Chase away the winter chills with these cheerful, uplifting TV series

It’s cold. Winter has hit with a bracing ferocity, which makes for a perfect time to curl up up somewhere cosy with a cuppa, a glowing screen and a show to warm the heart and lift the spirits.

Dire dystopian dramas don’t seem like the ideal companions at times like these. There’s sport, which can be engrossing: Wimbledon, Le Tour and the footy provide a wealth of choice. But there’s also a variety of enticing options elsewhere, among them a recent arrival, a couple of continuing series and a trio of perennials that can be relied upon to chase away the chills.

Emily Carey and Liam Woodrum in Geek Girl.Credit: Netflix

Geek Girl (Netflix)

Describing a show as sweet might sound like damning it with faint praise. A bit of a putdown. With Geek Girl, though, that’s not the case. Adapted from the first book in Holly Smale’s award-winning young-adult series, the 10-part production invites comparisons with a previous picturesque Netflix hit, Emily in Paris. But it’s smarter, funnier and thankfully lacking the cutesy saccharine quality of Darren Star’s glossy comedy. Plus it has Harriet Manners (Emily Carey), a shy yet plucky heroine who’s a lot less annoying than Star’s titular character (Lily Collins).

An English-Canadian co-production, Geek Girl could be called Harriet in London, at least until the setting changes and it dutifully becomes Harriet in Ottawa. Like Emily in Paris, it’s essentially a rom-com variation on the Alice-in-Wonderland fairytale: a girl lost in an unfamiliar environment populated by a diverse collection of supporting players.

It has a giddy romance and a maze of fashion industry mores for Harriet to negotiate, a glamorous setting and a slick look. And underlying its frothy fun is a winning tale about the triumph of an outsider, Harriet’s struggle to make her way more grounded in the everyday world than Emily’s.

Whereas Emily Cooper has the substance and buoyancy of a bubble, English high-school student Harriet is plagued by social anxiety and self-doubt. She’s book-smart, suffers from a sensitivity to loud noises and is a regular target for bullies.

And whereas Emily can be glib, portraying the irrepressible American expat as a lot more at home in the Paris wonderland than the locals give her credit for, there’s also something deeper going on in Geek Girl. Its tale of triumph is achieved less fancifully.

Both series display a sense of fun and style. Geek Girl‘s co-producer, Zoe Rocha, is the daughter of fashion designer John Rocha and she clearly knows her frocks. But Smale’s story also draws on autobiographical elements that bring a darker side to the fairytale. As an adult, she was diagnosed as autistic as well as having dyspraxia, a condition that causes difficulty with co-ordination and movement.

Harriet shares those traits, although they’re not explicitly labelled as such. However, those who love and support her are keenly aware of the challenges she faces. And the series, which is also a kind of a Cinderella story, also becomes a rise-and-fall fable in which the falls hurt.

In addition to creating a heroine we can genuinely care about, the series also provides her with a dreamboat love interest (Liam Woodrum), one who gives male models a good name, a couple of delightful model agents (Emmanuel Imani and Hebe Beardsall) as well as a wicked-witch type (Sarah Parish), a hilarious fashion-designer parody (Sandra Yi Sencindiver), an adorable dad (Tim Downie) and a stepmother who isn’t all bad (Jemima Rooper).

It all adds up to a warming rom-com package wrapped in a big, colourful bow, as well as a story about a girl who doesn’t quite fit the mould but still manages to shine.

The Graham Norton Show (Foxtel’s UKTV and 10Play)

Graham Norton’s interview show has had an extraordinary run and, now into its 31st season, its atmosphere of festive fun remains reliably welcoming. Having placed their drink orders in advance and been hugged and/or air-kissed by their host, guests take their place on the big red couch primed to party as well as plug their latest projects.

And the talented Irishman is a perfect host: engaged, appreciative, lightning quick with a quip. This is not the place for deep and meaningful interviews, and it’s not meant to be, although the talk sometimes goes to unexpected and illuminating places.

Usually everyone comes away from the chat show looking good. Check out, for example, the laughter-filled recent episode (UKTV) with Sarah Snook, Miriam Margolyes, Greta Lee and Boy George.

Have You Been Paying Attention? (Mondays, 8.40pm, Ten and 10Play)

A string of hapless revivals has flopped on Ten this year, but this sturdy Monday night fixture has been an invaluable asset, continuing to do what it’s done so well since 2013.

As with Norton’s show, there’s a lively spirit in the studio, the parade of panellists provides a platform for well-known comedians and introduces some new faces.

(Clockwise from top left) Ed Kavalee, Melanie Bracewell, Sam Pang, Anne Edmonds and Aaron Chen in Have You Been Paying Attention?Credit: Ten

Their riffs on current affairs, disguised as answers to quiz questions, and their interactions with each other and with ringmaster Tom Gleisner can be a hoot. A good way to start the week.

Hacks (Stan)

Seventysomething comic and home-shopping network queen Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and thirtysomething comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) have grown into one of TV’s great odd couples.

Over three sparkling seasons, this deftly drawn, and beautifully cast comedy has developed into an unlikely yet irresistible platonic love story between two very different women.

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are one of TV’s great odd couples in Hacks.Credit: Stan

The latest 10-part season hinges on the often-abrasive Deborah’s campaign to crash through the glass ceiling in her designer heels and host her own late-night talk show. And, again, the hard-edged humour happily blends with the series’ warm and forgiving heart.

Trying (Apple TV+)

A witty, well-observed and affectionate comedy about a loving London couple trying to get pregnant and eventually deciding to adopt.

Rafe Spall and Esther Smith are perfectly matched as teacher Jason and call-centre worker Nikki, and the idiosyncratic bunch of family and friends gathered around them is also a delight.

Esther Smith and Rafe Spall in Trying.Credit: Apple TV+

A fourth season, set six years on from the third, recently dropped and the whole series is eminently binge-worthy.

Gardening Australia (Fridays, 7.30pm, ABC and iview)

Even when the trees are bare and flowers might be scarce, this ABC evergreen provides a cheery team of presenters blooming with enthusiasm and ideas. Encouraging an appreciation of the world and your patch in it, the series offers advice on how to nurture and improve your surroundings.

Robert Irwin and Costa Georgiadis in Gardening Australia.Credit: ABC

As well, there are inspiring tours of lovingly tended properties around the country. These garden guides can make going outside seem worthwhile, and, if that’s a step too far, there are also handy tips on indoor plant care. All of which might sow the seeds for a bountiful spring.

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.