recommend Ted Lasso?
Described by fans as 'one of the greatest television shows of all time', the series follows the titular Ted, an American football coach who moves to the UK to manage an English Premier League team.
While Ted Lasso is an undoubtedly funny show, what made it such a hit was its sweet characters, optimistic spirit, and its underdog story.
Honestly, it's just a very hard series to dislike but if you need any more convincing, it happens to star Eurovision alum Hannah Waddingham, that's got to be worth something.
Andor
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Eurovision is often praised for its ability to unite people. But do you know what arguably unites people more than song? Fighting fascism.
Yes, if you need a break from people in silly costumes singing their lungs out, why not tune into Andor and watch people in even sillier costumes battling stormtroopers and other imperial agents.
If you've somehow missed Andor, then allow us to explain the plot. Set in a galaxy far, far away, this Star Wars show follows Cassian Andor as he goes from a small-time smuggler to a hero in the Rebellion.
Now critics and journos have spilt more than enough digital ink praising Andor – I may or may not have called it the best show of 2025 – so I won't labour the point, but I think @KegacyKillaHD on X put it best when he wrote 'Andor is the best Star Wars will ever be.'
We Are Lady Parts
Pop goes punk in We Are Lady parts (Picture: Parisa Taghizadeh/Peacock/WTTV L)
Pop music might dominate the Eurovision stage, but on Channel 4, punk reigns supreme… or it does when We Are Lady Parts is on.
Described by fans as 'funny and charming', this superb comedy follows the trials and tribulations of an all-female Muslim punk band as they try and get out of the garage and into an actual recording studio.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering it's a show about punks, the show's pretty subversive and it'll make you think just as much as it makes you laugh.
However, the real secret to the show's success – beyond a script sharper than a safety pin decorated jacket – it's its charming cast of anarchic bandmates.
This City Is Ours
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If you're after something a million miles away from the sequins and sparkles of Eurovision, I'd recommend This City Is Ours.
Set in Liverpool's grim criminal underworld, the show follows two gangsters, Michael Kavanagh (James Nelson-Joyce) and Jamie Phelan (Jack McMullen), as they vie for control of their soon-to-retire boss's criminal empire.
While This City Is Ours is undeniably a little cliched, it does little to diminish its entertainment value and maybe even enhances it. Arguably, though, the best thing in it is its two leading men, Nelson-Joyce and McMullen, both of whom bring a level of gritty authenticity to the pulpy proceedings.
Viewers absolutely loved the show as well, so is it any wonder they were delighted when season 2 was announced.
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