Television series
Starstruck
A witty romantic comedy about a woman who sleeps with a stranger on New Year's Eve, only to discover he's a famous actor. Rose Matafeo writes and stars in this breezy, charming BBC series that treats its premise as a starting point rather than a punchline—it's genuinely interested in how two people navigate attraction, awkwardness, and real feeling beneath the celebrity gloss.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you like romantic comedy that finds its laughs in awkward, improvised-sounding banter and lets two lopsided characters be messy and sincere about each other.
Skip it if you want a sleek, plotted romance with grand emotional set pieces; these short, chatty episodes stay small, scrappy and conversational rather than sweeping.
What it asks of you: Episodes run about twenty-three minutes, across three seasons; the rhythm is quick and light, so it slides easily into a weeknight without much setup.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Fleabag2016
A woman-created British comedy about messy relationships and self-sabotage, with the same combination of sharp humour and genuine emotional depth that makes Starstruck so appealing. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is brilliant.
But The fourth wall breaks and meta moments can feel show-offy if they're not your thing. Some episodes veer quite dark.
Normal People2020
Two people learning to love each other across years and circumstances, with extraordinary chemistry and tender writing. Like Starstruck, it trusts the relationship to carry the series rather than using external obstacles as crutches.
But It's considerably heavier and more sexually explicit. The pacing is languid; some find it slow.
Russian Doll2019
A woman stuck in a romantic and existential loop, witty and self-aware but grounded in real pain. Natasha Lyonne is magnetic, and the show balances comedy and depth exactly like Starstruck does.
But The time-loop concept can feel repetitive. It takes a few episodes to find its footing, and some episodes are genuinely bleak.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Starstruck
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
One Day2024
Both are about how a single moment—or a single day—can reframe everything about a relationship. But where Starstruck stays intimate and present, One Day pulls back to show you the larger shape of a life.
A British adaptation of David Nicholls' novel: two people meet at university and the series follows their relationship across years through a single day each. It's romantic and melancholic in a way that transcends the romcom frame.
But It's more serious and bittersweet than Starstruck; if you wanted consistent lightness, this will wrong-foot you. The structure can feel gimmicky.
More like this (7)
Schitt's Creek2015
Found-family comfort comedy where characters gradually reveal their depth and vulnerability. Like Starstruck, it's fundamentally warm and interested in how people actually behave when they're trying to connect.
But The early seasons are broader and louder than later ones; some viewers bounce off before it settles. It's long (six seasons).
Catastrophe2015
Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney play two people who wake up after a one-night stand to discover she's pregnant. It has Starstruck's balance of comedy, romance, and genuine stakes—the banter feels real because the writing is collaborative and lived-in.
But The premise is darker than Starstruck's and takes you to uncomfortable places. Some of the humour is quite crude.
Younger2015
Sutton Foster plays a woman faking her age in New York publishing; it shares Starstruck's focus on a woman navigating deception, ambition, and romance with lightness and intelligence. Hugely enjoyable.
But The premise is essentially a lie repeated across seven seasons. If you don't like the central conceit, the show won't change your mind.
Love2016
Judd Apatow's take on how two flawed people build a relationship from a hookup. It's cringe-funny and genuinely romantic, with the same willingness to let characters be both silly and sincere.
But It's uneven in quality and sometimes leans into uncomfortable awkwardness more than comedy. Some storylines feel stretched.
Lovesick2014
A British dramedy about a man's relationships told through flashbacks after he learns he has chlamydia. It's got Starstruck's warmth and its ability to find genuine emotion in romantic disaster.
But The premise is a bit gimmicky, and the humour doesn't always land. It's somewhat conventional once you get past the hook.
The Summer I Turned Pretty2022
A summer romance with real charm and chemistry between the leads. If you enjoyed Starstruck's focus on the small moments between two people figuring each other out, this has similar appeal.
But It leans more heavily into teen-drama territory and is broader in tone. The emotional stakes feel lighter by comparison.
Archipelago2011
Both are interested in how attraction and love live in the space between people—not in grand gestures but in the moment you realize someone sees you. Archipelago just strips away all the comedy to look at the fear underneath.
Joanna Hogg's film about a young woman's family holiday and the subtle fractures in how people connect. Shot with extraordinary visual precision, it finds profound emotion in glances and silences.
But It's a slow, experimental film with minimal plot. There's no dramatic resolution or satisfaction in a conventional sense—it requires patience and tolerance for ambiguity.
People
Cast
Writing
- Rose MatafeoCreator
Production
- Gregor SharpExecutive Producer
- Jon ThodayExecutive Producer
- Richard Allen-TurnerExecutive Producer
- Rob AslettExecutive Producer
- Rose MatafeoExecutive Producer
- Toby WelchExecutive Producer
- Claire McCarthyProducer
- Toby WelchProducer