When it comes to the world of entertainment, we’ll remember 2019 as a year for inappropriate crushes on clergymen, nightmarish adaptations of classic musicals, groundbreaking live performances and… Gemma Collins on ice.
*sigh*
Well, it’s over now. And there’s a whole lot to look forward to in the next 12 months of film, music and TV.
Here’s a selection of the things we’re most excited for in 2020…
1. Disney+ finally comes to the UK
Our cousins across the pond have already been enjoying the streaming platform since late 2019, but they’ve kept us in the UK hanging. Fortunately, that will all change in April.
If having the entire classic Disney catalogue at your fingertips isn’t your thing, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the service isn’t for you – and it’s worth remembering just how many production companies now lie fall under Mickey Mouse’s umbrella.
As well as the likes of Beauty And The Beast, Snow White and Cinderella, users will have every Marvel and Star Wars film on demand, plus every single episode of The Simpsons to stream at their leisure. And if all of that wasn’t enough, we’ve got two words for you: baby Yoda.
2. Daniel Craig hangs up his gun in No Time To Die
After five films, 14 years and countless comments to suggest that 007 hasn’t been the high point of his acting career, Daniel Craig will finally step down from the James Bond franchise in 2020.
In No Time To Die, he’s brought along Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge to help get the writing nailed, while Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek and Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch are also joining the fun, alongside returning stars like Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris.
And while we can’t say we’re looking forward to the endless speculation about which actor will be taking over as the international man of mystery, we can say we’re excited to see what it was about No Time To Die that made Daniel want to stick around for one last outing as 007.
3. Adele reclaims her throne at the top of the charts
Now listen, we know we said the same thing last year, but we’re now fully ready to see what Adele has in store for us when she unveils new music in 2019.
Since we last heard new music from her (which was almost five years ago, would you believe?), Adele has been through it, admitting recently that the last year in particular had “tried her hard” following her divorce from husband and father of her child, Simon Konecki.
After announcing the split, she joked that a “drum and bass album” was her next project, and while we assume this was a joke (although Adele is so secretive when it comes to music you just never know?), that hasn’t made us any less intrigued for whatever she’s cooking up for us in the new year.
4. Line Of Duty’s introduces AC-12′s “most enigmatic adversary” ever
Not only is Line Of Duty back sooner than any of us expected, but creator Jed Mercurio has already teased that AC-12 is going to be faced with a brand new foe in the upcoming episodes.
Although details are currently scarce, it’s been revealed that Kelly Macdonald – who was previously seen in BBC One’s The Victim – will be playing a brand new character, set to give the team a run for their money.
All we need now is for the wheels to get in motion for Bodyguard series two and we’re set…
5. Wonder Woman takes us back to the 80s
Even those who didn’t care for the first Wonder Woman film in 2017 have to admit that this is a pretty exciting trailer.
If the 1980s aesthetic and the arrival of Kristen Wiig as a brand new villain doesn’t do it for you, then maybe the sight of Gal Gadot back in action – in a Linda Carter-esque Wonder Woman costume, no less – will.
6. Love Island gets a brand new home in South Africa
The news that Love Island will be getting two series in 2020 – one in January, one in the summer – was met with celebration from devotees in 2019, and it’s almost time for the new villa in South Africa to open its doors to a brand new batch of hopefuls looking for love.
Whether or not the winter series will differ massively from the show we already know and love remains to be seen, but one key change will be its brand new host, following Caroline Flack’s decision to step down from the show after she was arrested and charged with assault.
7. The Masked Singer
The Masked Singer has already caused a stir in the US and Australia, and it’s finally the UK’s turn to enjoy this completely bizarre singing celebrity contest.
We’ve watched the above trailer roughly 150 times since it was first shared and, in all honesty, we still have absolutely no idea what’s going on. In fact, it’s just left us with countless questions.
What’s the calibre of celebrity going to be like? Are they actually singing live under those massive costumes? Is the UK really going to take another singing competition to its heart? How is US comedian Ken Yeong expected to identify the likes of Stacey Solomon and Gemma Collins are?
Fortunately, we don’t have long to wait until our questions are answered…
8. Dancing On Ice features its first same-sex partnership
And while we’re on the subject of light entertainment on ITV, Dancing On Ice has taken a ground-breaking (or should that be ice-shattering?) step for its upcoming series.
Beating Strictly to the punch, Dancing On Ice will feature a same-sex pair getting their skates on for the first time, with Steps singer H Watkins teaming up with long-serving professional Matt Evers.
Not only is it a huge move forward in terms of LGBTQ representation (don’t forget how many complaints Strictly received when they showed two men dancing in 2019, moments like this really can make a difference to people’s attitudes), it’s literally H from Steps that we’re talking about here, so it’s also guaranteed to bring plenty of entertainment too.
9. Dua Lipa takes us on a “future nostalgia” trip
Dua Lipa’s debut album earned the singer her first number one single, a Brit Award and even the coveted Best New Artist prize at the Grammys, but on the follow-up, Future Nostalgia, the singer says she wants to get out of her “comfort zone”.
Launching the album campaign with one of 2019′s best tracks, Don’t Start Now, Dua showed a new side to her personality and went on to deliver the best performance of her career at the EMAs, not to mention hitting it out of the park yet again on the follow-up taster track, also titled Future Nostalgia.
With her first UK arena tour on the horizon, it’s fair to say 2020 is going to be another big one for Dua…
10. RuPaul says “alright babe?” to the UK once again
It’s hard to imagine it now, but when RuPaul’s Drag Race UK was first announced in 2018, many fans had reservations about whether or not it would work.
We needn’t have worried, Drag Race UK proved to be one of the franchise’s most entertaining series in years, and roughly five minutes after The Vivienne was crowned we were already demanding a new batch of queens.
This year will bring us a new series of Drag Race US, as well as All Stars 5, a celebrity series and a new Canadian run. But what we’re most excited for is the new series of Drag Race UK, which we’re hoping will be even more diverse and show off even more of what the UK drag scene has to offer than was already showcased on the first triumphant series.
11. Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman takes us all on a wild ride
We don’t mind admitting we weren’t actually aware this film even existed before the trailer debuted in December 2019, quickly sparking a lot of conversation on social media.
Promising Young Woman marks the directorial debut of Emerald Fennell, best known as the showrunner of Killing Eve’s second series, and you may have also seen her in the third series of The Crown as the future Duchess Of Cornwall. It stars Carey Mulligan in the lead role of a woman living a mysterious double life.
The unsettling trailer piqued our interest for its unique premise and impressive cast… but that orchestral version of Britney Spears’ Toxic just tipped us over the edge. We need this film in our lives.
12. What has Sam Smith got in store for us all next?
This might seem like a ridiculous thing to say about an artist with four Grammys and an Academy Award to their name, but 2019 felt like a real arrival for Sam Smith, and if not an arrival, then a rebirth.
Previously known for their rather gloomy musical offerings, in the last 12 months Sam has never seemed happier or more confident (most likely due to them coming out as non-binary earlier in the year), which has been reflected in their music and stage performances.
Having already teamed up with Calvin Harris in 2018 on the upbeat Promises, the Brit Awards that followed saw Sam performing the track in high heels, while they later teamed up with US singer Normani and pop super-producer Max Martin on the follow-up tracks Dancing With A Stranger and How Do You Sleep?.
This was all then followed by a cover of Donna Summer’s I Feel Love, all of which has got us suitably intrigued for their forthcoming third album.
13. ITV revisits the White House Farm murders in new drama
Coming to our screens in January, ITV’s new drama White House Farm is a must-watch for fans of true crime.
The new series takes a look back at the White House Farm murders, in which five members of the same family – including two six-year-old boys – were killed. The show is set to offer “fascinating insight” into exactly what went on, and stars Stephen Graham, of This Is England and Line Of Duty fame and Cressida Bonas.
White House Farm is also directed by Paul Whittington, whose past credits include true crime dramas Little Boy Blue and Hatton Garden.
14. Everybody’s talking about Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Already a smash hit on London’s West End, the new musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is set to hit cinemas in 2020.
Telling the story of Jamie New, a teenager with hopes of becoming a fabulous drag queen when he leaves school, the film will star Richard E Grant and Sarah Lancashire, while newcomer Max Harwood will take on the title role.
As if that’s not enough, the show itself will also be touring the UK for the first time in 2020, with Layton Williams playing Jamie opposite Shane Richie.
15. In fact, it’s set to be a big year for film musicals
This year will also see the much-anticipated release of the new film based on the Broadway musical In The Heights.
If you’re not familiar with the show in question, this probably won’t seem like much of a big deal, but when we tell you that it was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda – the musical genius behind Hamilton, and who contributed Oscar-nominated music to Disney’s Moana – and directed by John M Chu of Crazy Rich Asians fame, the reason for the hype might become a bit more clear.
16. Sarah Paulson takes centre stage in Ratched
This year saw the first fruits of Ryan Murphy and Netflix’s multi-million dollar deal, with the release of The Politician. And while we’re looking forward to the second series of that in 2020, we’re similarly excited for his other new show, Ratched.
An origin story for the character of the same name from One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Sarah Paulson will take the lead in the new drama, created by Evan Romansky.
Joining Sarah in the cast is an incredible list of stars, many of whom have worked with Ryan Murphy on past projects, including Finn Wittrock and Jon Jon Briones (both from American Horror Story and American Crime Story), Cynthia Nixon, Sharon Stone, Rosanna Arquette and Don Cheadle.
We are so ready for this.
17. The Brit Awards get a little revamp
In honour of their 40th year, the Brit Awards will receive a little zsuzh ahead of the ceremony in February, with some categories being ditched completely and others being reimagined.
The idea is that the Brits will be putting more emphasis on music this time around, which will also include an increase in the number of performances, which – given the calibre of stars we can expect at the 2020 awards show – is probably an exciting prospect.
Artists will also receive more creative control when it comes to their performances, so we’re intrigued to see what the likes of Stormzy have in store for us this time around.
18. We can finally get down to business with Disney’s Mulan
Just when we were properly done with Disney’s live-action remakes, 2019 saw them releasing one we actually thought was decent (Aladdin), while The Lion King also proved to be a success, so when the trailer for Mulan came out in December, we were excited.
The new version of the film is going to be markedly different from the animated classic, focussing more on the story’s Chinese origins and getting rid of Mulan’s non-human sidekicks – not to mention all of the songs.
It’s going to be a different experience to the film we already know and love, but hopefully it’ll make for some interesting viewing.
19. Is Rihanna finally going to release some music?
Yes please.
20. Pixar gives us two brand new offerings
Pixar’s only offering in 2019 was the fourth Toy Story film, which was well-received but not nearly as celebrated as the other films. Fortunately, in the next 12 months the film studio has two brand new stories to tell.
The first, Onward, looks like it’s a pretty straight-forward family adventure, set in a magical world where two brothers embark on a quest to spend one day with their late father (they’re accompanied by his re-animated legs for much of the film, which sounds suitably odd).
Following this, they’ll also release Soul, which sounds a bit more innovative, in the style of films like Inside Out and Wall-E.
21. Alison Hammond finally gets the chance to shine on her own
Any daytime TV fan will tell you that Alison Hammond has been the jewel in This Morning’s crown for a long time now, and 2020 will finally see her hard work and ridiculous moments recognised by ITV.
Although it remains unconfirmed, The Sun recently claimed that this year will see Alison going solo with her own daytime talk show, which will apparently feature celebrity interviews (yes please!), make-overs (ooooh!), exercise regimes (no thanks) and other lifestyle tips.
Alison reading the phone book would be entertaining enough in our eyes, but the thought of an entire show with her in charge is just too exciting.
22. What’s next for The Circle?
It’s still not been a ratings smash, but the second series of The Circle was pretty much non-stop entertainment, and the reality series garnered a loyal fanbase during its second outing in 2019.
Love Island, now a reality TV staple, took until its third series to really make an impact, and with the third run of The Circle expected to launch in 2020, we’re hoping it can make a similar splash for Channel 4. Fingers crossed for more Richard Madeley, too.
23. Shakira and Jennifer Lopez take on the Super Bowl
What’s better than one global diva performing at one of the most-watched TV events in the world? Why, two global divas performing together at one of the most-watched TV events in the world, of course.
24. Stormzy gets ready to hit the road
Seriously, did you see his Glastonbury performance? Well, thousands around the UK can now look forward to seeing Stormzy bringing his hugely impressive and thought-provoking show to arenas around the UK in 2020.
It’s been a massive 12 months for the grime star, with a number one single, his aforementioned Glastonbury set and a critically-acclaimed sophomore album, but with his biggest tour to date, he looks set to top it and break even more new ground in the year ahead.
25. All Jennifer Hudson is asking for is a little respect
Oscar-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson is a talent, who can rise to any occasion (she even made it out of Cats unscathed, which is really saying something).
In Respect, she’ll take on the lead role in the life story of Aretha Franklin, having been the favourite of the soul diva to play her in the biopic.
Given the success of Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody in the last couple of years – not to mention Jennifer’s performance in the above teaser – we’re predicting big things for this one.
26. The curtain comes down on Bojack Horseman
In the last five (and a half!) seasons, Bojack Horseman has been lauded for its genre-hopping approach and fresh take on all kinds of contemporary issues from mental health and LGBTQ subjects to abortion and the Me Too movement, changing the game not just for animated shows but for TV in general.
We’ll admit, we don’t feel ready to say goodbye to characters like Princess Carolyn and Mr Peanutbutter but as we discovered when the first half of its final series debuted in 2019, at least everyone involved is clearly keen to go out on a high.
27. No but seriously, are we going to get new ABBA tunes in 2020?
In April 2018, the four members of ABBA released a joint statement, revealing that there would be two brand new songs coming from the group at the end of that year.
Cut to more than 18 months later and we’ve still heard nothing.
Since then, Benny and Björn have suggested that they’ve recorded more than two tracks, but more recently, things have gone quiet. Folks, these are troubled times. Are we saying new ABBA music could change things? Yes, new ABBA music could change things.
28. Something Wicked our way cometh
It’s one of the most hotly-anticipated movie musicals of recent times, but a film version of Wicked is finally set to hit the big screen in 2020.
For those yet to have experienced it, the musical revisits the story of the Wicked Witch Of The West from The Wizard Of Oz. It re-tells the story from her perspective, revealing things are never quite as they seem, and history can be different depending on whose version of events you’re listening to.
If that doesn’t already sound enticing, composer Stephen Schwartz recently claimed that Ariana Grande was being “seriously considered” for a role, although it’s not clear whether she would take on the lead role of Elphaba or Glinda the Good Witch.
29. Glastonbury celebrates 50 years in style
With two of its headliners being music legend Paul McCartney and reigning pp princess Taylor Swift – making her Glastonbury debut, no less – it’s clear the festival is going all out as it reaches its landmark 50th year.
More acts are set to be announced in due course, but after Kylie Minogue slayed the “legends” slot in 2019, Diana Ross is definitely going to have to bring it this time around.