MY WORLD OF TRUTH

Don’t let the fact that this is by the makers of cozy costume drama Downton Abbey fool you, as Jamestown is a gritty tale, at times brutal. Based on true events in the 17th Century, it follows three English women who make the journey across the ocean to marry frontiersmen, leaving their dark pasts behind them.

As the first women to arrive in the male-dominated Jamestown, Virginia, they quickly realise they will need all their wit and ambition if they are to survive the inhospitable wilderness and a host of dangerous challenges in the New World. Premieres 5 May on Sky 1 (Credit: Sky)

A long-overdue exploration of the peculiar British distaste for other people’s success, Jon Brown (Veep, Fresh Meat) is writer and executive producer on an eight-part series that follows four tech entrepreneurs and childhood mates who become obscenely rich overnight and whose life-long friendships are put to the test after selling their start-up videogame company. Could Loaded be the British version of HBO’s Silicon Valley? Premieres 8 May on Channel 4 (Credit: Channel 4/AMC)

In the 21st Century, does the British Crown have any real power? That’s the subject tackled by an adaptation of Mike Bartlett’s award-winning fictional play, set in an imagined future where Prince Charles accedes to the throne after the death of the Queen. Tim Pigott-Smith OBE, who died last month, reprised his role as Charles from the West End and Broadway productions.

After the Queen’s death, Charles finds himself locking horns with Parliament over signing a bill into law, limiting the freedom of the press. His hesitation results in a crisis that divides his family, with Prince William and Kate Middleton (Peaky Blinders’ Charlotte Riley) realising his actions may threaten their future aspirations and an unhappy Prince Harry who just wants to live with the “common people”. Premieres 10 May on BBC Two (Credit: BBC)

Adapted from Chris Kraus’ 1997 semi-memoir of the same name, I Love Dick is a genre-bending new series from Transparent creator Jill Soloway. Kathryn Hahn stars as Chris, a struggling New York film-maker who finds herself stuck in rural Texas, where her husband has a writing residency. Amid the tumbleweeds she meets renowned scholar and charismatic character Dick (Kevin Bacon), who quickly becomes the subject of her all-consuming lust, unleashing an artistic awakening. Premieres 12 May on Amazon Prime Video (Credit: Amazon)

Aziz Ansari reprises his role in the second season of the unconventional rom-com, as Dev, an actor in his early 30s who’s struggling to make his way through everyday life with the support of his group of close friends. In the new series, Dev has temporarily relocated overseas to small-town Italy to pursue his passion for making – and eating – pasta.

The series deals with some of the major challenges of modern life: whether or not to change careers in your 30s, diversity and representation, racism and sexism – and finding the perfect pasta for dinner. Premieres 12 May on Netflix (Credit: Netflix)

Eurovision is the world's largest non-sporting live TV event and the most watched live entertainment programme in Europe, having attracted over 200 million television viewers last year. Whether you love or loathe it, it's undeniable that it's all anyone will be talking about the day after. This year's event has already drawn controversy, with Russia pulling out of the show after Ukraine barred Russia's contestant Julia Samoilova.

Following the artists' parade and the hosts introduction - with Ukraine being the first country to choose three male presenters - the acts will battle it out to take home the iconic glass microphone trophy. The Grand Final is live on 13 May on BBC One and on national broadcasters. (Credit: BBC/Charlie Clift)

After being held captive underground in a doomsday cult for 15 years by Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm), can-do Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) reclaims her life and starts over in New York City. In the third season, chipper Kimmy is off to do “what most white girls do after high school”, according to kooky landlady Lillian: going to college.

The show might be about Kimmy, but gosh dang it, the infectiously catchy songs and her roommate Titus (Tituss Burgess) are the real stars. Season three might even be worth sticking with to see scene-stealer Titus go “full Lemonade” after having boyfriend troubles. Premieres 19 May on Netflix (Credit: Netflix)

If you can’t wait for the follow-up to Making a Murderer, Netflix is releasing a major documentary series which took nearly a year to edit, focusing on the unsolved murder case of a Baltimore nun, Sister Cathy Cesnik, who vanished in November 1969.

Lead by director Ryan White (The Case Against 8), the series follows those closely connected to the case and Baltimore citizens determined to uncover the truth. All seven hour-long episodes will be released simultaneously. Premieres 19 May on Netflix (Credit: Netflix)

David Lynch is back to direct the entirety of this 18-part series – a franchise he once called “as dead as a doornail” – which picks up the mystery where we left off 25 years ago, in the fictional Washington state town that got turned on its head with the shocking murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer. Little has been revealed of the new series except that scores of the original cast are to reprise their roles, including Kyle MacLachlan as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, who investigated the murder case among other strange goings-on in the idiosyncratic town.

In the final episode of the last season – which arguably gave us the most frightening ending of all time – Laura Palmer tells FBI special agent Dale Cooper: “I’ll see you again in 25 years.” A happy coincidence or fate? Either way, it seems the time is right to find out what happened to Cooper – and whether the coffee and pie is still worth taking the trip into the mountains. Premieres 21 May on Showtime/Sky Atlantic (Credit: Showtime/Sky)

If you thought ruthless politician Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) couldn’t get any more sinister, you’ve not heard his character’s chilling monologue on the latest trailer for House of Cards. “The American people don’t know what’s best for them. I do. I know exactly what they need,” he tells his stoic wife Claire (Robin Wright), before proclaiming, “One nation, Underwood.”

If you’ve stuck with the series, you’ll undoubtedly have enjoyed Robin Wright’s character featuring more prominently. After all, Frank is nothing without Claire, and in season five, things get interesting as the cracks in the relationship really start to show. Premieres 30 May on Netflix (Credit: Netflix)