“Russell is a wealth of ideas, talent and practical know-how, as well as an extraordinarily good writer. He is always one step ahead of trends and seamlessly navigates changes in the television market. He’s the complete package. And a pleasure to work with!” – NICOLA SHINDLER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AT QUAY STREET PRODUCTIONS
2. Olly Alexander
“It’s a Sin was one of those rare dramas that had a huge impact beyond the screen. Olly’s moving performance as Ritchie was central to the show’s impact, bringing to life the realities of the 1980s AIDS crisis on the gay community. He is well deserving of his place in the top 10.” ZAI BENNETT, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AT SKY
3. Rose Ayling Ellis
“Rose was catapulted onto TV screens in 2020 as Frankie in EastEnders and left Mick Carter stunned when she dropped the bombshell that she was his daughter. First deaf actress to use sign language on the soap opera , she went on to capture the public’s imagination by winning Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 and becoming the show’s first-ever deaf contestant.Rose defied stereotypes to prove that hearing impairments don’t have to be a barrier. electrifying in the middle of prime time television when she covered Giovanni’s ears and danced without sound, for 10 seconds, 10 million people experienced the world through Rose’s eyes and ears. fascinating and an amazing tribute to the deaf community.She’s back filming in Walford and I can’t wait for her to come back soon. CHARLOTTE MOORE, BBC CONTENT DIRECTOR
4. Hwang Dong-hyuk
“Squid Game seemed to come out of nowhere and quickly became Netflix’s most-watched TV series. never. We were all glued to our screens as we drained the entire groundbreaking series. But Hwang had worked on the series for 10 years before it came to fruition. His persistence and incredible directorial vision show us that if you have a great idea, it will come to fruition.” SUKI BERGG, HEAD OF SCREENPLAY DEVELOPMENT, BBC STUDIOS
5. Jesse Armstrong
“The terrible and terrifying creation of the Roy family by Jesse Armstrong in Succession is compulsive viewing. Three seasons and the caliber of writing, led by Armstrong, is higher than ever, with a wonderfully monstrous cast of characters and razor-sharp dialogue. – LADY PIPPA HARRIS, FOUNDER OF NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS
6. Kate Winslet
“Congratulations to Kate Winslet for making the top 10. Her performance as the complicated mare from Easttown kept us all hooked, in what was one of the best American shows of the year, and recalled what a brilliant and versatile actress she is. ” ZAI BENNETT, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF CONTENT AT SKY
7. Lydia West
“The It’s a Sin star brought the warm, generous, and extremely kind Jill Baxter to life, and we all immediately fell in love with her. It’s no surprise that she’s now been cast in hugely exciting projects from the BBC, Netflix and Apple TV+. SUKI BERGG, HEAD OF SCREENPLAY DEVELOPMENT, BBC STUDIOS
8. Emma Raducanu
“In terms of British sporting fairy tales, it’s hard to remember a more unexpected or tangible achievement than Emma Raducanu’s run at the US Open last year. The teenager started the year in as world No. 345 before rising to No. 150 before the tournament She swept three opponents in qualifying and won seven more matches in the tournament itself to become the first British Grand Slam women’s singles champion since Virginia Wade in 1977. Raducanu is the first ever singles qualifier to win that same Grand Slam at one of the majors in Open Era history and the icing on the cake is that it was only her second appearance in the main draw of a Slam, having featured at Wimbledon weeks earlier.” MICHAEL POTTS, RADIOTIMES.COM SPORTS EDITOR
9.Stephen Graham
“It has been an extraordinary year for Stephen Graham, showcasing his range and skill as an actor. From his heartbreaking and nuanced performance as Tony in Jack Thorne’s Help to his BAFTA-nominated tour de force as a chef in Boiling Point, he didn’t put a foot wrong. – LADY PIPPA HARRIS, FOUNDER OF NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS
10. England Men’s Euro Team
“The 2018 World Cup was like a wake-up call for the England men’s national team, but Euro 2020 was like a real arrival on the world stage. A new generation of very talented prospects have been added to a an already dynamic squad for the delayed 2020 tournament, which took place last summer, and propelled England to their first major tournament final since 1966. Raheem Sterling was England’s brightest light and Harry Kane found his place in the tournament after a muted start but the cries of ‘it’s coming home’ intensified England’s 2-0 win over Germany in the round of 16 was the point culminating as the Three Lions made light work of an elite nation in a critical game in front of 90,000 at Wembley.Of course, England lost the final after a dramatic penalty shootout against Italy, but she inspired a nation, gave us a great summer and, with his best years ahead of her, football has never seemed closer to home. ” MICHAEL POTTS, RADIOTIMES.COM SPORTS EDITOR
SPOTLIGHT ON… 11. Suranne Jones
“It’s an absolute privilege to watch Suranne Jones on the small screen. Jones captivated audiences with her gripping portrayal in two very different performances, in two very different dramas – DCI Amy Silva in Vigil and Victoria in I Am Victoria, reinforcing her status as one of the nation’s most beloved actors. And I can’t wait to see her light up our screens again as she reprises her role as Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack season 2 – not just as an actress but also as a producer. A huge fan.” MARINA STORTI, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NOW TV AND SKY
12. Jed Mercurio
13. Jodie Comer
14. Tom’s Edge
15. Lee Jung Jae
16. Sean Bean
17. Callum Scott Howells
18. Elisabeth Olsen
19. George Webster
20. Shalom Brune-Franklin
SPOTLIGHT ON… 21. Connor Swindells
“Look for Connor Swindells in Kudos Productions SAS Rogue Heroes for BBC One. He plays SAS founding member David Stirling in a performance full of courage, passion, daring and sensitivity. Just one of the brilliant SAS men and intricacies of Steve Knight’s new series.” PETER SALMON, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT ENDEMOL SHINE
22. Jon Snow
SPOTLIGHT ON… 23. Stephen Merchant
“Stephen is the dictionary definition of a Renaissance man. Writer, director, producer, actor and, let’s not forget, comedian and co-creator of The Office, one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. He’s a rare and special talent, both in front of and behind the camera, or as our American pals call him, he’s a “360-degree threat. He’s more than earned his place on this year’s list as as writer, creator, director and actor in The Outlaws and for his extraordinary performance as Stephen Port in Four Lives We are incredibly lucky to have someone of Stephen’s talent doing his shows in the UK. And the icing on the cake? He is incredibly charming, generous of spirit, extremely favorable to new talent and a joy to work with. Long live Le Marchand! – KENTON ALLEN, CEO of BIG TALK PRODUCTIONS
24. Ncuti Gatwa
25. Daisy Hagard
26. Clive Myrie
27. Vicky McClure
28. O Young-su
29. Rakhee Thakrar
30. Kate Garraway
31. Matthew Macfadyen
32. Gugu Mbatha-Raw
33. John White
34. Jack Thorne
35. Paul Bettany
36. Alison Hammond
37. Evan Peters
38.Robert Moore
39. AJ Odudu
40. Sophie Willan
41. John Bishop
42. Paige Sandhu
43. Jodie Whittaker
44. Jane Tranter
45. Tom Hiddleston
46. Adil Ray
47. Nida Manzoor
48. Henry Cavill
49. Janette Manrara
50. Harlan Coben
51. Zara McDermott
52. Alex Scott
53. Doua Saleh
54.Bradley Walsh
55. Kadeena Cox
56. Chris Chibnall
57. Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon
58. Anthony Mackie
59. Rose Matafeo
60. Cush Jumbo
61. Ros Atkins
62. Will Poulter
63. Rosario Dawson
64. Shaun Evans
65. Oprah
66. Mo Gilligan
67. Mimi Keene
68. Nicola Walker
69. Sophie DiMartino
70. Bimini Bon Boulash
71. Romesh Ranganathan
72. Munya Chawawa
73. Brian Cox
74. Nadiya Hussain
75. Selena Gomez
76. Jamie Demetriou
77. Mackenzie Crook
78. Cynthia Erivo
79. Sebastian Stan
80. Isabelle Sieb
81. Peaty Adam
82. Samuel Adewunmi
83. Oti Mabuse
84. Brett Goldstein
85. Emily Mortimer
86. Jimmy McGovern
87. Heidi Thomas
88. Olivia Colman
89. Sally Carman
90. Patricia Allison
91. Diane Morgan
92. Peter Jackson
93. Emma Hayes
94. Liberty Poole
95. Martin Compton
96. Jenna Coleman
97. Ant and Dec
98. Natasia Demetriou
99. Anna Maxwell Martin
100. Sandra Oh
RadioTimes.com TV 100 contributors
- Charlotte MooreBBC content director
- Stone Salmoncreative director, Endemol Shine
- Damien TimmerManaging Director, Mammoth Screen
- Lady Pippa HarrisFounder of Neal Street Productions
- Marina StortiManaging Director, NOW TV, Sky
- Kenton AllenCEO of Big Talk Productions
- Zai Bennettchief content officer at Sky
- Nicholas Shindler, television producer and executive, and founder of production company Quay Street Productions
- Kate Harwood, television producer and managing director of Euston Films
- Marc Linseycreative director of BBC Studios
- Suki BerggActor
- Anne MensahVP Content at Netflix
- Disney+
If you’re looking for something to watch tonight, head over to our handy TV Guide.
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