The unmissable documentaries everyone will be talking about in 2026

Our appetite for a boyband documentary knows no bounds, so we’re ready and waiting for this series about Take That.

With access to current members Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen, as well as interviews with former bandmates Jason Orange and Robbie Williams, it will paint a picture of how Take That became one of the most successful bands in UK history, racking up 12 number ones during their 30-year history.

Watch now on Netflix

In 2020, Jesy Nelson left Little Mix after nine years in the bestselling girl group. 

This intimate series follows Jesy as she confronts her past and prepares for her future as she gets ready to become a mum for the first time. The six-part docuseries comes after the singer’s recent revelation that her twins, Story and Ocean, have spinal muscular atrophy, a severe neuromuscular condition, which has also seen her meet health secretary Wes Streeting to campaign for early testing. 

Watch on 13 February, Prime Video  

Two decades after America’s Next Top Model first aired, this three-part series charts highs (of which there were many) and the lows (of which there were even more) of the reality show. 

Created by and starring supermodel Tyra Banks, the show followed groups of aspiring models as they competed for modelling glory. While the show, which ran for 24 seasons, was celebrated for featuring contestants from communities not often put in the spotlight, it also featured questionable mandatory cosmetic transformations and searing critiques of the bodies and weights of the young women under its gaze.  

Watch on 16 February, Netflix 

Gordon Ramsay is going back to his roots as he sets his eyes on the expansion of his cooking empire.

Across six months, we follow him as he prepares to open five culinary experiences (because why just have one culinary experience when you can have five?) at 22 Bishopsgate, one of London’s tallest buildings. Expect tempers to be frayed, and a lot of cries of ‘Yes, chef!’ 

Watch on 18 February, Netflix 

Victoria Wood was one of the funniest people in the UK, and her unique talent totally reshaped comedy in this country. This film is a celebration of the woman who died 10 years ago, including both the highs and lows. It features footage from her scrapbooks, unheard interviews and her first ever performance in 1973 as well as reflections from Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Maxine Peake.

In cinemas now, watch in February on UKTV U&GOLD 

She meets people whose lives have been upended by the tech revolution, from falling in love with AI chatbots to robots making life and death decisions. We suspect it will make for sobering and enlightening viewing. 

Date tbc, BBC Two

Based on the BBC podcast of the same name, this three-part series tells the story of 16-year-old Megan Bhari. 

In 2011, Megan, who had a brain tumour, set up a charity, Believe in Magic, with her mum, Jean. They offered wishes to seriously ill children, organised trips to Buckingham Palace, held a huge ball and even got One Direction to become donors. But before long, other parents in the community started to become suspicious of how ill Megan really was, and shocking details soon started coming to light. 

Date tbc, BBC Two

It is directed by Michael Harte, who worked on the powerful Still, about Michael J Fox, and the wildly intriguing and watchable Three Identical Strangers, and is produced by Ventureland, who also created Beckham. So we suspect we’ll be onto a good thing. 

Date tbc, Netflix 

Gordon Ramsay is going back to his roots as he sets his eyes on the expansion of his cooking empire.

Across six months, we follow him as he prepares to open five culinary experiences (because why just have one culinary experience when you can have five?) at 22 Bishopsgate, one of London’s tallest buildings. Expect tempers to be frayed, and a lot of cries of ‘Yes, chef!’ 

Date tbc, Netflix